Good Friday afternoon May 21
A little bit of everything for a Friday afternoon.
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Happy Birthday 100 RADM Don Shelton, USN (Ret.) - 22 May
Thanks to the Bear and Admiral Cox
Gents... Great history... and the well told tale of a "survivor" of torpedo attacks, Kamikazi hits, F-7U Cutlasses, and F-3H Demons... what a life... Bear
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Cox, Samuel J SES USN NHHC WASHINGTON DC (USA)" <samuel.cox@navy.mil>
Date: May 20, 2021 at 3:57:28 AM MDT
To: "Cox, Samuel J SES USN NHHC WASHINGTON DC (USA)" <samuel.cox@navy.mil>
Cc: Sam Cox <sjcox80@verizon.net>
Subject: Happy 100 RADM Don Shelton, USN (Ret.) - 22 May
Fellow Flag Officers,
It is with extreme pleasure I inform you that Rear Admiral Doniphan Brown "Don" Shelton, U.S. Navy (Retired) is alive and well and will be 100 on 22 May 2021. Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1939, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1944, and served as a Naval Aviator until his retirement in October 1979 as Director of Plans and Policy (J5) for Commander-in-Chief U.S. Pacific Command. His commands included Fighter Squadron NINETY-TWO, Attack Carrier Air Wing NINETEEN, USS PARICUTIN (AE-18,) USS TRIPOLI (LPH-10,) and Naval Base, Subic Bay. Don served on Pacific Fleet battleships just before WWII, served on light cruiser ST. LOUIS when she was hit by multiple kamikazes off Leyte, witnessed the last successful Japanese torpedo plane attack of the war, served as a night carrier pilot flying interdiction missions over North Korea from the Sea of Japan in the winter, served as a test pilot for the most dangerous swept-wing plane to fly off U.S. aircraft carriers (F7U-3 Cutlass,) commanded a squadron of the equally dangerous F3H Demon all weather fighters, commanded an attack carrier air wing during the Gulf of Tonkin Crisis, an ammunition ship supporting maximum effort carrier air strikes into North Vietnam, and commanded TRIPOLI during multiple amphibious assaults into Vietnam. He also commanded the Subic Bay Naval Base during the fall of Saigon, humanely handling over 43,000 South Vietnamese refugees. He was a leading advocate for Naval Aviation's all-weather/day/night capability. (For his most recent project, see story of Royce Williams at end.)
At the risk of being corrected by someone who is still alive, here is Don Shelton's truly amazing career (and he's not shy about correcting official records.)
On 7 August 1939, Don Shelton signed on for a six-year enlistment in order to have a chance to go to the U.S. Naval Academy. After a couple months of boot camp at Naval Training Center, San Diego, he reported as a seaman to the battleship NEW MEXICO (BB-40) at San Pedro, California. In April 1940 he transferred to the battleship CALIFORNIA (BB-44,) which at the end of Fleet Problem XX was ordered by President Roosevelt along with the rest of the Battle Force to remain at Pearl Harbor rather than return to San Pedro. This was over the objection of the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet, Admiral James O. Richardson, who argued the move was a provocation and not a deterrent to the Japanese, in addition to being logistically unsound (and who was subsequently fired for speaking out.) Awarded a competitive fleet quota to Annapolis, Seaman Shelton transferred from CALIFORNIA to the Naval Academy Preparatory Class, then at Naval Operating Base (NOB) Norfolk in October 1940. (CALIFORNIA would be sunk by Japanese aerial torpedoes during the 7 December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.)
Seaman Shelton entered the U.S. Naval Academy as a midshipman on 2 July 1941 with the class of 1945. According to his classmates, Midshipman Shelton regularly said he was about to "bilge out" (drop out or get kicked out depending on context) yet he nevertheless still outshined his classmates academically. He was known for his frequently uttered expression, "As a Sultan, I would be a natural." (The moral here, is that what is written in the Lucky Bag is forever, kind of like the internet.) He also sang in the choir.
Following the 7 December 1941 attack, the USNA Class of 1942 was immediately graduated and sent to the fleet, while the other classes were accelerated by a year. Thus, Midshipman Shelton graduated from the Naval Academy and was commissioned an ensign in June 1944 (with the class of 1945.) Following a brief period of instruction at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, he reported to the battle-scarred light cruiser ST. LOUIS (CL-49) in July 1944. ST. LOUIS had previously shot down several Japanese planes during the attack on Pearl Harbor, been near-missed by torpedoes from a Japanese midget submarine as she exited the Pearl Harbor Channel during the attack, had her bow blown off by a torpedo from a Japanese destroyer during the Battle of Kolombangara (13 July 1943,) and the been badly hit on 14 January 1944 by a Japanese bomb (and multiple near-misses) that killed 23. During the Marianas operation, ST. LOUIS damaged her No. 3 propeller shaft, but nevertheless stayed in action during the bombardment of Guam, before returning stateside in July 1944 for repair. Following repairs, and now joined by Ensign Shelton as a Division Officer, Catapult Officer and Turret No. 2 Officer, ST. LOUIS steamed for Hawaii in October 1944 for refresher training. (ST. LOUIS was a Brooklyn-class light cruiser, completed in 1939, with a main armament of 15 six-inch guns in five triple turrets (three forward and two aft.) The Mk 16 6-inch/47 caliber guns could fire so rapidly that the Japanese referred to the class as "machine gun cruisers.")
