To All
. Good Tuesday morning May 12 Well the weather guessers did it again.We are overcast most of the day and cool with a high of 70. We will get clear skies for the rest of the week with highs in the low 70s.Off to another hospital visit soon for Toni. Brought the mats out last night at class and I think I probably messed up all the good work my physical therapist did yesterday morning by demonstrating break falls and grappling.
Regards,
Skip
HAGD
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History (thanks to NHHC)
Go here to see the director’s corner for all 97 H-Grams
Here is a link to the NHHC website: https://www.history.navy.mil/
May 12
1780 The city of Charleston, S.C., falls to the British when Continental Gen. Benjamin Lincoln surrenders during the American Revolution. Three Continental Navy frigates (Boston, Providence, and Ranger) are captured; and one American frigate (Queen of France) is sunk to prevent capture.
1938 USS Enterprise (CV 6) is commissioned. Notable service during WWII include the Doolittle Raid, the Battle of Midway, the Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and the Okinawa Campaign, where she was badly damaged by a kamikaze strike.
1942 USS Massachusetts (BB 59) is commissioned. She serves in both the Atlantic and Pacific during World War II, notably participating in Operation Torch, Battle of Leyte Gulf, and the bombing of the Japanese homeland.
1975 SS Mayaguez, a tanker ship, is seized by Khmer Rouge, the Communist party of Kampuchea, and is escorted to Koh Tang Island with her 39 crew. President Gerald Ford sends in Marines who meet heavy resistance, but after crew is found safe, they retreat, although three Marines are inadvertently left behind and killed.
1986 USS David R. Ray (DD 971) deters an Iranian Navy frigate’s attempt to board SS President McKinley in the Gulf of Oman.
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Today in World History: May 12
0254 St. Stephen I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.
1588 King Henry III flees Paris after Henry of Guise triumphantly enters the city.
1641 The chief advisor to Charles I, Thomas Wentworth, is beheaded in the Tower of London
1780 Charleston, South Carolina falls to British forces.
1851 The Tule River War ends.
1863 With a victory at the Battle of Raymond, Mississippi, Union General Ulysses S. Grant closes in on Vicksburg.
1864 Union General Benjamin Butler attacks Drewry's Bluff on the James River.
1865 The last land battle of the Civil war occurs at Palmito Ranch, Texas. It is a Confederate victory.
1881 Tunisia, in North Africa becomes a French protectorate.
1885 In the Battle of Batoche, French Canadians rebel against the Canadian government.
1926 The Airship Norge becomes the first vessel to fly over the North Pole.
1932 The body of Charles Lindbergh's baby is found.
1935 Alcoholics Anonymous is founded in Akron, Ohio by "Bill W.," a stockbroker, and "Dr. Bob S.," a heart surgeon.
1940 The Nazi conquest of France begins with the crossing Musee River.
1942 The Soviet Army launches its first major offensive of the war, taking Kharkov in the eastern Ukraine.
1943 Axis forces in North Africa surrender.
1949 The Berlin Blockade ends.
1969 Viet Cong sappers try unsuccessfully to overrun Landing Zone Snoopy in Vietnam.
1975 The U.S. merchant ship Mayaguez is seized by Cambodian forces.
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May 12
Hello All,
Thanks to Dan Heller and the Bear
Links to all content can now be found right on the homepage http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com. If you scroll down from the banner and featured content you will find "Today in Rolling Thunder Remembered History" which highlights events in the Vietnam war that occurred on the date the page is visited. Below that are links to browse or search all content. You may search by keyword(s), date, or date range.
An item of importance is the recent incorporation of Task Force Omega (TFO) MIA summaries. There is a link on the homepage and you can also visit directly via https://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/task-force-omega/. There are 60 summaries posted thus far, with about 940 to go (not a typo—TFO has over 1,000 individual case files).
If you have any questions or comments about RTR/TFO, or have a question on my book, you may e-mail me directly at acrossthewing@protonmail.com. Thank you Dan
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 get what happened each day to the crew of the aircraft. ……Skip
For Saturday May 12 ..
May 12: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=1754
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 Service members 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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Thanks to YP
A little low and slow in close?? Pop out the “Cobra” and safe Ruskie pass for sure!!
Well, that’s one way to catch a two wire.
