To All
Good Wednesday Morning February 7, 2024. Well we got a lot of rain yesterday well into the night. The pool is about an inch from the top. If it starts raining hard like it did at times Yesterday. I will have to start pumping it out. I hope you are all doing fine and your week is going well. They found the USMC that went down last night but no word yet on survivors…..We can only hope.
Regards,
skip
HAGD
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History (thanks to NHHC)
Here is a link to the NHHC website: https://www.history.navy.mil/
This day in Naval and Marine Corps History
February 7
1800—The frigate Essex, commanded by Capt. Edward Preble, becomes the first U.S. Navy vessel to cross the Equator.
1814—During the War of 1812, the schooner Enterprise and the brig Rattlesnake capture and burn the British merchant brig Rambler in the Caribbean Sea.
1832—The frigate Potomac, commanded by Capt. John Downes, shells a pirate stronghold at Qualla Battoo, Sumatra, destroying a fort. The day before a Potomac landing party destroys four forts, killing 150 pirates and the pirate leader, Rajah Po Mohamet. The Malays agree not to make further attacks on American ships.
1943—USS Growler (SS 215) fights a desperate night battle with the Japanese supply ship Hayasaki, during which the boat's commanding officer, Lt. Cmdr. Howard W. Gilmore, rams the enemy ship, badly bending Growler's bow. Wounded by machine gun fire and unable to go below, Gilmore gives the order "Take her down!" sacrificing himself so his submarine could dive to safety. For his "distinguished gallantry and valor" on this occasion and earlier in the patrol, he is posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted one rank.
1945—USS Thomason (DE 203) sinks the Japanese submarine RO 55 off Iba, Luzon. USS Bergall (SS 320) attacks a Japanese convoy and sinks Coast Defense Vessel No. 53 off Cam Ranh Bay. USS Guavina (SS 362) attacks a Japanese convoy and sinks merchant tanker Taigyo Maru, off Saigon, French Indochina while USS Parche (SS 384) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Okinoyama Maru in Tokara Retto.
1955—Seventh Fleet ships begin the evacuation of Chinese nationalists from Tachen Islands.
1965—During Operation Flaming Dart, USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) and USS Hancock (CVA 19) aircraft attack the North Vietnamese area near Donghoi in response to a Viet Cong attack on the barracks area at Pleiku, South Vietnam.
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This day in World History
February 7
457 A Thracian officer by the name of Leo is proclaimed as emperor of the East by the army general, Aspar, on the death of the Emperor Marcian.
1668 The Netherlands, England and Sweden conclude an alliance directed against Louis XIV of France.
1783 The Siege of Gibraltar, which was pursued by the Spanish and the French since July 24, 1779, is finally lifted.
1818 The first successful U.S. educational magazine, Academician, begins publication in New York City.
1882 American pugilist John L. Sullivan becomes the last of the bare-knuckle world heavyweight champions with his defeat of Patty Ryan in Mississippi City.
1913 The Turks lose 5,000 men in a battle with the Bulgarian army in Gallipoli.
1915 Fieldmarshal Paul von Hindenburg moves on Russians at Masurian Lakes.
1917 The British steamer California is sunk off the coast of Ireland by a German U-boat.
1926 Negro History Week, originated by Carter G. Woodson, is observed for the first time.
1928 The United States signs an arbitration treaty with France.
1931 Amelia Earhart weds George Putnam in Connecticut.
1944 The Germans launch a second attack against the Allied beachead at Anzio, Italy. They hoped to push the Allies back into the sea.
1950 The United States recognizes Vietnam under the leadership of Emperor Bao Dai, not Ho Chi Minh who is recognized by the Soviets.
1963 The Mona Lisa is put on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
1964 The British band The Beatles are greeted by 25,000 fans upon their arrival in the United States at JFK Airport.
1965 U.S. jets hit Dong Hoi guerrilla base in reprisal for the Viet Cong raids.
1968 North Vietnamese use 11 Soviet-built light tanks to overrun the U.S. Special Forces camp at Lang Vei at the end of an 18-hour long siege.
