To All,
Good Sunday Morning May 7 2023.
I hope you are all having a great weekend.
You probably will not want to read the article on Preparing for a Military Sponsor's Death but you may want to file it just in case.
Regards,
Skip
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History May 7
1779 The Continental Navy sloop Providence, captures the British brig Diligent off Sandy Hook and is later acquired for service in the Continental Navy.
1934 The frigate Constitution completes her 3-year tour of 76 port cities along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts and then returns to Boston, Mass. Prior to her journey that began July 1931, the 137-year-old frigate undergoes a refit and overhaul. Congress authorized the restoration of Constitution in March 1925.
1942 The Battle of the Coral Sea resumes as Task Force Seventeen (TF-17) intercepts the Japanese intending to invade Port Moresby, New Guinea marking the first naval battle where aircraft carriers engage each other out of sight from one another.
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Today in World History May 7
558 The dome of the church of St. Sophia in Constantinople collapses. Its immediate rebuilding is ordered by Justinian.
1274 The Second Council of Lyons opens in France to regulate the election of the pope.
1429 Joan of Arc breaks the English siege of Orleans.
1525 The German peasants' revolt is crushed by the ruling class and church.
1763 Indian chief Pontiac begins his attack on a British fort in present-day Detroit, Michigan.
1800 Congress divides the Northwest Territory into two parts. The western part will become the Indiana Territory and the eastern section remains the Northwest Territory.
1824 Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony" premieres in Vienna.
1847 The American Medical Association is formed in Philadelphia.
1862 Confederate troops strike Union troops at the Battle of Eltham's Landing in Virginia.
1864 The Battle of the Wilderness ends with heavy losses to both sides.
1877 Indian chief Sitting Bull enters Canada with a trail of Indians after the Battle of Little Bighorn.
1915 The German submarine U-20 torpedoes the passenger ship Lusitiania, sinking her in 21 minutes with 1,978 people on board.
1937 The German Condor Legion arrives in Spain to assist Francisco Franco's forces.
1942 In the Battle of the Coral Sea, Japanese and American navies attack each other with carrier-launched warplanes. It is the first time in the history of naval warfare where two fleets fought without seeing each other. Two crucial battles in 1942 marked the turning point of the war in the Pacific.
1943 The last major German strongholds in North Africa--Tunis and Bizerte--fall to Allied forces.
1945 Germany signs an unconditional surrender, effectively ending World War II in Europe.
1952 In Korea, Communist POWs at Koje-do riot against their American captors.
1954 French troops surrender to the Vietminh at Dien Bien Phu.
1958 Howard Johnson sets an aircraft altitude record in F-104.
1960 Leonid Brezhnev becomes president of the Soviet Union.
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear … Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post
Skip… For The List for Sunday, 7 May 2023… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 7 May 1968…
Mission: Armed reconnaissance… "…go find something and kill it."👍😡
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 Barrel……..I saw a video of Watters doing this and we tried to find the URL but no luck. I wrote it down and was working on typing it out when Steve sent this. A real eye opener .skip
Getting the Facts Straight
Truth or Nonsense
"PERCEPTIONS" OF THE TRUTH
A recent poll was conducted by a national polling outfit, "yougov."
Here are the results to the questions asked of average people on the street:
What percentage of the country is black? Answers 41%. Actual, 14 % and growing due to indiscriminate breeding and the fact that the government pays the Mom to have babies.
What percentage is "Latino?" Answers 39%. Actual numbers 17% but growing with our open borders.
How many families make over $500,000 a year? Answers 26%. Actual figure? 1% (We think a quarter of the country is rich).
What percent of Americans are vegetarians? Response? 30% Actual? 5%.
What percent of Americans live in NY city? Answers? 30% Actual 3%.
What percentage of Americans are 'transgender? 22% Actual number, 1%. (People believe this BS!)
What percentage of your fellow citizens are gay? Result? 30% Actual 3%.
So why do people have such inaccurate perceptions on these counts? THE MEDIA! The media run race, gender, wealth stories constantly. Result? You are being brainwashed by the national left with media. Hitler's propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels would be proud if he had half the success.
Disney just went full-on "gender" They will no longer welcome guests with the traditional "Welcome ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls" Why? Because 1% of the population dictates to the other 99% (that would be the vast majority) and corporate America falls for it! (aka: Tyranny of the Minority)
Regardless of what you think? Less than 20% of Americans use "twitter", yet twitter controls 80% of public opinion; why? The media.