ST. LOUIS arrived off Leyte on 16 November 1944, after the main action of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, but while the Japanese were still hotly contesting air superiority. On 27 November 1944, during a gap in combat air patrol (CAP) coverage, 12-14 Japanese aircraft attacked during a major refueling-at-sea operation; the planes were driven off and ST. LOUIS emerged unscathed. However, shortly afterwards, another attack by ten aircraft came in, several of them kamikazes on suicide missions. With no CAP opposition, the Japanese flight broke into three groups and attacked from multiple directions. At 1138, a flaming Val dive bomber got through the anti-aircraft fire and crashed into ST. LOUIS' port quarter; the plane's bomb exploded in the hangar starting a serious fire, destroying chief's berthing, damaging the catapults and float planes, and killing or wounding all the aft 20mm gunners. A minute later, a second burning kamikaze came in from the port beam, as ST. LOUIS went into a hard turn at flank speed, causing the plane to graze turret No.4 before crashing into the water 100 yards to starboard. At 1151 two more kamikazes, already on fire from anti-aircraft hits, attacked ST. LOUIS. The first was splashed just off the port quarter. The second one attacked from starboard and crashed a few feet long on the port side, ripping off a 20-foot section of armor belt and perforating the port side with shrapnel and causing a port list. At 1210, another kamikaze was shot down and crashed 400 yards astern. Ten minutes later a sixth plane dropped a torpedo aimed at ST. LOUIS. With warning from a PT-boat, ST. LOUIS maneuvered to narrowly avoid the torpedo. By 1236, all major fires were out and the ship was back on an even keel. During the engagement, ST. LOUIS shot down four planes, assisted in downing two, and was hit by two, suffering 15 dead, 1 missing (later declared dead,) 21 seriously wounded and 22 with minor wounds. In the same attack, kamikazes damaged battleship COLORADO (BB-45,) light cruiser MONTPELIER (CL-57,) and sank submarine chaser SC-744.
Following repairs stateside, ST. LOUIS returned to action in March 1945 in time to cover the minesweeper and underwater demolition team operations in preparation for the landings on Okinawa. This was followed by additional shore bombardment and anti-aircraft duties at Okinawa. On 12 August 1945, ENS Shelton was on watch in sky-aft on ST. LOUIS, anchored in Buckner Bay, Okinawa when a lone Japanese plane dropped through the smoke cover and launched a torpedo. ENS Shelton gave warning, but there was not much that could be done. The torpedo narrowly missed ST. LOUIS ahead and hit battleship PENNSYLVANIA (BB-38,) also at anchor, in the stern, nearly sinking the ship (and probably would have but for the shallow water,) making ENS Shelton witness to the last major U.S. warship damaged in World War II. ST. LOUIS was awarded a Navy Unit Commendation for her actions in the Okinawa campaign. On 31 August, ST. LOUIS was ordered to depart Okinawa on short notice to accept the Japanese surrender of Formosa. Having received orders to flight school, ENS Shelton was awakened at 0330 and given 30 minutes to get off the ship to an LCS in order to execute his orders. ENS Shelton then made his way back to San Francisco on the light carrier CABOT (CVL-28,) the first "Magic Carpet" ship repatriating U.S. servicemen from the Far East.
In August 1945, ENS Shelton commenced flight training at Naval Air Station (NAS) Dallas, Texas, followed in March 1946 by additional instruction at Naval Air Training Base (NATB) Corpus Christi, Texas. Lieutenant (junior grade) Shelton then reported to NATB Pensacola for addition flight instruction in July 1946, where he was designated Naval Aviator (HTA)(#P-25214) on 6 February 1947. That same month, LTJG Shelton reported to NAS Banana River (now Patrick Air Force Base, Florida) for additional fighter training.
In July 1947, LTJG Shelton reported as maintenance officer and ordnance officer to Fighter Squadron ONE-E (VF-1E) "Firebirds" at NAS North Island, flying the F6F-5N Hellcat night fighter, including qualifications and operations from escort carriers BAIROKO (CVE-115) and BADOENG STRAIT (CVE-116) and temporary duty with Carrier Air Group ONE on carrier TARAWA (CV-40) around-the-world (almost) cruise. In September 1948, VF-1E and VA-1E were combined into Composite Squadron Night ONE (VCN-1) which was redesignated as Fleet All-Weather Training Unit –Pacific (FAWTU-PAC) at Barber's Point Hawaii (with Detachment ONE at San Diego,) with LTJG Shelton as personnel officer, maintenance officer, and instructor, and continued operations and training aboard BADOENG STRAIT.
In October 1949, LTJG Shelton was assigned to Composite Squadron THREE (VC-3) "Blue Nemesis" at NAS Moffett Field, California, transitioning from the F6F-5N to the F4U-5N Corsair night fighter. VC-3 operated as detachments on Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers, including BOXER (CV-21,) VALLEY FORGE (CV-45,) PHILIPPINE SEA (CV-47) and PRINCETON (CV-37.) During the first year of the Korean War, LTJG (and then Lieutenant Shelton, promoted 1 January 1951) flew 23 night interdiction missions over North Korea from PHILLIPINE SEA and PRINCETON, and was awarded an Air Medal for his first 20 missions. On 2 March 1951, he also got safely aboard PRINCETON in a pre-dawn dead-stick recovery. (Of note, the only U.S. Naval Aviator Ace of the Korean War, was Lieutenant Guy Bordelon of VC-3 operating on a shore detachment from PRINCETON in 1953, although the accuracy of his tally can still start a bar fight.) Shelton is entitled to wear the Navy Unit Commendations awarded to VALLEY FORGE, PHILIPPINE SEA and PRINCETON.