Bet the LSO was in the net with messy knickers.
yp
The things you can do with CGI But no wake, no jet wash, and no wind and no people anywhere. skip
https://youtube.com/shorts/46NfO75pf3w?feature=share
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. FW: Unwavering: The Wives Who Fought to Ensure No Man is Left
Thanks to Boris
Might find of interest… both interview and books
Boris sends
From: beakleyje@roadrunner.com <beakleyje@roadrunner.com>
E-mail below sent out to our Friday “once were’s” group including Charlie Plumb
Kiland has had great perspective in the past and great interview with Ward
All the best
Boris
From: beakleyje@roadrunner.com <beakleyje@roadrunner.com>
To: 'Charles Plumb' <Charlie@charlieplumb.com>;
Charlie, et al,
Yesterday, Ward Carole’s interview with author Taylor Kiland popped up on FaceBook:
Why Did POTUS Try to Lie to These POW Wives? (https://youtu.be/pTP98ffYOpA). In my view well worth watching. Also it is lead in to her new book on the events around the POW wives just published this month: Unwavering: The Wives Who Fought to Ensure No Man is Left Behind
She has two other books out related to multiple aspects of Vietnam POWs. Was fortunate enough to make contact after the first book and shared some e-mails. Does her homework and has different approach than most historians and also the biographies. Former CG officer. Our great friend Carol Hickerson is shown and mentioned. (Lady and the Flag - http://rememberedsky.com/?p=878)
Related books by Taylor Kiland:
Open Doors: Vietnam POWs Thirty Years Later (2005)
Lessons From the Hanoi Hilton: Six Characteristics of High Performing Teams (2013) (Peter Fretwell with DR J PLondon and Dr James B Stockdale II)
Maybe half through but based on past reading, highly recommended
Boris sends
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A few bits from 14409
Good morning, it's Tuesday, May 12, and we're covering a single-shot treatment that could keep people with HIV healthy for years.
Also in today's Digest: a Wordle game show is coming to a TV near you (Sports, Ent. & Cult.), suckerfish's risqué survival strategy (Sci. & Tech.), the worst NFL logo (Etc.), and much more.
Need To Know
Promising HIV Treatment
Researchers are due to present a report today finding that a single infusion of HIV-fighting molecules could suppress the incurable virus to undetectable levels. Modeled after a treatment for leukemia, the approach could mark the closest researchers have come to a one-and-done treatment for the disease, but it remains years away from widespread availability.
Scientists extracted and engineered seven patients’ immune cells to carry two molecules that bind to HIV and kill infected cells. One also defends the immune cells from becoming infected. The day the cells were reinjected into their bodies, the patients stopped taking antiretroviral drugs—the standard treatment for HIV often involving multiple pills daily. (How do antiretroviral drugs work?)
Patients who began antiretroviral therapy within months of their diagnosis saw remission lasting up to 92 weeks when switching to the infusion, while those who received initial treatment later appeared to respond less effectively to the infusion.
Eurovision Kicks Off
The 70th Eurovision Song Contest begins today in Vienna, Austria. The event is among the most-watched live entertainment broadcasts, drawing 166 million viewers last year. See standout outfits from the turquoise carpet here.
Now the world's longest-running annual global TV music competition, Eurovision began in 1956 as a post-World War II effort to unite Europe through live TV broadcasting (with seven countries and 14 songs). Today, it features countries across Europe and some outside the continent, including Australia and Israel. The contest has evolved into a mix of pop spectacle, national identity, and over-the-top theatrical performances, launching the international careers of stars like ABBA and Celine Dion. Explore an interactive history of Eurovision here.
The event has drawn renewed political scrutiny over Israel's participation amid the war in Gaza; Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain have withdrawn from the competition in protest. Meanwhile, a new report alleges Israel sought to influence voting in recent years as part of a broader public diplomacy effort.
🫶 Humankind: Watch a storm chaser find a kitten trapped under the rubble of a Mississippi trailer park after a deadly tornado.
Let the Children Play
The nation’s leading pediatricians group yesterday urged schools to protect free play for children and teens in its first guidance on recess in 13 years.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says recess is critical to academic, physical, social, and emotional development, as many schools cut it back to prioritize test performance. New research suggests downtime helps students retain information, with experts recommending at least 20 minutes of recess daily and additional short breaks. Up to 40% of US school districts have reduced or eliminated recess since the mid-2000s. Among schools offering recess, the duration ranges from less than 10 minutes to over an hour. In countries such as the UK, Japan, and Denmark, students commonly get breaks every 45 to 50 minutes. See what recess looks like around the world here.
About a dozen states require some daily recess. Oklahoma became the latest state last month to expand its recess requirement, passing a law that increases mandatory unstructured playtime to 40 minutes each day.
The BBC caught scam call center workers on hidden cameras as they laughed at the people they were tricking. One worker bragged about making $250k from victims. The disturbing truth? Scammers don’t pick phone numbers at random. They buy your data from brokers.
Once your data is out there, it’s not just calls. It’s phishing, impersonation, and identity theft. That’s why we recommend Incogni: They delete your info from the web, monitor and follow up automatically, and continue to erase data as new risks appear. Try Incogni here and get 55% off your subscription with code 1440DAILY.
