The List 6006 TGB
Good Wednesday Morning February 16
A bit of history and some tidbits.
Heading for some relaxing time throwing a few down range this morning for the first time since all the nonsense started 2 years ago. I am taking some very large targets.
Regards,
Skip
This day in Naval and Marine Corps History
February 16
Some bits about two famous folks today that have one thing in common. They both were Marine fighter pilots in WWII and Korea and both were buried as Marines. Ted Williams and Ed McMahon.
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Skip
February. 16
1804—Lt. Stephen Decatur, with volunteers from frigate Constitution and schooner Enterprise, enters Tripoli harbor by night in the ketch Intrepid to burn the captured frigate Philadelphia.
1815—The frigate Constitution captures British ship Susannah, despite the War of 1812 being over six weeks earlier.
1944—USS Skate (SS 305) sinks the Japanese light cruiser Agano as she deploys from Truk, Caroline Islands.
1945—PB4Y-1 Liberators from (VPB 117) sink Japanese army cargo ship Ida Maru at Cape St. Jacques, French Indochina.
1952—USS Gregory (DD 802), USS Twining (DD 540), and USS Rowan (DD 782) greet the first anniversary of the siege of Wonsan, Korea, with destructive interdiction fire.
This Day in World History
1760 Cherokee Indians held hostage at Fort St. George are killed in revenge for Indian attacks on frontier settlements.
1804 US Navy lieutenant Steven Decatur leads a small group of sailors into Tripoli harbor and burns the USS Philadelphia, captured earlier by Barbary pirates.
1862 Fort Donelson, Tennessee, falls to Grant's Federal forces, but not before Nathan Bedford Forrest escapes.
1865 Columbia, South Carolina, surrenders to Federal troops.
1923 Bessie Smith makes her first recording "Down Hearted Blues."
1934 Thousands of Socialists battle Communists at a rally in New York's Madison Square Garden.
1937 Dupont patents a new thread, nylon, which will replace silk in a number of products and reduce costs.
1940 The British destroyer HMS Cossack rescues British seamen from a German prison ship, the Altmark, in a Norwegian fjord.
1942 Tojo outlines Japan's war aims to the Diet, referring to "new order of coexistence" in East Asia.
1945 American paratroopers land on Corregidor, in a campaign to liberate the Philippines.
1951 Stalin contends the U.N. is becoming the weapon of aggressive war.
1952 The FBI arrests 10 members of the Ku Klux Klan in North Carolina.
1957 A U.S. flag flies over an outpost in Wilkes Land, Antarctica.
1959 Fidel Castro takes the oath as Cuban premier in Havana.
1965 Four persons are held in a plot to blow up the Statue of Liberty, Liberty Bell and the Washington Monument.
1966 The World Council of Churches being held in Geneva, urges immediate peace in Vietnam.
1978 China and Japan sign a $20 billion trade pact, which is the most important move since the 1972 resumption of diplomatic ties.
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Thanks to Dr. Rich. Ed was truly one of the good guys and always a gentleman and of course always a Marine..skip
Ed McMahon
Thanks to Drano … who took Ed on his Harrier ride ...
Doc....
Just a short follow up on your note to me......
I had the privilege of taking Ed McMahon for a Harrier ride when I commanded VMAT-203 in Cherry Point NC. Doubt the offer still exists but at the time, there was a way for politicians, senior civilian DoD, and various VIPs to get a ride as a "Commandant's Guest." In similar fashion, I flew various Service Secretaries, senior congressional staffers, Neal Armstrong, F. Lee Bailey, Bob Lutz, couple movie stars, and etc. Since VMAT 203 had the only two seat Harriers, we got them all.
Ed McMahon was one of the most memorable and most gracious guests we had. He showed up dressed like he was going to some promotional golf benefit with a very attractive lady on his arm. The guy was bigger than life with his booming voice, his banter and his laughter. All he wanted to do was talk to the troops (which was VERY much UNLIKE all the other guests) and tell stories of his time in the Corps. We actually had to talk him into taking a flight. He told me confidentially that he wanted to go fly but was scared he would get sick and did not want some young Marine to have to clean up after him.
I promised him that if he felt OK before the flight, he would not get sick during the flight. We would do no "yanking and banking" and that if it took all of Carteret and Craven County NC to turn around, that is what we would do to keep him comfortable. He could tell the story of his flight anyway he wanted to but I would keep it short and assemble the troops for him to talk to when we returned. He would love it, the troops would love it, and he would be doing us all a great honor. It all worked out very well.
His flight with us did not make the top 20 events in his list but it sure did for us while I was commander of that squadron. He was a natural showman and we all loved having him with us.
Thx
Drano
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Thanks to Newell and Cowboy for finding the URL
Once Upon a Long Time Ago
Tom Bushar, a long time ago friend from my youth when growing up in Erie, PA, sent me the attached video this morning. It's a light hearted glimpse into the rear view mirror of an earlier, more innocent, gentler and kinder America. So, I'm sharing it with my entire mailing list, because it is a happy glance into our heritage. And I'm a sucker for rosy-hued memories of what once was....
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Thanks to Cowboy and Carl
A WONDERFUL story about real Americans!!