In June 1951, LT Shelton detached from VC-3 and proceeded to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland for Test Pilot School (Class 7) and then as a test pilot. He flew various tests in the F2H Banshee and F9F-4,-5,-6 and -7 Panther including shot-gun air starts in the F9F-5. He flew the first F9F-4 jet engine to 1,000 hours utilizing component replacement vice overhaul. He also flew the F7F Tigercat in tests for the preliminary configuration for the Mercury space capsule couch. Probably most challenging, he was the project officer for the F7U-3 Cutlass jet fighter, including early investigation of F7U-3 stall characteristics; flying profiles investigating jet flame out approaches.
In December 1953, LT Shelton continued as Cutlass Project Officer at NAS Miramar as part of Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron TWELVE for fleet introduction of the Cutlass including carrier trials aboard HANCOCK (CVA-19.) The Vought F7U-3 Cutlass was a radical departure from traditional aircraft design, and may have been the most dangerous aircraft to fly off U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. It had its good points (roll rate of 570 degrees/second) but killed four test pilots and 21 other Navy pilots. Of 288 aircraft acquired, 78 were lost in accidents; the highest accident rate of all Navy swept wing fighters (earning the sobriquets of "gutless cutlass," "ensign eliminator" and "praying mantis,") leading to hostile Congressional investigations (along with the almost as dangerous F3H Demon) of the U.S. Navy carrier aircraft acquisition programs. The Cutlass and Demon account for many of the spectacularly horrifying ramp strike films/photos.
In October 1954, LT Shelton was assigned to Composite Squadron THREE (VC-3) at NAS Moffet Field as team leader for the F7U-3 TTU (Tactical Training Unit?). This period included transition to the F3H Demon all-weather jet fighter, which like the Cutlass was prone to flame-outs and LT Shelton survived one during an approach to NAS Patuxent River during the F3H fleet introduction.
Promoted to lieutenant commander in June 1955, he was assigned in April 1956 to Fighter Squadron ONE TWO FOUR (VF-124,) first as Operations Officer and then as Executive Officer for the first Pacific squadron deployment of the all-weather F3H Demon, aboard LEXINGTON (CVA-16) after LEXINGTON had received both the SCB-27C and SCB-125 conversions in a single refit (angle deck, new island, hurricane bow, etc.) Although almost as trouble-prone as the Cutlass, the Navy ordered 239 Demons and the F3H-2N (and later missile-armed versions) served into the early 1960's as an all-weather supplement to the F-8 Crusader day-fighters.
In June 1958, LCDR Shelton attended the Armed Forces Staff College six-month course, before returning as staff to the Naval Air Test Pilot School, Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, serving as Assistant Director, Admin Officer and flight instructor. During this period he was screened for the Mercury Astronaut Program, making it into the top 110 finalists. He was promoted to commander in June 1960.
In February 1961, CDR Shelton commenced flying with Fighter Squadron TWO TWO ONE (VF-221) as Prospective Commanding Officer for VF-92. In June 1961, he assumed command of VF-92, an F-3H Demon squadron, for Western Pacific operations on carrier RANGER's (CVA-61) third deployment. VF-92 was redesignated as VF-54 on 1 June 1962 (part of a reorganization that would lead in 1963 to Carrier Air Groups (CAG) becoming Carrier Air Wings (CVW.)) In July 1962, CDR Shelton attended the Naval War College Senior Course in Newport, Rhode Island, graduating in June 1963 and concurrently earning a Masters Degree in International Relations from the George Washington University.
In July 1963, CDR Shelton commenced flying with VF-124 as a Prospective Carrier Air Wing Commander. In November 1963, he began flying with Attack Carrier Readiness Air Wing TWELVE as Prospective Commanding Officer of Attack Carrier Air Wing NINETEEN (CVW-19.) He assumed command of CVW-19 in February 1964, deploying aboard the carrier BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA-31) for the "Concord Squadron" Cruise to the Indian Ocean, visiting Diego Suarez, Madagascar, Mombasa, Kenya, Aden, Yemen, and hosting the Shah of Iran aboard for an air power demonstration. BON HOMME RICHARD was just leaving the South China Sea when the Gulf of Tonkin incidents occurred in August 1964. Although CONSTELLATION (CV-64) and TICONDEROGA (CVA-14) conducted the retaliatory strikes (Operation Pierce Arrow,) BON HOMME RICHARD was held on station in the Gulf of Tonkin for 45 days before resuming her return transit to the West Coast.
In March 1965, CDR Shelton finally got assigned to the Pentagon in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as Assistant Head, National Command Matters, Command Policy Section of the Strategic Plans Division (OP-602C,) where he was awarded a Navy Commendation Medal (his first and only, and at that time, rare.) He was promoted to captain in July 1967 and moved up to Head of the Command Policy Section in the Strategic Plans Division.
In June 1967, CAPT Shelton assumed command of the ammunition ship PARICUTIN (AE-18,) deploying to the South China Sea shortly after the tragic fire on USS FORRESTAL (CVA-59, caused in part by defective ordnance,) providing around-the-clock ammunition and ordnance resupply to Task Force 77 carriers operating on Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin during the most intense carrier air strike operations of the war (matched only in 1972.) In June 1968, CAPT Shelton assumed command of amphibious assault ship TRIPOLI (LPH-10) after the Navy decided that the helicopter carriers needed to be commanded by Naval Aviators. TRIPOLI deployed from San Diego to Vietnam, serving as flagship for Amphibious Squadron NINE (COMPHIBRON 9) and Amphibious Ready Group ALPHA (ARG ALPHA,) conducting eight major amphibious assaults, including Operation BOLD MARINER, the largest assault since WWII and Korea. CAPT Shelton was awarded a Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for this tour, along with his fifth Navy Unit Commendation.