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Savannah Guthrie to host new Wordle game show on NBC, produced by Jimmy Fallon and The New York Times (More)
> Cannes Film Festival begins today; explore 23 of the most eagerly awaited films (More) | Seven-story Beatles museum to open next year at the band's former London headquarters, 3 Savile Row (More)
Science & Technology
> Google says it stopped one of the first cyberattacks to use AI to identify and exploit a previously unknown software vulnerability; researchers warn AI capabilities may be outpacing cybersecurity defenses (More)
> Gruesome fatal wounds on gray seal pups—once blamed on ship propellers and sharks—are traced to adult male gray seals, which may be seeking nutrients from high-calorie blubber (More)
> Suckerfish evade predators by disappearing into a manta ray's rear end, a newly observed behavior coined "cloacal diving"; finding suggests the relationship between the two species may be more parasitic than previously believed (More, w/photos)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close up (S&P 500 +0.2%, Dow +0.2%, Nasdaq +0.1%) (More) | AI chipmaker Cerebras seeks $4.8B in upsized initial public offering (More)
> Alphabet to sell Japanese yen-denominated bonds for first time to fund AI efforts; offering size hasn't been disclosed (More) | What are bonds? (More)
> Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella takes the stand in Elon Musk's lawsuit alleging OpenAI betrayed its nonprofit roots for Microsoft funding (More) | The secret diary that spilled into the feud (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> Man charged with attempting to kill President Donald Trump at last month's White House Correspondents' Association dinner pleads not guilty to all charges; next pretrial hearing scheduled for June 29 (More)
> President Donald Trump will travel to China this week, accompanied by 16 CEOs, including Elon Musk and Tim Cook (More) | Revisit the Musk-Trump feud (More)
> Family of a victim in last year's Florida State University shooting files lawsuit accusing OpenAI of complicity in the attack, citing suspect's use of ChatGPT (More)
> How the World Became a Casino
404 Media | Staff. The days of gambling only in Las Vegas have come and gone. Today, bettors in most states can put money behind anything from the success of a specific sports play to the likelihood of specific acts of war. (Listen)
Historybook: Modern nursing innovator Florence Nightingale born (1820); Actress Katharine Hepburn born (1907); Charles Lindbergh’s son found dead two months after being kidnapped (1932); Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk born (1968); Ex-President Jimmy Carter visits Cuba, the first American president to visit since 1959 revolution (2002).
"I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse."
- Florence Nightingale
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Thanks to Nice News
Majority of Americans Believe People in the US Are Kind, Gallup Survey Finds
Although some (non-Nice News) headlines may suggest otherwise, the majority of Americans believe their fellow residents are kind, according to the results of a Gallup survey released last month. The paper — titled “Americans Think Kindness Prevails in the U.S.” — notes that nearly three-quarters of the 2,000-plus participants believe adults in the country are either “very” or “somewhat” kind.
Roughly 65% of Americans reported experiencing kindness from someone in their community in the past week alone and 60% said they’d seen people treating others with kindness and respect either “very often” or “often.”
And kindness really seems to be contagious: Those who received acts of kindness more often reported higher comfort in initiating kind acts toward others and were more likely to view people in the U.S. as kind.
In the spirit of being kind and celebrating the country’s big 2-5-0 coming up, the United States of Kindness initiative is encouraging everyone to perform 250 acts of kindness. Get some inspo here.
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Thanks to American Facts
The Big Screen Skyrocketed The Sales Of These Items: Can You Guess Some?
How do some items go from old-and-forgotten to must-haves? Think Marilyn Monroe's white dress, James Dean's rebellious red jacket, or Jennifer Aniston's much-copied "Rachel" haircut. These were cultural icons—instantly recognizable symbols of a particular moment in time. We’ll dive into 12 iconic fashion moments that swept the nation, sparked by American celebrities and characters.
James Dean’s red jacket in Rebel Without a Cause
James Dean owned the screen in Rebel Without a Cause while wearing a red Harrington jacket. Jim Stark’s rebellious spirit resonated with a generation of teenagers, turning the jacket into a symbol of youthful defiance. That cool, casual style caught on in the ’50s and influenced menswear for years to come.
Tom Cruise’s aviator sunglasses in Top Gun
When Top Gun soared into theaters in the ’80s, sales of Ray-Ban Aviators took off like a jet fighter, reportedly increasing by 40%. Tom Cruise’s confident Maverick made these shades the ultimate symbol of effortless cool.
The latest installment of the franchise once again led to a surge in sales. Worn by pilots and by pop stars, Aviators remain a classic icon of the tough-guy aesthetic.
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Jennifer Aniston’s Rachel’s haircut in Friends
"The Rachel" wasn’t just a haircut—it was the haircut. Salons were flooded with requests for Jennifer Aniston’s bouncy, layered style.
