FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Nathan G Gordon ~ 12 April 2021

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Nathan G. Gordon

Info from this website.

           

Nathan Green Gordon (September 4, 1916 – September 8, 2008) was an American lawyer, politician, and decorated naval aviator. A Democrat, he served as the Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas for ten terms, from 1947 to 1967. As a United States Navy officer in World War II, he received the U.S. military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for rescuing the crews of several downed airplanes.

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Biography

Gordon was born in Morrilton, the seat of Conway County in central Arkansas, to Edward Gordon and the former Ada Ruth Bearden. After graduation from Morrilton public schools, he graduated Columbia Military Academy, Columbia, Tennessee, in 1933 followed by Arkansas Polytechnic College in Russellville.  He then attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree in 1939.

Gordon practiced law in his hometown of Morrilton before joining the Navy in May 1941. After qualifying as a naval aviator, he was sent to the southwest Pacific Ocean, where he would serve more than two years.  By February 15, 1944, he was a lieutenant, junior grade, in command of a PBY Catalina flying boat named the "Arkansas Traveler", part of Patrol Squadron 34 (the Black Cat Squadron).  On that day, in the Bismarck Sea off the island of New Ireland, Gordon piloted his aircraft through heavy Japanese fire to rescue the survivors of several downed United States Army planes. He was subsequently promoted to lieutenant and awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.  He served in the Navy until 1945, when he was released to inactive duty.

After the war, Gordon formed a business partnership with his brother, Edward Gordon, Jr., and returned to the practice of law in Morrilton.  His political career began in 1946, when he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas under Governors Benjamin Travis Laney. He took office in January 1947 and was re-elected to nine more two-year terms, finally leaving office in January 1967. During his tenure he served under four different Governors: Laney (1945-1949), Sid McMath (1949-1953), Francis Cherry (1953-1955), and Orval Faubus (1955-1967).

Lieutenant Gordon's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

    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, Lieutenant Gordon prevented certain death or capture of our airmen by the Japanese.

Gordon did not seek reelection in 1966, when the Democratic nominee, James Pilkinton of Hope, narrowly lost the general election to Maurice L. Britt, the first Republican to hold the state's second highest office since Reconstruction. Like Gordon, Britt was also a military hero.

More on Nathan Gordon's heroics here.

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!

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[SkyDancer]

~ Good Evening ~

~ Jump Plane Weekend! ~

~ Good Evening ~

~ Welcome To My World ~

I’m Down There Somewhere

[PROCON]

Incredible story, thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero, Kathy!

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Nathan G Gordon ~

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[mountainlion]

It is amazing that so many high performance soldiers are quite successful in politics.

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

April 12

Serving the Least

Bible in a Year:

• 1 Samuel 19–21
• Luke 11:29–54

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Matthew 25:40

His name is Spencer. But everybody calls him “Spence.” He was a state track champion in high school; then he went on to attend a prestigious university on a full academic scholarship. He lives now in one of America’s largest cities and is highly respected in the field of chemical engineering. But if you were to ask Spence his greatest achievements to date, he wouldn’t mention any of those things. He would excitedly tell you about the trips he makes to Nicaragua every few months to check in on the kids and teachers in the tutoring program he helped establish in one of the poorest areas of the country. And he’d tell you how enriched his life has been by serving them.

“The least of these.” It’s a phrase people use in a variety of ways, yet Jesus used it to describe those who, according to the world’s standards, have little or nothing to offer us in return for our service. They are the men and women and children the world often overlooks—if not forgets completely. Yet it’s exactly those people Jesus elevates to such a beautiful status by saying, “Whatever you did [for them], you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). You don’t have to have a degree from a prestigious university to understand Christ’s meaning: serving “the least” is the same as serving Him. All it really takes is a willing heart.

Reflect & Pray

Who comes to mind when you hear the phrase “the least of these”? What’s something you could do for them?

King Jesus, I’m afraid I make serving You harder than it is. Your words are clear—You call me to the least and the littlest, perhaps in Nicaragua or maybe in my neighborhood. Give me courage to serve.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...a good day? Able to commune with Blue?

A little bit of snow that didn’t stick, and more expected, and a good stiff breeze. BRRRR!!

[left that other site]

Cold and wet today, so no Blue.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Janey...((HUGS))...nice jumping weather?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hey there, Pro...hope your spring is here to stay.

Our spring is reluctant to show its face. A little snow that didn’t stick. A stiff breeze. Maybe a little more snow tonight. Below freezing all day, but supposed to be headed up overnight.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, mountainlion...it does seem like many go into politics. But I’m always surprised when they lean to the left.

Has your spring settled in? Mine is still fighting with winter.

[luvie]

Nathan Green Gordon
September 4, 1916 – September 8, 2008
United States Navy officer - World War II,
Medal of Honor Recipient
—for rescuing the crews of several downed airplanes.
What a Hero!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Are you well rested, over your cold, and ready to take on the new week?

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

[SkyDancer]

Hai! (((HUGS))) It was absolutely perfect.

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

There must be a lot of people in Anchorage hoping for no more snow today. The radar shows snow surrounding the area and it looks like there’s a force field keeping it from moving over the city. A big ol’ hole in the middle of all that snow. LOL

[radu]

Howdy, PRO.

Were you able to get together with your son this weekend for some good times?

[Captain Peter Blood]

I had the great pleasure of meeting Gov. Gordon at book signing event here in Little Rock, Ar.. I sat at his table and enjoyed talking to him, what a great guy.

[PROCON]

Hiya radu!

Son's over for dinner and hanging out tonight.

I hope all is well your way.