Keep the Faith
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Thanks to Todd S. ... Great!! 👍🇺🇸
Ed, "Good Entertainer, but a Great Marine", McMahon Flew 85 Combat Missions in Korea
Before he died, McMahon told his son, Lex, who is a Corporal in the US Army, that he wanted to be remembered as a "Good Entertainer, but a Great Marine." His son also compiled a list of highlights of his father's 23-years of service, which reflects McMahon's quirky sense of humor:
Eating powder eggs during Officers Candidates School – even though they were billeted on a farm with hundreds of chickens – some things in the Corps never change!
Being commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant.
Being made a flight instructor while still in flight school.
Earning his Naval Aviator wings on 4/4/44.
Flying the hottest fighter in WWII – the F4U-Corsair.
Being reprimanded for conducting "training missions" over his girlfriend's house.
Becoming a test pilot.
Being reprimanded for conducting "training missions" over his girlfriend's house (again!)
Teaching carrier landings.
And yes, being reprimanded for flying "training missions" over his girlfriend's house for the third time!.
Telling NBC he'd love to sign a big contract to be their next star– but he had just received orders to report to Korea.
Meeting Marilyn Monroe before deploying to Korea and having her impishly tell him: "Ed, I'm not wearing anything underneath."
Flying 85 combat missions in Korea as an artillery spotter.
Cornering the market on food and alcohol by becoming his squadron's Officer-in-Charge of the Mess Tent and Officer's Club.
The 3-day long party in Tent 7 with 55-gallon drums of "truce juice" when the armistice was signed.
Participation in creating the Toys for Tots program.
Being promoted to Colonel.
Promoting his son to the rank of Corporal.
Passing a flight physical at age 70 and flying the Harrier Jump Jet.
Working with The Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation to cement the legacy and traditions of Marine Corps Aviation.
And being Major General Lenhart's Guest of Honor at the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Ball in 2005 – Sir, he had tremendous respect for you and was humbled to be your guest of honor.
Corporal Lex McMahon also wrote a sad and inspiring note in concerning his father's death:
Dad – on behalf of a grateful nation, fiercely loyal United States Marine Corps, assembled friends, loving family, and me – a devoted son – it is the highest honor of my life, to fulfill your request to be buried as a Marine. I wish you Godspeed, as you pull chocks and embark on one last mission in your Corsair – destined for the final rally point– Valhalla – warrior heaven. I salute you!
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear … Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post
… For The List for Wednesday, 16 February 2022… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 16 February 1967… The NYT page 1: Secretary of Defense answers tough questions…
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.
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Thanks to Buzz ... and Dr. Rich
The Intersection between truth and humor …
Don't be worried about your smartphone or TV spying on you. Your vacuum cleaner has been collecting dirt on you for years.
If you can't think of a word, say, I forgot the English word for it. That way people will think you're bilingual instead of an idiot
I'm at a place in my life where errands are starting to count as going out.
I'm getting tired of being part of a major historical event.
I don't always go the extra mile, but when I do, it's because I missed my exit.
My goal for 2021 was to lose 10 pounds. When the year ended, I only had 14 to go.
Ate salad for dinner. Mostly croutons and tomatoes. Really just one big round crouton covered with tomato sauce and cheese FINE, it was a pizza.... OK, I ate a pizza! Are you happy now?
I just did a week's worth of cardio after walking into a spider web.
I don't mean to brag, but I finished my 14-day diet food supply in 3 hours and 20 minutes.
A recent study has found women who carry a little extra weight live longer than men who mention it.
Kids today don't know how easy they have it. When I was young, I had to walk 9 feet through shag carpet to change the TV channel.
Senility has been a smooth transition for me.
Remember back when we were kids and every time it was below freezing outside they closed school? Yeah, me neither.
I may not be that funny or athletic or good looking or smart or talented. I forgot where I was going with this.
I love being 80, I learn something new every day and forget 5 other things.
A thief broke into my house last night. He started searching for money so I got up and searched with him.
I think I'll just put an "Out of Order" sticker on my forehead and call it a day.
Just remember, once you're over the hill, you begin to pick up speed.
Having plans sounds like a good idea until you have to put on clothes and leave the house.
It's weird being the same age as old people.
When I was a kid I wanted to be older . . this is not what I expected.
Life is like a helicopter. I don't know how to operate a helicopter.
It's probably my age that tricks people into thinking I'm an adult.
Marriage Counselor: Your wife says you never buy her flowers. Is that true? Me: To be honest, I never knew she sold flowers.
Never sing in the shower! Singing leads to dancing, dancing leads to slipping, and slipping leads to paramedics seeing you naked. So remember. . . . Don't sing!
If 2021 was a math word-problem: If you're going down a river at 2 MPH and your canoe loses a wheel, how much pancake mix would you need to re-shingle your roof?
I see people about my age mountain climbing; I feel good getting my leg through my underwear without losing my balance.
So if a cow doesn't produce milk, is it a milk dud or an udder failure?
Corona-coaster: noun; the ups and downs of a pandemic. One day you're loving your bubble, doing workouts, baking banana bread and going for long walks and the next you're crying, drinking gin for breakfast and missing people you don't even like.
