To All,
Good Thursday morning September 14, 2023
Last night my daughter showed me a video that she took. She was watching a bobcat on the bridal path near the horses sniffing and going back and forth. Then it stopped, crouched and jumped many feet high and long into some dense bushes and seconds later came out with a large rabbit. It then strolled down the bridle path and did not give her a second look. I am trying to get it on the computer.
Remember that this Friday, September 15, 2023 is National POW-MIA Recognition Day. See more below.
Regards
Skip
Today in Naval and Marine Corps History Thanks to NHHC
September. 14
1814 During the War of 1812, the sloop-of-war, Wasp captures and burns the British merchant brig, HMS Bacchus, in the Atlantic. A week later, she captures the brig, Atlanta.
1899 During the Philippine Insurrection Campaign, the gunboat, USS Concord, and the monitor, US Monterey, capture two insurgent schooners at Aparri, Philippine Islands.
1944 USS Ludlow (DD 438) fires at an enemy shore battery and also fires direct hits on enemy vessels off Imperia.
1952 USS Lewis (DE 535) and USS Evansville (PF 70) are fired on by enemy shore batteries off Wonsan, Korea. Their counter-batteries silence the enemy guns.
1971 USS Wiltsie (DD 716) spots a crippled A-7 Corsair plunging into the Gulf of Tonkin and rescues the pilot from the water.
1976 While conducting nighttime underway replenishments off Scotland, USS Bordelon (DD 881) loses control and collides with USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). Though suffering extensive superstructure damage with six men injured, USS Bordelon continues under her own power.
1991 USS Hue City (CG 66) is commissioned at Pascagoula, MS. The 20th of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers, Hue City is the first ship named after a battle of the Vietnam War.
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Today in World History: September 14
1146 Zangi of the Near East is murdered. The Sultan Nur ad-Din, his son, pursues the conquest of Edessa.
1321 Dante Alighieri dies of malaria just hours after finishing writing Paradiso.
1544 Henry VIII's forces take Boulogne, France.
1773 Russian forces under Aleksandr Suvorov successfully storm a Turkish fort at Hirsov, Turkey.
1791 Louis XVI swears his allegiance to the French constitution.
1812 Napoleon Bonaparte's invasion of Russia reaches its climax as his Grande Armee enters Moscow--only to find the enemy capital deserted and burning, set afire by the few Russians who remained.
1814 Francis Scott Key writes the words to the "Star Spangled Banner" as he waits aboard a British launch in the Chesapeake Bay for the outcome of the British assault on Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. 1847 U.S. forces under Gen. Winfield Scott capture Mexico City, virtually bringing the two-year Mexican War to a close.
1853 The Allies land at Eupatoria on the west coast of Crimea.
1862 At the battles of South Mountain and Crampton's Gap, Maryland Union troops smash into the Confederates as they close in on what will become the Antietam battleground.
1901 Vice President Theodore Roosevelt is sworn in as the 26th President of the United States upon the death of William McKinley, who was shot eight days earlier.
1911 Russian Premier Pyotr Stolypin is mortally wounded in an assassination attempt at the Kiev opera house.
1943 German troops abandon the Salerno front in Italy..
1960 Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia form OPEC.
1966 Operation Attleboro, designed as a training exercise for American troops, becomes a month-long struggle against the Viet Cong.
1975 Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton becomes the first native-born American saint in the Roman Catholic Church.
1979 Nur Muhammad Taraki, president and former prime minister of Afghanistan, is assassinated in a coup in which prime minister Hafizullah Amin seizes power.
1982 Bachir Gemayel, president-elect of Lebanon, is killed along with 26 others in a bomb blast in Beirut.
1984 Joe Kittinger, a former USAF fighter pilot during the Vietnam War, becomes the first person to pilot a gas balloon solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
1994 Major League Baseball players strike over a salary cap and other proposed changes, forcing the cancellation of the entire postseason and the World Series.
2007 Northern Rock Bank suffers the UK's first bank run in 150 years
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear … Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
Skip… For The List for Thursday, 14 September 2023… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 14 September 1968… In the shadow of Audie Murphy—another fearless fighter… Keith Ware…
Thanks to Micro
From Vietnam Air Losses site for Thursday, September 14
September 14th: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=1945
This following work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear's Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated information to the work to update for history…skip Vietnam Air Losses Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
This is a list of all Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Listed by last name and has other info https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/KIAINDEX.HTM
MOAA - Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Servicemembers Killed in the Vietnam War
(This site was sent by a friend last week and I forgot to forward. The site works, find anyone you knew in "search" feature. https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/ )
Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
By: Kipp Hanley
AUGUST 15, 2022
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Thanks to Micro This Friday, September 15, 2023 is National POW-MIA Recognition Day. Remember to fly your POW-MIA flag and set a place at your table for these missing Americans
Mission: POW-MIA Quarter 1&2 2023 Newsletter
Skip:
I got the message (below mine and the attachment) from Dave Huffman, who is the Executive Director of the new Mission: POW-MIA organization. In the Newsletter, the History section states that the National League of POW/MIA Families, which has been around since the war, was dissolved in January of this year. I knew they weren't responding to emails and weren't updating their website, but I didn't realize that they decided to just close the doors.
