On this date, April 18, 75 years ago, sixteen B-26 Medium Bombers with 5 man crews did what no other Plane this size had ever done. They took off from the deck of the USS Hornet CV-8 and bombed Tokyo, Japan. The raid did little damage but was a huge boost in morale for the American people. Pearl Harbor was fresh in the minds of us all.
One plane landed in The Soviet Union while the remainder crashed in China. All but three crew members made it back to the states although the Russians detained the five that landed there for more than a year.
Jimmy Doolittle was awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted two ranks to Brigadier General......Medicineman!
My blog will attempt to be a source of accurate information on any subject put forward. My approach to any question will come from the conservative, freedom loving,and Christian. My background includes history, medicine and military. Welcome!
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Thursday, April 6, 2017
100 YEARS.....
Today, April 6, 2017 marks the anniversary of the United States entry into the "War to End All Wars", WWI.
Although it would be months before our troops entered the trenches, the fact that The United States had committed to the fight was a great boost in moral for the British and the French. They had suffered through three years of a stalemate costly in lives as well as resources.
The first American to die in the war happened on April 1st when Chief Boatswains Mate John Eopolucci died in a lifeboat after the ship he was an Armed Guard on was torpedoed off the coast of France. On April 7, our first shot of the war was by a Marine aboard the USS Supply when he fired a shot across the bow of a German motorboat in Apia Harbor, Guam.
American troops did not enter the bloody trench stalemate until November. There they were met by a new form of warfare---Gas! Not yet fitted out with gas masks many suffered serious injuries and learned to combat the Mustard and the Chlorine gases by soaking a cloth in urine.
Space does not allow the "Rest of the story". But it is important to know that in the year we were involved in the "Great War" almost 55,000 Americans were KIA, the last one just one minute after 11:00 Am, November 11, 1918. His name was Pvt. Henry Gunther of A Co. 313th Inf Reg. when he charged a German machine nest. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross....Medicneman!
Although it would be months before our troops entered the trenches, the fact that The United States had committed to the fight was a great boost in moral for the British and the French. They had suffered through three years of a stalemate costly in lives as well as resources.
The first American to die in the war happened on April 1st when Chief Boatswains Mate John Eopolucci died in a lifeboat after the ship he was an Armed Guard on was torpedoed off the coast of France. On April 7, our first shot of the war was by a Marine aboard the USS Supply when he fired a shot across the bow of a German motorboat in Apia Harbor, Guam.
American troops did not enter the bloody trench stalemate until November. There they were met by a new form of warfare---Gas! Not yet fitted out with gas masks many suffered serious injuries and learned to combat the Mustard and the Chlorine gases by soaking a cloth in urine.
Space does not allow the "Rest of the story". But it is important to know that in the year we were involved in the "Great War" almost 55,000 Americans were KIA, the last one just one minute after 11:00 Am, November 11, 1918. His name was Pvt. Henry Gunther of A Co. 313th Inf Reg. when he charged a German machine nest. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross....Medicneman!
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
"APRIL FOOL"
Any one who was there will tell you the same story------ships, all sizes and kinds, as far as one could see in all directions. 1500 ships and nearly 1000 carrier aircraft ready to support the combined Army and Marine landing forces.
It was the first day of April, 1945 and the invasion of Okinawa was about to start. The invasion was the first to take place on Japanese territory. It would be costly-----to both sides.
The U.S. combined forces numbered some 548,000 while Japan numbered about 130,000. But they were no pushover by anybody's measure, well supplied, well prepared and well dug in, they were fierce defenders. In three months of fighting we suffered some 50,000 casualties. Japanese losses numbered 124,755. The Navy suffered some 350 Kamikazi attacks. These were bomb-laden planes piloted by youngsters taught to take off but not how to land. There job was to pick a ship and fly into same and do great damage.
On a personal note; I had a friend who was Executive Officer on a wooden hull mine sweeper. A small vessel with a small crew and a big job. They were to sweep the waters for mines before the invasion. They would cruise back and forth in ever closer to the beech sweeps to clear the way for the landing. Meanwhile, the enemy was firing at them constantly but, as he said, "We were so small they could never hit us!" April Fool!.......Medicineman!