I'm at that age where my mind still thinks I'm 29, my humor suggests I'm 12, while my body mostly keeps asking if I'm sure I'm not dead yet.
You don't realize how old you are until you sit on the floor and then try to get back up.
We all get heavier as we get older, because there's a lot more information in our heads. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
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Thanks to Mud
Green New Deal
How many coal-fired power plants are there in the world today?
The EU has 468 - building 27 more... Total of 495
Turkey has 56 - building 93 more... Total 149
South Africa has 79 - building 24 more... Total 103
India has 589 - building 446 more... Total 1035
The Philippines has 19 - building 60 more... Total 79
South Korea has 58 - building 26 more... Total of 84
Japan has 90 - building 45 more... Total 135
China has 2,363 - building 1,171 more... Total = 3,534
That's 5,615 projected coal-powered plants in just 8 countries.
USA has 15 - building 0 more...Total = 15
And Democrat politicians with their "green new deal" want to brainwash us and shut down those 15 plants in order to "save" the planet.
This is EXCELLENT!! I knew the rough idea about the number of coal plants but had not yet seen actual numbers until now.
This makes the point. Whatever the USA does or doesn't do won't make a Tinker's Dam regarding CO2 unless the rest of the world, especially China and India reduce their coal-fired power plants as well.
The whole "global warming" and "climate change" gambits by Democrats are to create a *supposedly* sound, scientific basis to justify a federal government power-grab and the passage of MORE laws to increase taxes and increased control of the privately-owned power industry and its distribution. Never forget the *main* motivation they have!
"Oh, we will SAVE the planet!!"
WAKE UP AMERICA !!!! We are being played ….. again !!!
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This Day in U S Military History
16 February
1852 – Henry and Clement Studebaker founded H & C Studebaker, a blacksmith and wagon building business, in South Bend, Indiana. The brothers made their fortune manufacturing during the Civil War, as The Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company became the world's largest manufacturer of horse-drawn carriages. With the advent of the automobile, Studebaker converted its business to car manufacturing, becoming one of the larger independent automobile manufacturers. During World War II, Studebaker manufactured airplanes for the war effort and emphasized its patriotic role by releasing cars called "The President," "The Champion," and "The Commander." Like many of the independents, Studebaker fared well during the war by producing affordable family cars. After the war, the Big Three, bolstered by their new government-subsidized production facilities, were too much for many of the independents. Studebaker was no exception. Post World War II competition drove Studebaker to its limits, and the company merged with the Packard Corporation in 1954. Financial hardship continued however as they continued to lose money over the next several years. Studebaker rebounded in 1959 with the introduction of the compact Lark but it was shortlived. The 1956 Cruiser marked the end of the Studebaker after 114 years.
1945 – Two American battalions, one sea borne and one dropped by parachute, land on Corregidor Island in Manila Bay. The attacking troops land successfully but encounter heavy Japanese resistance among the tunnels and gun emplacements of the island. The US troops are quickly reinforced. Since the battle for Luzon began, about 3200 tons of bombs have been dropped on Corregidor.
1945 – US Task Force 58, part of US 5th Fleet (Spruance), with 12 fleet carriers and 4 light carriers, conducts air raids on Tokyo. The aircraft carriers are escorted by 8 battleships, 15 cruisers and 83 destroyers as well as numerous support ships.
1945 – US Task Force 54 (Admiral Rodgers), with 5 cruisers and 16 destroyers, as well as the 10 escort carriers of TF52 begin the preliminary bombardment of Iwo Jima. Poor weather limits the effectiveness of the activity.
1953 – Air Force Captain Joseph C. McConnell, Jr., 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, flying his F-86 "Beauteous Butch" shot down his fifth MiG. The delayed confirmation of the kill resulted in him being recognized as the 27th ace of the war rather than the 26th.
1953 – Marine Corps Captain Ted Williams, future baseball hall of famer, had his F9F Panther jet fighter badly crippled by anti-aircraft fire. Rather than ditch the aircraft, Captain Williams opted to return to base, an action that required exceptional skill and daring. He received the Air Medal for his actions. Williams walked away from the wheels-up landing.
1968 – U.S. officials report that, in addition to the 800,000 people listed as refugees prior to January 30, the fighting during the Tet Offensive has created 350,000 new refugees. The communist attack known as the Tet Offensive had begun at dawn on January 31, the first day of the Tet holiday truce. Viet Cong forces, supported by large numbers of North Vietnamese troops, launched the largest and best-coordinated offensive of the war, driving into the centers of South Vietnam's seven largest cities and attacking 30 provincial capitals ranging from the Delta to the DMZ. Among the cities taken during the first four days of the offensive were Hue, Dalat, Kontum, and Quang Tri; in the north, all five provincial capitals were overrun. At the same time, enemy forces shelled numerous Allied airfields and bases. In Saigon, a 19-man Viet Cong suicide squad seized the U.S. Embassy and held it for six hours until an assault force of U.S. paratroopers landed by helicopter on the building's roof and routed them. Nearly 1,000 Viet Cong were believed to have infiltrated Saigon and it required a week of intense fighting by an estimated 11,000 U.S. and South Vietnamese troops to dislodge them. By February 10, the offensive was largely crushed, but with a cost of heavy casualties on both sides. Militarily, Tet was decidedly an Allied victory, but psychologically and politically, it was a disaster. The offensive was a crushing military defeat for the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese, but the size and scope of the communist attacks had caught the American and South Vietnamese allies completely by surprise. The early reporting of a smashing communist victory went largely uncorrected in the media and led to a psychological victory for the communists. The heavy U.S. and South Vietnamese casualties incurred during the offensive–and the disillusionment over the early, overly optimistic reports of progress in the war–accelerated the growing disenchantment with President Lyndon B. Johnson's conduct of the war.
