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Nathan G. Gordon; Navy Pilot, Arkansas Lt. Governor (Medal of Honor Recipient Passes Away)
Washington Post ^ | September 14, 2008 | Matt Schudel

Posted on 09/18/2008 8:48:43 PM PDT by Stonewall Jackson

Nathan G. Gordon, a Navy pilot who received the Medal of Honor for rescuing other aviators in World War II, and who later became Arkansas's longest-serving lieutenant governor, died Sept. 8 at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hospital in Little Rock. He was 92 and had pneumonia and other ailments.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Announcements; Foreign Affairs; US: Arkansas
KEYWORDS: medalofhonor; militaryhistory; moh; navair; obituary; veteran; ww2
Sadly, this great American hero's death has been overshadowed by the Presidential campaign and the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

Rest in Peace, Lt. Gordon, and thank you for your service to a grateful nation.

1 posted on 09/18/2008 8:48:43 PM PDT by Stonewall Jackson
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To: SLB; SandRat; Jeff Head; Travis McGee; Old Sarge

A sad Medal of Honor ping.


2 posted on 09/18/2008 8:50:02 PM PDT by Stonewall Jackson (Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory. - George Patton)
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To: Stonewall Jackson

GORDON, NATHAN GREEN

Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, commander of Catalina patrol plane. Place and date: Bismarck Sea, 15 February 1944. Entered service at: Arkansas. Born: 4 September 1916, Morrilton, Ark. Citation: For extraordinary heroism above and beyond the call of duty as commander of a Catalina patrol plane in rescuing personnel of the U.S. Army 5th Air Force shot down in combat over Kavieng Harbor in the Bismarck Sea, 15 February 1944. On air alert in the vicinity of Vitu Islands, Lt. (then Lt. j.g.) Gordon unhesitatingly responded to a report of the crash and flew boldly into the harbor, defying close-range fire from enemy shore guns to make 3 separate landings in full view of the Japanese and pick up 9 men, several of them injured. With his cumbersome flying boat dangerously overloaded, he made a brilliant takeoff despite heavy swells and almost total absence of wind and set a course for base, only to receive the report of another group stranded in a rubber life raft 600 yards from the enemy shore. Promptly turning back, he again risked his life to set his plane down under direct fire of the heaviest defenses of Kavieng and take aboard 6 more survivors, coolly making his fourth dexterous takeoff with 15 rescued officers and men. By his exceptional daring, personal valor, and incomparable airmanship under most perilous conditions, Lt. Gordon prevented certain death or capture of our airmen by the Japanese.


3 posted on 09/18/2008 8:54:47 PM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.org | DefendOurTroops.org)
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To: jazusamo

Wow thanks for posting that. What a man!


4 posted on 09/18/2008 8:56:30 PM PDT by packrat35 (To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women...)
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To: Stonewall Jackson

bttt


5 posted on 09/18/2008 8:59:25 PM PDT by Eagles6 ( Typical White Guy: Christian, Constitutionalist, Heterosexual, Redneck)
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To: jazusamo
Thanks for posting his citation.

Here are a couple of paintings by Nicholas Trudgian of the rescue mission.

Flight Out Of Hell

Black Cat Rescue

6 posted on 09/18/2008 9:07:22 PM PDT by Stonewall Jackson (Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory. - George Patton)
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To: Stonewall Jackson

My pleasure and thanks for the great paintings, I’ve copied them. :)

Lt. Gordon was a true hero, may he RIP.


7 posted on 09/18/2008 9:14:24 PM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.org | DefendOurTroops.org)
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To: Vroomfondel; SC Swamp Fox; Fred Hayek; NY Attitude; P3_Acoustic; Bean Counter; investigateworld; ...
SONOBUOY PING!

Click on pic for past Navair pings.

Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
The only requirement for inclusion in the Navair Pinglist is an interest in Naval Aviation.
This is a medium to low volume pinglist.

8 posted on 09/18/2008 9:16:13 PM PDT by magslinger (A politician who thinks he is above the law is actually beneath contempt.)
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To: magslinger
He will find a very special place in heaven. Your service shall serve as an example of how love and devotion should guide our lives.

Thanks for the kind and unselfish example of love.

9 posted on 09/18/2008 10:00:32 PM PDT by Dream Warrior ( Palin - the last best hope for America))
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To: Stonewall Jackson

Nathan Gordon (wearing sunglasses) and crew of PBY "Arkansas Traveler" 08139 in 1944

Nathan G. Gordon - PBY Pilot & Medal of Honor

10 posted on 09/18/2008 10:05:13 PM PDT by Daaave ("Where it all ends I can't fathom my friends")
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To: Daaave

VP-34 Black Cat squadron logo

11 posted on 09/18/2008 10:11:21 PM PDT by Daaave ("Where it all ends I can't fathom my friends")
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To: Stonewall Jackson; jazusamo

CLICK THE PIC FOR MORE ON THE BLACK CATS!

12 posted on 09/18/2008 11:01:04 PM PDT by Old Sarge (Went to sleep with Palin - woke up next to McCain...)
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To: Stonewall Jackson

RIP.


13 posted on 09/19/2008 4:50:20 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
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To: Old Sarge

Thanks, Sarge. That’s a great site.


14 posted on 09/19/2008 7:53:18 AM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.org | DefendOurTroops.org)
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To: Stonewall Jackson
As a point of interest, Arkansas has had TWO MOH recipients serving as Lt Governor.

Nathan Gordon and Maurice Britt.

One a democrat, one a republican.

15 posted on 10/09/2008 4:13:16 PM PDT by spectre
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