1978 Ethiopia mounts a counter attack against Somalia.
1983 Iran opens an invasion in the southeast of Iraq.
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OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT Thanks to the Bear
Skip… For The List for the week beginning Monday, 5 February 2024 and ending Sunday, 11 February 2024… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT (1968-1972)
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post of 28 April 2017… The TS/SI plan to destroy North Vietnam— Linebacker I/II — was on the shelf and ready to go on 5 February 1969… 27,000 American braves would perish (KIA) before the plan would be executed… Shame!…
Thanks to Micro
To remind folks that these are from the Vietnam Air Losses site that Micro put together. You click on the url below and can read what happened each day to the aircraft and its crew. ……Skip
This is about one of the first raids on this day in 1965 and one the first losses…skip
From Vietnam Air Losses site for "Wednesday 7 February
7: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=85
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.
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 . 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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A bit of history from 30 years ago
Thanks to Woe. I do not know what happened but this one works I could don't get the link about the air war in Desert Shield/Storm, but I think I found the article that was referenced at this link:
https://thewarhorse.org/30-years-on-veterans-recall-the-desert-storm-air-war/
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DON'T LET TH E OLD MAN IN
Thanks to Newell. Toby Keith was a great Country singer and a constant visitor to the armed forces overseas and at home. I will miss him…skip
Family and Friends,
Last night Toby Keith lost his years-long struggle with stomach cancer. His death robs Country Music of one of its most robust and creative male voices. Whether via his song-writing or in his dynamic performances, his talents exploded in energetic message-laden honesty.
In 2002 his spirited "Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue" responded to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and aptly mirrored the patriotic zeal of our wounded angry nation. The enclosed music-video of "Don't Let The Old Man In" was written prior to Toby's cancer diagnosis. His September 18, 2023 performance of "…Old Man", however, conveyed fresh personal gravity to its substance. A message ignored by the Old Man, who breached Toby's entryway less than five months later.
Newell
TOBY KEITH'S "DON'T LET THE OLD MAN IN"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFfQDqY6mC4&authuser=0
The Meaning Behind Toby Keith's Solemn Ballad "Don't Let the Old Man In"
BY TINA BENITEZ-EVES
After receiving the first Country Icon Award at the inaugural People's Choice Country Awards on Thursday (September 28), Toby Keith shared an emotional performance of his 2018 ballad "Don't Let the Old Man In."
The poignant performance marked a rare return to the stage for Keith, who revealed in 2022 that he was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
The Meaning
For Keith, who released the song on his 2019 compilation Greatest Hits: The Show Dog Years, the lyrics became more resonant within his own life in recent years.
In the song, the "old man" is a metaphor for death. The lyrics face mortality, the fight to live and survive, regardless of one's situation.
Don't let the old man in
I wanna leave this alone
Can't leave it up to him
He's knocking on my door
And I knew all of my life
That someday it would end
Get up and go outside
Don't let the old man in
Many moons I have lived
My body's weathered and worn
Ask yourself how would you be
If you didn't know the day you were born
(Despite the hardship, and the effects of time,
the narrator laughs at the face of death.)
When he rides up on his horse
And you feel that cold bitter wind
Look out your window and smile
Don't let the old man in
Clint Eastwood
"Don't Let the Old Man In" was originally written by Keith for Clint Eastwood's 2018 film The Mule, based on the true story of a WWII veteran in his 80s who worked as a courier (mule) for a Mexican drug cartel. Keith was inspired to write the song after a conversation he had with Eastwood while the two played golf.
Eastwood, who was about to turn 88, revealed he was about to start working on a new movie called The Mule. When Keith asked him "How do you do it, man?" Eastwood responded, "I just get up every morning and go out. …And I don't let the old man in."
Keith immediately started writing around Eastwood's words, and what he knew about his character in the film and became consumed by the song. "People were talking to me and they would say, 'Did you hear what I just said?' and I was like, 'No,' because I wasn't listening to any conversations," said Keith. "I was consumed by 'Don't Let the Old Man In.' I worked so hard on it. When I finally sang the line, I thought, it's got to be dark, it's got to be a ballad and it's got to be simple."
When it was time for Keith to record the demo, he was sick, which worked in his favor when singing the darker ballad. "I was sick as a dog that day," remembered Keith. "I was coughing and sneezing and thinking, this is terrible. I gave it the best vocal I could that day, and I sent it off. It's a real raspy, sleepy, tired, sick vocal. I said, 'Well now you've got a reference, and I'll go back and put a vocal on it for you.' "
After hearing Keith's song, Eastwood wanted to feature it in the film and didn't want the vocals changed.