2006 – The last Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) is decommissioned by the United States Army. The Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) refers to a United States Army medical unit serving as a fully functional hospital in a combat area of operations. The units were first established in August 1945, and were deployed during the Korean War and later conflicts. The successor to the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital is the Combat Support Hospital.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
HARVEY, HARRY
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 4 June 1873, New York, N.Y. Accredited to: New Jersey. G.O. No.: 55, 19 July 1901. Citation: Served in battle against the enemy at Benictican, 16 February 1900. Throughout this action and in the presence of the enemy, Harvey distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.
McCARTER, LLOYD G.
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment. Place and date: Corregidor, Philippine Islands, 16 19 February 1945. Entered service at: Tacoma, Wash. Born: 11 May 1917, St. Maries, Idaho. G.O. No.: 77, 10 September 1945. Citation: He was a scout with the regiment which seized the fortress of Corregidor, Philippine Islands. Shortly after the initial parachute assault on 16 February 1945, he crossed 30 yards of open ground under intense enemy fire, and at pointblank range silenced a machinegun with hand grenades. On the afternoon of 18 February he killed 6 snipers. That evening, when a large force attempted to bypass his company, he voluntarily moved to an exposed area and opened fire. The enemy attacked his position repeatedly throughout the night and was each time repulsed. By 2 o'clock in the morning, all the men about him had been wounded; but shouting encouragement to his comrades and defiance at the enemy, he continued to bear the brunt of the attack, fearlessly exposing himself to locate enemy soldiers and then pouring heavy fire on them. He repeatedly crawled back to the American line to secure more ammunition. When his submachine gun would no longer operate, he seized an automatic rifle and continued to inflict heavy casualties. This weapon, in turn, became too hot to use and, discarding it, he continued with an M-l rifle. At dawn the enemy attacked with renewed intensity. Completely exposing himself to hostile fire, he stood erect to locate the most dangerous enemy positions. He was seriously wounded; but, though he had already killed more than 30 of the enemy, he refused to evacuate until he had pointed out immediate objectives for attack. Through his sustained and outstanding heroism in the face of grave and obvious danger, Pvt. McCarter made outstanding contributions to the success of his company and to the recapture of Corregidor.
*KYLE, DARWIN K.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company K, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Kamil-ni, Korea, 16 February 1951. Entered service at: Racine, W. Va. Born: 1 June 1918, Jenkins, Ky. G.O. No.: 17, 1 February 1952. Citation: 2d Lt. Kyle, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. When his platoon had been pinned down by intense fire, he completely exposed himself to move among and encourage his men to continue the advance against enemy forces strongly entrenched on Hill 185. Inspired by his courageous leadership, the platoon resumed the advance but was again pinned down when an enemy machine gun opened fire, wounding 6 of the men. 2d Lt. Kyle immediately charged the hostile emplacement alone, engaged the crew in hand-to-hand combat, killing all 3. Continuing on toward the objective, his platoon suddenly received an intense automatic-weapons fire from a well-concealed hostile position on its right flank. Again leading his men in a daring bayonet charge against this position, firing his carbine and throwing grenades, 2d Lt. Kyle personally destroyed 4 of the enemy before he was killed by a burst from an enemy submachinegun. The extraordinary heroism and outstanding leadership of 2d Lt. Kyle, and his gallant self-sacrifice, reflect the highest credit upon himself and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the military service.
*GRAVES, TERRENCE COLLINSON
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, 3d Force Reconnaissance Company, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place and date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 16 February 1968. Entered service at: New York Born: 6 July 1945, Corpus Christi, Tex. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a platoon commander with the 3d Force Reconnaissance Company. While on a long-range reconnaissance mission, 2d Lt. Graves' 8-man patrol observed 7 enemy soldiers approaching their position. Reacting instantly, he deployed his men and directed their fire on the approaching enemy. After the fire had ceased, he and 2 patrol members commenced a search of the area, and suddenly came under a heavy volume of hostile small arms and automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior enemy force. When 1 of his men was hit by the enemy fire, 2d Lt. Graves moved through the fire-swept area to his radio and, while directing suppressive fire from his men, requested air support and adjusted a heavy volume of artillery and helicopter gunship fire upon the enemy. After attending the wounded, 2d Lt. Graves, accompanied by another marine, moved from his relatively safe position to confirm the results of the earlier engagement. Observing that several of the enemy were still alive, he launched a determined assault, eliminating the remaining enemy troops. He then began moving the patrol to a landing zone for extraction, when the unit again came under intense fire which wounded 2 more marines and 2d Lt. Graves. Refusing medical attention, he once more adjusted air strikes and artillery fire upon the enemy while directing the fire of his men. He led his men to a new landing site into which he skillfully guided the incoming aircraft and boarded his men while remaining exposed to the hostile fire. Realizing that 1 of the wounded had not em barked, he directed the aircraft to depart and, along with another marine, moved to the side of the casualty. Confronted with a shortage of ammunition, 2d Lt. Graves utilized supporting arms and directed fire until a second helicopter arrived. At this point, the volume of enemy fire intensified, hitting the helicopter and causing it to crash shortly after liftoff. All aboard were killed. 2d Lt. Graves' outstanding courage, superb leadership and indomitable fighting spirit throughout the day were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country .
