Memorial Day: Remember 1st Lt. John Fox

The biting December air, thick with the acrid scent of gunpowder and the chilling reality of war, clung to the shattered stones of Sommocolonia. In this small Italian village, nestled precariously in the Apuan Alps, a drama of extraordinary courage and selflessness unfolded on December 26, 1944. At the heart of this pivotal moment stood First Lieutenant John Robert Fox, a forward observer attached with the 598th Field Artillery Battalion of the 92nd Infantry Division – the famed Buffalo Soldiers. His actions that day, a testament to unwavering dedication and ultimate sacrifice, would echo through history, culminating in a posthumous Medal of Honor.

The 92nd Infantry Division, a segregated unit of African American soldiers, faced not only the formidable German forces but also the insidious prejudice prevalent from our own nation. Despite these dual battles, Lieutenant Fox and his battalion and the rest of the 92nd Infantry Division fought with remarkable valor and determination throughout the Italian Campaign. Their advance through treacherous terrain and against entrenched enemy positions was a testament to their resilience and commitment to duty.

Lieutenant Fox, born in Cincinnati and a graduate of Wilberforce University in Ohio as a commissioned officer, embodied this spirit. As a forward observer, his role was critical: to position himself strategically, observe enemy activity, and direct artillery fire to support the infantry's advance. On that fateful day in Sommocolonia, Fox found himself on the second floor of a house, providing crucial targeting information as German forces launched a fierce counterattack.

The enemy, intent on reclaiming the village, pressed their assault with relentless intensity. American infantry units, facing overwhelming numbers and withering fire, began to fall back. Lieutenant Fox, with his vantage point, remained steadfast, relaying vital coordinates that allowed Allied artillery to disrupt the German advance and provide cover for the retreating American soldiers.

As the situation grew increasingly bleak, and the enemy closed in on his own position, Lieutenant Fox made a decision that would forever etch his name in the annals of heroism. Recognizing the imminent danger to his comrades and the strategic importance of delaying the German advance, he issued a chillingly courageous order. Speaking over the radio to the artillery battery, he instructed them to direct their fire directly onto his own location, saying "Fire It! There's more of them than there are of us. Give them hell!" He knew what he was doing. He ordered artillery to fire directly at him.

The voice on the other end of the line, undoubtedly filled with disbelief and horror, questioned the order. But Fox, with unwavering resolve, confirmed his request. He understood that his sacrifice, though tragic, was the only way to effectively halt the enemy's momentum and allow his fellow soldiers to withdraw and regroup.

The ensuing artillery barrage rained down on the village, engulfing Lieutenant Fox's position. The devastating firestorm achieved its intended purpose. The German attack was blunted, the enemy forces were forced to withdraw, and the remaining American troops were able to escape the immediate threat.

In the aftermath of the battle, when the smoke cleared and the village fell silent, the grim reality of Lieutenant Fox's sacrifice became apparent. His body was found amidst the rubble, a stark testament to his extraordinary act of courage.

For decades, the full measure of Lieutenant Fox's heroism remained largely unrecognized. The racial prejudices of the time cast a long shadow, obscuring the valor and achievements of many African American soldiers who served with distinction in World War II. However, the stories of their bravery persisted, passed down through generations and meticulously researched by historians and advocates.

In the 1990s, a renewed effort to acknowledge the overlooked heroism of African American soldiers of World War II gained momentum. A thorough review of records and eyewitness accounts brought Lieutenant Fox's selfless act to the forefront. Finally, on January 12, 1997, President Bill Clinton posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to First Lieutenant John Robert Fox.

The citation for his Medal of Honor eloquently captures the magnitude of his sacrifice: "First Lieutenant John R. Fox distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism at the risk of his own life on 26 December 1944, in the vicinity of Sommocolonia, Italy. During a German counterattack, Lieutenant Fox was serving as a forward observer. As the Germans advanced, Lieutenant Fox directed defensive artillery fire. Although the advancing enemy infantry and artillery shells came within 50 yards of his position, Lieutenant Fox continued to direct fire on the enemy. While doing so, he was wounded. Refusing to be evacuated, Lieutenant Fox continued to direct artillery fire on the advancing enemy. When it became apparent that the enemy had overrun his position, Lieutenant Fox called for artillery fire on his own location in a final act of self-sacrifice to save the lives of his comrades and to slow the enemy advance. First Lieutenant Fox's heroic actions contributed significantly to the ultimate defeat of the enemy."