I've worked with Dave Huffman on a couple of things. His wife Jeanie's father was lost in Vietnam in an A-3 at low altitude off the coast of North Vietnam (CDR Jacobs at this link: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=1321). Also, when he was in high school, Dave was assigned the task of doing a paper on POW/MIA's. Since he lived in Norfolk, VA, he contacted Jack Consolvo's parents. He has worn Jack's bracelet since then and gave me a replica of it last year.
Dave is also the Chief of Police for Norfolk International Airport, having served a career with the Norfolk police.
Perhaps you can highlight their new organization in The List, particularly his statement of the History in the attached Newsletter, as a means of encouraging people to go to their website and join the organization at: https://missionpowmia.org. I've extracted the text from that History statement below:
The immediate need for a family focused advocacy organization developed following the dissolution of the National League of POW/MIA Families on January 31, 2023. Following a 4-3 vote to close the League, the dissenting Board Members (those who voted to keep the League open) reached out to other POW-MIA families to gauge interest in forming a new family organization.
The response was overwhelming from POW-MIA families as well as retired military officers and concerned Americans. Mission: POW-MIA was incorporated on February 22, 2023 in Chesapeake, Virginia. Our initial Board of Directors includes five family members from unaccounted-for cases and two retired Naval officers.
Our vision is to establish Mission: POW-MIA as an inclusive organization recognized for its transparency, determination, and dedication to end the uncertainty faced by generations of America's POW/MIA families.
Our mission is to achieve the fullest possible accounting of missing and unaccounted-for Americans from past conflicts through partnerships, research and outreach; by collaborating with like-minded organizations; advocating for our families as they S.E.A.R.C.H. for answers; conducting research and investigations to aid in case resolution to end uncertainty; informing and educating current and future generations; honoring the service and sacrifices made by past generations and their families and ensuring our Nation fulfills its promise to ''leave no one behind."
Our mission objectives are defined as follows:
S - seeking the fullest possible accounting for our missing and unaccounted-for Americans
E - engaging with partner organizations
A- advocating for the families of our missing
R - researching and investigating for case resolution
C - conducting outreach and education
H - honoring the service and sacrifices of our missing and their families
We are so honored to have set course in a new direction with our family members and concerned supporters. It is time to bring back HOPE as we continue to pursue answers for all our POW-MIA families.
Micro
From: dave huffman <dave.huffman@missionpowmia.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2023 9:57 PM
To: dave huffman <dave.huffman@missionpowmia.org>
Subject: Mission: POW-MIA Quarter 1&2 2023 Newsletter
Good evening to all our Mission: POW-MIA families & friends!
We are very excited to send out our FIRST newsletter! This issue covers the period from our launch through the end of June. We truly have been honored to represent so many of your loved ones at events across the country. The best way to look at the newsletter through your PDF reader is the two-page view feature showing the cover page separately.
I've enjoyed talking with so many of you who have joined us on this mission. Please remember you can always reach out to us through emails, texts or phone calls. We WANT to hear from you!
If you haven't visited the website lately, please take another look as we are always adding and updating content. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see the daily posts of the missing and unaccounted for.
Our Mission: POW-MIA community is growing every single day! Last night, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4809 (Norfolk, VA) became our first organizational sponsor!
For our members, you should have received your membership certificate and Mission: POW-MIA lapel pins. If for some reason you haven't, please send us an email so we can get that out to you. If you are wanting to come on board, just head over to www.missionpowmia.org/membership and sign up.
If you are wondering why you received this newsletter...well it is highly likely that somebody from Mission: POW-MIA met you at an event, maybe in Texas, Florida, Virginia, Georgia, Washington DC or some other place and you gave us a card or we gave you one to stay in touch. So please take a look at how we have been engaging the POW-MIA mission through partnerships, research and outreach.
Our next newsletter will be out in October. We would love to hear your thoughts are about our first issue and please send us photos and stories about the mission that we can share. The more people who know about our POW-MIAs the better! Feel free to send this newsletter out to others.
As this email is being written there are 72,184 unaccounted for Americans from WW II, 7491 unaccounted for Americans from the Korean War, 126 unaccounted for Americans from the Cold War, and 1578 unaccounted for Americans from the Vietnam War.
This Friday, September 15, 2023 is National POW-MIA Recognition Day. Remember to fly your POW-MIA flag and set a place at your table for these missing Americans.
Banding together, we can bring HOPE to the families of these missing and unaccounted for Americans as we share their stories of courage and sacrifice.
Mission driven. Family Focused.