*MILLER, GARY L.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. place and date: Binh Duong province, Republic of Vietnam, 16 February 1969. Entered service at: Roanoke, Va. Born: 19 March 1947, Covington, Va. Citation: For conspicuous intrepidity and gallantry in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. First Lt. Miller, Infantry, Company A, was serving as a platoon leader at night when his company ambushed a hostile force infiltrating from Cambodian sanctuaries. After contact with the enemy was broken, 1st Lt. Miller led a reconnaissance patrol from their prepared positions through the early evening darkness and dense tropical growth to search the area for enemy casualties. As the group advanced they were suddenly attacked. First Lt. Miller was seriously wounded. However, the group fought back with telling effect on the hostile force. An enemy grenade was thrown into the midst of the friendly patrol group and all took cover except 1st Lt. Miller. who in the dim light located the grenade and threw himself on it, absorbing the force of the explosion with his body. His action saved nearby members of his patrol from almost certain serious injury. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by this officer were an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.
*MONROE, JAMES H.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Place and date: Bong Son, Hoai Nhon Province, Republic of Vietnam, 16 February 1967. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 17 October 1944, Aurora, Ill. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. His platoon was deployed in a night ambush when the position was suddenly subjected to an intense and accurate grenade attack, and 1 foxhole was hit immediately. Responding without hesitation to the calls for help from the wounded men Pfc. Monroe moved forward through heavy small-arms fire to the foxhole but found that all of the men had expired. He turned immediately and crawled back through the deadly hail of fire toward other calls for aid. He moved to the platoon sergeant's position where he found the radio operator bleeding profusely from fragmentation and bullet wounds. Ignoring the continuing enemy attack, Pfc. Monroe began treating the wounded man when he saw a live grenade fall directly in front of the position. He shouted a warning to all those nearby, pushed the wounded radio operator and the platoon sergeant to one side, and lunged forward to smother the grenade's blast with his body. Through his valorous actions, performed in a flash of inspired selflessness, Pfc. Monroe saved the lives of 2 of his comrades and prevented the probable injury of several others. His gallantry and intrepidity were in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army, and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
*SMITH, ELMELINDO R.
Rank and organization: Platoon Sergeant (then S/Sgt.), U.S. Army, 1st Platoon, Company C, 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 16 February 1967. Entered service at: Honolulu, Hawaii. Born: 27 July 1935, Honolulu, Hawaii. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. During a reconnaissance patrol. his platoon was suddenly engaged by intense machinegun fire hemming in the platoon on 3 sides. A defensive perimeter was hastily established, but the enemy added mortar and rocket fire to the deadly fusillade and assaulted the position from several directions. With complete disregard for his safety, P/Sgt. Smith moved through the deadly fire along the defensive line, positioning soldiers, distributing ammunition and encouraging his men to repeal the enemy attack. Struck to the ground by enemy fire which caused a severe shoulder wound, he regained his feet, killed the enemy soldier and continued to move about the perimeter. He was again wounded in the shoulder and stomach but continued moving on his knees to assist in the defense. Noting the enemy massing at a weakened point on the perimeter, he crawled into the open and poured deadly fire into the enemy ranks. As he crawled on, he was struck by a rocket. Moments later, he regained consciousness, and drawing on his fast dwindling strength, continued to crawl from man to man. When he could move no farther, he chose to remain in the open where he could alert the perimeter to the approaching enemy. P/Sgt. Smith perished, never relenting in his determined effort against the enemy. The valorous acts and heroic leadership of this outstanding soldier inspired those remaining members of his platoon to beat back the enemy assaults. P/Sgt. Smith's gallant actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and they reflect great credit upon him and the Armed Forces of his country
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for February 16, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
16 February
1914: Lt (Junior Grade) J. McC. Murray, Naval Aviator No. 10, flying a Burgess D-1 flying boat, crashed in the water and drowned. (24) Lts Joseph E. Carberry and Walter R. Taliaferro set an Army altitude record of 8,700 feet for two people in a Curtiss plane (Signal Corps No. 23) at San Diego. (24) The Department of Commerce classified seaplanes and flying boats as vessels. (24)
1918: Plant A-1 began operations to assemble American-made planes at Romorantin, France. (24)
1943: B-17s and B-24s attacked St. Nazaire France. Eight aircraft were lost and 30 damaged. (4)
1945: Through mid-March, the Navy destroyed 648 aircraft in raids on the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Iwo Jima, and Tokyo. (24) On the Japanese-held island of Corregidor in Manila Bay, C-47s dropped 2,065 paratroopers to support an American amphibious landing trying to capture the harbor of Manila. (21)
1951: KOREAN WAR. The Army started using L-19 Bird Dogs for the Forward Airborne Control mission and artillery spotting along the frontlines. (21)
1961: The National Air and Space Administration launched its first satellite from Wallops Station, Va., when a four-stage Scout booster lifted Explorer IX into orbit. This 12-foot diameter round "polka dot" balloon was the first satellite to be launched by the US aboard a solid-fueled rocket. (24)
