To All,
.Good Tuesday morning 19 November. Clear and cooler today and some changing weather over the next few days from the low 40s at night to the mid 70s in the afternoons.
Make it a GREAT Day
Regards,
Skip
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History (thanks to NHHC)
Here is a link to the NHHC website: https://www.history.navy.mil/. Go here to see the director's corner for all 84 H-Grams .
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History .
November. 19
1813—Capt. David Porter, commander of the man-of-war Essex, claims the Marquesas Islands for the U.S. In the following weeks, he establishes a base to overhaul Essex and builds a fort.
1943—USS Nautilus (SS 168) enters Tarawa lagoon for the first submarine photograph reconnaissance mission. It is later damaged by friendly fire from USS Santa Fe (CL 60) and USS Ringgold (DD 500) off Tarawa because due to the mission, Nautilus presence was unknown to the vessels.
1943—USS Sculpin (SS 191) is damaged by the Japanese and abandoned by her crew. Forty-one Sailors are taken as POWs, 21 of whom are taken on Japanese carrier Chuyo that is later sunk by USS Sailfish (SS 192). 1943 - The submarine Sculpin (SS 191) is heavily damaged by the Japanese destroyer Yamagumo north of Truk in the Caroline Islands. Though he has time to escape the boat before it sinks, Captain John P. Cromwell, the commander of the submarine squadron of which Sculpin is a part, chooses to go down with the boat rather than face interrogation that might force him to reveal his knowledge of plans to seize the Gilbert Islands. For his selfless sacrifice, he receives a posthumous Medal of Honor.
1944—USS Conklin (DE 439) and USS McCoy Reynolds (DE 440) sink the Japanese submarine I-37 100 miles west of Palaus.
1950 – X Corps First Marine Division commander, Major General O.P. Smith moved his units carefully northward toward the Chosin Reservoir.
1969—Navy astronauts Cmdr. Charles Conrad, Jr. and Cmdr. Alan L. Bean become the third and fourth men to walk on the moon as part of the Apollo 12 mission.
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This Day in World History
November 19
1620 The Pilgrims sight Cape Cod.
1828 In Vienna, Composer Franz Schubert dies of syphilis at age 31.
1861 Julia Ward Howe writes "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" while visiting Union troops near Washington.
1863 Lincoln delivers the "Gettysburg Address" at the dedication of the National Cemetery at the site of the Battle of Gettysburg.
1885 Bulgarians, led by Stefan Stambolov, repulse a larger Serbian invasion force at Slivinitza.
1873 James Reed and two accomplices rob the Watt Grayson family of $30,000 in the Choctaw Nation.
1897 The Great "City Fire" in London.
1905 100 people drown in the English Channel as the steamer Hilda sinks.
1911 New York receives first Marconi wireless transmission from Italy.
1915 The Allies ask China to join the entente against the Central Powers.
1923 The Oklahoma State Senate ousts Governor Walton for anti-Ku Klux Klan measures.
1926 Leon Trotsky is expelled from the Politburo in the Soviet Union.
1942 Soviet forces take the offensive at Stalingrad.
1949 Prince Ranier III is crowned 30th Monarch of Monaco.
1952 Scandinavian Airlines opens a commercial route from Canada to Europe.
1969 Apollo 12 touches down on the moon.
1973 New York stock market takes sharpest drop in 19 years.
1976 Patty Hearst is released from prison on $1.5 million bail.
1981 U.S. Steel agrees to pay $6.3 million for Marathon Oil.
1985 US President Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, meet for the first time.
1985 In the largest civil verdict in US history, Pennzoil wins $10.53 billion judgement against Texaco.
1990 Pop duo Milli Vanilli are stripped of their Grammy Award after it is learned they did not sing on their award-winning Girl You Know Its True album.
1996 Canada's Lt. Gen. Maurice Baril arrives in Africa to lead a multinational force policing Zaire.
1998 US House of Representatives begins impeachment hearings against President Bill Clinton.
2010 New Zealand suffers its worst mining disaster since 1914 when the first of four explosions occurs at the Pike River Mine; 29 people are killed.
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Thanks to the Bear. .
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER ….
. rollingthunderremembered.com .
Thanks to Micro
To remind folks that these are from the Vietnam Air Losses site that Micro put together. You click on the url below and get what happened each day to the crew of the aircraft. ……Skip
From Vietnam Air Losses site for Tuesday November 19
November 19: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=1463
This following work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear's Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated information to the work to update for history…skip Vietnam Air Losses Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
This is a list of all Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Listed by last name and has other info https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/KIAINDEX.HTM
MOAA - Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
The site works, find anyone you knew in "search" feature.
https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/ )
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Another ONE FROM SHADOW
. VIETNAM THANKSGIVING
His name was "Cortez DeLeon Stephens"… we called him Steve. Half a world away, we shared a life in three short months. There has not been a Thanksgiving Day, since 1966 that I haven't thought of him… I often wondered if he remembered me.
We met at a small outpost, called Joliet… between Hue and Phu Bai, Vietnam. I was attached out from my normal unit and Steve was just back from the Hospital Ship
Repose… where he was recovering from having his right index (trigger) finger blown off during a firefight… An easy ticket home… which he refused.
