Skip to comments.
FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Nathan G Gordon ~ 24 July 2023
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !!
| The Canteen Crew
Posted on 07/23/2023 5:03:46 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
Our Troops Rock! Thank you for all you do! | | For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces. | | Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today! | | |
|
~ 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.
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.
| 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! |
|
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-52 next last
To: Kathy in Alaska; luvie; HiJinx; AZamericonnie; Jet Jaguar; SandRat; beachn4fun; laurenmarlowe; ...
Greetings to all at the Canteen!
To all our military men and women, past and present,
2
posted on
07/23/2023 5:09:04 PM PDT
by
radu
(God bless our military men and women, past and present)
To: Kathy in Alaska
3
posted on
07/23/2023 5:10:13 PM PDT
by
left that other site
(Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.)
To: Kathy in Alaska
~ Evening All! ~
~
~ Welcome To My World ~I’m Down There Somewhere |
4
posted on
07/23/2023 5:11:38 PM PDT
by
SkyDancer
(If At First You Don't Suceed, Well So Much For Skydiving ~)
To: Kathy in Alaska
July 24
Hope in Grief
Do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:13Louise was a lively, playful girl who brought smiles to all she met. At the age of five, she tragically succumbed to a rare disease. Her sudden passing was a shock to her parents, Day Day and Peter, and to all of us who worked with them. We grieved along with them.
Yet, Day Day and Peter have found the strength to keep going. When I asked Day Day how they were coping, she said they drew strength from focusing on where Louise was—in Jesus’ loving arms. “We rejoice for our daughter whose time is up to go into eternal life,” she said. “By God’s grace and strength, we can navigate through the grief and continue to do what He has entrusted us to do.”
Day Day’s comfort is found in her confidence in the heart of God who revealed Himself in Jesus. Biblical hope is much more than mere optimism; it’s an absolute certainty based on God’s promise, which He will never break. In our sadness, we can cling to this powerful truth, as Paul encouraged those grieving over departed friends: “We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:14). May this certain hope give us strength and comfort today—even in our grief.
Reflect & Pray
How can you draw strength from God’s promises to those who follow Him? How can you comfort someone grieving over a loved one or friend?
Father, thank You for Your hope and comfort today. Strengthen me today so I can encourage others too.
For further study, read Clinging to Hope in the Storm.
5
posted on
07/23/2023 5:12:20 PM PDT
by
The Mayor
(Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.)
To: radu; Jet Jaguar; null and void; mosaicwolf; tet68; FlingWingFlyer; Red Badger; fieldmarshaldj; ...
A Gunship Crew Chief with Special Forces in the Vietnam War (MACVSOG): Laos & North Vietnam, 1968
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6cjfEIJ9Ws
Roger Lockshier served as a Huey gunship crew chief with the 101st Army Airborne, 1967-1968. Most of his tour, he served with Military Assistance Command Vietnam/Studies and Observation Group (MACVSOG) special forces conducting operations in Laos and North Vietnam. Mr. Lockshier shares memories of his service, including “people sniffer” missions, the Tet Offensive and being shot down and rescued during an operation in Laos. See his memoir, “We Saved SOG Souls”: https://www.amazon.com/We-Saved-SOG-S... Posted as part of the “War & Life: Discussions with Veterans” project.
https://warandlifediscussions.weebly.... Any veteran who served in any combat zone in any capacity is invited to contact pjones@jbu.edu / (479) 524-7488
To: Kathy in Alaska
Hi Kathy, thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero!
7
posted on
07/23/2023 5:42:33 PM PDT
by
PROCON
(Sic Semper Tyrannis)
To: MoJo2001; 007; 1 FELLOW FREEPER; 11B3; 1FreeAmerican; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; 2LT Radix jr; 300winmag; ..
~ Hall of Heroes: Nathan G Gordon ~
FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies' military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREADS
CLICK FOR Current local times around the world
CLICK FOR local times in Seoul, Baghdad, Kabul,
New York, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Anchorage
To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
No matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.