1966: General John P. McConnell, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, presented astronaut wings to Col L. Gordon Cooper, Col Frank Borman, and Lt Col Thomas P. Stafford. (16)
1968: Since 1964, the USAF maintained Itazuke AB, Japan, as a dispersed operating base with no active flying units. The arrival of 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron's RF-4Cs and 16th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron's EB-66s from Korea as part of Combat Fox brought the base back to life. (17)
1975: Brig Gen Eugene D. Scott became the first navigator in USAF history to command an operational flying unit, the 47th Air Division at Fairchild AFB, Wash. (See 18 December 1974) (1) (26)
1989: Northrop completed the last, and 3,806th, aircraft from the F-5E Tiger II/T-38 Talon and closed the production line. (16) (20)
2007: The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing's 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron used the Joint Precision Airdrop System mission planning software for the first time over Iraq to deliver six 1,200- pound Improved Container Delivery System bundles. (AFNEWS, "First JPADS Improved System Airdrop Over Iraq a Success," 19 Feb 2007.)
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World News for 16 February thanks to Military Periscope
USA—Leonidas High Power Microwave Pod Designed For Small Drones Epirus | 02/16/2022 The California-based startup Epirus has unveiled a new high-power microwave (HPM) pod for small uncrewed aerial vehicles. On Monday, Epirus revealed the Leonidas pod, a modification of the ground-based system unveiled in 2020, which can be mounted on a variety of other systems, reported Defense News. Images released by Epirus show the new pod mounted under a quadcopter drone. The pod features a solid-state, multiple shot HPM system. It can power up and down in minutes to respond to evolving threats. When employed on drones, its standby mode enables it to be activated only when needed to extend battery life. Leonidas also features extended battery life to enable it to be transported into a threat area and then safely returned to base. The pod is designed to address drone swarms. It has also demonstrated the ability to disable outboard boat motors during trials, said Epirus.
USA—Dynetics To Support DARPA AI Battle Management Project Dynetics | 02/16/2022 The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has selected Dynetics for the next phase of its Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program, reports Dynetics. The second phase of the ACE Technical Area 3 program, dubbed AlphaMosaic, seeks to develop and demonstrate a battle management capability driven by artificial intelligence. Under the 16-month, $2.6 million contract, Dynetics will continue to develop a mature approach to battle management, with the objective of enabling a single pilot to act as a commander for large-scale collaborative warfare. Dynetics has already started to test portions of AlphaMosaic in fighter jets. The applications undergoing flight testing are intended to better inform pilots with group-level situational awareness and coordinated targeting responsibility. A planned third phase would cover a realistic, crewed-flight environment incorporating complex human-machine collaboration, according to Dynetics.
USA—Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Returns Home U.S. Third Fleet | 02/16/2022 The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group has returned to San Diego after an eight-month deployment, reports the U.S. Third Fleet. During the deployment, the strike group operated in the 3rd and 7th fleet areas of operation, conducting dual carrier operations and multinational exercises, including maritime security operations; integrated training between air and surface units; long-range maritime strike; maritime interdiction operations; personnel recovery; air defense operations; multiple ship navigation and formation maneuvers; and refueling at sea operations. Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW) aboard the Carl Vinson was the first to deploy with the F-35C carrier fighter. The deployment was also the first for the CMV-22B Osprey tiltrotor, which is replacing the C-2 Greyhound carrier onboard delivery aircraft. Two additional EA-18G Growlers and an extra E-2D Advanced Hawkeye were incorporated as part of the "air wing of the future," increasing the ability of the strike group to monitor operational areas and share data across its ships, noted Defense News. The Growlers were highly effective when operating alongside the F-35, according to Rear Adm. Dan Martin, the commander of Carrier Strike Group 1, as cited by USNI News.
Canada—Trudeau Invokes Emergency Act Over Protests Canadian Broadcasting Corporation | 02/16/2022 For the first time since the law was passed in 1988, the Canadian government has invoked the Emergencies Act in response to disruptive blockades and protests against novel coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, reports the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that he was invoking the act, granting the federal government temporary powers to handle the protests, citing "serious challenges to law enforcement's ability to effectively enforce the law." The activity had moved beyond a lawful protest and was now an illegal occupation, Trudeau said. By invoking the act, Canadian police will gain access to more tools to restore order where illegal public assemblies and other dangerous activities were occurring. It will also enable Ottawa to go after financial support for illegal activities during the protests. This includes requiring crowdfunding services and payment service providers to register with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Center of Canada and report large and suspicious transactions. Under the act, protesters' personal bank accounts can be frozen by banks without a court order. The move comes after Canadian authorities arrested 11 people on Monday who had amassed a large weapons cache, including 13 long guns, handguns, high-capacity magazines, ammunition and body armor, reported the Independent (U.K.). The Cabinet must take the measure to the House of Commons and Senate for approval within seven days. If either chamber votes against it, the act will be revoked.
