FReeper Canteen ~ Medal of Honor ~ December 27, 2004

Medal of Honor website ^ | Canteen Crew

[StarCMC]

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

 

~ Medal Of Honor ~

           

The President, in the name of Congress, has awarded more than 3,400 Medals of Honor to our nation's bravest Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen since the decoration's creation in 1861.

For years, the citations highlighting these acts of bravery and heroism resided in dusty archives and only sporadically were printed. In 1973, the U.S. Senate ordered the citations compiled and printed as Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973). This book was later updated and reprinted in 1979.

 

 

 

History

The first formal system for rewarding acts of individual gallantry by the nation's fighting men was established by General George Washington on August 7, 1782. Designed to recognize "any singularly meritorious action," the award consisted of a purple cloth heart. Records show that only three persons received the ward: Sergeant Elijah Churchill, Sergeant William Brown, and Sergeant Daniel Bissel Jr.

The Badge of Military Merit, as it was called, fell into oblivion until 1932, when General Douglas MacArthur, then Army Chief of Staff, pressed for its revival. Officially reinstituted on February 22, 1932, the now familiar Purple Heart was at first an Army award, given to those who had been wounded in World War I or who possessed a Meritorious Service Citation Certificate. In 1943, the order was amended to include personnel of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Coverage was eventually extended to include all services and "any civilian national" wounded while serving with the Armed Forces.

Although the Badge of Military Merit fell into disuse after the Revolutionary War, the idea of a decoration for individual gallantry remained through the early 1800s. In 1847, after the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, a "certificate of merit" was established for any soldier who distinguished himself in action. No medal went with the honor. After the Mexican-American War, the award was discontinued, which meant there was no military award with which to recognize the nation's fighting men.

Early in the Civil War, a medal for individual valor was proposed to General-in-Chief of the Army Winfield Scott. But Scott felt medals smacked of European affectation and killed the idea.

The medal found support in the Navy, however, where it was felt recognition of courage in strife was needed. Public Resolution 82, containing a provision for a Navy medal of valor, was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on December 21, 1861. The medal was "to be bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen, and Marines as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry and other seamanlike qualities during the present war."

Shortly after this, a resolution similar in wording was introduced on behalf of the Army. Signed into law July 12, 1862, the measure provided for awarding a medal of honor "to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldierlike qualities, during the present insurrection."

Although it was created for the Civil War, Congress made the Medal of Honor a permanent decoration in 1863.

Information from DefenseLink.com.  

 

Some Famous MOH Recipients

Sgt. Alvin York

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company G, 328th Infantry, 82d Division. Place and date: Near Chatel-Chehery, France, 8 October 1918. Entered service at: Pall Mall, Tenn. Born: 13 December 1887, Fentress County, Tenn. G.O. No.: 59, W.D., 1919. Citation: After his platoon had suffered heavy casualties and 3 other noncommissioned officers had become casualties, Cpl. York assumed command. Fearlessly leading 7 men, he charged with great daring a machinegun nest which was pouring deadly and incessant fire upon his platoon. In this heroic feat the machinegun nest was taken, together with 4 officers and 128 men and several guns.

 

 

Audie Murphy 

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company B 1 5th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Holtzwihr France, 26 January 1945. Entered service at: Dallas, Tex. Birth: Hunt County, near Kingston, Tex. G.O. No.. 65, 9 August 1945. Citation 2d Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by 6 tanks and waves of infantry. 2d Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to prepared positions in a woods, while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone. Behind him, to his right, 1 of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. 2d Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2d Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machinegun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from 3 sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate 2d Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down by his fire. He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50. 2d Lt. Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction, and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy's objective.

  

James B. Stockdale

Rank and organization: Rear Admiral (then Captain), U.S. Navy. Place and date: Hoa Lo prison, Hanoi, North Vietnam, 4 September 1969. Entered service at: Abingdon, Ill. Born: 23 December 1923, Abingdon, Ill.. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while senior naval officer in the Prisoner of War camps of North Vietnam. Recognized by his captors as the leader in the Prisoners' of War resistance to interrogation and in their refusal to participate in propaganda exploitation, Rear Adm. Stockdale was singled out for interrogation and attendant torture after he was detected in a covert communications attempt. Sensing the start of another purge, and aware that his earlier efforts at self-disfiguration to dissuade his captors from exploiting him for propaganda purposes had resulted in cruel and agonizing punishment, Rear Adm. Stockdale resolved to make himself a symbol of resistance regardless of personal sacrifice. He deliberately inflicted a near-mortal wound to his person in order to convince his captors of his willingness to give up his life rather than capitulate. He was subsequently discovered and revived by the North Vietnamese who, convinced of his indomitable spirit, abated in their employment of excessive harassment and torture toward all of the Prisoners of War. By his heroic action, at great peril to himself, he earned the everlasting gratitude of his fellow prisoners and of his country. Rear Adm. Stockdale's valiant leadership and extraordinary courage in a hostile environment sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

  

The Only Female Recipient

Mary Edwards Walker

Whenever Ann Walker's brattish attitude emerged, her grandmother would often say, "You're just like your great- aunt Mary."