To our military readers, we remain steadfast
in keeping the Canteen doors open. The FR Canteen is Free Republic's longest running daily thread
specifically designed to provide entertainment and moral support for the military.
The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afghanistan.
We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.
NOTE: CANTEEN MUSIC
Posted daily and on the Music Thread
for the enjoyment of our troops and visitors.
Click here for the latest weather, wind and radar.
8
posted on
07/23/2023 5:47:07 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
Evening, Kathy! Thanks for another bio!
9
posted on
07/23/2023 5:49:26 PM PDT
by
MoochPooch
(I'm a compassionate cynic.)
To: radu; bitt; Jane Long; rodguy911; Red Badger; Kathy in Alaska; fieldmarshaldj; The Mayor; ...
To: Kathy in Alaska
Howdy, Kathy.
I hope you’ve been able to get out to enjoy the sun for a bit today. The smoke is rolling in now from Canada and it won’t be very pleasant outside for a couple of days. :-(
11
posted on
07/23/2023 6:47:18 PM PDT
by
radu
(God bless our military men and women, past and present)
To: PROCON
Howdy, PRO.
How’s your weekend been? Did you get to relax or did Robin have another chore lined up?
12
posted on
07/23/2023 6:49:28 PM PDT
by
radu
(God bless our military men and women, past and present)
To: left that other site
Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...hope the weather has co-operated with you and Blue and you got to ride this weekend.
Is your method of knee rehab working well? Hope so.
13
posted on
07/23/2023 7:15:59 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: SkyDancer
Good evening,Janey...((HUGS))...did you parachute drive this weekend?
I can just imagine your usual client deliveries are REALLY some hot places right now.
Enjoy the parachute runs and stay cool.
14
posted on
07/23/2023 7:19:33 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: radu
Hiya radu!
Good weekend, hot as usual.
I did see Robin and the pups, we needed to do some maintenance on her drip irrigation system for the shrubs and flowers; thankfully most of the work was done in the shade but still it was hot.
Just been relaxin' otherwise.
How was your weekend, kittehs behavin'?
15
posted on
07/23/2023 7:24:29 PM PDT
by
PROCON
(Sic Semper Tyrannis)
To: PROCON; radu
Good evening, Pro...how’s the heat? It was really nice here, but radu, my personal weather reporter, said the canadian smoke is coming here. Not good! It’s HOT and I have every window open. Not good if I have to button up the house. I’ve had to do it before and it’s not fun.
Oh well...thankfully I have several fans.
16
posted on
07/23/2023 7:39:37 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: PROCON
Well darn. I hoped you’d finished the irrigation system last weekend so you could just sit and relax this weekend. Not much fun working outside this time of year even if in the shade.
It was a pretty good weekend here. After four days of rain showers and storms rolling through the state, a “cold” front came through and knocked the temp down to tolerable levels. Not for long though. We’ll be back in the furnace again for the next week.
Had a good turnout at the museum both days and it kept us all on our toes. Today was recuperation day. LOL
The kittehs are quiet tonight but they’ve had their moments the past week. The new moon fires them up as much as the full moon. >^..^<
17
posted on
07/23/2023 7:47:40 PM PDT
by
radu
(God bless our military men and women, past and present)
To: Kathy in Alaska; y'all; radu; beachn4fun; Allegra; GodBlessUSA; E.G.C.; Jet Jaguar; ...
Nathan Green Gordon
September 4, 1916 – September 8, 2008
As a US Navy officer in World War II,
He received the Medal of Honor
—for rescuing the crews of several downed airplanes.
For his heroism, I forgive him for being a Democrat. :)
18
posted on
07/23/2023 7:48:38 PM PDT
by
luvie
(🇺🇸The bravery/dedication of our troops keeping us safe & free make me proud to be an American.🇺🇸)
To: radu
In first....radu grabs the gold!!
19
posted on
07/23/2023 8:05:36 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: left that other site
And in second....ML snags the silver!!
20
posted on
07/23/2023 8:30:10 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-52 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson