. . . . . . . Johnny Gage MEGA PING . . . . . . .
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The guide was well into his spiel when he mentioned that The Detroit, a Destroyer, was the first ship out of the harbor after the bombing started and that they had chased the planes and fired upon them from the deck with anything the men could get their hands on. The Detroit was commended for showing bravery during chaos and leading the other ships to safety that were able to get underway. Several family members turned and looked dumbfounded at my uncle because he had never told this story in all the years that had passed since the War. He was sitting there (a big, brawny, strong man) quietly weeping.
Unfortunately, he died of a heart attack two years ago, so he cannot be here to tell us how he changed from a cocky high school kid to a man in one hour on Dec. 7, 1841.