And about that stat that the MEDIA refuses to ever acknowledge: America is 14% Black. So black men make up about 6% to 6.5% of the population. That small number is responsible for over half the murders annually in America!
Next time you are thinking Americans have changed and not in a good way, remember, it's fake. It's all a lie. Most people think just like you do, but the media has brainwashed Americans with constant broadcasting of "LIES!"
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Thanks to Gary,
The only way I would go back in time would be to take all my memories with me so I would make some better decisions and actually learn from my mistakes. And there were a bunch of them. skip
In reply to Micro's latest offering. Unfortunately all those observations are true.
Also true is that my huge store of memories from 23 years of USN flying is more than enough to affirm to me that -
If God would make me a 21 year old Ensign starting flight training I would gladly do it all over again.
Vr,Zoo
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Thanks to Dr.Rich
Incredible footage from inside Red Arrow as jets soar over cloudy London on King Charles's
There is a lot about the coronation in here if you are interested. I was weed whacking most of the day
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Thanks to Burt ... and Dr. Rich
Unique Aircraft … The X-21
I remember seeing it in the Weight & Balance hangar when I first arrived at Edwards in June, 1965,
Burt
[Interesting that Jim Bede might have had an influence - RS]
On May 3, 2023, at 8:38 AM, Bob Hagar wrote:
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Thanks to Carl
Preparing for a Military Sponsor's Death, and What to Do When It Happens - MOAA
(Not a pleasant subject but a very important one that will eventually affect us all.)
Preparing for a Military Sponsor's Death, and What to Do When It Happens
MAY 03, 2023
Proper preparation is the key to ensuring a smooth transition for family members left behind when a military sponsor dies.
Gail Joyce, a surviving spouse liaison for MOAA, recalls hearing about a military officer who obtained a safe deposit box for his family's important papers — wills, his letter of retirement, birth certificates, passports, and more — but failed to put his wife's name on it or designate her as a beneficiary. When he died, the situation complicated an already sad, stressful time, with his spouse desperately needing the materials to plan the funeral, sort out finances, and prepare for the future without him. It was a potential disaster, Joyce said.
"Whether it's a private or a two-star general, there are people who just don't take care of things," said Joyce, a Gold Star mother and widow of a Vietnam veteran. She gives talks about preparing for the death of a military sponsor.
[MOAA PUBLICATION: Survivor's Checklist: First Steps for Moving On]
While the loss of any loved one is tragic and heart-wrenching, the death of a military sponsor or veteran spouse can result in financial instability and the loss of health care and other privileges if not handled correctly. But with careful preparation before a death and a pre-planned systematic process after, survivors can weather managing the business side of loss, leaving time to mourn and celebrate a life well lived.
First, Check the Details
According to estate planners, it's never too late to gather the crucial details needed to help family members in the days and months after a death. The process starts by ensuring that correct names are on every account and asset, with state laws on survivorship helping steer decisions on structuring the names on mortgages, vehicle titles, and financial accounts.
Ensuring that the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), all insurance policies, and any Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) paperwork have the correct name of the survivor/beneficiary can prevent legal issues from cropping up after a death.
"It's making sure you have the correct signatures right on everything, on anything that might be of any importance whatsoever," Joyce said.
[UPDATED MONTHLY: MOAA's Surviving Spouse Corner]
In addition to checking these details, a folder or binder containing every account number, including long- and short-term investments, policies, computer and phone passwords, code words, critical paperwork, and a list of benefits for which survivors might be eligible can be seen as a gift from the grave to loved ones left behind, she said.
"Troubles arise when people don't do their due diligence beforehand, not taking care of things that are easy to take care of," Joyce said.
The Death of a Retired Military Sponsor
Once a military sponsor dies, there are numerous calls and contacts to be made, beginning with outreach to a funeral home or planner who assists not only with the arrangements and burial details but also with obtaining death certificates. The next contact should be to DFAS, either by phone or via the DFAS website, notifying the service of the death. Coast Guard survivors can report a death and jump-start the process to receive benefits by calling the Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center at (866) 772-8724.
DFAS will send a letter containing an SF-1174, Claim for Unpaid Compensation of Deceased Member of the Uniformed Services, as well as annuity account forms and instructions for those enrolled in SBP. Those enrolled in SBP will submit a DD Form 2656-7 with a copy of the death certificate to begin receiving payments.