In August 1969, CAPT Shelton returned to the Office of the CNO as Head, Aircraft and Weapons Requirements in the Office of the Deputy CNO for Air (OP-506C.) In June 1971, he became Deputy Director of the Political-Military Policy Division (OP-61B.) He was promoted to rear admiral on 6 November 1971. In April 1972, RADM Shelton became Director of the Political Military Policy Division (OP-61) with additional duty as Special Assistant for Pan-American Affairs. Somewhere during this period future four-star CDR Ron Hays worked for him.
In February 1973, RADM Shelton assumed command of Naval Base, Subic Bay, Luzon, Republic of the Philippines, with additional duty as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Philippines and Commander-in-Chief Pacific (CINCPAC) Representative Philippines. As the Republic of South Vietnam finally collapsed in April 1975 in the face of a full North Vietnamese conventional invasion, RADM Shelton supervised planning and preparation for an expected influx of South Vietnamese refugees. Of some 130,000 South Vietnamese evacuated during Operations Babylift and Frequent Wind, over 43,000 made their way by all manner of conveyance to Subic Bay, where RADM Shelton had set up a receiving station on Grande Island. Afraid of being overwhelmed, the Government of the Philippines did not exactly roll out the welcome mat for South Vietnamese refuges, and ordered that no refugees could remain in the Philippines for more than 72 hours. Many of these refugees came aboard South Vietnamese Navy ships; in order for the Philippines to allow these ships into Subic Bay, U.S. Navy personnel met the ships, assumed command, and brought them in under U.S. flag. One refugee was South Vietnamese Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky, who had piloted his personal helicopter onto DENVER (LPD-9,) along with U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin's wife. The Philippines ordered that Ky was not to set foot on Philippines soil. So upon arrival in Subic, RADM Shelton had Ky flown by helo to Cubi Point, and then walk across a raised path of wooden pallets to a waiting C-130 to be flown on to Guam. Problem solved. Over 43,000 evacuees and refugees were processed through Subic Bay under the most challenging circumstances, which RADM Shelton described as one of the very finest Navy operations in his experience. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for this tour.
In August 1975, RADM Shelton returned to Washington DC as Deputy Director Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E,) with a collateral duty as Senior Military Advisor to the U.S. delegation to negotiate a revised U.S.-Philippines bases agreement (which remained in effect until 1991.) In August 1978, RADM Shelton assumed duty as Director of Plans (J5) for Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (CINCPAC.) On 1 October 1979, RADM Shelton returned to where his career started, at Naval Training Center, San Diego and retired after 4,000 flight hours, 500 carrier landings, and "40-years, 2-months, 27-days and 3-hours" of service to our Nation.
Rear Admiral Shelton's awards include the Distinguished Service Medal (two awards,) Legion of Merit (two awards, one with combat "V,") Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Unit Citation (five awards; ST. LOUIS, VALLEY FORGE, PHILIPPINE SEA, PRINCETON, and TRIPOLI,) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam,) China Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (three stars,) World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal (Asia,) National Defense Service Medal (two awards,) Korean Service Medal (one star,) Vietnam Service Medal (three stars,) Humanitarian Service Medal, Philippine Legion of Honor, Korean Order of National Security Merit (Cheonsu Medal,) Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Philippine Liberation Medal, and United Nations Service Medal.)
Fortunately, there is no obituary, so I have no idea what Don has been up to since 1979 other than being a U.S. Naval Aviation "Golden Eagle." In recent years he has vociferously advocated for a medal upgrade (from Silver Star to Medal of Honor) for Captain (Ret.) E. Royce Williams (now 96) for one of the most incredible and unique feats of aerial combat in the entire Cold War and in U.S. Naval history, that took place over the Sea of Japan on 18 November 1952. The action was the only overwater dogfight of the Korean War, and the only dogfight between jets of any U.S. service and Soviet jets flying from bases in the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and there is good reason to believe that Williams was responsible for the loss of at least three and probably four of the Soviet MiG-15 jet fighters.
On the morning of 18 November 1952, the three U.S. fleet carriers of Task Force 77 were operating in the Sea of Japan, closer to Vladivostok than ever before (about 80 NM south,) striking targets in and around the North Korean port of Hoeryong, previously a sanctuary as it was right across the border from the Soviet Union. Early that afternoon, seven Soviet MiG-15's, in two divisions, subordinate to Soviet Air Defense Forces, launched from Unashi Airfield near Vladivostock and were vectored by their ground-controlled intercept (GCI) controller, to intercept and attack U.S. Navy carrier aircraft operating in vicinity of the carriers. (Note, during the first years of the Korean War, Russian "volunteer" pilots were secretly flying MiG-15's with "North Korean" markings from sanctuary bases in Chinese Manchuria, but these engagements were confined to an overland strip in western North Korea ("Mig Alley") along the Yalu River, and rarely involved U.S. Navy aircraft.)
In response to radar warning of approaching aircraft, four F9F-5 Panther strait-wing jet fighters of VF-781 were launched in foul weather from carrier ORISKANY (CVA-34) to intercept. Although the "-5" was latest and greatest Navy jet fighter it was still outclassed by the faster (by 100 KTS,) faster rate-of-climb and more maneuverable, and heavier-armed swept-wing MiG-15. The Panther's advantage was a better gun site system. After breaking through the thick overcast at about 12,000 feet into clear air mass, all four aircraft sighted seven contrails of the Soviet jets, however the division leader (LT Claire Elwood) experienced a fuel pump warning light and with his wingman (LTJG John Middleton) had to descend back into the cloud deck.