The story of John Robert Fox is more than just a tale of battlefield bravery. It is a powerful reminder of the courage and patriotism displayed by African American soldiers who fought valiantly for a nation that often denied them their basic rights. His selfless act in Sommocolonia stands as a profound testament to the human capacity for sacrifice and the enduring American spirit to defeat despots. Though his life was tragically cut short, his legacy of courage, duty, and ultimate sacrifice will forever inspire generations to come. His name is now rightfully etched among the pantheon of American heroes, a shining example of valor that transcends race and speaks to the highest ideals of service and selflessness.

And a personal connection: I trained at Fort Devens in Massachusetts, nearly 50 years after Lt. Fox did so.

On this Memorial Day, please remember Lieutenant Fox for his selflessness, bravery, and heroism. And remember all those who gave their last full measure of devotion in defense of the ideal that is the United States of America. We owe it to them to continue, however imperfectly, towards that ideal.

Prior Memorial Day Posts

Jeff For Banks: Memorial Day Post: Honor Those Fallen During Our Afghanistan Withdrawal

Jeff For Banks: Memorial Day: Remember Sergeant (USMC) Rafael Peralta

Jeff For Banks: Memorial Day: Remember Captain Andy Haldane

Jeff For Banks: Memorial Day: Remember Maurice "Maury" Hukill

Jeff For Banks: Memorial Day: Remember Irv Earhart

Jeff For Banks: Memorial Day: Black Hawk Down

Sources:

Medal of Honor citation: John Robert Fox | World War II | U.S. Army | Medal of Honor Recipient

Seven Black WWII Heroes Receive Medal of Honor: https://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=43307

War Heroes: First Lieutenant John R Fox: War Heroes- First Lieutenant John Robert Fox

John R Fox biography: John Robert Fox | World War II | U.S. Army | Medal of Honor Recipient

Google Gemini aided in the drafting of this article.

Memorial Day Post: Honor Those Fallen During Our Afghanistan Withdrawal

On August 26, 2021, ISIS-K detonated a deadly bomb outside of the Abbey Gate of Kabul's international airport. The blast killed 13 U.S. service members and 170 Afghans. It occurred amidst the chaos of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The pullout was indeed chaotic and marked by a series of rapid events that unfolded unpredictably. 

Here's a sequence of events:

Initial Plans

The withdrawal was part of a broader plan initiated by the Trump Administration and continued by the Biden Administration. If we listened to representatives from either Administration, you would think it was the sole fault of the "other" Administration. Both have their fingerprints on it. As my former Navy division officer once told me, "Careful pointing fingers because the others are pointing at you."

Rapid Taliban Advance

As the withdrawal commenced, the Taliban rapidly gained ground across Afghanistan, seizing control of provincial capitals and major cities with surprising speed that was not predicted by U.S. forces nor intelligence. Afghan security forces that we trained struggled to resist the offensive. As provinces fell, the Taliban acquired U.S. weapons and equipment.

Fall of Kabul

The situation escalated dramatically when the Taliban entered Kabul on August 15th, leading to the collapse of the Afghan government. President Ashraf Ghani fled. Chaos ensued as panicked residents rushed to leave the city.  

Evacuation Efforts

The U.S. military, along with our allies, launched a massive airlift operation to evacuate American citizens, Afghan allies, and vulnerable Afghans from Kabul's airport. The scenes of desperate Afghans crowding the airport, clinging to departing planes, became emblematic of the chaos and desperation of the situation. U.S. troops stationed there and new troops shipped over to assist with the evacuation were concentrated at the airport. A ripe target for terrorists to indiscriminately kill to grab headlines.

Concurrent with the fall of Kabul and chaotic evacuations, there were heroes. Retired Green Beret Lt. Colonel Scott Mann assembled a group dubbed the Pineapple Express, so named because Afghan allies were instructed to display pineapples on their phones to gain access to the Kabul airport and eventual freedom. The group of active and retired military orchestrated the evacuation of those that helped U.S. forces during our time there. Mann's account of what happened can be found in his book, Operation Pineapple Express. 