The irony? Aniston reportedly hated it. But that didn’t stop an entire generation from chopping their locks in pursuit of sitcom-perfect hair.
Nancy Sinatra’s go-go boots
Nancy Sinatra’s "These Boots Are Made for Walkin’"—along with the groovy go-go dancers on "Laugh-In" —made white go-go boots the must-have footwear of the swinging ’60s.
Fun, fashionable, and full of youthful energy, they became a symbol of the era. Every mod girl needed a pair to complete her look and strut her stuff.
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Marilyn Monroe’s white dress
A subway grate, a gust of wind, and boom. One of the most famous dresses in movie history was born. Marilyn Monroe’s billowing white halter dress is still a summer fashion inspiration more than half a century later.
Her signature winged eyeliner, red lips, and the Chanel No. 5 she allegedly wore to bed were also picked up by women all over the world.
Jackie Kennedy’s pillbox hat & suits
Jackie Kennedy’s impeccable style captivated the nation. Her elegant suits and perfectly perched pillbox hats turned heads with every public appearance.
Women everywhere sought to emulate her sophisticated, polished look, turning the First Lady into an unexpected fashion icon.
Farrah Fawcett’s feathered hair in Charlie’s Angels
An example of one poster that became one million salon appointments. Farrah Fawcett’s feathered waves became the ultimate hair trend of the 1970s, thanks to Charlie’s Angels.
Women flocked to salons, armed with cans of hairspray and dreams of achieving the perfect Farrah flip.
Madonna’s lace gloves & layered bracelets
Madonna was as much a fashion icon as she was a music sensation. During her Like a Virgin era in the ‘80s, she introduced a bold new style: layered rubber bracelets, rosary beads, lace gloves, and a rebellious attitude. Young girls everywhere embraced her edgy, playful look, making it a defining trend of the decade.
Run-D.M.C.’s Adidas sneakers
No laces? No problem. Run-D.M.C. turned Adidas shell-toe sneakers into hip-hop royalty. Their song "My Adidas" made the brand explode, and suddenly sneakers with the three stripes were everywhere. Comfortable, stylish, and effortlessly cool—now that’s a trend anyone could get behind.
Reese's Pieces in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Did you know that in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the beloved alien was originally supposed to be obsessed with M&Ms, not Reese’s Pieces? Luckily for the latter, Mars turned down the offer to feature their product in a Spielberg movie.
The result? After the movie’s massive success, sales of Reese’s Pieces skyrocketed by 65%. A perfect example of how sweet product placement can be.
Etch-a-Sketch in Toy Story
Sure, Toy Story featured dozens of different toys, but one classic that had been around for decades experienced a major resurgence after the movie’s release.
The Etch A Sketch saw a spike in sales in the ’90s, thanks to its memorable cameo in the Pixar movie. Maybe kids were drawn to its simple shake-and-draw magic, or perhaps parents couldn’t resist a wave of nostalgia.
Kurt Cobain’s grunge look
Kurt Cobain didn’t dress for the cameras or the music industry, yet he defined an iconic style in the ’90s. His thrift-store flannels, ripped jeans, and round sunglasses became the uniform of a generation.
Ironically, the grunge aesthetic—born from a rejection of mainstream fashion—became one of the decade’s biggest trends.
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This Day in U S Military History…….May 12
1865 – The last land action of the Civil War was fought at Palmito Ranch in Texas. The Battle of Palmito Ranch is generally reckoned as the final battle of the American Civil War, being the last engagement of any significance, involving casualties. The battle was fought on the banks of the Rio Grande, east of Brownsville, Texas, and a few miles from the seaport of Los Brazos de Santiago (now known as Matamoros). Union and Confederate forces in Southern Texas had been observing an unofficial truce, when Union Colonel Theodore H. Barrett ordered an attack on an enemy camp near Fort Brown, for reasons unknown. (Some claimed that Barrett was eager for his first chance of action before the war ended.) Although they took some prisoners, the attack was repulsed the next day by Confederate Col. John Salmon Ford near Palmito Ranch, and the battle is claimed as a Confederate victory. Estimates of casualties are not dependable, but Union Private John J. Williams of the 34th Indiana is believed to have been the last combat death of the war. The engagement is also known as the Battle of Palmito Hill or the Battle of Palmetto Ranch.
1917 – General John Pershing is appointed commander of the American Expeditionary Force, which is being formed to fight on the Western Front. It will take time to increase the strength of the US Army, but Pershing expects the number to reach one million by May 1918 and is planning a force of three million if the war continues. Pershing also intends to make sure his units will fight as a separate force and not be split into small units and placed under French or British command.