We were two young warriors--- Marines. It is hard to describe how different we were… yet how much in common we had. We were both college drop-outs. He, because of love gone bad… me because of youthful indifference. He was an Honor Student… I had made a habit of just getting by. I had graduated from a small rural high school in Mississippi…
He was from the inner city of Philadelphia. Back then… Mississippi State and Temple University… were a galaxy apart. He played the French horn. I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket… But we both loved Motown Music… and Rhythm and Blues… Neither of us could dance… He was black, I was white.
During the long nights, that could seem endless (a lot of bad things happened at night over there), we talked constantly to each other. At that point in our young lives we both seemed to have a compulsive desire to find some meaning to it all. We not only shared our tent, we shared our lives. We talked of politics, romance, the war, religion and even racism. We talked of our families, our loves and our dreams. We were so different… but so much alike.
As young warriors do, we discussed our leaders… and we both decided that the one Staff NCO we'd follow to hell and back… was Gunnery Sgt. Willie Brown. He reminded us of a great African Warrior Chief… A man of regal deportment… And with a voice as
authoritative and calm… as God's own. Our favorite officer was Capt. Dan McMahon… a leader of unlimited courage and ferocity in combat. We were so much alike.
Steve taught me a great deal about the human condition… To this very day, I have never forgotten my utter shame… and the humiliation I felt… when I repeated a racist joke I'd heard, to some other Marines… only to discover Steve was sitting right outside our
hooch. That night he told me how much it hurt… but he would forgive me… "You still have a lot to learn white bread", he said. I've often wondered if the roles had been reversed… would I have been as gracious? So different---
On Thanksgiving Day we got word by radio that the Padre was being choppered out to give Communion… If… we got a break in the weather. About an hour later we heard the distinctive… whop-whop music… of inbound Hueys. Seconds later the radio squawked out that, "Dead Lock 20" was inbound with our Sky Pilot (Chaplin) and that they would return in exactly one hour to pick him up for the return to Phu Bai.
As the Padre and his assistant got out of the helo, we watched with knowledgeable
concern… as we knew that any arrival of helos at this place… often precipitated the arrival of incoming mortar rounds. This time it didn't happen.
With what seemed like practiced efficiency… The Padre and his assistant selected a spot about 100 yards from our tent, to set up shop. An altar was quickly erected from empty 81mm ammo boxes. A crucifix and candles were set upon the holy drape. Then the word was passed that services were to begin shortly.
What followed was a scene so surreal and poignant… That it will haunt me the rest of my life.
Slowly, almost hesitantly they came… Young warriors in battle regalia of helmets and flack jackets… their rifles in hand. I swear with the low ceiling and mist… it was like a scene from some vague "B" movie… where the dead are awakened… and rise to walk from the graveyard.
As they arrived in this small, dirty, yet holy place… The Padre ordered that they should stack arms, which was something we never did in the field (a placing of rifles together in a circle to resemble small tee-pees). As we watched… I was enthralled by the ritual of the Catholic ceremony… that was alien to me.
Warriors kneeling, helmets in hand, reciting in unison the responses to the Padre's
incantations. The Padre was short, yet soothing… almost cryptic with his sermon. He then raised the call to Holy Communion and did something I had never seen before or since.
As the first communicant knelt in supplication… He raised his arms to this small
congregation of less than 15 or 20… and asked that all sing "America the Beautiful" in honor of the day. As they began to sing… individuals would go forth and receive the sacraments. After which they retrieved their rifles and stood, waiting for the others.
As they neared the end of the hymn (it was a hymn that day)… We heard the deep
muffled booms of artillery being fired from Phu Bai… followed by the unforgettable sound of artillery rounds going through the clouds overhead. As they impacted with their familiar carumph… the voices sang louder and stronger… "And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shinning sea".
As Father O'Massey invoked the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit… We heard the faint sound of the Hueys returning… and it began to rain… IT BEGAN TO RAIN! It was almost like the angels in heaven were crying for us all.
The vividness and power of what we were witnessing was like nothing I had experienced before. As my emotions started to welt up inside… I turned to look at Steve… and saw the tears… Quiet unabashed tears of fortitude… It will be forever… the Thanksgiving I most remember--- Damn… We were so much alike.
Over all these years, I have wondered what happened to Cortez DeLeon Stephens. We last saw one another in Dong Ha as I was going home. The last place I knew he was
based was Quantico, Virginia… so I know he made it back. Every Thanksgiving I
remember him in a small prayer and I hope… that this nation, this America… has been as kind and generous to him, as it has to me and so many others.
I wrote this on 2/28/93… I'd thought about it a million times before I sat down and wrote it… Why it took so long, I'll never know… But as a result of it… I found Steve. We had a joyful reunion and life has been good to him… He stayed in, got a commission and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Has wonderful kids and by the way… He went home and married that sweetheart… who had initially spurned him and had caused him to run away and join the Corps so many years before. He was and is… a better man than me.
Shortly after all this… We moved to Phu Bai, just long enough to pack, go on a quick R&R and get ready to mount out for Okinawa…
More tomorrow… Shadow
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Bits and pieces thanks to Rich and DR
Subject: "A lot of very dramatic events begin with screaming..." Barbarella
Hi to all -
11-18-2024 "A lot of very dramatic events begin with screaming"
Barbarella
That was a movie with Jane Fonda back in the days of spaghetti westerns and Hercules movies. Kind of fits the moment, as the left begins to realize the extent of their loss in this election. There is a lot of scrambling to protect their jobs, and keep them out of jail, as well as finding ways to block Trump. They will work very hard at this, and probably score some temporary successes. The Trump team is huge, and very good. While some reforms may be delayed, most will go through quickly. The House of Cards cannot stand up to the storm that is coming.