Amidst the chaos, an explosion. ISIS-K is no friend to the Taliban. Although the Taliban would form an Islamic State, ISIS are generally more radical, believing only God can rule. From time immemorial despots have been using God's name to assume power over people. ISIS-K took advantage of the chaos surrounding the airport and at the Abbey Gate in particular to do their "Godly" deed. 

Those Who Perished

Below are those U.S. forces that perished in the blast outside of Abbey Gate while they were trying to establish security during the evacuation. Their photos are courtesy of NBC News. I ask that you remember them this Memorial Day.

David Espinosa, 20, Laredo, Texas

Nicole Gee, 23, Sacramento, California

Darin Hoover, 31, Salt Lake City, Utah

Ryan Knauss, 23, Corryton, Tennessee

Rylee McCollum, 20, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Dylan Merola, 20, Rancho Cucamonga, California

Kareem Nikoui, 20, Norco, California

Hunter Lopez, 22, Riverside, California

Johanny Rosario, 25, Lawrence, Massachusetts

Humberto Sanchez, 22, Logansport, Indiana

Jared Schmitz, 20, Wentzville, Missouri

Maxton Soviak, 22, Milan, Ohio

Daegan Page, 23, Omaha, Nebraska

Sources:

Kabul airport explosions: US Marines among troops, Afghans killed | CNN

Service members killed outside Kabul's airport remembered as heroes (nbcnews.com)

Timeline of U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan - FactCheck.org

Ex-army generals testify on chaotic US Afghanistan withdrawal - BBC News

Two weeks of chaos: A timeline of the U.S. pullout of Afghanistan - The Washington Post

What Was Operation Pineapple Express In Afghanistan? (va.org)

Special op veterans carry out secret ‘Pineapple Express’ mission to rescue 500 Afghans | The Independent

Memorial Day: Remember Sergeant (USMC) Rafael Peralta

Rafael Peralta was born April 7, 1979 in Mexico City. He graduated from San Diego's Morse High School in 1997. But he had to wait to receive his green card before he could enlist. In 2000, he received it, and on that very day he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps as a rifleman. He would later become a U.S. citizen while serving. 

In 2001, Peralta was deployed overseas when his father died in a workplace accident. He returned home to San Diego where he was stationed at Camp Pendleton while he took care of family affairs. In 2003, he transferred to Marine Corp Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay, and reenlisted. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. In 2004, he along with his other battalion mates, were deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was a scout leader.

On November 15, 2004, Peralta and his squad were heavily engaged in Operation al Fajr, commonly known as the second Battle of Fallujah. They successfully cleared six houses that morning. At the seventh house, the point man in the squad opened the door to a back room and immediately came under close-range automatic weapons fire from multiple insurgents. It was an ambush.

While attempting to get out of the line of fire, Peralta was severely wounded. As the insurgents fled the building, one threw a grenade that came to rest near Peralta's head. Without hesitation, he pulled the grenade to his body to absorb the brunt of the blast saving the lives of the Marines that were only a few feet away. Peralta succumbed to his wounds.

He pulled the live grenade to his body to absorb the blast which he knew would kill him and save his fellow Marines. 

Let's pause for a moment.

For his actions, Sgt Peralta was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart. He is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetary in San Diego. In 2007, the command post for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Hansen in Okinawa named "Peralta Hall" in his honor. 

To further honor the heroism of Sgt Peralta, the U.S. Navy, in 2017, commissioned an Arleigh Burke destroyer the U.S.S. Rafael Peralta (DDG-115). On the ship's website, in welcoming new sailors to the Peralta, the ship's captain states: "Our ship emblazons proudly the name of an American hero, a Marine who sacrificed his own life so others might live. Our motto, 'Fortis Ad Finem', which translates to 'Courageous to the End', is a testament of his dedication to his country and his fellow Marines. Every Sailor in Rafael Peralta must strive to earn the right to represent such fortitude and devotion."

As you enjoy the long Memorial Day weekend, I ask that you remember Sgt Peralta, and all of the more than 4,300 Americans that gave their last full measure of devotion during the Second Iraqi Conflict.