Beneficiaries should take care not to use any retired payments received after the date of retiree's death, nor should they return any retired payments that were deposited directly to a bank account, because DFAS will automatically reclaim any money owed it when they receive notification of a death. Widows or widowers of military retirees will retain the same health care benefits they've had when their sponsor was alive unless they remarried.
The Defense Manpower Data Center will receive any information from the services on the death and will do any necessary updates for medical coverage. Survivors will need to contact Express Scripts, TRICARE's pharmacy benefit manager, if their sponsor was on TRICARE Prime or Select, to stop any prescriptions.
[MORE SURVIVING SPOUSE RESOURCES FROM MOAA]
Survivors of military retirees remain eligible for dental and vision insurance unless they get remarried. If enrolled, they should contact BENEFEDS to inform the managers of the change of status, which could reduce the premium given that the deceased beneficiary is no longer a policy holder.
Since military identification cards are the keys to accessing military facilities, such as the commissary, base exchanges, fitness centers and more, survivors should ensure that they have a current ID. Most dependent ID cards have an expiration date, and while it's not necessary immediately to get a survivor ID card, the task should be completed before the current card expires. This can be done by confirming the sponsor's death in DEERS and going to the nearest ID card center to receive a new ID. Survivors will need two forms of identification, including at least one government-issued ID such as a passport or driver's license. Those who live too far from an ID card office but need a new card can find more information at this link.
Regarding Social Security benefits, any funeral home will report the person's death to the Social Security Administration. Survivors will need to provide the funeral home the deceased's Social Security number to ensure this occurs. Survivors can do this themselves by calling during business hours. Again, survivors should not use any of the deceased individual's Social Security payments issued after the date of death as they will be expected to pay the money back.
The Death of an Active Duty Member
The process for pulling paperwork together and dealing with the aftermath of a death is very much the same for families of active duty personnel as it is with retirees, although the families of fallen servicemembers receive great help from a casualty assistance officer. The death of Joyce's son, Army Sgt. Casey Joyce, killed in Somalia Oct. 30, 1993, was much different than the loss of her husband, Lt. Col. Larry Joyce, of leukemia in 1999, noted Gail Joyce.
"You get a lot of help when you are on that side of things (active duty). But that's how it should be," Joyce said.
[THE GOLD STAR: Remembering Our Fallen Servicemembers' Families]
The benefits following an active-duty death are substantially different with a mix of benefits coming from DoD as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs. Surviving spouses receive a death gratuity, SBP, and remain on TRICARE for health and dental care — for the first three years with the same benefits as an active-duty spouse, and as a retiree's spouse thereafter, unless they remarry. Surviving children are covered as active-duty children for health and dental care until they turn 21, turn 23 as a full-time student, or lose TRICARE eligibility for other reasons.
A substantial amount of pay and benefits for survivors of those on active duty may come from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Through the VA, spouses may receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and families may be eligible for additional benefits, including special allowances and education benefits from the VA.
When a Veteran Dies
Benefits are available to surviving spouses or dependent children of military veterans who do not receive military retirement pay, especially if a veteran dies of a service-connected condition or the spouse already receives their health care coverage through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).
Joyce recommends veterans file a claim for any condition they believe is service connected so they can access benefits if the claim is approved but also provide support for their families if the claim is approved following a death from the service-related condition. Spouses should inform the funeral director of their loved one's status as a veteran. Funeral homes often are helpful aiding families in tracking down burial benefits, insurance, and disability compensation from the VA.
Survivors will need to obtain forms from a VA regional office to begin the notification process. The VA also has a toll-free number to call for help, (800) 827-1000. Families can ward off surprises in a crisis if they plan together ahead of time, Joyce said. Financial distress and gaps in benefits can be avoided if couples plan together for the future — and the dependent spouse has verification that all information is correct in DEERS and with DFAS.
Joyce recalled a helicopter accident several decades ago that left a recently married Army wife without any benefits because her husband had failed to change any of the information on survivorship with DoD. The soldier's first wife received everything. "The really important thing is just checking," Joyce said.