"When I was a teen-ager, I started to wonder, who is this great- aunt Mary?" said Walker, 74. "I sort of hungered for information about her, but I couldn't find much. Nobody, including my grandmother, seemed to care about her. She always said, 'Your aunt was always dressing like a man.'"

Her curiosity surged when one of her father's friends, a history professor, told her about her distant relative, actually her great-great-aunt, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker of the Civil War Union Army. He told her Mary Walker was the first American woman to be a military doctor, a prisoner of war and a Medal of Honor recipient. She was also a Union spy and a crusader against tobacco and alcohol.

 Read more about the only woman to earn the MOH here!  

 

Today's Field Trip: Medal of Honor Museum
 

 

Recommended Reading:  

 

Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond The Call of Duty by Peter Collier with photos by Nick Del Calzo (This sits on StarCMC's living room table)

 

A pictorial and textural tribute to the Medal of Honor recipients still living as of 2003.

 

 

Beyond the Medal : A Journey from Their Heart to Yours by Peter C. Lemon

A collection of memories, harrowing situations and gripping emotional climaxes, Beyond the Medal brings together the experiences of America's most valiant sons. More than 80 living recipients of the Medal of Honor tell in their own words about the people and incidents that have shaped their lives. 80 photos.

Medal of Honor Recipents 1863-1994 by George Lang, Raymond L. Collins, Gerard White

Chronological list of 3,399 Medal of Honor recipients, along with their ranks and organizations, their places and dates of birth, the date each entered the service, and the complete citation that was awarded for their extraordinary service to the country.

 

War Heroes : True Stories of Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients by Kent Delong

Unique in both presentation and style, this book covers about 15 stories of awardees.

 

A Shower of Stars: The Medal of Honor and the 27th Maine by John J. Pullen

What a great book. This reads like a mystery. Author Pullen began a book on the 20th Maine and found an obscure reference to the 27th Maine, whose 864 members each received a star. Follow along as he unravels an esoteric mystery that includes political cover-ups and missing medals.

 

 

 

 

[StarCMC]

God bless our heroes who have fone before. God bless the heroes who serve now. God bless the heroes still to come. God bless the families in their absence.

[StarCMC]

Medal of Honor recipients ROCK!!!

[StarCMC]

Medal of Honor thread in the Canteen ping!

[AzFlyBaby]

Good Evening, Ms. Star!

How's my buddy, Jacob, doing? Keep him warm and clean, there's a bug going around our house!

[AZamericonnie]

Thanks for today's thread Star!

[HopeandGlory]

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners . . . Praying for the earthquake victims.

I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic, for which it stands;
one nation UNDER GOD,
indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.

Prayers going up.

[MoJo2001]

What an excellent idea for a thread. You've been posting in the Canteen daily the names and history of MOH winners. This is a wonderful way to really allow folks to learn more about them.
*HUGS*

[AZamericonnie]

Icrediable MOH stories here. Mary Edwards Walker...I had no idea! Really interesting information. Bless them & all who serve!

[StarCMC]

NOOOOOOOOO!!! Not a holiday bug!! ICK!! We're fighting off colds here - probably a losing battle!! Thanks for stopping by, cupcake!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of today's thread



FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREAD.




CLICK BELOW!

Mission Accomplished ~
Operation Season's Greetings ~
Thank You!

"Operation Valentine's"
beginning
January 1st - January 21st, 2005.





If you would like to be removed or added to my ping list please click below.

Please Remove Me

 

CLICK HERE to FReep mail to remove from ping list.

Please Add Me

 

CLICK HERE to FReep mail to add to ping list.

[Soaring Feather]

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Monday!

Have a cup while you Freep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I hope your children know what a wonderful mother they have.

Thank You for your efforts in the Canteen!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

FYI : Look in upper right corner of "My Comments" page.
Set it for "Brief" instead of Full.
You only will get title of thread and who pinged you.
No graphics will load.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

From the men in the Military and the Canteen

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
No matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.