"He wanted it sick and tired and dark like that," said Keith.
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Thanks to Interesting Facts
Vampires were once thought to have a compulsion to count — which inspired the Count on "Sesame Street."
Humans have long blamed the supernatural for life's mysteries; take, for example, vampires, the bloodthirsty creatures that supposedly seek out the living as prey. Many modern depictions of vampires make a mockery of these undead characters, relegating them to YA novels and Halloween costumes, but for hundreds of years — perhaps even thousands, starting with the Egyptians — vampires were feared figures believed to prey on families or entire villages. Some historians believe the vampire myth endured because it was an easy way to explain disease outbreaks or unexpected deaths. These fears, echoed by cultures around the world, are why so many communities developed methods to ward off the undead, including hanging garlic bulbs around their homes and laying to rest family members in vampire-proof graves.
But there's another way to escape the clutches of these undead monsters: making them count. According to European lore, vampires suffer from arithmomania, the uncontrollable urge to count or calculate numbers. That's why many Europeans once scattered seeds or grain on their floors before tucking into bed at night, hoping to distract any intruding vampires by triggering their counting compulsion. Some Slavic fishing communities also draped nets on their homes, believing that vampires would stop to count the holes.
It's unclear why vampires would have a tendency to tally, but the idea has lived on with Sesame Street's Count von Count, the purple-hued vampire who helps children learn their numbers. Inspired by the lore, Sesame Street writer Norman Stiles created the iconic Muppet in the early 1970s based on actor Bela Lugosi's 1931 cinematic depiction of Count Dracula. The count made his Sesame Street debut on the show's fourth season in 1972, slowly morphing from a spooky character to the friendly, number-loving Muppet he is today.
One of the Count's love interests is Countess von Backwards, who tallies numbers in descending order.
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6 Facts About the Mount Rushmore Presidents
The four prominent U.S. Presidents carved into Mount Rushmore were chosen by sculptor Gutzon Borglum to represent major milestones and ideals in American history. George Washington, the first President, was chosen as a symbol of the birth of the nation; Thomas Jefferson represents the expansion of the country through the Louisiana Purchase; Abraham Lincoln was picked for his role in preserving the union; and Theodore Roosevelt symbolizes the nation's industrial growth. While all of these famous figures are known for their pivotal roles in the country's history, there's much more to each of their stories. Here are six interesting facts about the Mount Rushmore Presidents.
George Washington Only Had a Grade School Education
America's first President may be one of the most notable figures in the country's history, but his legacy all started with a modest education. George Washington was born into a Virginia plantation family in 1732, and his formal schooling was limited to his preteen years. When Washington was just 11 years old, his father died, and plans for the future President to follow in his family's footsteps and attend Appleby Grammar School in England were halted. Washington instead received private tutoring for his further, albeit limited, education, and he continued to pursue self-education throughout his life. He read books on military strategy and history, which later informed his approach to his military career, in turn laying the groundwork for his path to the presidency. He studied geometry and trigonometry on his own, both of which came in handy for his stint as a land surveyor as a teen. But even with all of his successes, Washington carried embarrassment about his lack of formal education throughout his life, often comparing himself to his peers.
Thomas Jefferson Was a Self-Taught Architect
Though not formally trained, Thomas Jefferson had a deep passion for and understanding of architecture, and he put it to practical use designing some iconic American buildings that still stand today. From his days as a student at the College of William & Mary, where he is said to have purchased his first architecture book, through his time as the United States' minister to France from 1785 to 1789, Jefferson immersed himself in his own self-directed study of European architecture, particularly classical and Palladian styles. He continued to collect books on the subject, as well as many other subjects, eventually amassing one of the country's largest private libraries.Upon returning to the United States, the third President found opportunities to apply his knowledge. One of his most famous architectural achievements is Monticello, his own Virginia home. He also designed the Virginia State Capitol building in Richmond, which is considered one of the first neoclassical buildings in the United States, as well as the iconic Rotunda at the University of Virginia. Jefferson designed and built his Virginia vacation home, too — the stunning and personal Poplar Forest, one of his many octagon-shaped designs, but the only one that came to fruition.