Chris Wright is the candidate for Energy Czar. Chris is CEO of a fracking company. That alone should tell you how energy regulations are going to go. Energy is the driver behind all our prosperity. If energy is plentiful and cheap, then everything else falls into line. Transportation costs drop, heating and cooling costs drop, and massive numbers of new jobs are created.
Brendon Carr is the candidate for FCC chair. This is a person who advocates for free speech. Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and a few others must be very worried. No more will these platforms act as government agents, and censor your speech. These two are among the most powerful forces for change in the coming days…
Guess who has returned, hat in hand, to put ads on "X"? Comcast, Disney and IBM, among others. Money talks. BS walks.
Most democrats do not support Pelosi going for another term. Nancy and her family have ruled California for 80 years. She is now past her 'use by' date, and the party sees her as a liability.
Whoopi vows to join the sex strike. Whew, that is a relief.
Kamala blew through $1.5 billion in just 15 weeks. Budget control is not her forte. And, now everyone is trying to cover up what they got. Oprah at first denied getting a cool $1 million for her interview with Kamala. She was correct. It was $2.5 million. Kamala spent $12 million on private jets during her campaign. They leave a massive 'carbon footprint' compared to commercial flights.
In California, a ten foot long, very rare, oarfish washed up on the beach. I think this was the second one to land. It is thought that this portends a major earthquake.
The Pentagon failed its 7th audit in a row. We need some good bookkeepers and accountants.
Israel
They dropped a 'massive bomb' on the home of the media chief for Hezbollah. This has brought fear into the hearts of all those agents of Iran. It is not just military and political leaders who are at risk. All of these terrorist groups are begging for peace. But, as usual, they do not offer any concessions on their part. They just want Israel to stop killing them, as in the past. This time, they will be forced to 'bring forth the fruits of peace' if they want peace. Mike Huckabee will back Israel all the way.
Israel destroyed a major nuclear research facility in Iran Most thought this was an 'abandoned' center. Israel had better intelligence.
The Houthis struck an Israeli port facility on the Red Sea. We should see a major retaliation soon.
Flares hit the yard of Netanyahu's home.
China
They have experienced a couple of mass stabbing attacks there in the last few days. The natives are getting restless.
Biden
He made a visit to the Amazon Rainforest - the first president to do that. This is a desperate, last ditch effort to peddle his 'climate change' agenda. The Amazon produces much of the world's oxygen, thanks to abundant plant life (which thrives on CO2 emissions).
Russia
They launched a massive missile/drone strike on Ukraine's power grid. The grid was already stressed, now it is much worse. Both sides claim to have shot down many drones.
Think Tank
'The Committee for a responsible federal budget' has proposed over $700 billion in cuts to federal spending. All of their items are bipartisan, and should pass easily. Coupled with tax cuts for seniors, no tax on tip workers, and some other measures, we should see a fast boost in our economy. The Trump tax cuts of 2017, which Joe and Kamala cancelled, should also be back.
Malcome X
His family is suing the FBI, CIA, and NYPD for collusion in his death. With all we have learned about the activities of those groups, they may well be guilty. And, soon as Trump is in office, a lot more details will go public.
Advance Auto Parts Stores.
They are closing 500 stores, saying that people are just not buying parts to fix their cars any more.
Fantasy
"Dear Mr. Fantasy' was a pop song a while back. When life is just too harsh, fantasy becomes popular. Think Anime, superheros, and all the games of 'let's pretend' (like boys can be girls, etc.) that are happening. This will continue in some areas for a while, but will fade in popularity as the economy prospers and people get rewarded for success, not punished.
Are you smiling yet?
Rich
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Yesterday was the day in 1952 that Captain Royce Williams had one of the greatest if not the greatest dogfights in history
Thanks to Dr. Rich
Like Bob Hoover said .. keep flying it all the way through the crash landing .. which in this case was on a carrier!!
Great story … Thanks Todd !!
Capt E. Royce Williams – The Forgotten Hero
CAPT E. ROYCE WILLIAMS USN, Retired
"The Forgotten Hero of the Forgotten War"
The Korean War has become a footnote in history, the forgotten war between WWII and Vietnam. The involvement of U.S. forces was limited to a NATO "Police Action" to stop the communist expansion into Asia. Still, for the tens of thousands that served and lost their lives in the Korean War, it is anything but forgotten. U.S. Congress never declared war against Korea and the Soviets never officially entered the war. Nevertheless, the United States provided 88% of the United Nation's (UN) military personnel while the Soviet Union secretly supported the North Korean communist intention to overthrow their southern countrymen.
The memories of the Korean War still linger in the hearts of those who have served, including Naval Aviator, Captain E. Royce Williams, USN, Retired. For the first time in history, Soviet pilots secretly flew against NATO and U.S. forces. In an exhausting 35 minute dogfight against 7 Soviet MiGs, LT Williams then, became the only American Aviator to single-handedly shoot down 4 Russian MiGs in a single sortie. A record that most likely will never be broken. His heroic actions were kept classified for nearly fifty years. Post- Cold War, the Russian government confirmed the loss of the 4 MiG-15s and disclosed the names of the four pilots he shot down: Captain Belyakov, Captain Vandalov, Lieutenant Pakhomkin and Lieutenant Tarshinov. This is the account of LT Williams's heroic actions that are yet to be reviewed for the full honor and recognition he earned so many years ago.