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Thanks to Interesting Facts
Subject: 12 great lakes' facts
12 Facts You Might Not Know About the Great Lakes
The Great Lakes - Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Superior - hold
one-fifth of all the fresh water on the Earth's surface. Their combined
coastline extends for over 10,000 miles. Each year, they attract several
million tourists from the U.S. and around the world. But those facts are
pretty basic. Whether it's pirates, shipwrecks, or Babe Ruth's first
official home run, these fascinating tidbits are a bit less straightforward.
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Lake Michigan Once Had a Pirate Problem
Forget the Pirates of the Caribbean: The Great Lakes had their own share of
buccaneers who patrolled the dangerous waters and terrorized the lake
traffic, mainly in the mid-1800s into the early 1900s. But instead of gold,
lumber and alcohol were the main prizes to be won. One of the more famous
characters was "King" James Jesse Strang, a self-proclaimed religious leader
(and looter). "Roaring" Dan Seavey was another - the only one to actually
face charges of piracy on the Great Lakes. The former Navy sailor set false
lights along the coastline, lured ships to their doom, and plundered the
wreckage. Fortunately for locals, as the population along the Great Lakes
grew in the 20th century, the pirate problems on the Great Lakes eventually
faded away.
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Lake Superior Has a Shipwreck Museum
The waters of the Great Lakes can be treacherous, and as busy fishing and
shipping areas, they've seen hundreds of shipwrecks over the centuries.
Gordon Lightfoot may have brought to light the tragedy that befell the
Edmund Fitzgerald in his hit 1976 song, but that is just one of the many
ships that lie on the lake beds or along the shoreline. The Great Lakes
Shipwreck Historical Society and Museum in Paradise, Michigan, documents
these sunken vessels and organizes recovery dives. Visitors to the museum
can see recovered artifacts and follow guided treks to some coastal
shipwreck sites.
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The Great Lakes Are Home to the Largest Freshwater Coastal Dune System in
the World
One of the reasons so many tourists flock to the Great Lakes each year is to
enjoy an alternative to East and West Coast beaches - but the lakes' sandy
shores are also home to a unique geological feature found on neither coast.
The lakes boast the largest freshwater coastal dune system in the world.
Lake Michigan alone is surrounded by more than 275,000 square acres of sand
dunes. National and state parks - such as Sleeping Bear Dunes National
Lakeshore and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - offer access to these
magnificent dunes, which are perfect for hiking, sandcastle building, or
simply laying back and enjoying the view.
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The Great Lakes Basin Is Home to More Than 30 Million People
The Great Lakes hold about 84% of North America's surface fresh water and
thus play a vital role in the agricultural, power, and transportation
industries. Some 34 million people live within the Great Lakes Basin,
representing almost a third of the Canadian population and nearly 10% of the
U.S. population. Together, the five lakes form a key part not just of North
America's cultural and geographic heritage, but also its technological and
economic future.
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Lake Superior Might Not Actually Be the Second-Largest Lake in the World
The largest of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior covers nearly 32,000 square
miles and contains more water than the other four lakes combined. It's often
considered the largest freshwater lake in the world (the saltwater Caspian
Sea is the largest overall). But since Lakes Michigan and Huron are
connected by the four-mile-wide, 30-mile-long Straits of Mackinac, some
scientists argue that they are in fact not two separate lakes but one larger
body. If counted as one, Michigan-Huron would be larger than Lake Superior,
pushing the latter into second place among the world's largest freshwater
lakes, and third place overall.
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Only Lake Michigan Is Completely Within the U.S.
The Great Lakes border six Midwestern states - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin - and two Canadian provinces, Ontario and
Quebec. Lake Michigan is the only one of the Great Lakes that does not touch
any Canadian territory.. The lake's name derives from the Ojibwa word
mishigami, which means "large lake." The state of Michigan was named after
the lake, and it's often nicknamed the "Great Lakes State" since it is the
only state to touch four of the five lakes.
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Geologically Speaking, the Great Lakes Are Quite Young
Parts of Canada's Hudson Bay are more than 4 billion years old. The
Appalachian Mountains formed 480 million years ago. But the Great Lakes?
They're geological babies. They were carved out by glaciers some 10,000
years ago. That's not to say the rocks around them are young - some of the
rocks on Michigan's Upper Peninsula date back approximately 3.6 billion
years. The area covered by the Great Lakes was once a series of glacial
rifts; as the ice receded, the melt filled the basins, creating the lakes we
know today.