France—Macron Set To Announce Pullout From Mali Agence France-Presse | 02/16/2022 French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce the withdrawal of all French troops from Mali this week, reports Agence France-Presse. The announcement could come as soon as Wednesday, reported Reuters. Sources told AFP that it was expected to coincide with a European Union-African Union summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. On Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that if conditions were not place for French troops to contribute effectively in Mali, France would work with other partners in the region. Macron announced in June 2021 that French troops would pull out of Mali and redeploy to other areas in the region as part of a broader mission against Islamist militants. Other European countries are also withdrawing. Denmark pulled out its special operations forces in late January, while Norway canceled a planned deployment. France has pledged to coordinate its withdrawal with the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and continue to support the E.U. training mission for the Malian army.
France—Parly Hosts S. Korean Counterpart For Talks Yonhap | 02/16/2022 French Defense Minister Florence Parly has hosted her South Korean counterpart for talks in Paris, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul). Suh Wook visited Paris on Sunday and Monday. Parly and Suh met on Monday to discuss bilateral defense cooperation and regional security. Ukraine was one of the situations discussed, the South Korean Defense Ministry said. Parly shared intelligence on the tensions between Russia and Ukraine as well as French efforts to de-escalate the situation. The ministers also discussed ways to implement an agreement signed by Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Moon Jae In to boost defense cooperation. As part of this, Parly and Suh committed to enhancing cooperation in space, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and other new security sectors. Parly indicated that Paris was looking to expand cooperation with Seoul as part of its efforts to support peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Turkey—F-16s Headed To NATO Tiger Meet In Greece Daily Sabah | 02/16/2022 Turkish F-16 fighter aircraft are set to participate in a NATO exercise in Greece later this year, reports the Daily Sabah (Istanbul). The Tiger Meet exercise is scheduled to be held at the Araxos Air Base in western Greece from May 9 to May 22. Turkey plans to send F-16s from the 192nd Kaplan (Tiger) Squadron based in the western Balikesir province. Other NATO countries set to participate include Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Czechia, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Austria and the Netherlands. The exercise brings together NATO squadrons that share a tiger emblem. It has been held annually since 1961.
Ukraine—Defense Ministry Hit By Cyberattack Politico | 02/16/2022 The website of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry was taken down by a cyberattack, reports Politico. On Tuesday, a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack brought down the website, said the ministry said. The website of the Ukrainian armed forces was also taken offline, and the Ukrainian banks, Privatbank and Oschadbank, were targeted by hackers, said the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. The Ukrainian cyber police also said that they had received reports of a potential disinformation campaign involving ATM failures. Privatbank denied being targeted by a cyberattack, calling the reports "untrue and misleading." Victor Zhora, a deputy chairman at the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine (SSSCIP), told CNN that authorities had taken steps to block some of the IP addresses associated with the attacks. The Ukrainian government did not immediately attribute the attack to any country or group.
Russia—Troops Begin To Leave Crimea After Drills Tass | 02/16/2022 The Russian Southern Military District says that its battalion tactical groups in the Crimean Peninsula have begun to withdraw following scheduled exercises, reports the Tass news agency (Moscow). The first units, consisting of logistic support units, left the peninsula on Wednesday, said the Southern Military District in a statement accompanied by images showing columns of vehicles, purportedly leaving the area. Officials said that the troops would return to their permanent bases, primarily in Dagestan and North Ossetia, where equipment would undergo maintenance. On Wednesday, the defense ministry said that the first train carrying infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled artillery and tanks had left Crimea. The drills took place at 15 combined-arms ranges and involved reinforced companies of battalion tactical groups, the ministry said. Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said on Wednesday that no Russian troops would remain in Belarus after the completion of joint drills on Feb. 20, reported Reuters. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that similar claims made by Russia the previous day had yet to be verified, reported CNBC. President Biden said in a press conference on Tuesday that Russian withdrawal claims were unconfirmed, and that Moscow may have amassed up to 150,000 troops around Ukraine, reported the Washington Post.
Philippines—Police Uncover Hamas Plot To Recruit Militants Philippine Star | 02/16/2022 The Philippine National Police say they uncovered an effort by a Hamas militant who was attempting to recruit Philippine nationals to conduct attacks against Western and Middle Eastern targets, reports the Philippine Star. A local Philippine contact identified the operative who was attempting to establish a foothold in the Philippines by inciting violence against Israelis in the Philippines, the national police said on Tuesday. The operative was later identified as Fares Al Shikli, the head of Hamas' Foreign Liaison Section, who has an Interpol Red Notice and has been charged with providing support for terrorism, says the police intelligence report. Al Shikli allegedly pledged financial support to local militant groups, including extremists with links to international terror organizations, reported the Times of Israel. The Philippine contact reportedly made several trips to Malaysia between 2016 and 2018 to discuss attacks against Israelis with Al Shikli. The national police did not indicate whether any arrests had been made in the case.