Theodore Roosevelt Impaired His Vision in a White House Boxing Match
Theodore Roosevelt developed his renowned physical vigor and adventurous spirit at a young age. Growing up in New York City, the future President suffered from childhood asthma, and his father encouraged him to combat its weakening effects on the body by building his physical strength. By the time Roosevelt headed to Harvard University, he had transformed into a physically fit and self-assured athlete. He found his place on the wrestling mat and in the boxing ring, and his asthma symptoms mostly subsided. Throughout his career in the military and politics, including as the governor of New York and, later, President of the United States, Roosevelt continued his active exploits whenever possible. He regularly boxed at the White House, often with his aides, and one of these sparring matches left Teddy with damaged blood vessels, hemorrhaging, and eventually a detached retina, causing permanent impaired vision in his left eye. The injury may have kept him down, but not out, and Roosevelt continued to pursue physical activities, including jiu-jitsu and his beloved hunting: Roosevelt wrote in his autobiography, "If it had been the right eye, I should have been entirely unable to shoot."
Abraham Lincoln Created the Secret Service on the Day He Was Assassinated
On April 14, 1865, just hours before he was tragically shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation creating the Secret Service. At the time, however, the new department's purpose was not to provide presidential protection — it was to combat counterfeit currency.
By the end of the Civil War, nearly one-third of the U.S. currency in circulation was forged; the Secret Service was founded as a bureau within the Treasury Department to rehabilitate and safeguard the country's monetary system. The night of Lincoln's assassination, just one local police officer was assigned to escort the President from the White House to the theater, but the officer's whereabouts at the time of the shooting are unknown. It was not until after the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901, when Vice President Theodore Roosevelt took over, that the Secret Service's mandate was expanded to include the protection of the President.
George Washington Bred the First American Foxhound
Presidential pets have long been beloved members of America's First Families, dating all the way back to the first U.S. President. George Washington had a deep affection for dogs; he owned and bred various breeds that accompanied him throughout his personal and public life. Though it's thought that Washington primarily kept canines for fox hunting, historians believe he loved them as pets, too, frequently visiting their kennels and mentioning them in writings and correspondence. The first President kept a variety of breeds at his Mount Vernon home, including Dalmatians, greyhounds, mastiffs, pointers, hounds, and more; some of their names included Sweet Lips, Trulove, Tippler, Drunkard, and Madame Moose. Washington's aim to breed a faster hunting dog was at least somewhat successful — he is widely recognized as the father of the American foxhound.
On April 25, 1865, 10 days after Abraham Lincoln's death, the late President's funeral procession made its way through the streets of New York City. Thousands of mourners lined the streets to pay their respects to the fallen leader, and among the spectators was Theodore Roosevelt, who was just 6 years old at the time. In a famous photograph of the event Roosevelt can be seen looking out from a window in his grandfather's home as the procession passed through Broadway and Union Square. Standing with him is his brother, Elliott Roosevelt. Later, when Teddy Roosevelt himself became President, he didn't shy away from expressing his admiration of Lincoln, telling friends he was "my great hero" and that he meant "more to me than any other of our public men."
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Thanks to Interesting Facts
The Apollo 11 astronauts signed autographs as life insurance policies.
APOLLO 11 ASTRONAUTS
The Apollo 11 mission was a dangerous endeavor that put the crew's lives at risk, a fact not lost on astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. Aware of the risks ahead, the crew of the historic moon mission signed autographs as a way to provide for their families in case of disaster. At the time, standard life insurance policies were extremely expensive for interstellar missions, and would not have adequately supported the astronauts' families. So, lacking any traditional protection, the astronauts cleverly realized that there was a market out there for signatures from American heroes such as themselves.
The three men entered quarantine roughly a month ahead of the July 1969 mission to the moon. During their free time, they signed hundreds of autographs known as "covers" — signed envelopes postmarked with important dates, such as the date of the moon landing itself. The covers were delivered to the astronauts' families, who held onto them in the event that tragedy struck. Thankfully, the Apollo 11 crew returned unharmed, so these "insurance policies" weren't sold. The crews of Apollo 12 through 16 continued this tradition until 1972, though all of those crafts also returned safely. In the 1990s, covers from the Apollo 11 mission began appearing in memorabilia auctions and commanded incredible value, some selling for tens of thousands of dollars.
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Thanks to Ward Carrol…another of his great discussions
Thanks to John H. and Dr. Rich
Landing a C130 on an aircraft carrier. The best view and discussion I have seen.
