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37 enemy KIA's- One hero- One 1911
O.E.S. Project ^ | January 5, 2009 | Rick Watson

Posted on 07/10/2009 7:46:55 AM PDT by Shooter 2.5

Thomas’s Navy Cross citation states: “His deadly accuracy accounted for at least one enemy dead and held the aggressors at bay until an Army rescue helicopter landed.” It is assumed Thomas was given credit solely for the VC killed and witnessed at the rescue chopper. When a second Army rescue helicopter landed to retrieve the bodies of the dead co-pilot and gunner, the soldiers noted a plethora of VC dead all around the area. One was as close as three yards from Thomas’s shooting position, and the furthest was 150 yards. It was clear to those on the scene that many of these were killed with .45-caliber bullets. Thomas was the only combatant using a .45 pistol. LTC Mark Eberhard, USMCR, stated in an article for the American Marksman Group (www.americanmarksman.com) that there were 37 VC bodies at the scene.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; History; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: banglist; vietnamwar
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"Petty Officer Second Class Robert J. Thomas, a US Navy SEAL. Mr. Thomas, who retired as a Navy Commander, was recommended for the Congressional Medal of Honor by the U.S. Army officer who witnessed his unbelievable acts of courage."

It's difficult to comment on something so extraordinary.

1 posted on 07/10/2009 7:46:55 AM PDT by Shooter 2.5
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To: lilycicero; Hot Tabasco; Arrowhead1952; MortMan; edzo4; xcamel; PowderMonkey; quincysbuddy; ...

Pinging the FR gun club. I don’t think anyone should miss this one.

This is a Sgt. York of my generation.


2 posted on 07/10/2009 7:49:21 AM PDT by Shooter 2.5 (NRA /Patron - TSRA- IDPA)
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To: Shooter 2.5

Angels and a steady hand. Wow. Must have had one of the good 1911s.


3 posted on 07/10/2009 7:49:42 AM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: Shooter 2.5

Just wow.


4 posted on 07/10/2009 7:50:56 AM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: Shooter 2.5

The link again.

http://www.btconline.us/mt/2009/01/some_windmills_1.html


5 posted on 07/10/2009 7:51:20 AM PDT by Shooter 2.5 (NRA /Patron - TSRA- IDPA)
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To: Secret Agent Man
I think all 1911's are good. ;-)

Great story.

6 posted on 07/10/2009 7:51:52 AM PDT by andy58-in-nh (You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.)
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To: Secret Agent Man

The full article said the 1911 was competitive. I hope it was his personal sidearm so that it survived.


7 posted on 07/10/2009 7:53:37 AM PDT by Shooter 2.5 (NRA /Patron - TSRA- IDPA)
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To: Shooter 2.5

I did rather poorly on a paper target at 15 yards. If you need a clue at how low I feel right now, look at the bototm of your shoe.


8 posted on 07/10/2009 7:54:58 AM PDT by domenad (In all things, in all ways, at all times, let honor guide me.)
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To: Secret Agent Man

Never had a bad one.


9 posted on 07/10/2009 7:58:38 AM PDT by kingpins10
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To: Shooter 2.5

Wow—and the link does quite a number on Bob Kerrey at the same time.


10 posted on 07/10/2009 7:58:55 AM PDT by OCCASparky (Steely-Eyed Killer of the Deep)
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To: El Gato

As you know, I was on a thread supporting the 9MM. I am of the opinion although Speed, Accuracy and Power are the three items needed to be a good shot, overall accuracy is usually the most important. Any student has to learn the basics and concentrate on their accuracy before moving to the next step which should be power. Move from the .22 target to the defensive rounds and then work on the speed.

Diligentia-Vis-Celeritas


11 posted on 07/10/2009 7:59:17 AM PDT by Shooter 2.5 (NRA /Patron - TSRA- IDPA)
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To: Shooter 2.5

Shot placement.
Shot placement.
Shot placement.

