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Memorial Day

nittinsc

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2017
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This weekend maybe we can choose to quit feeling sorry for ourselves because of all the sacrifices we now have to make and remember those who truly sacrificed for us. Here's a photo in remembrance of my uncle, who was a B-17 tailgunner in the 15th Air Force in WWII. This photo was taken in Russia when he took part in the "Shuttle" bombing missions. I found this photo on the Fold3 website which has free access this weekend.

 
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I've always been a big fan of the Navy Seals. At a conference I was attending, I was introduced to the stories of Lieutenant Tom Norris and Lieutenant Mike Thornton. Their stories begin with the rescue of Lieutenant Colonel Gene Hambleton from behind enemy lines in North Vietnam. The fictionalized version was made into a movie called "BAT-21", with Gene Hackman portraying Lt. Colonel Hambleton. The real events were not shown in the movie as they were still classified at the time. It really shows us that the idea of "no man left behind" are not just idle words. And that there are countless untold stories of extreme bravery and sacrifice that are made on our behalf. The full story is told here:
https://homeofheroes.com/heroes-stories/vietnam-war/not-without-my-lieutenant/
 
I had the privilege to meet Woody Williams, who now is 96 at the Mid Atlantic World War II Air show in Reading a few years ago. Woody received the Medal of Honor for his gallant actions of extreme bravery above and beyond the call of duty on Iwo Jima and is the last Medal of Honor survivor from Iwo Jima. I'll tell you what Woody Williams did to receive the Medal of Honor in an excerpt below. Woody said he was just a farmer from West Virginia who did what... "any man" would do when called upon. I know Woody wasn't just any man and every man, child or woman alive today should be proud and thankful that men like Woody Williams fought for our right to live free. That day taught me the love one could have for his country and for his fellow human beings. I can say, my admiration grew to love for this man who took so many minutes to talk to this man about how common and undistinquished he was.

Woody fought at Guandalcanel and Guam. Williams' next and final campaign was at the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he distinguished himself with actions "above and beyond the call of duty" – for which he would be awarded the Medal of Honor. On February 21, 1945, he landed on the beach with the 1st Battalion, 21st Marines. Williams, by then a corporal, distinguished himself two days later when American tanks, trying to open a lane for infantry, encountered a network of reinforced concrete pillboxes. Pinned down by machine gun fire, his company commander asked one of his men to attach a high explosive charge to a pole and with the support of Williams and his flamethrower and several Marine riflemen, shove the improvised weapon into an opening in the enemy's pillbox. As they fought their way to the pillbox, all of the men, except Williams, became casualties. Undeterred, Williams arrived at the first pillbox, shoved the flamethrower nozzle into the pillbox opening and fired the weapon, killing all of the soldiers inside. He then returned five times to his company area, refueled his weapon, and moved forward to destroy the remaining pillboxes.


Harry Truman congratulates Hershel Williams on being awarded the Medal of Honor, October 5, 1945. Covered by only four riflemen, he fought for four hours under terrific enemy small-arms fire and repeatedly returned to his own lines to prepare demolition charges and obtain serviced flame throwers. He returned to the front, frequently to the rear of hostile emplacements, to wipe out one position after another. At one point, a wisp of smoke alerted him to the air vent of a Japanese bunker, and he approached close enough to put the nozzle of his flamethrower through the hole, killing the occupants. On another occasion, he was charged by enemy riflemen who attempted to stop him with bayonets and he killed them with a burst of flame from his weapon.

These actions occurred on the same day that two flags were raised on Mount Suribachi, and Williams, about one thousand yards away from the volcano, was able to witness the event. He fought through the remainder of the five-week-long battle even though he was wounded on March 6 in the leg by shrapnel, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart.

Please listen to Woody talking about his experience on Iwo Jima: Starting at the 28:00 min mark. Woody lost his best friend on Iwo Jima, Vernon Walters and when recounting the lost to me... I had to hide the tears streaming down my face, by hiding behind a group of people to wipe them away. You could tell 70 plus years later, the lost never was lost on Woody. Woody is a national treasure and please treat him and all men who serve or served as one.

Video of Woody talking about his experience on Iwo Jima:
https://www.c-span.org/video/?469603-1/remembering-battle-iwo-jima
 
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I had the privilege to meet Wood Williams, who now is 96 at the Mid Atlantic World War II Air show in Reading a few years ago. Woody received the Medal of Honor for his gallant actions of extreme bravery above and beyond the call of duty on Iwo Jima and is the last Medal of Honor survivor from Iwo Jima. I'll tell you what Woody Williams did to receive the Medal of Honor in an excerpt below. Woody said he was just a farmer from West Virginia who did what... "any man" would do when called upon. I know Woody wasn't just any man and every man, child or woman alive today should be proud and thankful that men like Woody Williams fought for our right to live free. That day taught me the love one could have for his country and for his fellow human beings. I can say, my admiration grew to love for this man who took so many minutes to talk to this man about how common and undistinquished he was
Amazing man and an amazing story. He would have made an incredible coach. That is clear by listening to his words. What a national treasure. Thanks for sharing.
 
Sitting here in the town known as The Birthplace of Memorial Day, October 1864. Thanks to all that have served -- for me it's bittersweet as I remember my Father and Brother.
 
I've always been a big fan of the Navy Seals. At a conference I was attending, I was introduced to the stories of Lieutenant Tom Norris and Lieutenant Mike Thornton. Their stories begin with the rescue of Lieutenant Colonel Gene Hambleton from behind enemy lines in North Vietnam. The fictionalized version was made into a movie called "BAT-21", with Gene Hackman portraying Lt. Colonel Hambleton. The real events were not shown in the movie as they were still classified at the time. It really shows us that the idea of "no man left behind" are not just idle words. And that there are countless untold stories of extreme bravery and sacrifice that are made on our behalf. The full story is told here:
https://homeofheroes.com/heroes-stories/vietnam-war/not-without-my-lieutenant/
I read a book/story about his rescue. I don't think I saw the movie. I remember he used holes from military golf courses to describe his location on radio to his rescuers leaving the Vietcong unable to pinpoint his location and movements.
 
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I'm a day late with this, but yesterday holiday has more meaning to me than most people. My father bought the local monument company in 1977. Since 1989 I have put final death dates on monuments already in the cemeteries. I have probably put 10,000 dates on memorials over the years. Of those 10,000 I would guess probably 25% or so were for veterans and I would put their military rank ,branch and conflict on the memorial along with the final date. Northampton County would help supplement some of the cost as a Veteran's benifit.
Approximately 10 years ago it was the apex of World War II mortality rates. It truly made me appreciate the men that fought for our country.
True heroes.
 
I read a book/story about his rescue. I don't think I saw the movie. I remember he used holes from military golf courses to describe his location on radio to his rescuers leaving the Vietcong unable to pinpoint his location and movements.
That is exactly right. It’s a great story. The movie was pretty good too.
 
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