1944 – About 800 bombers of the US 8th Air Force, with a substantial fighter escort, attack synthetic oil plants at Leuna-Merseburg, Bohlen, Zeitz, Lutzkendorf and Brux (northwest of Prague). The Americans claim to shoot down 150 German fighters and report losses of 46 bombers and 10 fighters.
1945 – On Okinawa, Japanese forces repulse an attack by elements of US 3rd Amphibious Corps at Sugar Loaf Hill, southeast of Amike. The position is an important point in the Japanese held Shuri Line. The US 1st Marine Division suffers heavy losses but captures most of Dakeshi Ridge. The US 77th Division advances slowly toward Shuri. The Japanese held Conical Hill position is fought over by US 96th Division. At sea, a Kamikaze plane strikes the USS New Mexico, causing considerable damage.
1945 – On Luzon, elements of the US 43rd Division, part of US 11th Corps, converge on Ipo, capturing several hills occupied by the Japanese. On Mindanao, Del Monte airfield is reached by elements of the US 40th Division. Other elements advance southwest of Tankulan. The US 123th Infantry Regiment eliminates the Japanese strongpoint in the Colgan woods after a lengthy air and artillery bombardment. American aircraft and artillery strike at suspected Japanese gun emplacements on Samar Island.
1949 – An early crisis of the Cold War comes to an end when the Soviet Union lifts its 11-month blockade against West Berlin. The blockade had been broken by a massive U.S.-British airlift of vital supplies to West Berlin’s two million citizens. At the end of World War II, Germany was divided into four sectors administered by the four major Allied powers: the USSR, the United States, Britain, and France. Berlin, the German capital, was likewise divided into four sectors, even though it was located deep within the Soviet sector of eastern Germany. The future of Germany and Berlin was a major sticking point in postwar treaty talks, especially after the United States, Britain, and France sought to unite their occupation zones into a single economic zone. In March 1948, the Soviet Union quit the Allied Control Council governing occupied Germany over this issue. In May, the three Western powers agreed to the imminent formation of West Germany, a nation that would exist entirely independent of Soviet-occupied eastern Germany. The three western sectors of Berlin were united as West Berlin, which was to be under the administration of West Germany. On June 20, as a major step toward the establishment of a West German government, the Western powers introduced a new Deutsche mark in West Germany and West Berlin. The Soviets condemned this move as an attack on the East German currency and on June 24 began a blockade of all rail, road, and water communications between Berlin and the West. The four-power administration of Berlin had ceased with the unification of West Berlin, the Soviets said, and the Western powers no longer had a right to be there. With West Berlin’s food, fuel, and other necessities cut off, the Soviets reasoned, it would soon have to submit to Communist control. Britain and the United States responded by initiating the largest airlift in history, flying 278,288 relief missions to the city during the next 14 months, resulting in the delivery of 2,326,406 tons of supplies. As the Soviets had cut off power to West Berlin, coal accounted for over two-thirds of the material delivered. In the opposite direction, return flights transported West Berlin’s industrial exports to the West. Flights were made around the clock, and at the height of the Berlin airlift, in April 1949, planes were landing in the city every minute. Tensions were high during the airlift, and three groups of U.S. strategic bombers were sent as reinforcements to Britain while the Soviet army presence in eastern Germany increased dramatically. The Soviets made no major effort to disrupt the airlift. As a countermeasure against the Soviet blockade, the Western powers also launched a trade embargo against eastern Germany and other Soviet bloc countries. On May 12, 1949, the Soviets abandoned the blockade, and the first British and American convoys drove though 110 miles of Soviet Germany to reach West Berlin. On May 23, the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was formally established. On October 7, the German Democratic Republic, a Communist state, was proclaimed in East Germany. The Berlin airlift continued until September 30, in an effort to build up a year’s supply of essential goods for West Berlin in the event of another Soviet blockade. Another blockade did not occur, but Cold War tensions over Berlin remained high, culminating in the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961.