Dave
Dave Huffman
Executive Director
Mission: POW-MIA
(757) 615-9629
dave.huffman@missionpowmia.org
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Thanks to Brett for a bit of world news
Geopolitical Futures:
Keeping the future in focus
https://geopoliticalfutures.com
Daily Memo: Putin and Kim Hold Talks in Russia
Pyongyang is on Russia's shrinking list of global partners.
Russia and North Korea. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held talks in Russia on Tuesday. Kim said the leaders discussed "the military-political situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Europe," while Putin touted the long-standing ties between the neighboring states. They also reportedly discussed a possible arms deal that could see Pyongyang providing Moscow with weapons in exchange for food aid and technology. The meeting, which took place at Russia's Vostochny space center, comes less than a month after North Korea's second failed attempt to launch a spy satellite.
Russia and China. Putin also met with Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. They both expressed confidence in their countries' bilateral relations and continued cooperation. Relatedly, the Kremlin announced that the Russian and Chinese foreign ministers will hold talks in Moscow on Sept. 18.
Formal acceptance. China on Wednesday became the first country to name an ambassador to Afghanistan since the Taliban came to power in August 2021. At an introduction ceremony, Zhao Sheng said that China respects Afghanistan's independence and territorial integrity and that the Taliban regime had made progress in the fight against corruption, crime and drugs since taking power.
Pushback. Russia launched a formal protest to Azerbaijan over its comments about elections held in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine over the weekend. Azerbaijan released a statement that referred to the votes as "sham 'elections' in certain territories of Ukraine." A spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry called the comments "unacceptable" and said Baku should show the same respect for Russia's territorial integrity that Moscow has shown for Azerbaijan's. The spokesperson also said Moscow did not want a feud with Azerbaijan's historical adversary Armenia, which recently accused the Kremlin of not doing enough to protect it from Azerbaijani aggression.
Big changes. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida replaced 11 of his 19 ministers in a Cabinet reshuffle. The move is apparently part of a bid to boost the popularity of his government amid suggestions he could call for snap legislative elections. The ministers of foreign affairs, defense, health, reconstruction and farming were among those ousted. Kishida has next pledged to tackle rising prices, outline funding for his flagship child-rearing policy, and address issues related to the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Arms shipment. Ecuador received 20 tactical wheeled armored vehicles from Turkey. Turkish defense firm Otokar delivered the Cobra II vehicles to the Latin American country on Tuesday.
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Thanks to Interesting Facts
6 Delicious Facts About Pizza
It's hard to define pizza. Is it flatbread with toppings, or something more specific? While flatbread has existed in many cultures for centuries, pizza as we know it today is more commonly associated with Italy, particularly Naples. What was once a niche regional dish has become one of the most popular foods in the world; one survey suggested that "pizza," meaning "pie," is the best-known Italian word outside Italy, beating out even "spaghetti."
Despite the dish's European roots, America has welcomed pizza as its own, spurring specific regional styles from New York to California — and one lesser-known variant that even has built-in dessert. When exactly did pizza take off in the states? What is pizza like back in Italy? What's the deal with pizza rolls? These six facts about pizza may have you heading out to grab your favorite slice.
1 of 6
The First Recorded Pizza Delivery Was in 1889
In 1880s Naples, pizza was a staple food for the working class, although nobility turned up their noses at it. It didn't really catch on in the rest of the country until the newly crowned Queen Margherita paid a visit to the seaside town in 1889. One night, the legend goes, she grew tired of fancy meals and asked for some local cuisine.
Pizza chef Raffaele Esposito made the queen three pizzas, including what we know now as the Margherita pizza — tomato, basil, and mozzarella for the three colors of the Italian flag — and hand-delivered them. Legend has it the queen took one bite of that pizza and said it was one of the best things she had ever eaten, which is how it got its name.
It's entirely possible that more informal pizza delivery happened about town before this, but it's certainly the first one that went down in history. There is some controversy about whether this story is actually true, but regardless, the pizzeria where Esposito worked, Pizzeria Brandi, still displays a royal thank-you note on its walls.
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Pizza Took Off in America After World War II
While pizzerias had existed for decades beforehand, especially in working-class Italian communities, pizza didn't penetrate everyday life in America until after World War II. Soldiers came home after sampling the dish abroad, and pizza quickly became a booming business. Pizzerias started popping up in every state in the country, especially after the Bakers Pride commercial pizza oven launched around 1945. National chains began to emerge in the late 1950s: Pizza Hut in 1958, Little Caesar's in 1959, and Domino's in 1960, to name a few. Today, demand for chain pizza is dropping a little, but the pizza market is still strong.
3 of 6
Pizza Was One of the First Things Sold on the Internet
Ordering pizza online may seem pretty newfangled, but the first pizza was sold on the internet nearly 30 years ago. Way back in the mid-'90s, online shopping was in its infancy. The first online vendor, as we know them today, was NetMarket, which launched in the summer of 1994. (Its first sale was a Sting CD.) Less than a month later, Pizza Hut launched PizzaNet, its first online ordering service. Back then, with only dial-up internet and no cloud computing services, setting up online ordering was a more onerous task, requiring the company to install a server at its Wichita, Kansas, headquarters. The pilot program was limited to Santa Cruz, California, so after customers were done, their orders traveled over the internet to Wichita, then back out to a local Santa Cruz Pizza Hut. Somewhat defeating the purpose, that local Pizza Hut would then call to confirm the order over the phone. The first order, according to Pizza Hut, was a mushroom, pepperoni, and extra-cheese pizza.