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A repeat from last year Thanks to Dr. Rich
I wish you enough
Thanks to Gus ...
Unfortunately I've had a few patients that I've had to say goodbye to forever .. I wish they could have seen this, and their relatives … Fortunately most of my practice, at least for the first 30 years, was bringing life into the world … and joyful and professionally rewarding experience.
Have a wonderful 2024, though the bar is low right now!! Still optimistic a free America, with justice for all, will persevere ...
Take care!
Rich
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjVKR3eNHxo
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This Day in U S Military History February 7
1942 – The federal government ordered passenger car production stopped and converted to wartime purposes. In spite of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's exhortation that the U.S. auto industry should become the "great arsenal of democracy," Detroit's executives were reluctant to join the war cause. However, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the country mobilized behind the U.S. declaration of war. The government offered automakers guaranteed profits regardless of production costs throughout the war years. Furthermore, the Office of Production Management allocated $11 billion to the construction of war manufacturing plants that would be sold to the automobile manufacturers at remarkable discounts after the war. What had at first seemed like a burden on the automotive industry became a boon. The production demands placed on the industry and the resources allocated to the individual automobile manufacturers during the war would revolutionize American car making and bring about the Golden Era of the 1950s.
1943 – On Guadalcanal the US 161st Regiment continues a cautious advance. The Japanese proceed with their evacuation.
1944 – In the Kwajalein Atoll, American forces complete the elimination of isolated Japanese pockets of resistance.
1965 – As part of Operation Flaming Dart, 49 U.S. Navy jets from the 7th Fleet carriers Coral Sea and Hancock drop bombs and rockets on the barracks and staging areas at Dong Hoi, a guerrilla training camp in North Vietnam. Escorted by U.S. jets, a follow-up raid by South Vietnamese planes bombed a North Vietnamese military communications center. These strikes were in retaliation for communist attacks on the U.S. installation at Camp Holloway and the adjacent Pleiku airfield in the Central Highlands, which killed eight U.S. servicemen, wounded 109, and destroyed or damaged 20 aircraft. Even before the attack, presidential advisors John T. McNaughton and McGeorge Bundy had favored bombing North Vietnam. After the attack in the Central Highlands, they strongly urged President Johnson to order the retaliatory raids. Johnson agreed and gave the order to commence Operation Flaming Dart, hoping that a quick and effective retaliation would persuade the North Vietnamese to cease their attacks in South Vietnam. Bundy, who had just returned from Vietnam, defended the air raids as "right and necessary." Senate Majority Leader Mansfield (D-Montana) and GOP leader Everett Dirksen (Illinois) supported the president's decision, but Senators Wayne Morse (D-Oregon) and Ernest Gruening (D-Alaska) attacked the action as a dangerous escalation of the war. The retaliatory raids did not have the desired effect. On February 10, the Viet Cong struck again, this time at an American installation in Qui Nhon, killing 23 Americans. Johnson quickly ordered another retaliatory strike, Flaming Dart II.
1984 – While in orbit 170 miles above Earth, Navy Captain Bruce McCandless becomes the first human being to fly untethered in space when he exits the U.S. space shuttle Challenger and maneuvers freely, using a bulky white rocket pack of his own design. McCandless orbited Earth in tangent with the shuttle at speeds greater than 17,500 miles per hour and flew up to 320 feet away from the Challenger. After an hour and a half testing and flying the jet-powered backpack and admiring Earth, McCandless safely reentered the shuttle. Later that day, Army Lieutenant Colonel Robert Stewart tried out the rocket pack, which was a device regarded as an important step toward future operations to repair and service orbiting satellites and to assemble and maintain large space stations. It was the fourth orbital mission of the space shuttle Challenger.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
SANDS, WILLIAM
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company G, 88th Pennsylvania Infantry. Place and date: At Dabney's Mills, Va., 6_7 February 1865. Entered service at: Reading, Pa. Birth: Reading, Pa. Date of issue: 9 November 1893. Citation: Grasped the enemy's colors in the face of a deadly fire and brought them inside the lines.