1975 – The American freighter Mayaguez is captured by communist government forces in Cambodia, setting off an international incident. The U.S. response to the affair indicated that the wounds of the Vietnam War still ran deep. On May 12, 1975, the U.S. freighter Mayaguez and its 39-man crew was captured by gunboats of the Cambodian navy. Cambodia had fallen to communist insurgents, the Khmer Rouge, in April 1973. The Cambodian authorities imprisoned the American crew, pending an investigation of the ship and why it had sailed into waters claimed by Cambodia. The response of the United States government was quick. President Gerald Ford called the Cambodian seizure of the Mayaguez an “act of piracy” and promised swift action to rescue the captured Americans. In part, Ford’s aggressive attitude to the incident was a by-product of the American failure in Vietnam. In January 1973, U.S. forces had withdrawn from South Vietnam, ending years of a bloody and inconclusive attempt to forestall communist rule of that nation. In the time since the U.S. withdrawal, a number of conservative politicians and intellectuals in the United States had begun to question America’s “credibility” in the international field, suggesting that the country’s loss of will in Vietnam now encouraged enemies around the world to challenge America with seeming impunity. The Cambodian seizure of the Mayaguez appeared to be just such a challenge. On May 14, President Ford ordered the bombing of the Cambodian port where the gunboats had come from and sent Marines to attack the island of Koh Tang, where the prisoners were being held. Unfortunately, the military action was probably unnecessary. The Cambodian government was already in the process of releasing the crew of the Mayaguez and the ship. Forty-one Americans died, most of them in an accidental explosion during the attack. Most Americans, however, cheered the action as evidence that the United States was once again willing to use
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
.TRACY, CHARLES H.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company A, 37th Massachusetts Infantry. Place and date: At Spotsylvania, Va., 12 May 1864; At Petersburg, Va., 2 April 1865. Entered service at: Springfield, Mass. Birth: Jewett City, Conn. Date of issue: 19 November 1897. Citation: At the risk of his own life, at Spotsylvania, 12 May 1864, assisted in carrying to a place of safety a wounded and helpless officer. On 2 April 1865, advanced with the pioneers, and, under heavy fire, assisted in removing 2 lines of chevaux_de_frise; was twice wounded but advanced to the third line, where he was again severely wounded, losing a leg.
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WISNER, LEWIS S.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, Company K. 124th New York Infantry. Place and date: At Spotsylvania, Va., 12 May 1864. Entered service at: Wallkill, Orange County, N.Y. Birth: Wallkill, Orange County, N.Y. Date of issue: 2 January 1895. Citation: While serving as an engineer officer voluntarily exposed himself to the enemy’s fire.
LOHNES, FRANCIS W.
Rank and organization: Private, Company H, 1st Nebraska Veteran Cavalry. Place and date: At Gilmans Ranch, Nebr., 12 May 1865. Entered service at:——. Birth: Oneida County, N.Y. Date of issue: 24 July 1865. Citation: Gallantry in defending Government property against Indians.
SHEA, CHARLES W.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company F, 350th Infantry. 88th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Mount Damiano, Italy, 12 May 1944. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Birth: New York, NY. G.O. No.: 4, 12 January 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, on 12 May 1944, near Mount Damiano, Italy. As 2d Lt. Shea and his company were advancing toward a hill occupied by the enemy, 3 enemy machineguns suddenly opened fire, inflicting heavy casualties upon the company and halting its advance. 2d Lt. Shea immediately moved forward to eliminate these machinegun nests in order to enable his company to continue its attack. The deadly hail of machinegun fire at first pinned him down, but, boldly continuing his advance, 2d Lt. Shea crept up to the first nest. Throwing several hand grenades, he forced the 4 enemy soldiers manning this position to surrender, and disarming them, he sent them to the rear. He then crawled to the second machinegun position, and after a short fire fight forced 2 more German soldiers to surrender. At this time, the third machinegun fired at him, and while deadly small arms fire pitted the earth around him, 2d Lt. Shea crawled toward the nest. Suddenly he stood up and rushed the emplacement and with well-directed fire from his rifle, he killed all 3 of the enemy machine gunners. 2d Lt. Shea’s display of personal valor was an inspiration to the officers and men of his company.
JACKSON, JOE M.
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force, 311th Air Commando Squadron, Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam. Place and date: Kham Duc, Republic of Vietnam, 12 May 1968. Entered service at: Newman, Ga. Born: 14 March 1923, Newman, Ga. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Lt. Col. Jackson distinguished himself as pilot of a C-123 aircraft. Lt. Col. Jackson volunteered to attempt the rescue of a 3-man USAF Combat Control Team from the special forces camp at Kham Duc. Hostile forces had overrun the forward outpost and established gun positions on the airstrip. They were raking the camp with small arms, mortars, light and heavy automatic weapons, and recoilless rifle fire. The camp was engulfed in flames and ammunition dumps were continuously exploding and littering the runway with debris. In addition, 8 aircraft had been destroyed by the intense enemy fire and 1 aircraft remained on the runway reducing its usable length to only 2,200 feet. To further complicate the landing, the weather was deteriorating rapidly, thereby permitting only 1 air strike prior to his landing. Although fully aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt, Lt. Col. Jackson elected to land his aircraft and attempt to rescue. Displaying superb airmanship and extraordinary heroism, he landed his aircraft near the point where the combat control team was reported to be hiding. While on the ground, his aircraft was the target of intense hostile fire. A rocket landed in front of the nose of the aircraft but failed to explode. Once the combat control team was aboard, Lt. Col. Jackson succeeded in getting airborne despite the hostile fire directed across the runway in front of his aircraft. Lt. Col. Jackson’s profound concern for his fellowmen, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself, and the Armed Forces of his country.