It was a big year for online shopping — Amazon launched in 1994, too, and eBay followed soon after in 1995. PizzaNet, sadly, wasn't as successful, but Pizza Hut eventually relaunched online ordering in 2001.
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Colorado-Style Pizza Has Built-In Dessert
Many regions of the United States have their own styles of pizza, like the big thin slices of New York and the bready Philly tomato pie. Colorado-style pizza, also known as mountain pie, is a little less famous, but it's definitely unique. The thickest part is the braided crust, which surrounds a tall stack of toppings. The meats are precooked so they don't make a mess. It's deep, but a far cry from a big melty Chicago deep-dish.
The built-in dessert is that distinct braided crust, which comes with dipping honey to top off an all-in-one meal.
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Italian Pizza Is Strictly Regulated
You know how Champagne only comes from the Champagne region of France, and anything else is just sparkling white wine? Italy has a bunch of similar rules. Many of these rules govern wine, but pizza is a protected consumable, too. Specifically, Neapolitan pizza, or pizza napoletana.
In order to be sold as pizza napoletana, the pie has to be 35 centimeters (around 14 inches) or less in diameter, have a raised rim of 1 to 2 centimeters, and follow a host of other requirements, including flour type, kneading technique, and equipment. No rolling pins are allowed. A specific type of oregano must be used. Only certain certified varieties of Italian tomatoes are acceptable. And there are only two types of Neapolitan pizza: Margherita (topped with tomato, basil, mozzarella, and additional cheese) and marinara (tomato, oil, oregano, and garlic).
One guide published by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, the organization devoted to protecting and verifying the traditional pie, is 21 pages long — and they periodically check on restaurants that claim to serve the stuff. The dish has been standardized in Italy since the late 1990s, and got special recognition from the European Union in 2009.
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Totino's Uses 25 Different Recipes for Pizza Rolls
Supply chain issues during the COVID-19 pandemic hit the food industry hard, major distributors included. At the same time, customers were preparing to spend long periods at home by stocking up on their grocery-store favorites, including the popular frozen-aisle snack Totino's Pizza Rolls. To keep up with demand and keep shelves stocked, scientists at parent company General Mills made up 25 different recipes for pizza rolls, with small substitutions like cornstarch for tapioca starch, so they could just use whichever one was most convenient at any given time.
They're not the only company to adjust to supply chain issues with recipe changes, but 25 variations is certainly a strong commitment to keeping this favorite slumber-party snack in stock. It's a good thing they're not beholden to an incredibly strict list of national standards — but to be fair, if America were to enshrine one pizza product, it would probably be pizza rolls.
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This Day in U S Military History…….14 September
1872 – Britain paid US $15 million for damages during Civil War. The British government paid £3 million in damages to the United States in compensation for building the Confederate commerce-raider Alabama. The confederate navy's Alabama was built at the Birkenhead shipyards. Despite its official neutrality during the American Civil War, Britain allowed the warship to leave port, and it subsequently played havoc with Federal shipping. The U.S. claimed compensation, and a Court of Arbitration at Geneva agreed, setting the amount at £3 million.
1939 – In the 1930s Igor Sikorsky (d.1972) turned his attention again to helicopter design and on this day flew the VS-300 on its first test flight. Sikorsky, scientist, engineer, pilot and businessman, was a pioneer in aircraft design who is best known for his successful development of the helicopter. He was fascinated with flight even as a child in Russia, and a 1908 meeting with the Wright brothers determined the course of his life in aviation. After two early helicopter designs failed, Sikorsky turned his attention to fixed-wing aircraft. By 1913 he had developed the Il'ya Muromets, four-engine passenger aircraft that were converted to bombers for use in WWI. The Bolshevik Revolution forced Sikorsky and his family to emigrate to America in 1919 where he established the Sikorsky Aero Engineering Corporation in New York. Over the next 20 years, Sikorsky's company built passenger planes and flying boats, including the S-40 American Clipper that was used to open new air routes across the Pacific.
