Posted on 07/10/2009 7:46:55 AM PDT by Shooter 2.5
Thomass 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 Thomass 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.
That last one is awesome.
WOW, great story!
That guy had to reload a few times!
I’ve always liked the 1911.
Never managed to get my paws on one though.
“He fired 80 rounds and two magazines come in the pouch. Whether they had additional pouches or less than the two is unknown.”
Isnt it a little unusual to carry 10 extra mags?
Click the link.
“The pilot,[Dick Barr] though wounded, loaded magazines for Thomas while calling on the radio for a rescue.”
I’m surprised they had eighty rounds of pistol ammunition on board.
Is that other SEAL office Bob Kerrey?
Compared to this guy Sgt York was a slacker.
It’s two boxes of standard issue, not much in a flight bag or elsewhere in the helicopter.
Exactly what I did, although I still need work on speed.
Most likely, since the two actions took place in the same month.
You have to remember though, that Bob Kerrey was just a kid from Lincoln Nebraska with a pharmacy degree, at the time, not a locally well know businessman and politician, let alone a nationally known figure. Actually, he's Joesph R. Kerrey, which surprised me the first time I saw the plaque in the Nebraska state capital, since I'd met "Bob" over 15 years earlier, and had some degree of contact in the intervening years, although none since then, but never knew he was "Joeseph R.".
Definitely that is who the letter is referring to, the description of the action is the same as that for Senator Kerrey's MOH citation description
The letter at the link indicates that the pilot, LT(jg) Dick Barr, whose 1911 it was, reloaded magazines for PO Thomas, since his thumb was injured and he could not reload them himself. Sounds like they had at least two, but could have been only one, if Barr was a really quick reloader.
The letter also states that Thomas fired about 80 rounds, and speculates that some of the dead or wounded VC were moved away by their comrades, the 37 was just how many dead VC there were when the rescue troops arrived.
Bang!
My EDC gun is a Colt Series 80. It’s stock except for a full length guide rod and a Wolf spring set I installed. It’s the most accurate pistol I’ve ever had. I wish it were lighter, but I’m familiar with it and it’s never critically malfunctioned. For that matter, it rarely malfunctions at all.
The article said that the wounded helo pilot was loading magazines for him.
Between five people...(pilot, co-pilot, two gunners, and SEAL spotter)? Not really.
Is it unusual to find a Freeper who didn't read the article or the thread before posting? Not really.
Sorry couldn't resist. LOL
Used to shoot pistol silhouette. One guy always shot a 45, one handed. He was deadly at 100 yards. A joy to watch. I keep trying!
Best service pistol there ever was.
Perhaps so, but the point of the article is that the Navy decided that a Commissioned Officer instead of the Enlisted Man was more deserving. I don't know if Kerrey was deserving, but he has my admiration for his service none the less. The man lost a limb! But Kerrey benefited from that recognition in his career outside the military.
The thrust here is that the enlisted man deserved the same award, not that Kerrey didn't. The enlisted man spent the rest of his career in the military. With that MOH while in the military, his recognition would have been nothing more than great respect from all who met him, officers and enlisted men, not a seat in the US Senate and great wealth to follow as a result.
Yet he did not receive the award because he was just an Enlisted Man and the Navy had an officer in the cue at the same time.
If those are the facts here, it's nothing against Kerrey. It's just another example of the military bureaucrats doing what they do best... screwing enlisted men.
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