~ Jeff

Sources: Sergeant Rafael Peralta (navy.mil)

Welcome (navy.mil)

Iraq War - The surge and the end of the war | Britannica

Memorial Day: Remember Captain Andy Haldane

Peleliu–an island just six miles long and two miles wide–was held by a garrison of more than 10,000 Japanese troops in 1944. The island’s airfield would allow Japanese planes to threaten any Allied operation in the Philippines, and General Douglas MacArthur pushed for an amphibious attack in order to neutralize this threat. 

Admiral William Halsey reported that enemy resistance in the region was far less than expected; he recommended that the landings in the Palaus be canceled entirely and MacArthur’s invasion of Leyte Gulf (in the Philippines) be moved up to October. MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz followed Halsey’s advice about Leyte, but chose to go ahead with the attack on Peleliu.

On September 15, 1944, U.S. Marines landed on the western Pacific Island. Over the next several weeks, ferocious Japanese resistance inflicted heavy casualties on U.S. troops before the Americans were finally able to secure the island. The controversial attack resulted in the highest death toll than any other amphibious assault in U.S. military history. Approximately 40% of the 28,000 Marines and soldiers that saw action on Peleliu were killed or wounded.

Landing on Peleliu with his fellow Marines was Captain Andrew Haldane, the 27 year old Company K Commander of the 1st Marine Division. Haldane  hailed from Methuen Massachusetts.

Captain Haldane was already a chiseled veteran, having served with distinction on Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester (New Britain, now Papua New Guinea), where he received his first Silver Star for leading Company K and repelling five Japanese bayonet attacks.

On October 12th Company K was engaged in a fierce battle with enemy troops to take Hill 140. They were holding their line but were pinned down and low in their trenches to avoid enemy sniper fire. This rendered their mortars and machine gun fire ineffective because there was nobody directing the fire, an unacceptable situation to Captain Haldane. He would not ask his men to do something he would not do himself. So he raised his head to gain bearings to pass to machine gunners. At that moment he gave his last full measure of devotion and was killed by an enemy sniper. It was three days before Company K was scheduled to be relieved.

The gruesome details of Haldane’s death were described by mortarman Romus Bergin in Islands of the Damned-Marines at War in the Pacific. The description is too graphic for me to repeat to you. Death in battle is not a Hollywood movie.

For Haldane’s actions, he was awarded a posthumous Silver Star that stated:

"The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain Andrew A. Haldane (MCSN: 0-8740), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company K, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu and Ngesebus Islands, Palau Group from 15 September to 12 October 1944. A splendid and fearless leader, Captain Haldane repeatedly led his assault company through intense hostile artillery and small arms fire to rout the enemy from strongly held positions with heavy losses. On 12 October, he personally directed a platoon of his men against a firmly defended cave on an important ridge continuing his heroic efforts until mortally wounded by Japanese sniper fire. By his inspiring courage and disregard for personal safety, Captain Haldane contributed materially to the success of our forces in these strategic areas and his valiant conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."

Another Company K mortarman, E.B. Sledge (Sledgehammer), described his company commander as follows:

“Capt. Andy Haldane wasn’t an idol. He was human. But he commanded our individual destinies under the most trying conditions with the utmost compassion. We knew he could never be replaced. He was the finest Marine officer I ever knew. The loss of many close friends grieved me deeply on Peleliu and Okinawa. But to all of us the loss of our company commander at Peleliu was like losing a parent we depended on for security-not our physical security, because we knew that was a commodity beyond our reach in combat, but our mental security.”

~ from With The Old Breed by E.B. Sledge

While you are enjoying Memorial Day Weekend with family and friends, I ask you to remember Andy Haldane and all of his comrades that gave their last full measure of devotion on the inglorious rock called Peleliu.

~ Jeff

Note: I encourage you to watch the 2010 HBO Series The Pacific. Produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, and narrated by Hanks. It graphically details the exploits of the 1st Marine Division in the Pacific theater during WWII. It may make you uncomfortable. 

