FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Archer T Gammon ~ 27 February 2017

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World | StarCMC and The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Archer T. Gammon

Info from here.

           

Archer T. Gammon (September 11, 1918 – January 11, 1945) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

Gammon joined the Army from Roanoke, Virginia in March 1942, and by January 11, 1945 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company A, 9th Armored Infantry Battalion, 6th Armored Division. On that day, near Bastogne, Belgium, he destroyed a German machine gun position before beginning a one-man assault on a Tiger Royal tank. He silenced a supporting machine gun emplacement and killed two infantrymen before he was killed by a shot from the tank. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor a year later, on February 13, 1946.

Gammon, aged 26 at his death, was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Danville, Virginia.

Staff Sergeant Gammon's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

He charged 30 yards through hip-deep snow to knock out a machinegun and its 3-man crew with grenades, saving his platoon from being decimated and allowing it to continue its advance from an open field into some nearby woods. The platoon's advance through the woods had only begun when a machinegun supported by riflemen opened fire and a Tiger Royal tank sent 88mm. shells screaming at the unit from the left flank. S/Sgt. Gammon, disregarding all thoughts of personal safety, rushed forward, then cut to the left, crossing the width of the platoon's skirmish line in an attempt to get within grenade range of the tank and its protecting foot troops. Intense fire was concentrated on him by riflemen and the machinegun emplaced near the tank. He charged the automatic weapon, wiped out its crew of 4 with grenades, and, with supreme daring, advanced to within 25 yards of the armored vehicle, killing 2 hostile infantrymen with rifle fire as he moved forward. The tank had started to withdraw, backing a short distance, then firing, backing some more, and then stopping to blast out another round, when the man whose single-handed relentless attack had put the ponderous machine on the defensive was struck and instantly killed by a direct hit from the Tiger Royal's heavy gun. By his intrepidity and extreme devotion to the task of driving the enemy back no matter what the odds, S/Sgt. Gammon cleared the woods of German forces, for the tank continued to withdraw, leaving open the path for the gallant squad leader's platoon.

The USAT Sgt. Archer T. Gammon which served the United States Army at the end of World War II was named in his honor.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

 

[luvie]

I knew that you were not much in the mood for anything last night. Takes time to heal from the death of a friend. A LONG time!

We get another cool down on Wednesday and I guess that’s where yours will come from after that. Wish we’d get some rain. Our yard needs it so badly and if we don’t we’ll have to start watering and that gets very expensive very fast!

[PROCON]

..Just takes time to get over the loss.

Aw, what did I miss?

[radu]

Yeah, I spent most of the night with our beloved birds, here and overseas. Kind of kept my mind off things, especially trying to keep up with the soap operas at the white-tailed eagle nests. LOL!

I wish y’all could get some rain too. I know the feeling since we went through it last year. Maybe we’ll both get lucky as the year wears on. We can hope, any way. :-)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Mac, for the Missing Man Setting as we remember those who have given their all that we may gather safe and secure.

[radu]

We lost a long-time dear friend Tues. night and his funeral was yesterday. He’d been sick for quite a while but he didn’t tell anyone. We just found out last week that he was in the hospital with very little time left. No time to prepare for the loss and it’s hit pretty hard.
But we’ll get past this eventually. I’m making a point of keeping in mind that his suffering is over, that he’s at peace. He’s having a large time, swapping stories with other Vietnam vets who have passed before.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...hope you and the kitties had a good day.

Without a good storm, do the outside kids get to go out?

How about the “new” kids? Do they get to go out?

[PROCON]

To my fellow Brother-in Arms, RIP :-(

Sorry about your friend's passing.

[ConorMacNessa]

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS AND OUR BELOVED NATION!



TATTOO
(Click)

Must retire for the evening –

The Bugler, his grim visage replete with an evil sneer,
already mounts the parapet.

Soldiers of the Greatest Generation
Stand The Watch Tonight!





Standing With Them, My Father:



Cdr. Thomas G. Mitchell, MSC, USN
WWII, Korea, Vietnam
Commencement, Georgetown University
June, 1963

Today is the 90th Anniversary of my Father's birth. It is now almost 19 years since he was called to his Eternal Reward. He stands watch above, along with his Brothers-in-Arms who have secured and protected our Freedoms for over two centuries. He stands watch over me lest I lose my way in the bitter winds that now blow. I love him dearly and greatly miss his counsel, his wisdom, and his love.

TAPS
U.S. Marine Band
(Click)

"Do poor Tom some charity, whom the foul fiend vexes!"
(King Lear, Act III, Scene iv)



All Gave Some – Some Gave All!!!
(Click)

Good night, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America!

Godspeed our Troops around the Globe – especially those in harm’s way – by virtue of their service and sacrifice we continue to live in Freedom!

[PROCON]

But still...

[PROCON]

But still...

[radu]

Kittehs are being brats this evening ..... new moon. LOL!

Still not letting the ones who are allowed outside to go out just yet. I can only get them to come in at suppertime and it right now, that’s still too close to sundown. Dusk is when the coyotes start coming out for the night’s hunt. Soon the sun will set late enough that I can have the kiddos inside for the night before the danger is wandering the area.

The kittens won’t be allowed to go out. They were way too comfortable around cars when they were next door and it’s a miracle they hadn’t been run over yet. Too many cars coming in and out here, with Hubby’s buddies showing up day and night, so they’re going to be inside kittehs. Haven’t decided on Lessa yet.

[luvie]

Yep...gotta keep hoping!

It’s nice to have the nests to watch to take our minds off of stuff that is painful or sad. Those silly birds can make us laugh!

Last year we had a good amount of rain for us, and I sure hope we get more of the same this year. Our yard was almost restored to what it was before the drought burned so much of it up. Don’t EVER want to do that again!

[radu]

Thank you.

He IS at peace now and that gives us a little comfort.
We’re just missing his craziness. He was a real character.

[radu]

WOOHOO! Snuck that #50 in, ya did!

[radu]

Yep, those birds do have a way of making us laugh at times. Latvia has been a hoot this spring.

Guess y’all sucked all the water out of the systems before they got here last year. We couldn’t get it now matter how much we begged. LOL

[luvie]

Funny how that works out. Y’all might be the one to benefit from the weather patterns this year. But I HOPE it’s both of us! LOL! I love a rainy night [or day]!...so sings Eddie Rabbitt! :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks....and you have a great week as well.

[radu]

No telling what the weather patterns will be this year. We haven’t gotten as much rain this Jan. and Feb. as we did last year and we hope that doesn’t mean an even drier summer this year. Hope is all we can do. We’re not in control .... just along for the ride. :-)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Luv....an American hero for sure.

[luvie]

Hope and pray. And wait to see if we get an “ok” or a “no, not this time”.

I do hope you get some so your crops will be good this year. It’s depressing to see something planted just shrivel up and die...or not produce like it should.