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There's Supposedly a Lake Monster
Every region has its mythical creatures, and the Great Lakes are no
exception: Scotland has the Loch Ness Monster (nicknamed Nessie), and the
Great Lakes have Bessie. The 20-foot-long sea serpent reportedly lives in
Lake Erie. Fishermen on the lake claimed to have first spotted her in the
1790s, and she made several more appearances in the 1980s. Bessie is not the
only Great Lakes cryptid, however. Lake Superior has Pressie, also a sea
serpent, while Lake Huron has Mishebeshu, a water lynx said to hunt children
from beneath the ice. Also in Lake Huron is Saggy, a comparatively tame sea
serpent who likes to rub against fishing boats.
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There's a Lake Michigan Triangle, Similar to the Bermuda Triangle
There's one part of Lake Michigan that is particularly treacherous for
ships, so much so that it is often compared to the Bermuda Triangle. The
Lake Michigan Triangle covers an area between Benton Harbor and Ludington in
Michigan and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Tales abound of ships that mysteriously
disappeared, never to reach their destinations, and many still avoid the
area out of superstition. To add to the mystery, divers have found
underwater monuments the size of Stonehenge, complete with carvings of
prehistoric creatures.
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It's a 6,500-Mile Journey to Drive Around All the Lakes
To see as much as you can of the Great Lakes without actually stepping foot
on a boat, consider the Circle Tour. In 1988, the Great Lakes Commission
created a scenic driving route that encircles all five lakes, passing
through eight states and Ontario. To complete the entire Circle Tour would
mean driving a total of 6,500 miles, but you can break it into smaller
chunks by choosing to circle just one of the lakes. If the Lake Superior
tour (1,287 miles) seems a touch too long, try the routes around Lake
Michigan or Erie, which are each closer to 600 miles. Just remember to allow
plenty of time to get out and enjoy the view.
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The World's Largest Underground Salt Mine Is Under Lake Huron
What is now the Goderich Salt Mine was discovered by accident in 1866. A
local flour mill owner was drilling for oil in the hope of striking it rich,
and instead found rock salt, the first bed ever found in North America. Much
of the mine is located some 1,800 feet below Lake Huron. That's as deep as
Toronto's CN Tower is tall. The rock salt is shipped along the St. Lawrence
Seaway before being distributed across the country for use in icy weather.
It is now the world's largest underground salt mine, covering an area of 2.7
million square miles.
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Legend Has It That Babe Ruth's Ball Is in Lake Ontario
According to baseball legend, Babe Ruth's first official home run sent a
ball straight into Lake Ontario, where it remains to this day. In 1914, Ruth
joined the Providence Grays, and in September of that year, the team
traveled to Hanlan's Point, Toronto, to play the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the
sixth inning, he hit a home run, sending the ball far out of the stadium.
What really happened to it is unknown. Most likely, a fan found it, or it
was lost over time. However, a persistent local legend is that Ruth hit the
ball clean into the lake - and it might one day be washed to shore.
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This Day in U S Military History…….May 7
1864 – Following two days of intense fighting in the Wilderness forest, the Army of the Potomac, under the command of Union General Ulysses S. Grant, moves south. Grant's forces had clashed with Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia in a pitched and confused two-day battle in which neither side gained a clear victory. Nonetheless, Lee could claim an advantage, since he inflicted more casualties and held off the Yankees, despite the fact that he was outnumbered. When Lee halted Grant's advance, Grant proved that he was different than previous commanders of the Army of the Potomac by refusing to fall back. Many of his veteran soldiers expected to retreat back across the Rapidan River, but the order came down through the ranks to move the army south. The blue troops had just suffered terrible losses, and the move lifted their spirits. "We marched free. The men began to sing," recalled one Yankee. In some ways, warfare would never be the same. Grant had promised President Abraham Lincoln that there would be no turning back on this campaign. He would aggressively pursue Lee without allowing the Confederates time to retool. But the cost was high: Weeks of fighting resulted in staggering casualties before the two armies dug in around Petersburg by the middle of June.
1942 – Battle of the Coral Sea: American Admiral Fletcher sends Task Force 44 to attack Japanese troop transports bound for Port Moresby. The Japanese retaliate with attacks from land based aircraft. The Japanese also sight the American tanker Neosho and the Sims, they send aircraft after the ships and the Neosho is sunk. The Americans find Japanese Admiral Goto's close support force and they proceed to sink the carrier Shoho. Meanwhile, Japanese Admiral Takagi sends planes out in an attempt to find the American fleet. Twenty-one of the Japanese planes are lost without engaging the enemy, including a small group which attempt to land on the American aircraft carrier Yorktown. The Japanese troop transports return to Rabaul to await the outcome of the battle.