If you are proficient in the above, using a .45acp also helps. ;-)


12 posted on 07/10/2009 8:02:14 AM PDT by ironwill (III - Molon Labe)
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To: Shooter 2.5
The man's actions are clearly heroic, so there's certainly not the least bit of disrespect intended when I confess that the account of his actions reminded me of this joke:

A grade school teacher gave the assignment to her class, that each student should think of a story and then a moral for that story to share with the class the next day. The following day the teacher asks for the first volunteer to tell their story, and little Suzy raises her hand.

“My dad owns a farm and every Sunday we load the chicken eggs on the truck and drive into town to sell them at the market. Well, one Sunday we hit a big bump and all the eggs flew out of the basket and onto the road.” The teacher asks for the moral of the story and Suzy replies, “Don’t keep all your eggs in one basket.”

Next little Lucy offers to tell her story, and she says, “Well my dad owns a farm too and every weekend we take the chicken eggs and put them in the incubator. Last weekend only 8 of the 12 eggs hatched.” The teacher asks for the moral of the story and Lucy replies, “Don’t count your eggs before they’re hatched.”

Finally it’s little Johnny’s turn and he says, “My uncle Ted fought in the Vietnam war, and his plane was shot down over enemy territory. He jumped out before it crashed with only his pistol, a machete, and a bottle of whiskey. On the way down he drank the whiskey.”

“Unfortunately, he landed right in the middle of 100 Vietnamese soldiers. He shot 70 with his pistol, but ran out of bullets, so he pulled out his machete and killed 20 more. The blade on his machete broke, so he killed the last ten with his bare hands.”

The teacher looks in shock at Johnny and asks if there is possibly any moral to his story and Johnny replies, “Don’t mess with Uncle Ted when he’s been drinking.”

13 posted on 07/10/2009 8:02:30 AM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Shooter 2.5

For later.


14 posted on 07/10/2009 8:04:59 AM PDT by PalmettoMason ("an empty limousine pulled up in front of the White House, and Barack Obama got out")
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To: Joe 6-pack

That’s damn funny.


15 posted on 07/10/2009 8:05:09 AM PDT by MattinNJ (And then there was one...Palin.)
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To: Shooter 2.5

The SEAL officer who recieved the MHO instead of the enlised man was former Senator Bob Kerry, if I’m not mistaken.


16 posted on 07/10/2009 8:06:25 AM PDT by Ditto
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To: Joe 6-pack

Funny.


17 posted on 07/10/2009 8:12:18 AM PDT by Shooter 2.5 (NRA /Patron - TSRA- IDPA)
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To: AdmSmith; Berosus; bigheadfred; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; ...
When a second Army rescue helicopter landed to retrieve the bodies of the dead co-pilot and gunner, the soldiers noted a plethora of VC dead all around the area. One was as close as three yards from Thomas's shooting position, and the furthest was 150 yards. It was clear to those on the scene that many of these were killed with .45-caliber bullets. Thomas was the only combatant using a .45 pistol. LTC Mark Eberhard, USMCR, stated in an article for the American Marksman Group that there were 37 VC bodies at the scene.
Had to be done -- the Demwits in Congress wouldn't support the troops.
18 posted on 07/10/2009 8:15:15 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: kingpins10

I had an old 1911 that I had used as a project gun. I changed everything on it from cutting the frame all the way to the two barrels that were replaced.

It was stolen during a move from one house to another. I stil miss that old firearm. My son gave me his personal Springfield Armory V-10 but it’s not the same as losing the gun that taught you how to shoot a pistol.

I finally bought a full size government and it’s on my profile page. That makes four.


19 posted on 07/10/2009 8:17:43 AM PDT by Shooter 2.5 (NRA /Patron - TSRA- IDPA)
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To: Joe 6-pack

ROTFLMAO! Seriously, that was FUNNY!


20 posted on 07/10/2009 8:21:25 AM PDT by piytar (Take back the language: Obama axing Chrystler dealers based on political donations is REAL fascism!)
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