LT Williams continued to climb along with his wingman (LTJG Dave Rowlands) temporarily losing sight of the MiG's as the MiG's descended from contrail altitude. With no further warning, Willams and Rowlands were jumped by an echelon of four MiG-15's on a firing pass. Williams immediately maneuvered and hit the trailing MiG (Rowland's guns never fired.) Rowlands chose to follow the damaged MiG down into the clouds, and out of the battle, just as the three other MiG-15's joined in the fight. This left Williams alone against six MiG-15's; his only hope of survival were tight level altitude turns (if he tried to climb or dive, or steady up on the six of a MiG, the other MiGs would have nailed him.) In the process of constant turns, Williams took brief shots at any MiG the crossed his sites, expending all 760 20mm rounds and hitting at least two more MiGs and probably a third.
Finally, a MiG hit Williams with a 37mm cannon round, that blew a big hole in his wing root and perforated the jet with over 250 smaller shrapnel holes (had the hit been a few inches in either direction, it would have been fatal, and it nearly was anyway.) As Williams dove for the cloud deck and temporary safety, Rowlands had rejoined the fight (without guns) and Middleton had climbed into the engagement to down one MiG, or more likely, finish off one already damaged by Williams. Willams then had to get his badly damaged jet onto the carrier or into the icebath of the frigid Sea of Japan. He was then fired on, briefly by U.S. destroyers, but not hit. To maintain control of the aircraft, he could not drop below 170 KTS (normal recovery speed for an F9F was 105 KTS.) On the heaving deck, he still hit a 3-wire. (His damaged plane was not dumped over the side as in some accounts.)
The fact of this engagement was not secret, in fact there were confidential ONI Intelligence reports and even a reasonably accurate account in Stag Magazine (in 1953, by the VF-781 skipper,) but all referred to "enemy" aircraft or just "MiGs." What remained top secret for decades was the confirmation by the Naval Security Group radio intelligence detachment secretly embarked on heavy cruiser HELENA (CA-75) that these were Soviet Air Defense Force jets, under Soviet GCI control, ordered to attack U.S. aircraft, and that at least three and probably four Soviet jets were lost. (Williams was officially given credit for one down, one damaged. Middleton was credited with one down, and Rowlands was credited with one damaged (without firing a shot.)) It wasn't until the end of the Cold War that Russian sources (which are not prone to exaggerate their own losses) revealed that at least four (and possibly five) Soviet pilots were killed in the engagement, at least three during the fight and one while trying to get his damaged jet back to base.
Neither the top secret radio intelligence, nor the Russian information, was available to the drafters of Williams' Silver Star. Like many combat awards (including Butch O'Hare's Medal of Honor,) Williams' award citation is historically inaccurate, usually because the awarding authority didn't have the enemy side of the story. So, instead of being recognized as the most successful carrier jet fighter pilot of the Korean War, Williams is just one of 221 U.S. Navy personnel to be awarded a Silver Star during the Korean War.
Don Shelton's quest has yet to bear fruit, but he shows no sign of giving up. (Note: NHHC does not advocate for or against medal upgrades; we just try to be as historically accurate as possible.)
Very respectfully,
Sam
Samuel J. Cox (SES)
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired)
Director of Naval History
Curator for the Navy
Director, Naval History and Heritage Command
202-433-2210 (office); 571-213-9392 (govt. cell)
E-mail: samuel.cox@navy.mil
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Guy Stuff: Undeniable Facts of Life - hope it brings a smile
Thanks to Carl
Five Undeniable Facts of Life
1. A girl is said to be grown up when she starts wearing a bra. A boy is grown up when he starts removing it.
2. We all love to spend money buying new clothes but we never realize that the best moments in life are enjoyed without clothes.
3. Having a cold drink on hot day with a few friends is nice, but having a hot friend on a cold night after a few drinks is priceless.
4. Breaking News: Condoms don't guarantee safe sex anymore. A friend of mine was wearing one when he was shot dead by the woman's husband
5.Arguing over a girl's bust size is like choosing between Molson, Heineken, Coors and Budweiser. Men may state their preferences, but will grab whatever is available.
I haven't verified these on "Snopes," but they sound about right!
THE 5 ANSWERS YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR (again not verified by "Snopes")!!!
1. Q: WHAT IS AN AUSTRALIAN KISS?
A: It's the same as a French kiss, but 'downunder'.
2. Q: WHAT DO YOU DO WITH 365 USED CONDOMS?
A: Melt them down, make a tire, and call it a Goodyear
3. Q: WHY WERE HURRICANES ORIGINALLY NAMED AFTER WOMEN?
A: Because when they come, they're wet and wild, and when they go, they take your house and car with them.
4. Q: WHY DO GIRLS RUB THEIR EYES WHEN THEY GET UP IN THE MORNING?
A: Because they don't have any balls to scratch.
BONUS QUESTION & ANSWER
Q: What is a man's Ultimate embarrassment?
A: Running into a wall with an erection and breaking his nose.
Nominated as the world's best short joke:
A 3-year-old boy examined his testicles while taking a bath.
"Mom", he asked, "Are these my brains?"
"Not yet," she replied.
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Thanks to Micro
HAVE FUN WITH THIS LITTLE TEST !