COPAS, ARDIE R.
Rank and Organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army. Place and Date: May 12, 1970, Ph Romeas Hek, Cambodia. Born: August, 29, 1950, Fort Pierce, FL. Departed: Yes (05/12/1970). Entered Service At: Fort Pierce, FL. G.O. Number: . Date of Issue: 03/18/2014. Accredited To: . Citation: Then-Spc. 4 Ardie R. Copas distinguished himself on May 12, 1970, while serving as a machine-gunner near Ph Romeas Hek, Cambodia. When his convoy was ambushed, Copas repelled the enemy under heavy fire, holding his post while his wounded comrades were evacuated. Copas was killed in action.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS
FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR MAY 12 THANKS TO HAROLD “PHIL” MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
May 12
1909: Dr. R. M. Randall in Greylock won the second contest for the Forbes Trophy in a point-to-point balloon race from North Adams to Leeds, Mass. (24)
1917: Capt W. A. Robertson set a new American altitude record of 17,230 feet over the North Island Flying School, San Diego. (24)
1926: Explorer Lincoln Ellsworth flew from Spitsbergen across the North Pole to Teller, Alaska, in the dirigible Norge, commanded by Roald Amundsen. (9)
1928: Lts R. W. Douglas and J. E. Parker made a record flight for single-seat planes from France Field, Canal Zone, to Bolling Field in two Boeing PW-9 planes. A Curtiss D-12 engine with 440 HP powered the two Boeing PW-9s. (24) After 65 hours in the air over a two-month period, Lt Julian S. Dexter, Air Corps Reserve, completed a 3,000-square-mile aerial survey of Florida’s Everglades. (8)
On 12 May 1938, the Air Corps staged the most extensive maneuvers in its history up to then. Maj. Gen. Frank M. Andrews, commander of General Headquarters Air Force, oversaw the exercise. He established his headquarters at Mitchel Field on Long Island. For the wargames, he had pulled together 187 combat airplanes and thousands of airmen from all three wings of GHQ Air Force. The aircraft were deployed to 19 airports in the northeastern United States.
Taking part were twin-engine B-18 bombers, P-36 fighters (still called “pursuits” in 1938), and A-17 attack aircraft, but the star of the show was the B-17 Flying Fortress. The Air Corps had only 13 of these new Boeing-made four-engine bombers, and Col. Robert Olds, commander of the 2nd Bomb Group at Langley Field, Va., had brought nine of them to the maneuvers.
Andrews had borrowed Lt. Col. Ira C. Eaker, who was chief of the Air Staff’s Information Division. Eaker served as G-2 (intelligence) for the maneuvers and to handle the press. Eaker brought with him Reserve 2nd Lt Harris Hull, a reporter for the Washington Post who had been called to active duty for the exercise. Hull learned that the Italian cruise liner Rex was about 1,000 miles offshore, inbound to New York. He suggested an “intercept” of Rex to Eaker, who proposed it to Andrews, who was all for it. It was a splendid opportunity to bring the range and capability of the B-17 to public attention.
Italian officials readily agreed to the plan, which would bring free publicity to their steamship line. The War Department approved as well. Ostensibly, the intercept would exercise GHQ Air Force in its coastal defense role. In reality, it would demonstrate the capabilities of long-range airpower—and of the new B-17 even though it was not an official assigned mission of the Air Corps at the time.
In the 1938 wargames, the Rex intercept turned out to be the central event. Olds moved three of his B-17s—No. 80, No. 81, and No. 82—from Harrisburg to Mitchel Field on May 11, the day before the main event. Maj Vincent Meloy commanded a three-ship formation of B-17s. Capt Cornelius Cousland piloted No. 81, and Capt A. Y. Smith piloted No. 82. The lead aircraft, however, No. 80, was piloted by Maj Caleb Haynes and the lead navigator was 1st Lt Curtis E. LeMay. LeMay was known to be the best navigator in the force.
To document the flight, Eaker had called in the top photo officer in the Air Corps, Maj. George W. Goddard, who came to the exercise from Dayton with his large-format Graflex camera. He flew in the copilot’s seat on No. 81. Also aboard No. 81 was Eaker’s resourceful Reserve assistant, Lieutenant Hull.
The B-17s had begun to taxi out through the blowing rain when, at 8:30 a.m., they received an update message from Rex. “Immediately I saw that the Rex wasn’t nearly as close in as we had expected her to be,” LeMay said. “There wasn’t much margin remaining.” Rex was 725 miles from New York. The three airplanes plowed eastward through squalls, rain, hail, and downdrafts. “Most of the time, we couldn’t even see the water, and turbulence was heaving us all over the sky,” LeMay said. At about 11 a.m., a break in the weather let LeMay get a check on speed and drift.