Sources:

https://bowdoinorient.com/2017/12/08/war-hero-andrew-haldane-41-to-be-featured-in-biography/

Battle of Peleliu - HISTORY

Andrew Haldane - Wikipedia

Amazon.com: With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa eBook : Sledge, E.B.: Kindle Store

Islands of the Damned: A Marine at War in the Pacific: Burgin, R.V., Marvel, Bill: 9780451232267: Books - Amazon

Andrew Haldane - Recipient - (militarytimes.com)

Jeff For Banks: Top Five Posts of 2021

I don't expect followers of my blog to read every post. And my blog page shows the top five posts of all time. In fact, the content in my book, Squared Away: How Can Bankers Succeed as Economic First Responders, was driven by the top 20 most-read posts of all time.

But what about recently? Here are the top five most-read posts of 2021. In case you want to read them.

1. The Death of the Community Bank

Pundits make predictions. And I jumped in with both feet with a presentation I made in 2008. When I dug it out of my archives, I reviewed those past predictions with what actually happened. Where was I right? Where was I wrong?

2. CFPB: Are They Coming To Get You?

Written in March in response to questions a bank trade association CEO asked me as he was penning an Op-Ed, I did not know how prescient this piece would be. The questions were relating to the CFPB director contemplating taking "aggressive action" against those that were perceived to engage in Covid relief violations. Well that turned out to be the first piece of popcorn on the trail of a far more aggressive CFPB that is likely to get the majority of good banks sucked into the vortex with the few bad ones.

3. Squared Away: How It Happened

Since I had never published a book, I had no idea how to approach writing a book. Perhaps many of my readers are contemplating putting pen to paper and sharing what they've learned with a larger audience. And this drew them to how it came about for me. Hint: It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. It took discipline. Except for the title. That was a family fun brainstorming session.

4. Memorial Day: Remember Maurice "Maury" Hukill

One thing I have learned about community bankers is they truly appreciate the sacrifices others made that allowed them to pursue a career in community banking. I highlight a fallen service member every Memorial Day. And this one had the most views of all of them. Perhaps it was boosted because Maury was a native of my hometown, and I pushed this out to my Facebook friends too. So there were probably a bunch of views that were not bankers. But still, I salute you, my readers, for elevating this tribute.

5. Bankers: Seven Questions to Determine if You Have a Strategic CFO

The consulting firm Deloitte posited seven questions to determine if the reader was (if he/she was a CFO) or has a strategic CFO. I posted the questions, provided the Deloitte meaning, and then connected it to banking. I hope you or your CFO fit the bill.

My Pick

Probably because it was such an important and high-level issue, Banking's Execution Imperative was my favorite. Although it did not take home Top 5 hardware. I rarely see bankers determine their strategy willy-nilly. Instead they put in the effort. Get executives and the Board involved. Dig through data to come up with the best strategy for their bank, in their current situation. And a year later when we follow up on progress, we hear about their "day job." If you're an executive, strategy development and execution is your day job. 

Honorable Mention

Guest Post: Financial Markets and Economic Update by Dorothy Jaworski. 

Although this post was published in November 2020, it still had enough legs to be one of the top read of 2021. Dorothy has been a mainstay of our blog. She had been writing her commentary for some years for physical distribution to her bank's customers. Finally, the Marketing Department was on to her and began posting directly to the bank's website. She'll be missed on these pages. But you can catch her on our next This Month in Banking podcast waxing eloquent on what bankers should do in this uncertain interest rate environment. That release date is January 26th. Get it here or wherever you get your podcasts.

Thank you to all of my readers. I don't take you for granted and will continue to be thoughtful in how I, and my colleagues at The Kafafian Group, can bring value to you and your teams. WE WANT YOU, YOUR EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS, COMMUNITIES AND SHARHOLDERS TO WIN!

~ Jeff

Memorial Day: Remember Maurice "Maury" Hukill

In 1975, a bloody civil war erupted in the country of Lebanon between Palestinian and other Muslim guerrillas and Christian groups. During the ensuing years, Syrian, Israeli and United Nations interventions failed to resolve the factional fighting and the resulting instability and bloodshed. 

In August, 1982, a multinational force, including 800 U.S. Marines, were ordered to Beirut to help coordinate a Palestinian withdrawal. They left in early September, but the vacuum that resulted from their departure culminated in a massacre of Palestinians by a Christian militia. So the international peacekeepers returned in force at the request of Lebanon by the end of September at the objection of Syria and Iran. For the next year the peacekeeping force was peppered by snipers, improvised explosive devices, and suicide bombers.