Indonesia—Naval Strike Missile Eyed For Missile Boats Naval News | 02/16/2022 The Indonesian navy wants to buy fast missile boats armed with Norwegian anti-ship missiles, reports Naval News. On Feb. 9, Indonesian navy chief Adm. Yudo Margono revealed plans to purchase missile boats armed with the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) during a meeting with officials from Indonesian shipbuilder PT Lundin and engineering company PT Datareka Integrasia and from Norwegian defense firm Kongsberg. The meeting covered the acquisition of the fast missile boats and the NSM as well as upgrading the new trimaran fast attack craft Golok with the missile. The navy wants to acquire around 120 fast boats armed with the NSM. Kongsberg officials noted during the meeting that the NSM could be fitted on a 33-ton vessel capable of reaching speeds of 55 knots (100 kph). They also confirmed that the compatibility of the Golok with the NSM is being studied.
Burma—Fighter Crashes In Northwest, Killing Pilot Xinhua | 02/16/2022 A Burmese fighter jet has gone down during a routine training flight, killing the pilot, reports Xinhua, China's state-run news agency. On Wednesday, the single-seat aircraft went down east of Ohn Taw village in the northwestern Sagaing region during a non-combat training mission, said a military spokesperson cited by Agence France-Presse. The jet lost contact with Tada-U airbase in Mandalay shortly after taking off, said the spokesperson. Wire services reported that the aircraft appeared to be a Chinese-built model, although the type was not identified. The spokesperson blamed the mishap on a technical malfunction.
Afghanistan—Terrorists Rebuild In Wake Of U.S. Withdrawal, Says DoD Report Voice Of America News | 02/16/2022 A new report from the Dept. of Defense says that terrorist groups in Afghanistan are currently focused on operations in that country, reports the Voice of America News. The assessment by Central Command and the Defense Intelligence Agency is part of a report from the DoD Inspector General on potential threats from Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal. The study finds that while Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) and Al-Qaida still intend to conduct external operations, they are currently focused on Afghanistan. ISIS-K has been prioritizing attacks within Afghanistan, including critical infrastructure and Taliban targets, with the goal of highlighting the inability of the regime to provide security and delegitimize the Taliban locally, according to a DIA assessment. The group is likely exploiting anti-Taliban sentiment and government shortfalls to boost its recruitment. A U.N. report earlier this month said that ISIS-K had nearly doubled in size since the U.S. withdrawal to nearly 4,000 fighters. Analysts noted that Taliban operations against ISIS-K have seen limited success. The U.N. assessment also noted that Al-Qaida has experienced a "significant boost" since the withdrawal, and that "some of its closest sympathizers within the Taliban now occupy senior positions in the new de facto Afghan administration." The DoD report, however, said that U.S. intelligence believes that the Taliban is keeping Al-Qaida at a distance as part of efforts to gain international legitimacy, although it has shown no inclination to sever ties despite pledges to do so under the Doha Agreement.
Africa—New Study Sheds Light On Ivory Smuggling Cable News Network | 02/16/2022 Scientists have used elephant DNA to track illegal ivory-smuggling networks, reports CNN. Research published on Monday in the journal Nature Human Behaviour evaluated 4,000 tusks obtained during 49 different seizures in 12 different African countries between 2002 and 2019. The researchers, which included and U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security special agents, conducted genetic testing on the tusks and used that information to link the seized ivory to trafficking networks. The analysts identified familial links between seized tusks, building on previous efforts to link separated tusks to individual elephants. The study found that a relatively small number of networks are responsible for most of the seized tusks. Data also showed that connections between the various trafficking organizations is deeper than previously thought. The tusks from forest elephants primarily came from Gabon and Republic of Congo, while savannah elephant tusks were poached from Tanzania, northern Mozambique and southern Kenya. Analysts have long warned that illegal smuggling, including of ivory and wildlife, allows militant and criminal groups raise funds and establish strong networks to move other illicit goods.
Ethiopia—Lawmakers Lift State Of Emergency After Gains Against TPLF Borkena | 02/16/2022 The Ethiopian Parliament has voted to lift a state of emergency imposed in November after Tigray rebels made territorial gains, reports Borkena (Addis Ababa). On Tuesday, lawmakers voted to lift the measures ahead of their scheduled expiration in May. The state of emergency was imposed the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) made gains in the Afar, Amhara and Oromo regions. An Ethiopian central government offensive in December succeeded in pushing back the TPLF, although fighting continues in the Afar region, reported Reuters. Much of the northern Tigray region remains cut off from the rest of the country, with needed food aid cut off since December.
Democratic Republic of the Congo—18 Die In Another CODECO Attack Agence France-Presse | 02/16/2022 At least 18 people have been killed in a militant attack in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, reports Agence France-Presse. On Tuesday, the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO) militia attacked and killed civilians in a remote corner of the Ituri province, said the head of the Banyali Kilo administrative area. The attackers used machetes, arrows and firearms, he said. Most of the victims were women and children. CODECO claims to fight for the mostly agricultural Lendu community.
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