1944 – U.S. 1st Marine Division lands on the island of Peleliu, one of the Palau Islands in the Pacific, as part of a larger operation to provide support for Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who was preparing to invade the Philippines. The cost in American lives would prove historic. The Palaus, part of the Caroline Islands, were among the mandated islands taken from Germany and given to Japan as one of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles at the close of World War I. The U.S. military lacked familiarity with the islands, and Adm. William Halsey argued against Operation Stalemate, which included the Army invasion of Morotai in the Dutch East Indies, believing that MacArthur would meet minimal resistance in the Philippines, therefore making this operation unnecessary, especially given the risks involved. Peleliu was subject to pre-invasion bombardment, but it proved of little consequence. The Japanese defenders of the island were buried too deep in the jungle, and the target intelligence given the Americans was faulty. Upon landing, the Marines met little immediate resistance-but that was a ploy. Shortly thereafter, Japanese machine guns opened fire, knocking out more than two dozen landing craft. Japanese tanks and troops followed, as the startled 1st and 5th Marine regiments fought for their lives. Jungle caves disgorged even more Japanese soldiers. Within one week of the invasion, the Marines lost 4,000 men. By the time it was all over, that number would surpass 9,000. The Japanese lost more than 13,000 men. Flamethrowers and bombs finally subdued the island for the Americans-but it all proved pointless. MacArthur invaded the Philippines without need of Army or Marine protection from either Peleliu or Morotai.
2001 – Pres. Bush declared a national emergency and summoned as many as 50,000 military reservists. Congress authorizes President George W. Bush to use "all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons." The number of hijackers involved in the Sep 11 attacks was raised from 18 to 19 and their names were made public.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
SCHROEDER, HENRY F.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company L, 16th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Carig, Philippine Islands, 14 September 1900. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Birth: Chicago, Ill. Date of issue: 10 March 1902. Citation: With 22 men defeated 400 insurgents, killing 36 and wounding 90.
MILES, L. WARDLAW
Rank and organization. Captain, U.S. Army, 308th Infantry, 77th Division. Place and date: Near Revillon, France, 14 September 1918. Entered service at: Princeton, N.J. Born: 23 March 1873, Baltimore, Md. G.O. No.: 44, W.D., 1919. Citation: Volunteered to lead his company in a hazardous attack on a commanding trench position near the Aisne Canal, which other troops had previously attempted to take without success. His company immediately met with intense machinegun fire, against which it had no artillery assistance, but Capt. Miles preceded the first wave and assisted in cutting a passage through the enemy's wire entanglements. In so doing he was wounded 5 times by machinegun bullets, both legs and 1 arm being fractured, whereupon he ordered himself placed on a stretcher and had himself carried forward to the enemy trench in order that he might encourage and direct his company, which by this time had suffered numerous casualties. Under the inspiration of this officer's indomitable spirit his men held the hostile position and consolidated the front line after an action lasting 2 hours, at the conclusion of which Capt. Miles was carried to the aid station against his will.
EDSON, MERRITT AUSTIN
Rank and organization: Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 25 April 1897, Rutland, Vt. Appointed from: Vermont. Other Navy awards: Navy Cross with Gold Star, Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit with Gold Star. Citation: For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion, with Parachute Battalion attached, during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands on the night of 13-14 September 1942. After the airfield on Guadalcanal had been seized from the enemy on 8 August, Col. Edson, with a force of 800 men, was assigned to the occupation and defense of a ridge dominating the jungle on either side of the airport. Facing a formidable Japanese attack which, augmented by infiltration, had crashed through our front lines, he, by skillful handling of his troops, successfully withdrew his forward units to a reserve line with minimum casualties. When the enemy, in a subsequent series of violent assaults, engaged our force in desperate hand-to-hand combat with bayonets, rifles, pistols, grenades, and knives, Col. Edson, although continuously exposed to hostile fire throughout the night, personally directed defense of the reserve position against a fanatical foe of greatly superior numbers. By his astute leadership and gallant devotion to duty, he enabled his men, despite severe losses, to cling tenaciously to their position on the vital ridge, thereby retaining command not only of the Guadalcanal airfield, but also of the 1st Division's entire offensive installations in the surrounding area.