Maurice "Maury" Hukill was born and raised in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. A hamlet in the Scots-Irish settled area of western Lancaster County and epicenter for the Mars Chocolate Company's North American production of Dove Chocolate bars. 

Maury attended Virginia Tech, and in 1981 received his degree in forestry and wildlife management at VT's College of Natural Resources and Environment. Although he did not go on to make use of the degree. Instead, he followed his father, Hank Hukill Jr. into military service. Hank was a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, a nuclear engineer and a submariner. After his naval career, Hank went on to serve at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, and was part of the team to restart the plant after the 1979 mishap. TMI was near Elizabethtown.

Maury chose the Marines, and went to officer candidate school to earn his commission. A regular suburban kid from my hometown volunteering to serve his country.

He was a 2nd lieutenant in the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, that was dispatched at the request of Lebanon to Beirut to keep the peace in the midst of factional fighting, religious zealotry, and regional strife.

At 0622, Sunday morning, on October 23, 1983, a non-Lebanese, terrorist driven stake bed truck loaded with explosives equivalent to 21,000 pounds of TNT turned onto an access road leading to the Marine airport compound. It crashed through a barbed-wire fence. The truck passed the sentry post and since the sentries were operating under strict rules of engagement, did not have their firearms magazines loaded, and therefore could not fire upon the truck until it barreled past them. 

The truck, driven by an Iranian national, did not stop until it drove through the front entrance of the BLT building, which was housing 2LT Hukill's unit. Most were still asleep. The blast occurred almost immediately. One survivor said "I don't think there are words in the English language to describe the magnitude of the blast." It was the largest non-nuclear explosion in history. The building collapsed.

The explosion killed 220 Marines including the 25 year-old Hukill, 18 sailors and three soldiers, making it the deadliest single-day death toll the US Marine Corps had seen since the Battle of Iwo Jima during WWII, and the deadliest single-day death toll the Armed Forces had seen since the first day of the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War. It was also the deadliest terrorist attack on Americans prior to 9-11.

Minutes later, a second suicide bomber drove another truck bomb into the nearby Drakkar building, where French troops were stationed, resulting in the deaths of 58 paratroopers and six civilians. 

A Beirut Monument dedicated to the U.S. service members who lost their lives is located in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where Camp Lejeune is located. 

"Our first duty is to remember..."

While you are enjoying Memorial Day Weekend finally getting together with family and friends, I ask you to remember Maury Hukill and all of his comrades that gave their last full measure of devotion on that terrible day in 1983 in Beirut, Lebanon.

~ Jeff

Research

Beirut Memorial:

8A894694CA09D74F48E5AF790B15DA11.beirut-memorial-program-new-.pdf (beirutveterans.org)

Marines of Beirut video from the Marine Corp Reserve:

https://youtu.be/pqfnJptZEV0

Virginia Tech honors 2nd Lt Maurice Hukill:

University to honor U.S. Marine 2nd Lt. Maurice Hukill at Pylon Dedication Ceremony | Virginia Tech Daily | Virginia Tech (vt.edu)

History "This Day in History":

Beirut barracks blown up - HISTORY

Patriot Connections:

1983 Beirut Bombings – Deadliest day for Marines since Iwo Jima | Patriot Connections

Defense archives listing the fallen:

DefenseLink.mil - Special Report - Beirut Barracks Bombing

Beirut Remembered video:

https://youtu.be/iOqZz_oEdig

Memorial Day: Remember Irv Earhart

The Battle of Luzon was one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, and the second bloodiest in the Pacific Theater. Americans landed on January 9, 1945, and lasted until the Empire of Japan announced their WW II surrender on August 15, 1945.

Although Luzon was secured by March, Japanese forces continued to battle until the war's end, and even afterward. The human toll of Luzon was significant: Japan suffered 192,000 to 205,000 dead, mostly from starvation and disease; Philippines lost between 120,000 to 140,000 civilians and soldiers; Americans lost 10,000 soldiers.

Luzon was to be the strategically significant base from which General Macarthur would direct war efforts against mainland Japan, who had seized the island in 1942. Americans first seized the island of Leyte in a significant naval battle that crushed the Japanese navy. Leyte opened the door for the landing of more than 60,000 American troops on Luzon on January 9th. Among them in the Sixth Army, was the 32nd Infantry Division, and Tech 5 Irv Earhart.