It was the first day of April, 1945 and the invasion of Okinawa was about to start. The invasion was the first to take place on Japanese territory. It would be costly-----to both sides.
The U.S. combined forces numbered some 548,000 while Japan numbered about 130,000. But they were no pushover by anybody's measure, well supplied, well prepared and well dug in, they were fierce defenders. In three months of fighting we suffered some 50,000 casualties. Japanese losses numbered 124,755. The Navy suffered some 350 Kamikazi attacks. These were bomb-laden planes piloted by youngsters taught to take off but not how to land. There job was to pick a ship and fly into same and do great damage.
On a personal note; I had a friend who was Executive Officer on a wooden hull mine sweeper. A small vessel with a small crew and a big job. They were to sweep the waters for mines before the invasion. They would cruise back and forth in ever closer to the beech sweeps to clear the way for the landing. Meanwhile, the enemy was firing at them constantly but, as he said, "We were so small they could never hit us!" April Fool!.......Medicineman!
Thursday, March 30, 2017
FRIGHT-----FIGHT------FLIGHT?
This world has always been a dangerous place. Think about it. The history in the Old Testament is full of battles, hand to hand, thousands killed in a single day, one at a time, spear and sword. Rome conquered the known world with an 18 inch sword. God the creator made us a world that was perfect and man screwed it up. So now what?
When trouble comes to our neighborhood we fight it. If we don't we loose the neighborhood. Churches preach "love one another", and we try to do that. But, push comes to shove, preachers go to the fight.
March 17 is celebrated in Boston as :"Evacuation Day", marking the day the British were forced from the city after eleven months of occupation which started April 19, 1775 and lasted until March 17, 1776.
If we taught our children History today as it was taught in my day they would learn about the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill and the formation of the American Army by George Washington. They would learn that riders like Paul Revere road the countryside to warn of the British army coming to arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams. They would learn that they were staying with Pastor Jonas Clark, who with 77 militia met the British on the Green. They would also learn that when the British moved on to Concord they were met by 400 militia led by Rev. William Emerson. As the British retreated to Boston our kids would how they were punished by patriots who fired on them all along the way. Those patriots included many pastors from the surrounding countryside, such as Philps Payson and Benjamin Blach. They did not cower behind the pulpit.
Our children should be taught this and much more. They should know that the Blacks, free and slave stood shoulder to shoulder with their white brothers and fired that musket, and died as Americans.
The black community has much more to be proud of than to be complaining about, and we should teach it........Medicineman!
When trouble comes to our neighborhood we fight it. If we don't we loose the neighborhood. Churches preach "love one another", and we try to do that. But, push comes to shove, preachers go to the fight.
March 17 is celebrated in Boston as :"Evacuation Day", marking the day the British were forced from the city after eleven months of occupation which started April 19, 1775 and lasted until March 17, 1776.
If we taught our children History today as it was taught in my day they would learn about the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill and the formation of the American Army by George Washington. They would learn that riders like Paul Revere road the countryside to warn of the British army coming to arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams. They would learn that they were staying with Pastor Jonas Clark, who with 77 militia met the British on the Green. They would also learn that when the British moved on to Concord they were met by 400 militia led by Rev. William Emerson. As the British retreated to Boston our kids would how they were punished by patriots who fired on them all along the way. Those patriots included many pastors from the surrounding countryside, such as Philps Payson and Benjamin Blach. They did not cower behind the pulpit.
Our children should be taught this and much more. They should know that the Blacks, free and slave stood shoulder to shoulder with their white brothers and fired that musket, and died as Americans.
The black community has much more to be proud of than to be complaining about, and we should teach it........Medicineman!
Saturday, March 25, 2017
THE "SWAMP"
Just a few years ago---when Lincoln was President Washington was truly a Swamp! In the summers it was almost unbearable to live there. Think about all the horses that transported folks in and out of town. Or perhaps just stood there waiting for the owner to return. Besides horses did you know that cows were grazed on the grass around the Capitol? Hundreds of animals leaving their waste products where they landed. Smell bad? You can bet the farm on that. Washington has come to be called, "Foggy Bottom"from time to time, or perhaps just the "Swamp".