On November 18th, 1952, LT Williams participated in a 3 carrier major strike against the Hoeryong industrial complex very near the North Korea-Russian border. Expecting reprisal from the North Koreans, the U.S.S. Oriskany launched a Combat Air Patrol (CAP) into the blustery skies above the Sea of Japan. The Patrol was in the midst of a blizzard, where the cloud cover was at 400 feet and the visibility was terribly low. Division Leader, Lieutenant Claire Elwood and his wingman LTJG John Middletown with Section Leader, LT Royce Williams and his wingman LTJG David Rowlands served as CAP that day. Soon after the CAP was launched, the Combat Information Center (CIC) reported multiple bogeys approaching inbound, 80 miles north of Task Force 77.
The Combat Air Patrol finally broke through the clouds of the howling snowstorm at around 12,000 feet. As they advanced upward, Section Leader, LT Williams spotted seven contrails well above 50,000 feet. The bogeys were quickly identified and reported as MiG-15s. Moments later, the Flight Leader, reported a fuel pump warning light. The CIC ordered LT Elwood and his wingman, LTJG Middleton to return to CAP duty directly above the U.S.S. Oriskany. The defense of Task Force 77 was in the hands of LT Williams who took the Lead and LTJG Rowlands as his wingman. Although, the two F9F-5 Panthers were outnumbered and out classed on maneuverability and acceleration, they boldly continued the pursuit against the 7 MiGs. The MiGs came over them and reversed, presumably heading back to their base at Vladivostok. LT Williams continued to track and climb to 26,000 feet, when suddenly, the MiGs split into two groups to corner the F9Fs. One group of four MiGs came straight in firing from the 10 o'clock position, as the other 3 MiGs circled around to bracket them.
LT Williams turned sharply into the enemy and the 4 MiGs over shot, missing their targets. When they passed, LT Williams pulled a hard left turn and kicked in the rudder to get his sight on the number four MiG. After a short burst of fire, the MiG went down. His wingman, LTJG Rowlands, followed the plane as it dropped out of formation, leaving LT Williams alone against 6 Soviet adversaries. Complete chaos ensued… LT Williams was in the fight of his life, working at every moment to keep the MiGs off his tail. He utilized every Guns Defense possible as he reversed and jinked against the far superior aircraft, attempting to stay clear and keep the MiGs from locking down on his six o'clock position.
1 Down, 6 to Go! LT Williams immediately chased after the three remaining MiGs from the group, trying to maneuver with them. His Panther was no match to the Soviet MiGs far superior speed and rate of climb as they easily zoomed away. One MiG turned around, pointing back at him and quickly disappeared into the bright sun. Williams immediately noticed the other two MiGs had already made their turn and they were coming right at him in a diving attack. LT Williams swiftly turned into them as they fired out of range. As the lead MiG approached 2,000 feet, he quickly broke away to avoid the opposing fire. The other MiG followed right behind the lead, which gave Williams the opportunity to get him into his sights. He fired at the enemy until he disappeared underneath his wings. It was a presumed hit, since Williams didn't have the luxury to follow for confirmation.
5 Left! "Then the Fight was on. They were no longer in formation. They were flying to position themselves to attack me one at a time," Williams recalls. The opposing MiGs were determined to down the sole Grumman Panther. One of the MiGs came back around and LT Williams reversed to put his gun sights on him. As the MiG turned, he was able to fire at him. The blast was so abrupt, Lt. Williams had to maneuver violently to avoid swallowing the exploding MiG parts.
3 Down! "There was a lot of maneuvering, some shooting and mostly dodging going on," remembers Williams. During the 35 minute dog-fight, the MiGs would overshoot and occasionally they did not climb, which gave Williams the opportunity to track and fire at them. While LT Williams was tracking a smoking MiG to finish him off, he looked back and saw another MiG coming in. He put in a lot of rudder and kicked the airplane over to give the opposition a tough shot. LT Williams's luck was finally running out and the MiG hit him with a burst of fire from his 37mm cannon. He was hit in the wing section and accessory section of the Pratt and Whitney Jet engine. The relentless MiG came back around and settled on his tail to ensure the kill. LT Williams had to use both hands on the stick to maneuver properly, because he had lost two of his 3 controls, the ailerons and the rudder. The elevator still worked perfectly, so he could only porpoise to pull up and push over hard, similar to a pitch and tuck maneuver. He could see the bullets fly by him as the attacker shot away at him. Out of ammo and riddled with holes, LT Williams headed back home as he took to the cloud cover and they lost sight of each other in the snow storm.