*KEATHLEY, GEORGE D.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, 85th Infantry Division. Place and date: Mt. Altuzzo, Italy, 14 September 1944. Entered service at: Lamesa, Tex. Birth: Olney, Tex. G.O. No.: 20, 29 March 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, in action on the western ridge of Mount Altuzzo, Italy. After bitter fighting his company had advanced to within 50 yards of the objective, where it was held up due to intense enemy sniper, automatic, small arms, and mortar fire. The enemy launched 3 desperate counterattacks in an effort to regain their former positions, but all 3 were repulsed with heavy casualties on both sides. All officers and noncommissioned officers of the 2d and 3d platoons of Company B had become casualties, and S/Sgt. Keathley, guide of the 1st platoon, moved up and assumed command of both the 2d and 3d platoons, reduced to 20 men. The remnants of the 2 platoons were dangerously low on ammunition, so S/Sgt. Keathley, under deadly small arms and mortar fire, crawled from 1 casualty to another, collecting their ammunition and administering first aid. He then visited each man of his 2 platoons, issuing the precious ammunition he had collected from the dead and wounded, and giving them words of encouragement. The enemy now delivered their fourth counterattack, which was approximately 2 companies in strength. In a furious charge they attacked from the front and both flanks, throwing hand grenades, firing automatic weapons, and assisted by a terrific mortar barrage. So strong was the enemy counterattack that the company was given up for lost. The remnants of the 2d and 3d platoons of Company B were now looking to S/Sgt. Keathley for leadership. He shouted his orders precisely and with determination and the men responded with all that was in them. Time after time the enemy tried to drive a wedge into S/Sgt. Keathley's position and each time they were driven back, suffering huge casualties. Suddenly an enemy hand grenade hit and exploded near S/Sgt. Keathley, inflicting a mortal wound in his left side. However, hurling defiance at the enemy, he rose to his feet. Taking his left hand away from his wound and using it to steady his rifle, he fired and killed an attacking enemy soldier, and continued shouting orders to his men. His heroic and intrepid action so inspired his men that they fought with incomparable determination and viciousness. For 15 minutes S/Sgt. Keathley continued leading his men and effectively firing his rifle. He could have sought a sheltered spot and perhaps saved his life, but instead he elected to set an example for his men and make every possible effort to hold his position. Finally, friendly artillery fire helped to force the enemy to withdraw, leaving behind many of their number either dead or seriously wounded. S/Sgt. Keathley died a few moments later. Had it not been for his indomitable courage and incomparable heroism, the remnants of 3 rifle platoons of Company B might well have been annihilated by the overwhelming enemy attacking force. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
*LLOYD, EDGAR H.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company E, 319th Infantry, 80th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Pompey, France, 14 September 1944. Entered service at: Blytheville, Ark. Birth: Blytheville, Ark. G.O. No.: 25, 7 April 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On 14 September 1944, Company E, 319th Infantry, with which 1st Lt. Lloyd was serving as a rifle platoon leader, was assigned the mission of expelling an estimated enemy force of 200 men from a heavily fortified position near Pompey, France. As the attack progressed, 1st Lt. Lloyd's platoon advanced to within 50 yards of the enemy position where they were caught in a withering machinegun and rifle crossfire which inflicted heavy casualties and momentarily disorganized the platoon. With complete disregard for his own safety, 1st Lt. Lloyd leaped to his feet and led his men on a run into the raking fire, shouting encouragement to them. He jumped into the first enemy machinegun position, knocked out the gunner with his fist, dropped a grenade, and jumped out before it exploded. Still shouting encouragement he went from 1 machinegun nest to another, pinning the enemy down with submachine gun fire until he was within throwing distance, and then destroyed them with hand grenades. He personally destroyed 5 machineguns and many of the enemy, and by his daring leadership and conspicuous bravery inspired his men to overrun the enemy positions and accomplish the objective in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. His audacious determination and courageous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States.
*SADOWSKI, JOSEPH J.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division. Place and date: Valhey, France, 14 September 1944. Entered service at: Perth Amboy, N.J. Birth: Perth Amboy, N.J. C o. No.: 32, 23 April 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty at Valhey, France. On the afternoon of 14 September 1944, Sgt. Sadowski as a tank commander was advancing with the leading elements of Combat Command A, 4th Armored Division, through an intensely severe barrage of enemy fire from the streets and buildings of the town of Valhey. As Sgt. Sadowski's tank advanced through the hail of fire, it was struck by a shell from an 88-mm. gun fired at a range of 20 yards. The tank was disabled and burst into flames. The suddenness of the enemy attack caused confusion and hesitation among the crews of the remaining tanks of our forces. Sgt. Sadowski immediately ordered his crew to dismount and take cover in the adjoining buildings. After his crew had dismounted, Sgt. Sadowski discovered that 1 member of the crew, the bow gunner, had been unable to leave the tank. Although the tank was being subjected to a withering hail of enemy small-arms, bazooka, grenade, and mortar fire from the streets and from the windows of adjacent buildings, Sgt. Sadowski unhesitatingly returned to his tank and endeavored to pry up the bow gunner's hatch. While engaged in this attempt to rescue his comrade from the burning tank, he was cut down by a stream of machinegun fire which resulted in his death. The gallant and noble sacrifice of his life in the aid of his comrade, undertaken in the face of almost certain death, so inspired the remainder of the tank crews that they pressed forward with great ferocity and completely destroyed the enemy forces in this town without further loss to themselves. The heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Sgt. Sadowski, which resulted in his death, inspired the remainder of his force to press forward to victory, and reflect the highest tradition of the armed forces.