SHUTES, HENRY
Rank and organization: Captain of the Forecastle, U.S. Navy. Born: 1804, Baltimore, Md. Accredited to: Maryland. G.O. No.: 71, 15 January 1866. Citation: Served as captain of the forecastle on board the U.S.S. Wissahickon during the battle of New Orleans, 24 and 25 April 1862; and in the engagement at Fort McAllister, 27 February 1863. Going on board the U.S.S. Wissahickon from the U.S.S. Don where his seamanlike qualities as gunner's mate were outstanding, Shutes performed his duties with skill and courage. Showing a presence of mind and prompt action when a shot from Fort McAllister penetrated the Wissahickon below the water line and entered the powder magazine, Shutes contributed materially to the preservation of the powder and safety of the ship.
SPILLANE, TIMOTHY
Rank and organization: Private, Company C, 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Place and date: At Hatchers Run, Va., 5_7 February 1865. Entered service at: Erie, Pa. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 16 September 1880. Citation: Gallantry and good conduct in action; bravery in a charge and reluctance to leave the field after being twice wounded.
COURTNEY, HENRY C.
Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1856, Springfield, Ill. Accredited to: Illinois. G.O. No.: 326, 18 October 1884. Citation: On board the U.S. Training Ship Portsmouth, Washington Navy Yard, 7 February 1882. Jumping overboard from that vessel, Courtney assisted in rescuing Charles Taliaferro, jack-of-the-dust, from drowning.
CRAMEN, THOMAS
Rank and organization: Boatswain's Mate, U.S. Navy. Born: 1848, Ireland. Accredited to: Massachusetts. G.O. No.: 326, 18 October 1884. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Portsmouth, Washington Navy Yard, 7 February 1882. Jumping overboard from that vessel, Cramen rescued Charles Taliaferro, jack-of-the-dust, from drowning.
*GILMORE, HOWARD WALTER
Rank and organization: Commander, U.S. Navy. Born: 29 September 1902, Selma, Ala. Appointed from: Louisiana. Other Navy award: Navy Cross with one gold star. Citation: For distinguished gallantry and valor above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Growler during her Fourth War Patrol in the Southwest Pacific from 10 January to 7 February 1943. Boldly striking at the enemy in spite of continuous hostile air and antisubmarine patrols, Comdr. Gilmore sank one Japanese freighter and damaged another by torpedo fire, successfully evading severe depth charges following each attack. In the darkness of night on 7 February, an enemy gunboat closed range and prepared to ram the Growler. Comdr. Gilmore daringly maneuvered to avoid the crash and rammed the attacker instead, ripping into her port side at 11 knots and bursting wide her plates. In the terrific fire of the sinking gunboat's heavy machineguns, Comdr. Gilmore calmly gave the order to clear the bridge, and refusing safety for himself, remained on deck while his men preceded him below. Struck down by the fusillade of bullets and having done his utmost against the enemy, in his final living moments, Comdr. Gilmore gave his last order to the officer of the deck, "Take her down." The Growler dived; seriously damaged but under control, she was brought safely to port by her well-trained crew inspired by the courageous fighting spirit of their dead captain.
McGAHA, CHARLES L.
Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company G, 35th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Lupao, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 7 February 1945. Entered service at: Crosby, Tenn. Birth: Crosby, Tenn. G.O. No.: 30, 2 April 1946. Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity. His platoon and 1 other from Company G were pinned down in a roadside ditch by heavy fire from 5 Japanese tanks supported by 10 machineguns and a platoon of riflemen. When 1 of his men fell wounded 40 yards away, he unhesitatingly crossed the road under a hail of bullets and moved the man 75 yards to safety. Although he had suffered a deep arm wound, he returned to his post. Finding the platoon leader seriously wounded, he assumed command and rallied his men. Once more he braved the enemy fire to go to the aid of a litter party removing another wounded soldier. A shell exploded in their midst, wounding him in the shoulder and killing 2 of the party. He picked up the remaining man, carried him to cover, and then moved out in front deliberately to draw the enemy fire while the American forces, thus protected, withdrew to safety. When the last man had gained the new position, he rejoined his command and there collapsed from loss of blood and exhaustion. M/Sgt. McGaha set an example of courage and leadership in keeping with the highest traditions of the service.