Carrier Bound, Crash Course: LT Williams came out of the clouds at about 400 feet. At that point, he was flying too low to eject safely and the freezing waters of the Sea of Japan would have taken him within 15 minutes in his immersion suit. As the Panther drew closer for a troubled landing, the destroyers escorting Task Force 77, opened friendly fire on LT Williams mistaking him for an enemy aircraft. "Fortunately, I was low enough that they didn't have a chance to really aim, so nobody hit me," Williams explained. His Panther would stall below 170 knots (normal carrier approach speed is at 120 knots) which forced him to come in at 200 miles an hour for an inevitable crash landing. His immediate focus was to keep control of the aircraft and use alternate backup systems to lower the landing gear and tail hook. The U.S.S. Oriskany's Commanding Officer, Captain Courtney Shands was alerted and adjusted the carrier away from the wind to try and compensate for the F9F's out-of-control speed and inability to maneuver properly. Incredibly, LT Williams was able to land safely engaging the number 3 wire, which was much attributed to the sturdy construction of the Grumman aircraft. Miraculously, LT Williams was unscathed and confided, "I had God on my side."
On the flight deck, the plane captain rushed to congratulate the Lieutenant and the badly damaged aircraft became an immediate specimen of interest. 263 perforations were circled and counted, ranging from a foot wide to minor cuts in the fuselage. The Grumman F9F-5 Panther that fought so valiantly was irrevocably damaged and they pushed it over the side into the ocean, to it's final resting place.
LT Williams headed to the Ready Room for debriefing, however the Intelligence Officer delayed the investigation, because he wanted to wait for the Flight Leader. In the meantime, the tension grew higher due to pressure from Washington, awaiting a full report on the incident. "They already knew there was some sort of rumble with the Soviets and they wanted the answers, right now!" Williams affirmed. The Intelligence Officer caved to Washington and sent out a "phony" report based upon the very limited information he received and the lack of details and understanding of the engagement. Williams was credited with a kill and a probable-damaged, LTJG Middleton was credited with a kill and William's wingman, Dave Rowlands was given a probable.
A week later, the U.S.S. Oriskany arrived in Yokosuka, Japan where LT Williams was ordered to see Vice Admiral Robert P. Briscoe, Commander Naval Forces Far East. Admiral Briscoe informed the Lieutenant that the United States has a new capability called the NSA, National Security Agency. They were covertly aboard the U.S.S. Helena, right off Vladivostok on their first mission. The NSA told Admiral Briscoe to tell that young man that he got at least three. They were able to follow the MiGs from take-off until the remnant MiGs came back. Admiral Briscoe warned Williams to never speak of the incident for fear of escalating the Korean conflict into World War III.
A month later, Admiral J.J. Clark and LT Williams met with President-elect Eisenhower in Seoul, Korea. Eisenhower specifically requested a debriefing with LT Williams to discuss "our planes versus theirs." The bold pilot found himself surrounded by Generals Omar Bradley and Mark Clark, Admiral Arthur Radford, the Secretary of Defense and many other dignitaries. Eisenhower took Williams by the elbow and led him to a nice, comfortable, over-stuffed chair. Then he sat at the edge of the chair and wrapped his arm around the young hero. "Well, young man, before we get down to business, don't you think we ought to have drink? Don't you think?" Eisenhower encouraged. "Yes, Sir," Williams agreed. "Well, we have bourbon and scotch, water and soda. My son John is the bartender. What would you like?" I said, "Bourbon and water, please." The President nudged, "We have awfully good scotch son." "Well Sir, I prefer bourbon and water." The President insisted, "Young man, we have great, great scotch." "Well Sir, the truth is I prefer bourbon and water." "Lieutenant! We've got the world's finest scotch," the President demanded. Williams said, "Mr. President, I drink bourbon and water." The President reluctantly conceded and turned to his son, "John, give him a bourbon and water." "Needless to say, I learned quickly from my experience. I should have taken the scotch. So, in honor of Ike, the next time I had the opportunity, I ordered scotch and it prevails to this day," Williams admitted with a great big grin.
Captain E. Royce Williams, USN Retired, flew over 220 missions mainly in Korea and Vietnam. He served our country for over thirty years and retired in 1980. Williams has not yet received the full recognition for his acts of valor that he gave in defense of our great nation over 63 years ago. We encourage all readers to reach out to our local politicians for support and join our plea for Captain Williams to be re-reviewed for recognition for his heroic acts that were above and beyond the call of duty on November 18th, 1952.
91 year old, Captain Royce Williams is featured in the upcoming series 'Heroes in History,' a collection of veteran stories, told by the heroes who lived through them…before they are lost forever. Please enjoy Captain Williams's amazing story
.Last year Captain Williams was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions but a great many of us believe it should have been the Medal of Honor
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This Day in U S Military History…..November 19
1620 – The Pilgrims reached Cape Cod. Mariner Bartholomew Gosnold (1572-1607) sailed the New England coast in 1602, naming things as he went. He gave the name 'Cape Cod' to the sandy, 105km/65mi-long peninsula that juts eastward from mainland Massachusetts into the Atlantic. When the Pilgrims first set foot in the New World in November 1620, it was at the site of Provincetown, at the tip of Cape Cod. They rested only long enough to draw up rules of governance (the Mayflower Compact) before setting sail westward in search of a more congenial place for their settlement, which they found at Plymouth. Later settlers stayed on the Cape, founding fishing villages along the coasts. The fishing industry drew boat builders and salt makers. Soon there were farmers working the cranberry bogs as well, and whaling ships bringing home rich cargoes of oil and whalebone.