At 12:23, the airplanes broke out of the last squall and into bright sunshine, flying low and line abreast, 610 miles east of Sandy Hook. Rex was dead ahead. Cousland was first to see it and radioed to the other airplanes: “There it is! There it is!” Two minutes later, the three B-17s passed Rex. Hundreds of passengers were on deck, wrapped in raincoats and scarves, and waving. Meloy exchanged radio greetings with Rex’s captain. On the next pass, photographer Goddard got his best shot—two B-17s sweeping past Rex at smokestack level. NBC reported the intercept live, on a coast-to-coast hookup. Mission Accomplished.
Goddard’s photo appeared the next day on the front pages of hundreds of newspapers. Magazines picked it up as well. Hanson Baldwin described the mission in detail in the New York Times. He said it was “one from which valuable lessons about the aerial defense of the United States will be drawn” and that it furnished “a striking example of the mobility and range of modern aviation.”
The Navy and the War Department could fume all they wanted about the intercept, but GHQ Air Force had made its point. Heavy bombers were long-range instruments of power and capable of actions a long way from home. The issue had moved beyond the question of coastal defense.
Some months after the Rex intercept, Secretary of War Harry H. Woodring canceled a planned purchase of more B-17s in 1939. His action was superseded by a call by President Roosevelt for an Air Force of 20,000 airplanes. By 1941, B-17s were coming off the production line in significant numbers.
(By the late John T. Correll, in Air and Space Forces Magazine, 2008)
1949: BERLIN AIRLIFT ENDS. The Soviet Union ended the Berlin blockade; however, the airlift continued until September to build up stockpiles. From 12 June 1948 to 12 May 1949, USAFE primarily used C-54 cargo aircraft (C-47s also flew from June until 30 September 1948) to airlift some 1,783,000 tons of food, clothing, fuel, medical supplies, and coal to the beleaguered city. The Combined Airlift Task Force (both the British and U.S. efforts) flew 277,569 missions to deliver a total of 2,325,510 tons of cargo into Berlin with coal accounting for 60 percent of the total tonnage. (2) (4)
1950: Capt Chuck Yeager flew the number one Bell X-1 research aircraft on its last flight above Edwards AFB. Film clips of the flight were used in the movie “Jet Pilot.” (8: May 90)
1954: Langley AFB received TAC’s first F-84F Thunderstreak, a fighter equipped for boom refueling. (11) 1960: At El Centro, a C-130 Hercules dropped 35,000 pounds of heavy equipment in one bundle by parachute. The USAF claimed this feat as a world weight record for airdrops. (24)
1964: Miss Joan Merriam became the second woman pilot to fly around the world alone when she landed at Oakland. She flew her Piper Apache 27,750 miles in 56 days over Amelia Earhart's intended route from 1937. (9)
1968: SAC renamed Bunker Hill AFB, near Peru, Ind., Grissom AFB to honor Astronaut Virgil Grissom, who died in the 27 January 1967 Apollo capsule fire. (16) EVACUATION OF KHAM DUC. Under extremely hostile conditions, C-130s assisted in the evacuation of Kham Duc, a training site and special operations base for Allied reconnaissance teams near Laos. Air Force transports carried over 500 of the 1,800 military and civilians from Kham Duc before it fell into enemy hands. The enemy killed 259 people and destroyed several aircraft. (17) (18) MACKAY TROPHY
1968. Lt Col Daryl D. Cole, 374 TAW flew a C-130 into the besieged camp at Kham Duc. After an aborted takeoff and with fuel pouring out of his wings from hostile fire, Colonel Cole managed to takeoff and flew his C-130 and a three-member Air Force combat control team to safety. (18) MEDAL OF HONOR. Lt Col Joe M. Jackson volunteered to rescue a three-man Air Force combat control team at Kham Duc. Before the rescue, enemy forces set the camp afire, overran the forward outpost, and established gun positions on the airstrip. They had destroyed eight aircraft, and one aircraft remained on the littered runway. Despite the odds, Jackson and his crew (Maj Jesse Campbell, TSgt Edward M. Trejo, and SSgt Manson L. Grubbs) landed their C-123 under intense hostile fire, but were forced to take off. Making a second attempt, under hostile conditions again, Jackson landed his C-123, extracted the combat controllers, and returned to safety. For his valiant effort, he received the Medal of Honor, the only airlifter so honored in the Vietnam Conflict. Major Campbell received the Air Force Cross, while Sergeants Trejo and Grubbs earned Silver Stars. (18) \
1972: C-130s flew 5,000 pounds of civilian-donated medical equipment from Stuttgart, Germany, to a new hospital at Sile, Turkey. (16)
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