FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Stephen Holden Doane ~ September 17, 2012

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Stephen Holden Doane

Info from here.

           

Stephen Holden Doane (October 13, 1947 – March 25, 1969) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Doane joined the Army from Albany, New York in 1967, and went through Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning. By March 25, 1969 was serving as a first lieutenant in Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. During a firefight on that day, in Hau Nghia Province, Republic of Vietnam, Doane destroyed an enemy bunker by carrying an activated hand grenade into it, sacrificing himself to take out the hostile position.

Doane, aged 21 at his death, was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. First Lt. Doane was serving as a platoon leader when his company, engaged in a tactical operation, abruptly contacted an enemy force concealed in protected bunkers and trenches. Three of the leading soldiers were pinned down by enemy crossfire. One was seriously wounded. After efforts of 1 platoon to rescue these men had failed, it became obvious that only a small group could successfully move close enough to destroy the enemy position and rescue or relieve the trapped soldiers, 1st Lt. Doane, although fully aware of the danger of such an action, crawled to the nearest enemy bunker and silenced it. He was wounded but continued to advance to a second enemy bunker. As he prepared to throw a grenade, he was again wounded. Undaunted, he deliberately pulled the pin on the grenade and lunged with it into the enemy bunker, destroying this final obstacle. 1st Lt. Doane's supreme act enabled his company to rescue the trapped men without further casualties. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by this officer were an inspiration to his men and are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army

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! 

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

China War Memorial Badge and Ribbon
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal
Good Conduct Medal
World War II Victory Medal

I have a “Separation Qualification Record” that says he was a Tec 4 Draftsman with 993rd Signal Operations Company in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations. Made map over lays, military periodic reports and planned operations maps. Also did resurveying of small areas.

I think I might post some of his narrative as I get it written....like “about one week out of Bombay we were given a smallpox vaccination. Due to non-entry into my Medical records, (twice), I ended up with three smallpox vaccinations within a two week period”.

And.....”at roll-call one morning I found out that I was beginning a Cryptography class with 6 weeks training (it is 6 months in the States)”. Shortly after that I took my first plane ride in an Air Force C-47 Troop Carrier. We were given a parachute and told “to bring it back for a new one if it didn’t work”.

After several weeks of training with an American Radio Operator and using any Chinese soldier we could get to turn our hand cranked generator for the radio, I was called into HQ and informed that I was now a Draftsman with the Engineering HQ, Y-Force, Chinese Training and Combat Command (due to high school drafting classes). X-Force was located in India, Y-Force located in western China, and Z-Force in eastern China.

My job now involved keeping combat situation maps up-to-date, do photo interpretation of aerial photos of roads, bridges, and airstrips in our area. Any place a C-47 could land was an airstrip. I also made many field reconnaissance trips, traveling via aircraft, sampans, jeeps, railroads, or on foot.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...are you working 7 days, or do you and Linda have Sunday off?

Did you have a sunny day? Rides?

[Kathy in Alaska]

I will definitely keep you in the loop as I go through his folder and type up his narrative. Thank you!!

You solved the most pressing issue....a copy of the DD-214. His equivalent is the WD AGO Form 53 - 55...and that I have!

This can’t be delayed or wait until some tomorrow.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Luv...((HUGS))...did you have a good day?

Did you get a nap? How about some rain?

Hmmmm....it’s starting to get windy here....mostly good size gusts. The wind storm may be finding us finally, a day late.

[SandRat]

Shortly after I get them, and I too am still waiting.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Carrying on with GranDaughter

Tough duty!! d:o)

[SandRat]

Enjoyable Duty. 8^]

[BIGLOOK]

That's a great report, Night Owl, and some things you may not have heard before. Sad to say, my father never spoke of his service during WWII and I only learned some of it after his passing. This is a bit strange since I spent my first 12 years as a Navy brat, visited the ships he was on and even had Thanksgiving dinners aboard them. Such was the life of a Navy CPO......duty, family, shipmates and no braggadocio.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I've just started reading....and, yes, stuff I didn't know. I want to get this on paper, in some sort of order, and let him reread it and see if he remembers anything else or wants to change anything while he still can. His hearing is almost gone, even with hearing aids, but his memory seems really good, even tho he is easily confused by things like his computer.

We just never talked about it and he only volunteered a couple stories.

[HiJinx]

You got us looking - and we found the 53-55 for Nana’s father.

We found out he drove a deuce-and-a-half ferrying supplies and personnel; and that he supervised POWs loaindg and unloading the trucks.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Very interesting reading, isn’t it? Did you know any of that?

I didn’t know those things about my Dad. I knew he drove an officer around, and he is not fond of chicken because of an incident...they were at some dinner, round table, pot in the middle with a chicken....ALL of the chicken...eyeballs staring at him.

[HiJinx]

LOL!!!

Poppa drove ambulances later in the war, and also pulled guard duty in a psych ward. He told us that he slept on a table in the middle of a day room, and he left the keys hanging on a hook alongside the door. If any of those crazy SOBs were going to escape, he wasn’t going to stand in their way. At least, that’s what he told us.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Back in the day...who knew? Probably anything that worked.

[HiJinx]

Yep.

Okay, 2335 here, so I’m going to call it a night.
Gotta work in the AM.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, unique, for the kitty.

HJ.....#50!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Me too, but the high winds are starting. I'm hoping they won't last long.

Good night and rest well, HJ. Thank you for your service to our country and for helping honor our troops.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, fatima...((HUGS))

Any kids fall in the pool while you were working on it?

Congratulations to your Eagles.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night Troops, wherever you are.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep all of us free and safe.

Thanks, unique, for the pastries.

Coffee is always on........

How about a donut?

Cookies?

Veggies?

Sandwich?

[Kathy in Alaska]

God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.

Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art