1863 – President Abraham Lincoln delivers one of the most famous speeches in American history at the dedication of the military cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Using just 272 words, Lincoln brilliantly and movingly articulated the meaning of the conflict for a war-weary public. For some time, Lincoln had been planning to make a public statement on the significance of the war and the struggle against slavery. In early November, he received an invitation to speak at the dedication of part of the Gettysburg battlefield, which was being transformed into a cemetery for the soldiers who had died in battle there from July 1 to 3, 1863. A popular myth suggests that Lincoln hastily scribbled his speech on the back of an envelope during his trip to Gettysburg, but he had actually begun crafting his words well before the trip. At the dedication, the crowd listened for two hours to Edward Everett before Lincoln approached the podium. His address lasted just two minutes, and many in the audience were still making themselves comfortable when he finished. Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met here on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled, here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thus far, so nobly carried on. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
1969 – Navy astronauts CDR Charles Conrad Jr. and CDR Alan L. Bean are 3rd and 4th men to walk on the moon. They were part of Apollo 12 mission. CDR Richard F. Gordon, Jr., the Command Module Pilot, remained in lunar orbit. During the mission lasting 19 days, 4 hours, and 36 minutes, the astronauts recovered 243 lbs of lunar material. Recovery by HS-4 helicopters from USS Hornet (CVS-12). Conrad not a tremendously tall person; the one-meter jump down from the bottom rung of the ladder was a bit intimidating, but now it gave him a chance to set the tone for the mission. The time for historic phrases had past; now it was time to have fun. "Whoopie!" he said as he made the plunge. "Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that's a long one for me." Bean soon joined Conrad on the surface and they got busy deploying the scientific gear. As on Apollo 11, there was a TV camera, a seismometer, and a laser reflector. And they also had a more-sophisticated solar-wind analyzer and a number of other physics packages that made up the ALSEP (Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package) that had gotten bumped off Apollo 11. Most of the equipment, together with a central power station and transmitter, was stowed in two compact packages tucked away in the Descent Stage. Bean lifted them down with a pulley and attached them to the ends of a carrying bar – which would double as a radio antenna mast – in dumbbell fashion. The complete ALSEP weighed 250 pounds on Earth, but only about 40 pounds on the Moon, and Bean had no particular trouble hauling the load to the deployment site about one hundred fifty meters west of the LM. The two experiment packages tended to bounce up and down as he walked and that made gripping the bar a little difficult; but, generally, he and Conrad had very few problems with this first major set of tasks.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
*MILLER, ANDREW
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company G, 377th Infantry, 95th Infantry Division. Place and date: From Woippy, France, through Metz to Kerprich Hemmersdorf, Germany, 1629 November 1944. Entered service at: Two Rivers, Wis. Birth: Manitowoc, Wis. G.O. No.: 74, 1 September 1945. Citation: For performing a series of heroic deeds from 1629 November 1944, during his company's relentless drive from Woippy, France, through Metz to Kerprich Hemmersdorf, Germany. As he led a rifle squad on 16 November at Woippy, a crossfire from enemy machineguns pinned down his unit. Ordering his men to remain under cover, he went forward alone, entered a building housing 1 of the guns and forced S Germans to surrender at bayonet point. He then took the second gun single-handedly by hurling grenades into the enemy position, killing 2, wounding 3 more, and taking 2 additional prisoners. At the outskirts of Metz the next day, when his platoon, confused by heavy explosions and the withdrawal of friendly tanks, retired, he fearlessly remained behind armed with an automatic rifle and exchanged bursts with a German machinegun until he silenced the enemy weapon. His quick action in covering his comrades gave the platoon time to regroup and carry on the fight. On 19 November S/Sgt. Miller led an attack on large enemy barracks. Covered by his squad, he crawled to a barracks window, climbed in and captured 6 riflemen occupying the room. His men, and then the entire company, followed through the window, scoured the building, and took 75 prisoners. S/Sgt. Miller volunteered, with 3 comrades, to capture Gestapo officers who were preventing the surrender of German troops in another building. He ran a gauntlet of machinegun fire and was lifted through a window. Inside, he found himself covered by a machine pistol, but he persuaded the 4 Gestapo agents confronting him to surrender. Early the next morning, when strong hostile forces punished his company with heavy fire, S/Sgt. Miller assumed the task of destroying a well-placed machinegun. He was knocked down by a rifle grenade as he climbed an open stairway in a house, but pressed on with a bazooka to find an advantageous spot from which to launch his rocket. He discovered that he could fire only from the roof, a position where he would draw tremendous enemy fire. Facing the risk, he moved into the open, coolly took aim and scored a direct hit on the hostile emplacement, wreaking such havoc that the enemy troops became completely demoralized and began surrendering by the score. The following day, in Metz, he captured 12 more prisoners and silenced an enemy machinegun after volunteering for a hazardous mission in advance of his company's position. On 29 November, as Company G climbed a hill overlooking Kerprich Hemmersdorf, enemy fire pinned the unit to the ground. S/Sgt. Miller, on his own initiative, pressed ahead with his squad past the company's leading element to meet the surprise resistance. His men stood up and advanced deliberately, firing as they went. Inspired by S/Sgt. Miller's leadership, the platoon followed, and then another platoon arose and grimly closed with the Germans. The enemy action was smothered, but at the cost of S/Sgt. Miller's life. His tenacious devotion to the attack, his gallant choice to expose himself to enemy action rather than endanger his men, his limitless bravery, assured the success of Company G.