*WIGLE, THOMAS W.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company K, 135th Infantry, 34th Infantry Division. Place and date: Monte Frassino, Italy, 14 September 1944. Entered service at: Detroit, Mich. Birth: Indianapolis, Ind. G.O. No.: 8, 7 February 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in the vicinity of Monte Frassino, Italy. The 3d Platoon, in attempting to seize a strongly fortified hill position protected by 3 parallel high terraced stone walls, was twice thrown back by the withering crossfire. 2d Lt. Wigle, acting company executive, observing that the platoon was without an officer, volunteered to command it on the next attack. Leading his men up the bare, rocky slopes through intense and concentrated fire, he succeeded in reaching the first of the stone walls. Having himself boosted to the top and perching there in full view of the enemy, he drew and returned their fire while his men helped each other up and over. Following the same method, he successfully negotiated the second. Upon reaching the top of the third wall, he faced 3 houses which were the key point of the enemy defense. Ordering his men to cover him, he made a dash through a hail of machine-pistol fire to reach the nearest house. Firing his carbine as he entered, he drove the enemy before him out of the back door and into the second house. Following closely on the heels of the foe, he drove them from this house into the third where they took refuge in the cellar. When his men rejoined him, they found him mortally wounded on the cellar stairs which he had started to descend to force the surrender of the enemy. His heroic action resulted in the capture of 36 German soldiers and the seizure of the strongpoint.
*GOMEZ, EDWARD
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, Reserve, Company E, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Korea, Hill 749, 14 September 1951. Entered service at: Omaha, Nebr. Born: 10 August 1932, Omaha, Nebr. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an ammunition bearer in Company E, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Bolding advancing with his squad in support of a group of riflemen assaulting a series of strongly fortified and bitterly defended hostile positions on Hill 749, Pfc. Gomez consistently exposed himself to the withering barrage to keep his machine gun supplied with ammunition during the drive forward to seize the objective. As his squad deployed to meet an imminent counterattack, he voluntarily moved down an abandoned trench to search for a new location for the gun and, when a hostile grenade landed between himself and his weapon, shouted a warning to those around him as he grasped the activated charge in his hand. Determined to save his comrades, he unhesitatingly chose to sacrifice himself and, diving into the ditch with the deadly missile, absorbed the shattering violence of the explosion in his body. By his stouthearted courage, incomparable valor, and decisive spirit of self-sacrifice, Pfc. Gomez inspired the others to heroic efforts in subsequently repelling the outnumbering foe, and his valiant conduct throughout sustained and enhanced the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
*WALMSLEY, JOHN S., JR.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Air Force, 8th Bombardment Squadron, 3d Bomb Group. Place and date: Near Yangdok, Korea, 14 September 1951. Entered service at: Baltimore, Md. Born. 7 January 1920, Baltimore, Md. Citation: Capt. Walmsley, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While flying a B-26 aircraft on a night combat mission with the objective of developing new tactics, Capt. Walmsley sighted an enemy supply train which had been assigned top priority as a target of opportunity. He immediately attacked, producing a strike which disabled the train, and, when his ammunition was expended, radioed for friendly aircraft in the area to complete destruction of the target. Employing the searchlight mounted on his aircraft, he guided another B-26 aircraft to the target area, meanwhile constantly exposing himself to enemy fire. Directing an incoming B-26 pilot, he twice boldly aligned himself with the target, his searchlight illuminating the area, in a determined effort to give the attacking aircraft full visibility. As the friendly aircraft prepared for the attack, Capt. Walmsley descended into the valley in a low level run over the target with searchlight blazing, selflessly exposing himself to vicious enemy antiaircraft fire. In his determination to inflict maximum damage on the enemy, he refused to employ evasive tactics and valiantly pressed forward straight through an intense barrage, thus insuring complete destruction of the enemy's vitally needed war cargo. While he courageously pressed his attack Capt. Walmsley's plane was hit and crashed into the surrounding mountains, exploding upon impact. His heroic initiative and daring aggressiveness in completing this important mission in the face of overwhelming opposition and at the risk of his life, reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force.
*SKIDGEL, DONALD SIDNEY
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Troop D, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. Place and date: Near Song Be, Republic of Vietnam, 14 September 1969. Entered service at: Bangor, Maine. Born: 13 October 1948, Caribou, Maine. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Skidgel distinguished himself while serving as a reconnaissance section leader in Troop D. On a road near Song Be in Binh Long Province, Sgt. Skidgel and his section with other elements of his troop were acting as a convoy security and screening force when contact occurred with an estimated enemy battalion concealed in tall grass and in bunkers bordering the road. Sgt.Skidgel maneuvered off the road and began placing effective machinegun fire on the enemy automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade positions. After silencing at least 1 position, he ran with his machinegun across 60 meters of bullet-swept ground to another location from which he continued to rake the enemy positions. Running low on ammunition, he returned to his vehicle over the same terrain. Moments later he was alerted that the command element was receiving intense automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenade and mortar fire. Although he knew the road was saturated with enemy fire, Sgt. Skidgel calmly mounted his vehicle and with his driver advanced toward the command group in an effort to draw the enemy fire onto himself. Despite the hostile fire concentrated on him, he succeeded in silencing several enemy positions with his machinegun. Moments later Sgt. Skidgel was knocked down onto the rear fender by the explosion of an enemy rocket-propelled grenade. Ignoring his extremely painful wounds, he staggered back to his feet and placed effective fire on several other enemy positions until he was mortally wounded by hostile small arms fire. His selfless actions enabled the command group to withdraw to a better position without casualties and inspired the rest of his fellow soldiers to gain fire superiority and defeat the enemy. Sgt. Skidgel's gallantry at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for September 14 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
14 September
1922: Maj H. A. Strauss commanded the first transcontinental airship flight in the nonrigid C-2 from Langley Field to Foss Field in Arcadia, Calif. (24)
1936: Harry Richman and Henry T. (Dick) Merrill started their return transatlantic round trip flight between London, England, and New York. (9)
1939: Igor Sikorsky made the first successful helicopter flight. The first flight was made while the VS300 was tethered to the ground. (18)
1944: Col Floyd B. Wood, Maj Harry Wexler, and Lt Frank Recford made the first flight into a hurricane to collect scientific data in a Douglas A-20. (21)
1951: Capt John S. Walmsley, Jr., died while illuminating an enemy supply train with his searchlight-equipped B-26 Invader. Walmsley's aircraft spotted a Chinese supply train moving by cover of darkness. He attacked it until he expended his ammunition. He then used a spotlight on his aircraft to illuminate the train for subsequent attacks, exposing himself and his crew to intense anti-aircraft fire, which he did not avoid. The mission resulted in the successful destruction of the train, and Walmsley was killed when his heavily damaged aircraft crashed. For his actions, he received the Medal of Honor.