Irv hailed from Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. He was a truck driver and lived with his parents and siblings on a 119 acre farm just outside of town. He and his brother joined the Army after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. His brother, Bob, went to the European Theater, and Irv to the Pacific.

The Americans landed on Luzon with little resistance. Japan's strategy was to bog down American troops, keeping them engaged, so they had diminished capability of invading their homeland. The actual liberating of Manila and the island was effectively done by March, highlighted by Macarthur's arrival in the newly liberated city to cheering Filipinos.

But the Sixth Army pushed north to route out Japanese soldiers, whose main force was hiding in the mountains and harassing American troops. It was there that General Yamashita's Shobu Group occupied a large region resembling an inverted triangle, with northern Luzon's rugged geography as a shield. Baguio, the pre-war summer capital of the Philippines, was Yamashita's headquarters. The Americans laid siege, and Japan suffered tremendous casualties, most from disease and starvation.

The Japanese made their last stand at the Irisan Gorge, where the road crossed the Irisan River, some three miles west of Baguio. Irv Earhart's 32nd Division, which had also seen heavy fighting on Leyte, was by now worn down to almost nothing. Before Baguio fell on April 27th, Irv Earhart gave his last full measure of devotion on April 9th. He was struck down by enemy machine gun fire while tending to a wounded soldier. 

Irv left a fiancé, his parents, a sister and brother. He won two purple hearts and a bronze star.

This weekend, as we push through the Covid-19 pandemic and the sacrifices we have made to beat it, remember Irv's sacrifice.

His remains are buried at the Manila-American Cemetery in the Philippines. He never returned to Elizabethtown. 

~ Jeff

Sources:

https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=108341

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-invades-luzon-in-philippines

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/e-town-soldiers-letters-came-home-from-the-war-he-did-not/article_3cf2aa96-e10f-11e3-b0e7-0017a43b2370.html

https://seniorcarehelper.com/top-10-deadliest-battles-of-world-war-ii/

https://history.army.mil/brochures/luzon/72-28.htm

Memorial Day: Black Hawk Down

On October 3, 1993, the U.S. launched a raid to find forces of Somali warlord General Mohammed Farah Aideed, who had been ordering attacks on U.N. forces assigned there for humanitarian missions. Things went badly.

Black Hawk Down

That raid, initially the kind soldiers train for routinely, erupted into a crisis when militiamen downed two Black Hawk helicopters using rocket propelled grenades. The 15-hour battle that ensued, after raids were turned into a rescue mission, left 18 Americans dead and 73 injured. 

It also left shocking images of American soldiers dragged through the streets of Mogadishu so seared into our memories.

The 15-hour rescue operation was chronicled in the book Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden and the subsequent movie of the same name. 

MSG Gary Gordon and SFC Randy Shughart

Into the melee comes Master Sergeant Gary Gordon of Lincoln, Maine, and Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart of Newville, Pennsylvania. 

Dispatched via another Black Hawk to provide reconnaissance and cover fire until ground forces could extract troops, they found a downed Black Hawk and its crew in peril, with militia closing in rapidly, and no ground troops in site.

Despite this, Gordon and Shughart demanded to be inserted on the ground. Their commanders only permitted the insertion if they did so voluntarily. They did.

They were inserted a football field south of the crash equipped with only their sniper rifles and pistols. While under intense small arms fire, they fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured downed aircraft crew. 

They pulled the pilot and other crew members from the wreckage, and established a perimeter which placed them in a highly tenuous position. They fought until their ammunition was depleted. At that time, they surrendered one of their remaining loaded weapons to the pilot, and continued the fight.

Until they were out of ammunition. And were fatally wounded by the enemy. Their selfless actions saved the pilot's life. And earned them a posthumous Medal of Honor.

Memorial Day

I ask that you reflect on MSG Gordon and SFC Shughart, and all of your fellow Americans that gave their last full measure so you can enjoy the freedoms our country so often takes for granted.

Happy Memorial Day!