*RIVERS, RUBEN
Citation: For extraordinary heroism in action during the 15-19 November 1944, toward Guebling, France. Though severely wounded in the leg, Sergeant Rivers refused medical treatment and evacuation, took command of another tank, and advanced with his company in Guebling the next day. Repeatedly refusing evacuation, Sergeant Rivers continued to direct his tank's fire at enemy positions through the morning of 19 November 1944. At dawn, Company A's tanks began to advance towards Bougaktroff, but were stopped by enemy fire. Sergeant Rivers, joined by another tank, opened fire on the enemy tanks, covering company A as they withdrew. While doing so, Sergeant River's tank was hit, killing him and wounding the crew. Staff Sergeant Rivers' fighting spirit and daring leadership were an inspiration to his unit and exemplify the highest traditions of military service.
*BELCHER, TED
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Plei Djerang, Republic of Vietnam, 19 November 1966. Entered service at: Huntington, W . Va. Born: 21 July 1924, Accoville, W . Va. Citation: Distinguishing himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life. Sgt. Belcher's unit was engaged in a search and destroy mission with Company B, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, the Battalion Reconnaissance Platoon and a special forces company of civilian irregular defense group personnel. As a squad leader of the 2d Platoon of Company C, Sgt. Belcher was leading his men when they encountered a bunker complex. The reconnaissance platoon, located a few hundred meters northwest of Company C, received a heavy volume of fire from well camouflaged snipers. As the 2d Platoon moved forward to assist the unit under attack, Sgt. Belcher and his squad, advancing only a short distance through the dense jungle terrain, met heavy and accurate automatic weapons and sniper fire. Sgt. Belcher and his squad were momentarily stopped by the deadly volume of enemy fire. He quickly gave the order to return fire and resume the advance toward the enemy. As he moved up with his men, a hand grenade landed in the midst of the sergeant's squad. Instantly realizing the immediate danger to his men, Sgt. Belcher, unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his safety, lunged forward, covering the grenade with his body. Absorbing the grenade blast at the cost of his life, he saved his comrades from becoming casualties. Sgt. Belcher's profound concern for his fellow soldiers, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
*WATTERS, CHARLES JOSEPH
Rank and organization: Chaplain (Maj.), U .S. Army, Company A, 173d Support Battalion, 173d Airborne Brigade. Place and date: Near Dak To Province, Republic of Vietnam, 19 November 1967. Entered service at: Fort Dix, N.J. Born: 17 January 1927, Jersey City, N.J. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Chaplain Watters distinguished himself during an assault in the vicinity of Dak To. Chaplain Watters was moving with one of the companies when it engaged a heavily armed enemy battalion. As the battle raged and the casualties mounted, Chaplain Watters, with complete disregard for his safety, rushed forward to the line of contact. Unarmed and completely exposed, he moved among, as well as in front of the advancing troops, giving aid to the wounded, assisting in their evacuation, giving words of encouragement, and administering the last rites to the dying. When a wounded paratrooper was standing in shock in front of the assaulting forces, Chaplain Watters ran forward, picked the man up on his shoulders and carried him to safety. As the troopers battled to the first enemy entrenchment, Chaplain Watters ran through the intense enemy fire to the front of the entrenchment to aid a fallen comrade. A short time later, the paratroopers pulled back in preparation for a second assault. Chaplain Watters exposed himself to both friendly and enemy fire between the 2 forces in order to recover 2 wounded soldiers. Later, when the battalion was forced to pull back into a perimeter, Chaplain Watters noticed that several wounded soldiers were Lying outside the newly formed perimeter. Without hesitation and ignoring attempts to restrain him, Chaplain Watters left the perimeter three times in the face of small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire to carry and to assist the injured troopers to safety. Satisfied that all of the wounded were inside the perimeter, he began aiding the medics–applying field bandages to open wounds, obtaining and serving food and water, giving spiritual and mental strength and comfort. During his ministering, he moved out to the perimeter from position to position redistributing food and water, and tending to the needs of his men. Chaplain Watters was giving aid to the wounded when he himself was mortally wounded. Chaplain Watters' unyielding perseverance and selfless devotion to his comrades was in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for November 19, 2020 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
19 November
1915: First squadron cross-country flight of the Army's Aviation Section of the Signal Corps undertaken by six Curtiss JN-3s of the 1st Aero Squadron. They flew 439 miles from Fort Sill to Fort Sam Houston.