1. When did ''Little Suzie'' finally wake up?
(a) The movie's over, it's 2 o'clock
(b) The movie's over, it's 3 o'clock
(c) The movie's over, it's 4 o'clock
2. ''Rock Around The Clock'' was used in what movie?
(a) Rebel Without A Cause
(b) Blackboard Jungle
(c) The Wild Ones
3. What's missing from a Rock & Roll standpoint?
Earth _____
(a) Angel
(b) Mother
(c) Worm
4. ''I found my thrill…'' Where?
(a) Kansas City
(b) Heartbreak Hotel
(c) Blueberry Hill
5. ''Please turn on your magic beam_____ _____ bring me a dream,''
(a) Mr. Sandman
(b) Earth Angel
(c) Dream Lover
6. For which label did Elvis Presley first record?
(a) Atlantic
(b) RCA
(c) Sun
7. He asked, ''Why's everybody always pickin' on me?'' Who was he?
(a) Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
(b) Charlie Brown
(c) Buster Brown
8. In Bobby Darin's ''Mack The Knife,'' the one with the knife, was named:
(a) Mac Heath
(b) Mac Cloud
(c) McNamara
9. Name the song with ''A-wop bop a-loo bop a-lop bam boom.''
(a) Good Golly, Miss Molly
(b) Be-Bop-A-Lula
(c) Tutti Fruitti
10. Who is generally given credit for originating the term ''Rock And Roll''?
(a) Dick Clark
(b) Wolfman Jack
(c) Alan Freed
11. In 1957, he left the music business to become a preacher:
(a) Little Richard
(b) Frankie Lymon
(c) Tony Orlando
12. Paul Anka's ''Puppy Love'' is written to what star?
(a) Brenda Lee
(b) Connie Francis
(c) Annette Funicello
13. The Everly Brothers were.....
(a) Pete and Dick
(b) Don and Phil
(c) Bob and Bill
14. The Big Bopper's real name was:
(a) Jiles P. Richardson
(b) Roy Harold Scherer Jr.
(c) Marion Michael Morrison
15. In 1959, Berry Gordy, Jr., started a small record company called...
(a) Decca
(b) Cameo
(c) Motown
16. Edd Brynes had a hit with ''Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb''. What TV show was he on?
(a) 77 Sunset Strip
(b) Hawaiian Eye
(c) Surfside Six
17. In 1960 Bobby Darin married:
(a) Carol Lynley
(b) Sandra Dee
(c) Natalie Wood
18. They were a one hit wonder with ''Book Of Love''
(a) The Penguins
(b) The Monotones
(c) The Moonglows
19. The Everly Brothers sang a song called ''Till I ______ You.''
(a) Loved
(b) Kissed
(c) Screwed
(d) Met
20. Chuck Berry sang ''Oh, ___________, why can't you be true?''
(a) Suzie Q
(b) Peggy Sue
(c) Maybelline
21. ''Wooly _______''
(a) Mammouth
(b) Bully
(c) Pully
22. ''I'm like a one-eyed cat....."
(a) can't go into town no more
(b) sleepin' on a cold hard floor
(c) peepin' in a seafood store
23. ''Sometimes I wonder what I'm gonna do........''
(a) cause there ain't no answer for a life without booze
(b) cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
(c) cause my car's gassed up and I'm ready to cruise
24. ''They often call me Speedo, but my real name is......''
(a) Mr. Earl
(b) Jackie Pearl
(c) Milton Berle
25. ''Be Bop A Lula ....''
(a) she's got the rabies
(b) she's my baby.
(c) she loves me, maybe
26. ''Fine Love, Fine Kissing …..''
(a) right here
(b) fifty cents
(c) just for you
27. ''He wore black denim trousers and...''
(a) a pink carnation
(b) pink leotards
(c) motorcycle boots
28. ''I got a gal named……....''
(a) Jenny Zamboni
(b) Gerri Mahoney
(c) Boney Maroney
Answers:
Scroll Down so you aren't tempted to cheat (as if cheating were needed here).
* * * * * * * * * * * *
1. (c) The movie's over, it's 4 o'clock
2. (b) Blackboard Jungle
3. (a) Angel
4. (c) Blueberry Hill
5. (a) Mr. Sandman
6. (c) Sun
7. (b) Charlie Brown
8. (a) Mac Heath
9. (c) Tutti Fruitti
10. (c) Alan Freed
11. (a) Little Richard
12. (c) Annette Funicello
13. (b) Don and Phil
14. (a) Jiles P. Richardson
15. (c) Motown
16. (a) 77 Sunset Strip
17. (b) Sandra Dee
18. (b) The Monotones
19. (b) Kissed
20. (c) Maybelline
21. (b) Bully
22. (c) peepin' in a sea food store
23. (b) cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
24. (a) Mr. Earl
25. (b) she's my baby
26. (a) right here
27. (c) motorcycle boots
28. (c) Boney Maroney
Send this to everyone lucky enough to be teenagers in the Doo Wop era…...
or who wishes they had been.
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Thanks to Shadow
I honestly would like to know?
For the last decade (maybe more?) The Democratic Party has sounded the alarm about "Right Wing Extremists, Racists and now, so called, Insurrectionists". Now like all of you, I've lived more than a few decades in this life. I can remember back about fifty years ago, when such behavior did exist in certain segments of our society… but after the 60's, I can only remember just a very few acts by individuals that fall into that category.
In their penchant for hyperbole… their amped up rhetoric today, would make the uneducated think it was still pandemic in our country. That got me to thinking?
I would like to know, exactly how many blacks have been killed/murdered by Right Wing, "White Supremacists" or Racists", over the last five decades?