To our military readers, we remain steadfast in keeping the Canteen doors open.
The FR Canteen is Free Republics longest running daily thread specifically designed
to provide entertainment and morale support for the military.
The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afghanistan.
We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREAD.

[StarCMC]

You are welcome lady!! (I actually hit POST 15 minutes early on accident!! Whoops!!)

[AZamericonnie]

Yummy hot chocolate Meekie. Your temps are about the same as ours.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Beautiful flower display today. Thanks men in the Military and the Canteen.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[laurenmarlowe]

Thank you Star for today's thread. Our Medal of Honor recipients deserve all the honor and recognition they earned.

God bless our Troops and Veterans, heroes all!

[AZamericonnie]

Time foul! LOL That just means we all get to hit the hay 15 minute ealier! Thanks Star! Give the Gigglelips a hug for me tonight, & Here's one for you...{{{HUG}}}

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Star, for today's wonderful thread about the Medal of Honor.

[StarCMC]

Actually, this thread was a request! I hope I lived up to the the expectations! :o)

[HiJinx]

We're going to have to frame that for over her crib...

[MoJo2001]

I think you absolutely did.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Tomorrow is a Coast Guard Day!

Doing a commercial vessel training!

Then Fri instead of Thur for data input for end of year.

After 1st of Jan the new day will be Tue,
instead of Thur for data input.

*HUG*

[StarCMC]

He he he!! I'm gonna wait until one day when they're really annoyed with me and I'm gonna call you up and let you tell them that! LOL!!!

[MoJo2001]

WooHoo!!
When are they sending you to Virginny for Coasties education?

We've been waiting forever. I'm getting ready to eat the chocolate I saved for you. *HUGS* Hehe!

[StarCMC]

Our Medal of Honor recipients deserve all the honor and recognition they earned.

You are SO right!!

[StarCMC]

Hey Queenie! Hey Meekie!!

Good to see ya'll!!

[StarCMC]

LOL!!! I'm in!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Man, I think we need a calendar for the next couple weeks. LOL! *HUG* What kind of weather will you be having?

[StarCMC]

Hey there Kathy!!

Glad to see you ~ I haven't been around much the last couple of days and man! I have missed you all!!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"When are they sending you to Virginny for Coasties education?"

That "window" is closed, for now.

Going to have to do it here.

Only problem is the Voluntary commercial inspections are few and far between.

I'm now the only Auxiliary member in Oregon
that is under going the on the job training.

BUT I'm determined to get the qualification done and
the on the final job exam by MOS (Marine Safety Officer)
Portland.

It may take a few months or longer since the full commercial inspections are so far apart.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I'd love to hear the story that goes with it. LOL!

[RaceBannon]

FIRST LIEUTENANT
WILLIAM D. HAWKINS, USMC
(DECEASED)
World War II 1941-1945
Medal of Honor Recipient

CLICK HERE OR THUMBNAIL FOR LARGER IMAGE
http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Whos_Who/Hawkins_WD.htm

First Lieutenant William Deane Hawkins was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for valorous conduct above and beyond the call of duty during the Tarawa campaign. He was killed in action, 21 November 1943, on Betio Island.

Lieutenant Hawkins was born 18 April 1914 in Fort Scott, Kansas. His father was an insurance claims adjuster; his mother, the daughter of a Missouri doctor.

When he was a baby, young Hawkins suffered an accident which scarred him for life. A neighbor upset a can of scalding hot water over him and it was a year before his mother was able to cure the muscular damage by massage, and the boy could walk again.

When the boy was five, the family moved to El Paso, Texas; when he was eight, his father died and his mother had to seek outside employment. She was employed as the secretary to a high school principal and, later, as a teacher in the El Paso Technical Institute.

An excellent student, young Hawkins skipped fifth grade at LaMar and Alta Vista Schools and graduated from El Paso High School when he was 16. He won a scholarship to the Texas College of Mines, where he studied engineering. During summer vacations, he delivered magazines and sold newspapers, and worked as a bellhop, ranch hand, and railroad laborer.

When he was 21, he went to Tacoma, Washington, to work. Here he was married and later divorced, and at 23 was an engineer for a Los Angeles title-insurance company.

After Pearl Harbor was attacked, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, 5 January 1942, and was assigned to the 7th Recruit Battalion, Recruit Depot, San Diego. He had tried unsuccessfully to enter both the Army and the Navy Air Corps, but his scars prevented his being accepted. Now, as a Marine, he joined the 2d Marines, 2d Marine Division, completed Scout Snipers' School at Camp Elliott, San Diego, and on 1 July 1942 embarked on board the USS Crescent City for the Pacific area.