MILLETT, LEWIS L.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company E, 27th Infantry Regiment. Place and date: Vicinity of Soam-Ni, Korea, 7 February 1951. Entered service at: Mechanic Falls, Maine. Born: 15 December 1920, Mechanic Falls, Maine. G.O. No.: 69, 2 August 1951. Citation: Capt. Millett, Company E, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. While personally leading his company in an attack against a strongly held position he noted that the 1st Platoon was pinned down by small-arms, automatic, and antitank fire. Capt. Millett ordered the 3d Platoon forward, placed himself at the head of the 2 platoons, and, with fixed bayonet, led the assault up the fire-swept hill. In the fierce charge Capt. Millett bayoneted 2 enemy soldiers and boldly continued on, throwing grenades, clubbing and bayoneting the enemy, while urging his men forward by shouting encouragement. Despite vicious opposing fire, the whirlwind hand-to-hand assault carried to the crest of the hill. His dauntless leadership and personal courage so inspired his men that they stormed into the hostile position and used their bayonets with such lethal effect that the enemy fled in wild disorder. During this fierce onslaught Capt. Millett was wounded by grenade fragments but refused evacuation until the objective was taken and firmly secured. The superb leadership, conspicuous courage, and consummate devotion to duty demonstrated by Capt. Millett were directly responsible for the successful accomplishment of a hazardous mission and reflect the highest credit on himself and the heroic traditions of the military service.
*GARDNER, JAMES A.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Place and date: My Canh, Vietnam, 7 February 1966. Entered service at: Memphis, Tenn. Born: 7 February 1943, Dyersburg, Tenn. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Gardner's platoon was advancing to relieve a company of the 1st Battalion that had been pinned down for several hours by a numerically superior enemy force in the village of My Canh, Vietnam. The enemy occupied a series of strongly fortified bunker positions which were mutually supporting and expertly concealed. Approaches to the position were well covered by an integrated pattern of fire including automatic weapons, machine guns and mortars. Air strikes and artillery placed on the fortifications had little effect. 1st Lt. Gardner's platoon was to relieve the friendly company by encircling and destroying the enemy force. Even as it moved to begin the attack, the platoon was under heavy enemy fire. During the attack, the enemy fire intensified. Leading the assault and disregarding his own safety, 1st Lt. Gardner charged through a withering hail of fire across an open rice paddy. On reaching the first bunker he destroyed it with a grenade and without hesitation dashed to the second bunker and eliminated it by tossing a grenade inside. Then, crawling swiftly along the dike of a rice paddy, he reached the third bunker. Before he could arm a grenade, the enemy gunner leaped forth, firing at him. 1st Lt. Gardner instantly returned the fire and killed the enemy gunner at a distance of 6 feet. Following the seizure of the main enemy position, he reorganized the platoon to continue the attack. Advancing to the new assault position, the platoon was pinned down by an enemy machine gun emplaced in a fortified bunker. 1st Lt. Gardner immediately collected several grenades and charged the enemy position, firing his rifle as he advanced to neutralize the defenders. He dropped a grenade into the bunker and vaulted beyond. As the bunker blew up, he came under fire again. Rolling into a ditch to gain cover, he moved toward the new source of fire. Nearing the position, he leaped from the ditch and advanced with a grenade in one hand and firing his rifle with the other. He was gravely wounded just before he reached the bunker, but with a last valiant effort he staggered forward and destroyed the bunker, and its defenders with a grenade. Although he fell dead on the rim of the bunker, his extraordinary actions so inspired the men of his platoon that they resumed the attack and completely routed the enemy. 1st Lt. Gardner's conspicuous gallantry were in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.
