Posted on 10/01/2020 9:43:34 AM PDT by fugazi
Today’s post is in honor of Air Force 1st Lt. Gary P. Offutt, who was shot down over the Republic of Vietnam’s Kien Giang province on this date in 1965. Offutt’s F-100 Super Sabre had just pulled up after a strafing run when the aircraft nose-dived into the ground, likely brought down by hostile fire. The 25-year-old Stewartsville, Mo. native’s remains were repatriated in 1995 and identified in 1997.
1918: When German soldiers attack the lines of the 110th Infantry Regiment, Irish immigrant and U.S. Army Maj. Joseph H. Thompson courageously defies enemy machinegun and artillery fire to encourage his troops, repulsing two separate assaults. Later, when his troops are stalled by enemy machinegun and anti-tank fire, which disabled all but one of the American tanks, Maj. Thompson charged forward of his line on three occasions through withering fire to guide the last remaining tank to a position where it could neutralize the machinegun nest. For his actions, Maj. Thompson was awarded the Medal of Honor.
In 1971, “Colonel Joe” Thompson, a former football star and successful coach at the University of Pittsburgh before leaving to fight in Mexico and World War I, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
1947: (Featured image) Former World War II ace George Welch climbs into the cockpit of his North American Aviation XF-86 for the maiden flight of...
(Excerpt) Read more at victoryinstitute.net ...
My father flew 300 missions over Vietnam in the F100. He also flew 100 missions over Korea. He said the big difference between the two wars was your tour of duty ended in Korea after 100 missions so pilots were eager to fly and get home. In Vietnam, pilots were on duty for one year so the eagerness was not quite as great. He was the squadron commander and flew missions that should have been flown by pilots unable or unwilling to on a particular day. He flew his 300th mission about a week prior to his one year anniversary and decided 300 was enough.
On Oct 1, 1971, the USS NEWPORT NEWS was off the coast of North Viet Nam, when a shell exploded, killing 20 US sailors. May they Rest In Peace.
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