A private first class when he went overseas, he was quickly promoted to corporal and then sergeant. On 17 November 1942, he was commissioned a second lieutenant while taking part in the Guadalcanal campaign in the battle for the Solomons. On 1 June 1943, he was promoted to first lieutenant. Less than six months later, he was killed in action leading a scout-sniper platoon in the attack on Betio Island during the assault on Tarawa.

During the two-day assault, Lieutenant Hawkins led attacks on pill boxes and installations, personally initiated an assault on a hostile position fortified by five enemy machine guns, refused to withdraw after being seriously wounded and destroyed three more pill boxes before he was mortally wounded, 21 November 1943.

Robert Sherrod, then Editor of The Saturday Evening Post, wrote the following about the Marine platoon leader:

"Hawkins had told me aboard the ship that he would put his platoon of men up against any company of soldiers on earth and guarantee to win. He was slightly wounded by shrapnel as he came ashore in the first wave, but the furthest thing from his mind was to be evacuated. He led his platoon into the forest of coconut palms. During a day and a half he personally cleaned out six Jap machine gun nests, sometimes standing on top of a track and firing point blank at four or five men who fired back at him from behind blockhouses. Lieutenant Hawkins was wounded a second time, but he still refused to retire. To say that his conduct was worthy of the highest traditions of the Marine Corps is like saying the Empire State Building is moderately high."

In recognition of his leadership and daring action against enemy positions, the air strip on Betio Island was named Hawkins Field in honor of the Marine hero. With his unit Lieutenant Hawkins also shared in the two Presidential Unit Citations awarded the 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) for heroic action during the Guadalcanal and Tarawa campaigns.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Decent weather, some rain.

Pretty nice most of the time.

Not too hot, not too cold.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Good Night All

God Bless All who enter the Canteen

God Bless and Protect our Military and our Allies Military

[RaceBannon]

SERGEANT MAJOR
JOHN H. QUICK, USMC
(DECEASED)

Spanish American War 1898
Medal of Honor Recipient

CLICK HERE OR THUMBNAIL FOR LARGER IMAGE


Sergeant Major John H. Quick was born 20 June 1870, at Charlestown, West Virginia, and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, 10 August 1892, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served continuously in the Corps on board naval vessels and ashore in all parts of the world until 20 November 1918, when he as placed on the retired list. At his own request, he was again placed on active duty on 26 July 1920, in the Marine Corps recruiting service at St. Louis, Missouri, but was again placed on the retired list 15 September 1920, on account of bad health.

It was in Cuba during the War with Spain that Quick's gallantry was the subject of official dispatches and a number of commendations, which resulted in his being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The USS Panther arrived in Guantanamo Bay at about 1:00 p.m., 10 June 1898, and soon began landing Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Huntington's Battalion of Marines. A camp site was selected on the top of a hill where the old Spanish blockhouse had been located and was renamed McCalla Hill in honor of Commander Bowman H. McCalla of the USS Marblehead.

After repulsing a number of Spanish attacks during the first few days, it was decided to capture Cuzco Well (located about six miles southeast of Camp McCalla and near the coast) the only water supply for the Spanish forces in the vicinity.

During the morning of 14 June 1898, Companies "C" and "D" and approximately fifty Cubans moved through the hills to seize Cuzco Well. The USS Dolphin moved east long the shore ready to furnish naval gunfire support upon call. The Spanish soon discovered the movement and their main body near the Well was alerted. The Marines and Cubans occupied the hill which overlooked the enemy's position, but were immediately subjected to heavy long-range rifle fire. Captain George F. Elliott (later Commandant of the Marine Corps), who had succeeded to command of the Marine Detachment, signaled the Dolphin to shell the Spanish position; but due to the fact that the sender was not clearly visible, the message was misinterpreted, and the vessel began dropping shells on a small detachment of Marines who were enroute to join the fight. The problem of directing the fire of the USS Dolphin was solved by Sergeant Quick who heroically placed himself in plain sight of the vessel, but in danger of falling shells, and signaled for the fire to be stopped, using a blue flag belonging to the Cubans. Due to the fact that the background was very poor for visibility, Sergeant Quick scrambled to the top of the hill where he was plainly silhouetted against the sky-blue horizon. As he calmly turned his back to the enemy and began waving his flag, he was immediately subjected to a furious enemy rifle fire. While enemy bullets cut through the bushes and screamed overhead, Quick continued to signal the Dolphin as coolly as though he were on a parade ground. Letter by letter the message to the ship was spelled out in the dot-dash code. When Sergeant Quick finished this message, the ship answered. Quick then picked up his rifle and resumed his place on the firing line. The Dolphin shifted her fire and by 2:00 p.m. the Spaniards had begun to retreat. For this deed, Quick was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and this citation: "John Quick, sergeant, United States Marine Corps, for distinguished and gallant conduct in the Battle of Cuzco, Cuba, on 14 June 1898, signaling to the USS Dolphin on three different occasions while exposed to heavy fire from the enemy."