1932: National monument to Wilbur and Orville Wright dedicated near Kitty Hawk. (24)
1945: PACUSAN DREAMBOAT. Through 20 November, Col Clarence S. Irvine and Lt Col G. R. Stanley flew the Pacusan Dreamboat B-29 to a nonstop, nonrefueled distance record of 7,916 miles by flying from Guam to Washington DC in 35 hours 5 minutes. (9) (24)
1950: KOREAN WAR. In the first massed light bomber attack, 50 B-26s from Japan dropped incendiary bombs on Musan, N. Korea, on the Tumen River border with China. The attack destroyed 75 percent of the town's barracks area. (28)
1952: KOREAN WAR. The 49th and 58th Fighter-Bomber Wings, using 179 aircraft in two separate strikes, attacked a troop and supply concentration at Kanggye. (28) Capt James Slade Nash, flying a North American F-86D Sabre, set a FAI speed record of 698.505 MPH at Salton Sea. (9) (24)
1957: Maj Gen Donald Keirn selected to lead the ANP (aircraft nuclear powered) project, an integrated Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and DoD atomic project. (24)
1961: Through 20 November, Mrs. Constance Wolf in her 363.99-mile flight from Texas to near Boley, Okla., set 15 world records for women balloonists, including an endurance record of 40 hours 13 minutes and an altitude record of 13,000 feet. (24)
1964: SECDEF Robert McNamara announced that all first generation missiles would be phased out by June 1965 under Project Added Effort. (1)
1969: APOLLO XII/SECOND MOON LANDING. Astronauts Charles (Pete) Conrad, Jr., and Alan L. Bean, flew the module to the surface and landed at the Ocean of Storms about 600 feet from Surveyor III. (26) (See 14 November for full details).
1978: JONESTOWN SUICIDES. After murdering Cong. Leo J. Ryan and four others, members of Jim Jones' Peoples Temple Church committed mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana. Answering a State Department request, on 28 November MAC sent a C-130 and two C-141s with graves registration teams, medics, and cargo to Georgetown, Guyana. Three ARRS HH-53s then flew 911 bodies on 30 sorties from Jonestown to Georgetown, where 9 C-141s flew the bodies to a mortuary at Dover AFB. Altogether, MAC flew 59 C-141 and C-130 support missions through 22 December in response to this tragedy. (2) (21)
1980: USAFE completed the conversion of its tactical fighter squadrons to F-15C/D models. (16)
1984: Two MAC C-141s delivered six motor vehicles and small arms ammunition to the US Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, after drug dealers threatened the safety of American personnel in Colombia. (16)
1997: Operation PHOENIX SCORPION I. To augment Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, the US deployed additional forces to Southwest Asia and the Indian Ocean to answer Iraq's continued intransigence over UN inspections of weapons of mass destruction sites. Over the Pacific, AMC established an air bridge and airlift support to deploy B-52s and KC-10s to Diego Garcia. Over the Atlantic, AMC provided airlift and refueling support to deliver an Air Expeditionary Force with F-15s, F-16s, B-1s, and KC-135s to Shaikh Isa, Bahrain, a partial Patriot battery to Shaikh Isa, and F-117s to Al Jabar, Kuwait. Iraq's apparent willingness to resume the inspection program ended the deployment on 24 November and within days most forces had returned home. To close the deployment, AMC flew 51 airlift and 208 tanker missions, delivering over 3,000 short tons of cargo and 7.4 million pounds of fuel. Reserve C-5, C-141, and KC-10 units and personnel supported the Phoenix Scorpion buildup by flying 82 sorties and 529.6 hours. The reserve units also provided backfill support to active duty forces, flying an additional 130 sorties and 530.7 hours. (22) (33)
1998: NASA Dryden test pilot James L. Barrilleaux flew a Lockheed Martin ER-2 (looks like a modified U-2) to an altitude of 20,479 meters (90,096 ft) above Edwards AFB, establishing a new official world altitude record for medium weight aircraft in horizontal flight without payload. (3)
2007: WAR ON TERRORISM. Air Mobility Command passed a major milestone when one of its aircraft flew the command's one millionth sortie since 11 September 2001. A C-17 mission flown from McChord AFB, Wash., to Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan, flew the landmark flight. (AMC Historical Highlights, 2007)
Thanks to Brett
CAPTION: NASA and DARPA will partner on future phases of the DRACO program to demonstrate a space nuclear thermal propulsion system launching as soon as 2027. (Credit: DARPA)
NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency will cooperate on the development and flight demonstration of a nuclear propulsion system with applications for both national security and space exploration. During a special session of the AIAA SciTech Forum Jan. 24, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced that the two agencies would work together on DARPA's existing Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program to demonstrate nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP), a technology that offers more efficient propulsion than conventional chemical rockets.
"NASA will partner with our longtime partner, DARPA, to develop and demonstrate advanced nuclear thermal propulsion," Nelson said in brief remarks at the conference. "Our goal is to launch and demonstrate a successful nuclear thermal engine as soon as 2027."
The two agencies had been separately pursuing NTP projects. DARPA started DRACO with three Phase 1 awards in April 2021 to teams led by Blue Origin, General Atomics and Lockheed Martin to work on preliminary designs of reactors and spacecraft.
In May 2022, DARPA announced it was soliciting proposals for DRACO Phases 2 and 3 to develop and test the engine and perform a flight demonstration, then planned for fiscal year 2026. DARPA had not selected an awardee at the time of the NASA partnership, but Tompkins said an award could come in "a couple of months." NASA has also been working on NTP technologies, including awards in July 2021 in cooperation with the Department of Energy to teams led by BWX Technologies, General Atomics and Ultra Safe Nuclear Technologies. Those contracts, valued at $5 million each for one year, covered NTP reactor design.
NASA has been pushed by Congress to invest in NTP, with appropriations bills setting aside funding for such work at levels often far above what the agency requested. NASA leadership, though, has embraced that technology more recently as critical to future human missions to Mars, a finding from a February 2021 National Academies study that called on NASA to pursue "aggressive" development of nuclear propulsion so that it would be available for a human Mars mission in the late 2030s.
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