~ Jeff

Memorial Day: Two to Remember

Life is tough. It is difficult to step back and take perspective on tough. We have an inbox full of e-mails to attend to, meetings to prepare for, and customers to serve. We cherish the three day Memorial Day Weekend to step away from it all, if only temporarily.

But the reason for the day was given to us by those that cannot celebrate it. They signed their name on the line, and we sent them to the line, gun in hand. Right a wrong. Liberate another country. Protect us. And they did.

I would like to highlight two of those individuals so I can be reflective on this solemn day. And perhaps make it easier for you to do the same. At your Memorial Day cookout, I encourage you to feature one of these selfless countrymen to your family and friends. 

Cpl. Kenneth Stuck

In 2016, more than 65 years after he was killed in action in the Korean War and labeled missing in action, Corporal Kenneth Stuck came home in a flag-draped coffin to Hummelstown, Pennsylvania.

Cpl Stuck was with the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry while involved in the Battle of Unsan, which was a devastating loss for American and UN Troops. Multiple engagements, beginning on October 25, 1950, resulted in heavy losses among the 1st Cavalry. 

Although likely injured, Kenny survived the onslaught but was taken captive by the enemy, and imprisoned in North Korea's notorious Camp 5 in Pyoktong. Testing revealed that Kenny likely died of starvation. He starved to death. In a POW camp. 

He was buried in a mass grave of 322 bodies. Where he remained for the next 65 years. Until the U.S. Army was allowed to excavate the site, and DNA identified his remains.

On this Memorial Day, remember Kenny Stuck, one of the greater than 36,000 American troops that perished in the Korean conflict that was fought to keep South Korea free from communist rule.

Private Mikio Hasemoto

Pvt Hasemoto, a Hawaiian Nisei (Japanese American), was part of the 100th Infantry Battalion (separate). Separate because Nisei were separated from the regular 100th as a result of their heritage.

These soldiers served with honor, even though they faced prejudice, and their families lived under the cloud of Executive Order 9066, signed by President Roosevelt to remand certain people of Japanese, German, and Italian descent to camps to reduce the risk of enemy infiltration. 

Mikio distinguished himself in Italy on November 29, 1943. His unit faced a force of 40 enemy soldiers that attacked the left flank of his platoon. While under heavy fire, he and his squad leader killed 30 of them, and injured or captured the rest.

The following day was a repeat of the prior day. Although, while under heavy fire, Mikio was mortally wounded. 

He received a posthumous Medal of Honor for his actions and heroism. Remember Private Hasemoto.

Feel free to share your Memorial Day memories in the comment section.

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

~ Jeff 

Just a Soldier

Memorial Day weighs heavy on me. Because I do not know what I would do if asked to stare down the barrel of the gun of my enemy.

My greatest danger in service to my country was navigating mined waters while on the USS Caron (DD-970) during Operation Desert Storm. I had supreme confidence that my shipmates knew where the mines were, and avoided them. So hitting the rack in my berthing located at the waterline on our destroyer gave me little concern.

But what of those soldiers standing in the front of the infantry line during the Revolutionary War, or those that were at the front of the landing craft when the door dropped on Omaha Beach? They knew. They knew that death was possible, even probable. They stared down the barrel of their enemy knowing they could be near to drawing their last breath. How would we be?

It is not as common as in the past to know death may well be imminent. During earlier wars, battles were fought differently, warriors were not as educated, and faith in God was powerful. If death was imminent, please God take me into your kingdom.

We've moved away from our beliefs because we think we know more, are more educated, enlightened, if you will. So facing down the barrel of our enemy means we are facing an uncertain, or non-existent future, in our minds. So, perhaps, it is more frightening to be that brave soldier, sailor, Marine or airman. 

So what would we do if asked to stair down the barrel of the enemy?

I don't know. And may never know. But I know in Arlington, in France, and in un-marked graves and battlefields all over the earth, lay young Americans that were asked and heeded the call for the freedom of countrymen they would never meet, and other countries they knew little of.

I remember them. And pray that I could muster the bravery that they did, giving their last full measure of devotion. For me. And you.

~ Jeff

Note: Want to read a story of such a soldier? Read banker Dorothy Jaworski's book, Just Another Good Soldier about her uncle, Pfc Stephen Jaworski who gave his last full measure of devotion during the WWII battle to cross the Moselle River.