During the Philippine insurrection, Quick served in the Samoan campaign from 26 October 1901 to 26 March 1902, participating in the heroic march across Samar. Shortly after the personnel of Company "C", 9th U.S. Infantry, had been massacred at Balangiga by the insurrectos, a vigorous campaign against the rebellious elements of the island of Samar began. A battalion of Marines (14 officers and approximately 300 enlisted men) under Major L.W.T. Waller was organized at Cavite on Luzon Island and sent to take part in the campaign.

After that expedition, John Quick settled down to a more peaceful routine. He performed various duties in many places until the trouble of 1906 in Cuba where he served with the Marines in the Army of Cuban pacification. After serving in the various enlisted grades, Quick was appointed to the rank of Sergeant Major on 12 November 1905, and continued in that rank throughout the remainder of his service.

During another period of quiet, Sergeant Major Quick served as First Sergeant at St. Juliens Creek, the Marine Barracks at Washington, D.C., and other stations in the United States. Then came the Battle of Vera Cruz, Mexico, in April 1914 when Marines were landed on the fire-swept beaches and advanced into the city. The Secretary of the Navy commended John Quick for his gallantry during the occupation:

"He was continually exposed to fire during the first two days of the operation and showed coolness, bravery, and judgement in the prompt manner in which he performed his duties."
Vera Cruz was the end of the lull before the storm. There was trouble in Haiti, in Santo Domingo, and the big scrap in Europe was looming more portentous every day. When it came, John Quick was ready, sailing for France as Sergeant Major of a battalion of the Sixth Regiment, U.S. Marines. Belleau Wood was only the opening battle of the World War for John Quick; he participated in every battle that was fought by the Marines in France until 16 October 1918; the Toulon Sector at Verdun, the Battle of Belleau Wood, the Aisne-Marne Offensive (popularly known as the Battle of Soissons), the Marbache Sector near Pont-a-Mousoon, the St. Mihiel Offensive, the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge, and the Meuse-Argonne Sector. His gallantry in the Battle of Belleau Wood won for him the Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Cross. He won these decorations on 6 June 1918, when "he volunteered and assisted in taking a truckload of ammunition and material into Bouresches, France, over a road swept by artillery and machine-gun fire, thereby relieving a critical situation." He was further awarded the Second Division Citation and the French Fourragere.

Sergeant Major Quick participated in all the campaigns in which the Marine Corps took part during his service. They were the West Indian Campaign, Spanish Campaign, Philippine Campaign, Cuban Campaign, and Mexican Campaign. Sergeant Major John J. Quick died in St. Louis, Missouri, on 10 September 1922.

[Kathy in Alaska]

We've missed you too. I hope our troops have found some music, some fun, some graphics, some stories, something to help them enjoy the holidays far from home. Look what I found.

[StarCMC]

WOW Race! Thank you for this post. I love reading the stories of these men! I owe them so much.

[AZamericonnie]

Good evening Race. Do you personally know FIRST LIEUTENANT
WILLIAM D. HAWKINS, USMC?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Almost forgot, the commercial inspections are done on a hand held computer now.

The BM1 wants me to come in an hour before the inspection.

He's not sure how to use it either.

I guess we'll learn together. LOL

[MoJo2001]

Oh no! You and the BM1 are going to have a MA moment.

*HUGS*

[RaceBannon]

Lt Hawkins died that day on Tarawa, 62 years ago or so.

[StarCMC]

I can tell you Christmas was MUCH better for 13 men and women and their families this year!!

[RaceBannon]

His actions were critical to directing fire on Tarawa and also in clearing a safer spot to land troops that were stranded on the coral reef where almost 500 Marines were slaughtered in the first 3 waves of the invasion.

[AZamericonnie]

To say that his conduct was worthy of the highest traditions of the Marine Corps is like saying the Empire State Building is moderately high

It's just an amazing story of a courageous hero.

[StarCMC]

50??