1944 – The US 15th Air Force and British Bomber Command attack railway yards in Bucharest during the day and night, leaving the city in flames.
1944 – The US 8th Air Force conducts a massive raid on Berlin with 1500 aircraft.
1944 – The US 9th Air Force attacks the railway yards at Mezieres-Charleville with Marauders and P-38 Lightnings.
1945 – On Luzon, the US 43rd Division advances about 5 miles toward Ipo. American troops attacking towards a ridge near Guagua are repulsed by Japanese defenders.
1945 – On Okinawa, the US 7th Division completes the elimination of Japanese units that infiltrated into the Tanabaru area. Fruitless attacks on the Japanese held Shuri Line continue. Note"still have over 6 more weeks of this battle.
1954 – In northwest Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh's Viet Minh forces decisively defeat the French at Dien Bien Phu, a French stronghold besieged by the Vietnamese communists for 57 days. The Viet Minh victory at Dien Bien Phu signaled the end of French colonial influence in Indochina and cleared the way for the division of Vietnam along the 17th parallel at the conference of Geneva. On September 2, 1945, hours after the Japanese signed their unconditional surrender in World War II, communist leader Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independent Democratic Republic of Vietnam, hoping to prevent the French from reclaiming their former colonial possession. In 1946, he hesitantly accepted a French proposal that allowed Vietnam to exist as an autonomous state within the French Union, but fighting broke out when the French tried to reestablish colonial rule. Beginning in 1949, the Viet Minh fought an increasingly effective guerrilla war against France with military and economic assistance from newly Communist China. France received military aid from the United States. In November 1953, the French, weary of jungle warfare, occupied Dien Bien Phu, a small mountain outpost on the Vietnamese border near Laos. Although the Vietnamese rapidly cut off all roads to the fort, the French were confident that they could be supplied by air. The fort was also out in the open, and the French believed that their superior artillery would keep the position safe. In 1954, the Viet Minh army, under General Vo Nguyen Giap, moved against Dien Bien Phu and in March encircled it with 40,000 Communist troops and heavy artillery. The first Viet Minh assault against the 13,000 entrenched French troops came on March 12, and despite massive air support, the French held only two square miles by late April. On May 7, after 57 days of siege, the French positions collapsed. Although the defeat brought an end to French colonial efforts in Indochina, the United States soon stepped up to fill the vacuum, increasing military aid to South Vietnam and sending the first U.S. military advisers to the country in 1959.
1965 – 6,000 Marines of the 4th marine Division are sent to Chu Lai, a sandy pine barren along the coast 55 miles south of Danang to build a second jet air base. Chu Lai will sport a new type of field, the Short Airfield for Tactical Support (SATS) — a 4,000 foot long airstrip of aluminum matting with arrestor wires like an aircraft carrier. Initially all planes will take off via jet assist, but a catapult will be installed two years later. By 1 June, A-4 Skyhawks and MAG-12ss will be using the field.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
JONES, WILLIAM H.
Rank and organization: Farrier, Company L, 2d U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Little Muddy Creek, Mont., 7 May 1877- at Camas Meadows, Idaho, 20 August 1877. Entered service at: Louisville, Ky. Birth. Davidson County, N.C. Date of issue: 28 February 1878. Citation: Gallantry in the attack against hostile Sioux Indians on May 7, 1877 at Muddy Creek, Mont., and in the engagement with Nez Perces Indians at Camas Meadows, Idaho, on 20 August 1877 in which he sustained a painful knee wound.
JORDAN, GEORGE
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company K, 9th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Fort Tularosa, N. Mex., 14 May 1880; at Carrizo Canyon, N. Mex., 12 August 1881. Entered service at: Nashville, Tenn. Birth: Williamson County, Tenn. Date of issue: 7 May 1890. Citation: While commanding a detachment of 25 men at Fort Tularosa, N. Mex., repulsed a force of more than 100 Indians. At Carrizo Canyon, N . Mex., while commanding the right of a detachment of 19 men, on 12 August 1881, he stubbornly held his ground in an extremely exposed position and gallantly forced back a much superior number of the enemy, preventing them from surrounding the command.