(21) (28)
1962: The 498th Tactical Missile Group on Okinawa, equipped with Mace missiles, reached full strength. (17)
1964: President Johnson gave Harmon International Trophies for 1963 to Astronaut L. Gordon Cooper for his Mercury flight in Faith 7; Betty Miller for a first eastward transpacific solo flight by a woman; and Lt Col Fitzhugh L. Fulton for flying a B-58 Hustler to 85,318 feet with an 11,000 pound plus payload. (5) (16)
1971: From Can Ranh Bay AB, Vietnam, 15 USAF C-7 Caribou aircraft began a 10-day, 8,000-mile return flight to McClellan AFB. While in SEA, the transport aircraft flew missions from unimproved airstrips to provide fresh food and supplies to inaccessible outposts. (16) (26)
1981: PACAF's first F-16 Fighting Falcons arrived at Kunsan AB, South Korea. (16) (26)
1987: SAC decommissioned its last ground control approach radar system (FPN-16) at Grissom AFB, Ind.
1995: Through 30 September, airlifters moved more than 30 tons of medical supplies from Charleston AFB to Hanoi, Vietnam, in the first humanitarian airlift to that country since the war ended in 1975. (16)
1997: Exercise CENTRAZBAT 97. Eight C-17 Globemaster IIIs airdropped 500 members of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg into Kazakhstan. This operation covered 7,897 miles, the longest distance ever in an airdrop, to support the two-phase US Atlantic Command exercise for US and Central Asian troops in the former Soviet Union. The C-17s were airborne for over 19 hours as they crossed the Atlantic and southern Europe to the drop zone. KC-10 Extenders from the 60 AMW at Travis AFB and the 305 AMW at McGuire AFB, and KC-135 Stratotankers from the 22 AREFW at McConnell AFB and the 6 AREFW at MacDill AFB provided refueling support. (22)
1999: HURRICANE FLOYD. The storm hit the eastern US coast from the Carolinas to Maine, causing some 57 deaths and about $6 billion dollars in damages. Through 18 September, the ANG joined their Army counterparts in relief operations. In North Carolina, the ANG flew 33,000 cases of food rations in three C-130s to flood victims. Additionally, New Jersey ANG members assisted Army Guardsmen in sand-bagging operations, reinforcing a flood-weakened dam, and delivering supplies to storm victims. (32)
2001: Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld requested and President George W. Bush approved an order to call as many as 50,000 reservists and guardsmen to active duty to provide port operations, medical support, engineering support, general civil support, and homeland defense. The USAF contributed 13,000 of the 50,000 people. (32) Congress authorized use of the U.S. armed forces against the terrorists involved in the 11 September 2001 attacks and against any nation harboring them. (32)
2005: At Creech AFB (formerly Indian Springs), Nev., the USAF started operational testing on the latest upgrade to the MQ-1 Predator. The Multi-Aircraft Control (MAC) system allowed single pilots to control two-ship and four-ship Predator sorties. Testers performed two-ship sorties 12- 13 September and four-ship sorties on 14-15 September. (AFNEWS Article, "Predators Fly First Four-Ship Sorties," 26 September 2005) NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards AFB completed Pathfinder Plus solarpowered research aircraft's final flight. The flying wing UAV flew a 2.5 hour sortie over Rogers Dry Lake to study the effects of turbulence on lightweight flexible wing structures. (3)
2006: The CSAF, Gen T. Michael Moseley, selected the name "Reaper" for the new MQ-9 hunterkiller UAV. The larger, more powerful version of the MQ-1 Predator was designed to go after time-sensitive targets with 500-pound bombs and Hellfire missiles. (AFNEWS Article, "Reaper Moniker Given to MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle," 14 Sep 2006)
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