*SISLER, GEORGE K.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam. 7 February 1967. Entered service at: Dexter, Mo. Born: 19 September 1937, Dexter, Mo. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life and above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Sisler was the platoon leader/adviser to a Special United States/Vietnam exploitation force. While on patrol deep within enemy dominated territory, 1st Lt. Sisler's platoon was attacked from 3 sides by a company sized enemy force. 1st Lt. Sisler quickly rallied his men, deployed them to a better defensive position, called for air strikes, and moved among his men to encourage and direct their efforts. Learning that 2 men had been wounded and were unable to pull back to the perimeter, 1st Lt. Sisler charged from the position through intense enemy fire to assist them. He reached the men and began carrying 1 of them back to the perimeter, when he was taken under more intensive weapons fire by the enemy. Laying down his wounded comrade, he killed 3 onrushing enemy soldiers by firing his rifle and silenced the enemy machinegun with a grenade. As he returned the wounded man to the perimeter, the left flank of the position came under extremely heavy attack by the superior enemy force and several additional men of his platoon were quickly wounded. Realizing the need for instant action to prevent his position from being overrun, 1st Lt. Sisler picked up some grenades and charged single-handedly into the enemy onslaught, firing his weapon and throwing grenades. This singularly heroic action broke up the vicious assault and forced the enemy to begin withdrawing. Despite the continuing enemy fire, 1st Lt. Sisler was moving about the battlefield directing force and several additional men of his platoon were quickly wounded. His extraordinary leadership, infinite courage, and selfless concern for his men saved the lives of a number of his comrades. His actions reflect great credit upon himself and uphold the highest traditions of the military service.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for February 7 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
7 February
1911: Harry S. Harkness flew his Antoinette airplane from North Island near San Diego, Calif., to a camp of American troops on the US border near Tia Juana, Mexico, to deliver a message. His 21-mile flight took 25 minutes. (24)
1918: The Joint Army and Navy Technical Aeronautical Board passed a resolution on instrument standardization in Army and Navy planes to include in general specifications. (24)
1923: DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. lLt Russell A. Meredith, 1st Pursuit Group of Selfridge Field, Mich., made a hazardous mercy flight over frozen Lake Michigan to bring a doctor to a dying man on Beaver Island. Lt Meredith later received the Distinguished Flying Cross. (24)
1944: By February 1944, the "Luftwaffe Stomp" had become a popular combat maneuver for US fighter pilots to evade the enemy. It involved stalling the aircraft and turning it at the same time to come out on the tail of a German fighter, and thus gain an advantage. (4)
1946: Republic's XF-12 made its first flight. It was a four-engine flying photo lab, built for the Air Technical Service Command. It demonstrated the ability to fly 470 miles per hour at 45,000 feet for 4,500 miles. (5)
1954: The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, "the missile with a man in it," first flew. (5)
1959: John Cook and Robert Timm landed a single-engine Cessna-172 airplane at Las Vegas, Nev., after staying aloft for nearly 65 days. They set an endurance record for light aircraft. (24)
1963: A Polaris A-3 missile launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., flew 1,600 miles over the Atlantic Missile Range. (5)
1975: The A-7D flew for the first time with Digitac, a digital flight control system. (3)
1994: A C-141 Starlifter landed in Antarctica on a natural "Blue Ice" runway to prove that wheeled aircraft could operate there during the summer. (16) A Titan IV launched the first Military Strategic and Tactical Relay (MILSTAR) satellite into a geostationary orbit. (16) (26)
1995: A B-2 bomber dropped live munitions for the first time in a night sortie over the Nevada Test Range, Nev. (16)
1999: From Cape Canaveral, Fla., a Delta II rocket launched Stardust, the first spacecraft designed to intercept a comet and bring samples back to earth. The National Air and Space Administration planned for the Stardust to reach the Comet Wild 2 on 2 January 2004. (21)
2005: The YAL-1 Airborne Laser jet completed its airworthiness testing at Edwards AFB, Calif. (3)
2007: Through 11 May, the F-22A Raptor made its first overseas operational deployment with a flight 12 F-22s from Langley AFB, Va., to Hickam AFB, Hawaii. After a delay for problems with their computer software, the F-22s landed at Kadena AB, Japan, on 18 February. The Raptors redeployed and arrived at Langley on 11 May. During their deployment, the F-22s flew more than 685 sorties. (AFNEWS, "F-22 Begins First Overseas Deployment," 8 Feb 2007, and (AFNEWS, "Raptors Arrive at Kadena," 19 Feb 2007; and (AFNEWS, "Deployed Raptors Leave Pacific, Return to Langley," 10 May 2007.) EXERCISE IRON THUNDER. Though 12 February, more than 100 Air Force, Navy, Marine and Royal Air Force aircraft participated in this exercise throughout the Carolinas. The 77th Fighter Squadron at Shaw AFB, S. C., hosted the four-day multiservice and multinational event to prepare for future contingency operations. The participants included B-1 Lancers from Dyess AFB, Texas, F-15E Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., E-8C Joint STARS from Robins AFB, Ga., F/A-18 Hornets from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., F-16 Fighting Falcons from at Shaw and the Alabama Air National Guard in Montgomery, Ala., and KC-135 Stratotankers from several bases. An E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System from Tinker AFB, Okla., and a British E-3 from RAF Waddington, England, also played in the exercise. (AFNEWS, "Iron Thunder Roars Through Shaw," 12 Feb 2007.)
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