*FARDY, JOHN PETER
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S Marine Corps. Born: 8 August 1922, Chicago, Ill. Accredited to: Illinois. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a squad leader, serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Islands, 7 May 1945. When his squad was suddenly assailed by extremely heavy small arms fire from the front during a determined advance against strongly fortified, fiercely defended Japanese positions, Cpl. Fardy temporarily deployed his men along a nearby drainage ditch. Shortly thereafter, an enemy grenade fell among the marines in the ditch. Instantly throwing himself upon the deadly missile, Cpl. Fardy absorbed the exploding blast in his own body, thereby protecting his comrades from certain and perhaps fatal injuries. Concerned solely for the welfare of his men, he willingly relinquished his own hope of survival that his fellow marines might live to carry on the fight against a fanatic enemy. A stouthearted leader and indomitable fighter, Cpl. Fardy, by his prompt decision and resolute spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death, had rendered valiant service, and his conduct throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
*HANSEN, DALE MERLIN
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 13 December 1922, Wisner, Nebr. Accredited to: Nebraska. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Chain, 7 May 1945. Cool and courageous in combat, Pvt. Hansen unhesitatingly took the initiative during a critical stage of the action and, armed with a rocket launcher, crawled to an exposed position where he attacked and destroyed a strategically located hostile pillbox. With his weapon subsequently destroyed by enemy fire, he seized a rifle and continued his 1-man assault. Reaching the crest of a ridge, he leaped across, opened fire on 6 Japanese and killed 4 before his rifle jammed. Attacked by the remaining 2 Japanese, he beat them off with the butt of his rifle and then climbed back to cover. Promptly returning with another weapon and supply of grenades, he fearlessly advanced, destroyed a strong mortar position and annihilated 8 more of the enemy. In the forefront of battle throughout this bitterly waged engagement, Pvt. Hansen, by his indomitable determination, bold tactics and complete disregard of all personal danger, contributed essentially to the success of his company's mission and to the ultimate capture of this fiercely defended outpost of the Japanese Empire. His great personal valor in the face of extreme peril reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service.
*PETERSON, OSCAR VERNER
Rank and organization: Chief Watertender, U.S. Navy. Born: 27 August 1899, Prentice, Wis. Accredited to: Wisconsin. Citation: For extraordinary courage and conspicuous heroism above and beyond the call of duty while in charge of a repair party during an attack on the U .S .S. Neosho by enemy Japanese aerial forces on 7 May 1942. Lacking assistance because of injuries to the other members of his repair party and severely wounded himself, Peterson, with no concern for his own life, closed the bulkhead stop valves and in so doing received additional burns which resulted in his death. His spirit of self-sacrifice and loyalty, characteristic of a fine seaman, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
*SCHWAB, ALBERT EARNEST
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 17 July 1920, Washington, D.C. Entered service at: Tulsa, Okla. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a flamethrower operator in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Rykuyu Islands, 7 May 1945. Quick to take action when his company was pinned down in a valley and suffered resultant heavy casualties under blanketing machinegun fire emanating from a high ridge to the front, Pfc. Schwab, unable to flank the enemy emplacement because of steep cliffs on either side, advanced up the face of the ridge in bold defiance of the intense barrage and, skillfully directing the fire of his flamethrower, quickly demolished the hostile gun position, thereby enabling his company to occupy the ridge. Suddenly a second enemy machinegun opened fire, killing and wounding several marines with its initial bursts. Estimating with split-second decision the tactical difficulties confronting his comrades, Pfc. Schwab elected to continue his l-man assault despite a diminished supply of fuel for his flamethrower. Cool and indomitable, he moved forward in the face of a direct concentration of hostile fire, relentlessly closed the enemy position and attacked. Although severely wounded by a final vicious blast from the enemy weapon, Pfc. Schwab had succeeded in destroying 2 highly strategic Japanese gun positions during a critical stage of the operation and, by his dauntless, single-handed efforts, had materially furthered the advance of his company. His aggressive initiative, outstanding valor and professional skill throughout the bitter conflict sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
WAINWRIGHT, JONATHAN M.