And then I'd like to know, how many Blacks have been killed by fellow Blacks over the same time frame?
And while we're at it, how many whites have been killed/murdered by Blacks during the same period.
And... Oh, hell… lets throw in the number of Blacks killed by police during that time and follow that up with how many cops have been killed by Blacks.
I think the facts would be enlightening? Just relying on my common sense… I'm too dumb to know where to go to find such figures, but I'm willing to bet they're out there some where. Burt's pretty good at pulling stuff like this up, maybe he could find it?
Right now, the Democratic Party has the FBI chasing its' tail… running around all over this country seeking out so called Right Wing Fascists, insurrectionists and racists. They are spending millions of dollars a day on this, using the latest technology… from facial recognition to monitoring social media (spying on our fellow Americans). My problem is, when you use "Woke culture" to define just what kind of person falls into this category… the standards keep getting lowered to such a degree; that just having a difference of opinion can put some innocent and non-violent, unsuspecting, patriot... suddenly finding themselves in the FBI's crosshairs. This is just plain lunacy! But sadly, it seems that those on the left or driving this thing to those extremes.
Anybody want to tackle these figures? Maybe the SCLC has statistics on white on black crime? A curious mind would like to know?
Shadow=
HOLY SHIT! It's worse than I thought! Need to post this for everyone! Everyone click on the "Here".
Shadow
Thanks to Dr. Rich for the answer
First, do you have an iPhone?
If you do, ask Siri!! You might be surprised what she finds … I just did, and it works, at least for "how many blacks killed whites"?
If not, then Google it … or just click HERE ...
Rich
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Thanks to Micro
I got a note from a USNA Classmate with a link to a church bulletin with an opinion written by their parish priest. I've copied it below, but it's also on the second page of this bulletin: https://straymonds.org/wp-content/uploads/2021-05-09-bulletin.pdf. We need more to stand up against the crap being spewed across the country:
Pastor's Corner
ARE YOU A RACIST? According to many modern academics and leftist activists, if you are "white" you almost certainly are a racist. At least that's what the leftist-Marxist thought police are trying to force us to believe nowadays. We see it all over the place, and now they're trying to make it part of the laws and rules of our country.
We also see it in education in what is called "Critical Race Theory." The foundational tenets of CRT are, first, "The centrality and intersectionality of racism." That is, racism exists everywhere in American life–from our personal thoughts, to interpersonal relationships, to the workplace, to schools and the courts. CRT holds that racism isn't just about the actions of individuals, but that it's embedded in our institutions, systems, and culture. It is the American way of life.
Because of this, CRT holds that concepts like neutrality, objectivity, colorblindness, and meritocracy are actually impossible in America, since racism is part of everyday life in America.
Of course, all of this is nonsense, lies and anti-historical.
And yet, last summer, in preparing to develop a new "anti-racism" curriculum, Fairfax County Public School teachers, principals and other school administrators, attended a one hour Zoom conference hosted by CRT promoter and author Ibram Kendi on anti-racism and "critical race theory." Kendi was paid $20,000 and the school district spent another $24,000 on Kendi's books, making them required reading for K-12 students.
CRT is rooted in Marxist principle of class warfare: setting groups to fight against each other, in part to achieve revolution and attain power to impose new governing and moral principles on society. This has been repeatedly condemned by the Church as being diametrically opposed to the fundamental rule of loving your neighbor (neither racism nor class warfare are consistent with love) and the dignity of every human being and his/her God-given inherent rights and liberties.
Every true Christian should find it despicable. And yet these are the ideology/morals/principles that your government controlled schools, funded by your tax dollars and to which YOU send your children, are indoctrinating our youth with.
This, along with the many perverted and nonsensical notions of sexuality and gender, as well as anti-life, anti-Christian and other anti-American ideas, that are being promoted by our government run local schools (i.e., Fairfax County Public Schools), causes me to wonder if it is immoral to send children to these schools.
Is it immoral—a grave sin? I'm afraid it just might be. At least, we need to consider this.
Think about this: we were all rightly outraged when we heard about the abuse of children by priests and bishops a few years back. I remember how, for a while, so many people treated all priests as suspect of these horrible deeds. And we still have all sorts of rules in place in the Church that are to protect our children from the possibility of this ever happening. I understood that.
But now I wonder, why do we not feel/think the same outrage and suspicion toward our government bureaucrats and elected officials who are also abusing our children by warping their minds with this filth and nonsense? If we teach racial-minority students to hate white students, and teach white children to hate themselves? All based on lies! If we teach our kids to hate and distrust our institutions—from the Church to the Courts to the Constitution itself? How can we corrupt our kids with this cow manure, and still say we love them, much less expect them and ourselves to remain in God's favor? How can we do this to our little ones and not fear the fires of hell—for them and us?
And yet...What is the alternative? Many parents of government/public school children believe they simply can't afford, financially or otherwise, the alternatives.
Many, recognizing the problem, dedicate themselves to offsetting the nonsense of the schools by aggressively countering these errors at home and in the parish. This seems to work for some parents. But I don't think it will work for most parents—because they simply don't work at it aggressively, but also because it's just so hard to offset the indoctrination forced on them by their teachers and peers.
Something must be done. The best alternatives are to put your kids in Catholic schools or to homeschool—or perhaps have good Catholic homeschooling friends homeschool your kids for you. We need to be creative—we need to think outside the box. For the love of Christ, and the love of our kids.