Rank and organization: General, Commanding U.S. Army Forces in the Philippines. Place and date: Philippine Islands, 12 March to 7 May 1942. Entered service at: Skaneateles, N.Y. Birth: Walla Walla, Wash. G.O. No.: 80, 19 September 1945. Citation: Distinguished himself by intrepid and determined leadership against greatly superior enemy forces. At the repeated risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in his position, he frequented the firing line of his troops where his presence provided the example and incentive that helped make the gallant efforts of these men possible. The final stand on beleaguered Corregidor, for which he was in an important measure personally responsible, commanded the admiration of the Nation's allies. It reflected the high morale of American arms in the face of overwhelming odds. His courage and resolution were a vitally needed inspiration to the then sorely pressed freedom-loving peoples of the world.
KAYS, KENNETH MICHAEL
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. place and date: Thua Thien province, Republic of Vietnam, 7 May 1970. Entered service at: Fairfield, Ill. Born: 22 September 1949, Mount Vernon, Ill. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. (then Pvt.) Kays distinguished himself while serving as a medical aidman with Company D, 1st Battalion, 101st Airborne Division near Fire Support Base Maureen. A heavily armed force of enemy sappers and infantrymen assaulted Company D's night defensive position, wounding and killing a number of its members. Disregarding the intense enemy fire and ground assault, Pfc. Kays began moving toward the perimeter to assist his fallen comrades. In doing so he became the target of concentrated enemy fire and explosive charges, 1 of which severed the lower portion of his left leg. After applying a tourniquet to his leg, Pfc. Kays moved to the fire-swept perimeter, administered medical aid to 1 of the wounded, and helped move him to an area of relative safety. Despite his severe wound and excruciating pain, Pfc. Kays returned to the perimeter in search of other wounded men. He treated another wounded comrade, and, using his own body as a shield against enemy bullets and fragments, moved him to safety. Although weakened from a great loss of blood, Pfc. Kays resumed his heroic lifesaving efforts by moving beyond the company's perimeter into enemy held territory to treat a wounded American lying there. Only after his fellow wounded soldiers had been treated and evacuated did Pfc. Kays allow his own wounds to be treated. These courageous acts by Pfc. Kays resulted in the saving of numerous lives and inspired others in his company to repel the enemy. Pfc. Kays' heroism at the risk of his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS
FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR MAY 7 THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
May 7
1945: Mass produced B-17s, B-24s, B-25s, B-29s, P-38s, P-40s, P-51s, and C-47s led to Victory Day in Europe. On 7 May, the German High Command surrendered unconditionally at Reims, effective
9 May. With that surrender, ATC began Projects Green and White, for personnel and aircraft, respectively, to move 250,000 people and 5,900 aircraft from Europe and the Mediterranean theaters to the US by September 1945. (4) (12) (18)
1953: The 63 TCW (Heavy) at Donaldson AFB, S. C., received the first C-124 aircraft. Service testing for the aircraft occurred in February-March 1952, and the first live paratroop drops from these aircraft took place at Fort Bragg. (11)
1956: The 762d Air Control and Warning Squadron began operating the "Texas Tower" radar defense installations erected on Georges Shoal some 100 miles east of Cape Cod, Mass. (24)
1958: Flying a Lockheed F-104A Starfighter at Edwards AFB, Maj Howard C. Johnson set a 91,243-foot FAI altitude record for class C jets. (9)
1962: Operation QUICK KICK. Units of all US military services cooperated in the largest US land-sea-air exercise since World War II. (24) While submerged, the USS Ethan Allen successfully launched a Polaris missile on the full-flight test with a nuclear warhead for the Operation Dominic nuclear tests in the Pacific. This launch was reported as the first US firing of a missile with a live nuclear warhead. (16) (24)
1963: Dr. Theodore von Karman, sometimes called the Father of Astronautics, died at Aachen, West Germany, a few days before his 82d birthday. (5) (16)
1966: The Minuteman Force Modernization program started at Whiteman AFB, when SAC removed the first flight of 10 Minuteman I missiles from their silos. These missiles were replaced with Minuteman IIs. (1) (6)
1984: The HH-60D helicopter completed its first data flight at Edwards AFB.
1985: Exercise DISTANT HAMMER: Through 17 May, USAFE EF-111 Ravens participated in their first NATO exercise. (16)
1994: Through 9 May, six USAF airlift aircraft moved 623 people, including 448 Americans, from Yemen to Saudi Arabia after civil war broke out. (16)
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