The last few months I have been racking my brain trying to figure out how to help you with this. One way is by offering scholarships to Catholic schools to parish families, as well as aid to homeschooling families. Every year we offer 10s of thousands of dollars in this aid. That's why I've designated this week's second collection for Parish Special Needs to pay for these scholarships—so I ask you all, especially those with older children and with more substantive means, to please give generously.
But maybe there's something else I can do. So I'll be working on that this summer. Please pray that the Lord may guide me.
ABUSE OF POLICE. The Critical Race Theory, or the idea that all whites and all American institutions are racist, is also seen in the degradation of our Police officers. You know what I mean. And cops are quitting in droves: no human being deserves such disrespect, especially when they are risking their lives every day for our safety.
Again, it reminds me of the priest abuse scandal. Almost all police officers are good and honorable. There are some bad apples. There may even be better techniques to use in policing. But even when tragedy occurs, even when a cop goes bad—or simply makes a terrible mistake in the heat of the moment—we can't treat them all like "pigs."
It makes me sick to see how the leftist-Marxist inspired groups are pushing this anti-police agenda, at the heart of which is the intention to tear down our society (including the Church) and its moral norms, and rebuild it in a totalitarian state, imposing their ideas on all of us.
Catholics cannot stand for this. Yes, cops make mistakes, and some even are bad apples, but the same can be said for priests, for parents, and for leftist activists. Evil, and even mistakes, must be punished. But Jesus commands us, "Love one another." We must reject the Marxist principle to "fight one another."
Oremus pro invicem. Fr. De Celles
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Thanks to Brown Bear
I Know Communism ...
And I know/knew communists, far too many of them! I went toe-to-toe, eye-to-eye, and gun barrel-to-gun barrel with thousands of them for 27 years. So did 58,220 of my associates, colleagues, and close friends, who died in those hundreds of bloody battles. They sacrificed their lives trying to keep that scourge of terror at bay, to ensure it never penetrated our Fortress America. It was never a fair fight! They were hunkered down in concrete bunkers, firing thousands of cannons and guided missiles, as we dove down through open skies, protected only by our skill at maneuvering thin-skinned aircraft; and fortunately for us, the grace of Almighty God, who clearly regarded us as His peacemakers, His children. During those 10 years of horrible warfare, our American forces never lost a battle, the enemy were continually denied the occupation of another civilization. Very unfortunately, our weak-willed, inept, self-serving politicians gave away all we had sacrificed our lives-and-limbs for, to enhance their own personal careers. We were ordered home, and those we had died to save were massacred by the thousands.
Equally unfortunate, during our absence, the America for which we were fighting had been overwhelmed by the propaganda and outright lies of the cowardly who had refused to fight. They had sought refuge in academia as long-term students, who then either fled to other nations or migrated into leadership positions on our campuses. Catastrophically, they had achieved dominance in both the failing education system and the arena of public information, and they dominated the unholy alliance commonly known as Hollywood. They were, in turn, "easy pickens" for the communist movement spreading worldwide. While we were fighting and dying overseas, they had invaded Fortress America. The children we had left behind, while fighting overseas, were now totally illiterate in terms of the true history of the miracle that had once been American Democracy. The fox was in the chicken house!
I left the military, at age 48, to pick up the fight against emerging international terrorism, which was, and still is, the military arm of the communist party worldwide. The communists I encountered, first in the Philippines and later in western and eastern Europe, were not hidden in concrete bunkers, and were not so effective in immediate destruction of their opposition, but, in the end, they were equally as deadly as North Vietnamese gunners.
I met, and married, a wonderful woman who had been born into communism in an unfortunate eastern European country, which had been "given" to the Soviet Union at the end of World War II. Her formerly prosperous family farm was seized by the communists as she was born. Her father and mother were allowed only a straw and mud hut, with a dirt floor, in which to survive and raise two small children. At age 3, she was sent to live in the barn of the Commissar, to care for his animals. The Soviet police later discovered a nine year old girl, with a head full of lice, who was not attending school, as required to learn the Russian language. At age 14, she entered the workforce in the kitchen of a local hospital, and two years later was sent to work in Soviet (slave) labor camps in East Germany. The first was a ceramic factory where her lungs were seriously damaged by the dust, and the second was a textile factory where her eyes were damaged. Then she got lucky and was "selected" to join a culinary group which was "invited" to serve lunch to the Chancellor of East Germany every Thursday. Seems Hoenicker had a taste for goulash. That's where I first encountered her, in the restaurant atop the StadtBerliner Hotel on AlexanderPlatz in East Berlin. We worked together for several years, very effectively, before finally "leaving the scene" and retiring to Fortress America. Now, we both watch in horror as America is consumed by the politics of hatred and distrust, which are the foundation of communist rule.
Yes, I know who communists are, and I know what communism is! I worked against it in our Government in DC, overseas in our Embassies, and at NATO. I studied it intensely and hold a PhD in Political Science/Political Culture from a major Big Ten University. I taught as a Professor at both a Big Ten and a Big Twelve University for several years. My published textbook, "Media Coverage and Political Terrorists: A Quantitive Analysis" has been on Harvard's John F Kennedy School of Government reading list. You could find it on the Internet and probably read it for a few pennies. It would give you some insight as to how total corruption of a nation's informational systems is the predecessor to its downfall, and domination by the scourage of comminusm.
Wake up, America! The "Woke Generation" is communist to the core and the beginning of our end! They are "eating our lunch!"
Respectfully submitted, on behalf of our fallen Patriots, for this Armed Forces Day. 2021.
Dr. Richard Schaffert, PhD. MSci. MBA
aka Brown Bear
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