Now the town is full of politicians, lobbyists, hangers-on, wheeler dealers, and on and on. President Trump is trying to fulfill the promise he made to "Drain the swamp". Will he do it? There is so much hate and opposition to Trump it will be a wonder if he can. We have so many federal employees, sucking on the taxpayer's "teat", that belong to a powerful union, that makes the task of firing him/her monumental.
Many Republicans(in name only) support him unwillingly while others go so far as to oppose his efforts. After all, he is not one of them, not politician enough and, of all things, he speaks his mind. EGADS!...........Medicineman!
Now the town is full of politicians, lobbyists, hangers-on, wheeler dealers, and on and on. President Trump is trying to fulfill the promise he made to "Drain the swamp". Will he do it? There is so much hate and opposition to Trump it will be a wonder if he can. We have so many federal employees, sucking on the taxpayer's "teat", that belong to a powerful union, that makes the task of firing him/her monumental.
Many Republicans(in name only) support him unwillingly while others go so far as to oppose his efforts. After all, he is not one of them, not politician enough and, of all things, he speaks his mind. EGADS!...........Medicineman!
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
WHERE IS THE BLAME?
General Robert B. Neller, USMC, highly decorate combat "Jarhead", Commandant of the Marine Corps. now sits before a Senate Committee, the target of long winded politicians while they absorb as much of the limelight as they can while asking mundane questions (that have no answer).
The problem is not with the Corps. but with those who would allow themselves to be photographed in the nude in the first place.
General Neller rightly says "the buck stops here", but I fail to see how this can be anything but an irresponsible act by young individuals eager to attract attention!
Such hearings demean the service and dedication to duty of millions of men and women who have made the "Corps" what it is!....Medicineman!
The problem is not with the Corps. but with those who would allow themselves to be photographed in the nude in the first place.
General Neller rightly says "the buck stops here", but I fail to see how this can be anything but an irresponsible act by young individuals eager to attract attention!
Such hearings demean the service and dedication to duty of millions of men and women who have made the "Corps" what it is!....Medicineman!
Saturday, March 11, 2017
HERO TO SCRAP!
She was just an old Italian Submarine in 1975, tired and worn out and now just $100,000 worth of scrap. The USS Barb was given to the Italian Navy in 1953 after an incredible record in World War II service.
The USS Barb flew a battle flag unlike any other ship. In addition to the Medal of Honor ribbon at the top of her flag identifying the heroism of her Captain, Cmdr. Eugene 'Lucky' Fluckey, at the bottom border she bore the image of a Japanese train locomotive. Therein lies the story!
It was 4 A.M. July 18, 1945 in Patience Bay, off the coast of Karafuto, Japan. Barb was on her twelfth war patrol, the fifth under 'Lucky' Flucky. On January 8th they had sunk a large Jap Ammunition ship and then two weeks later in Mamkwan Harbor found more than 30 enemy ships.
In only 5 fathoms (30 feet) of water they launched the forward torpedoes, then turned and fired four from the stern tubes. They recorded eight hits on six ships.
Now as they prowled slowly along the coast they noticed the trains that ran along the coastline, carrying supplies. Cmdr. Fluckey decided to blow the rail line and a plan was designed to set a micro switch so that the train would blow itself up.
Billy Hatfield was a kid when he cracked walnuts under the pressure of trains on the ties and came up with this idea. Eight sailors were picked, all single, except Hatfield, all departments represented, both USN and USNR and at least half had to have been Boy Scouts and experienced in medical emergencies.
July 23, 1945, the night was dark and the men went ashore in two rafts, set one of the subs 55 lb. scuttling charges and made there way back to the Bard, which now sat 600 yards off shore with only 6feet of water beneath her hull. When they were only half way to the sub a train appeared on the scene and five minutes after the explosion lit up the sky they scrambled aboard and turned to watch the fireworks. Moving at two knots it took them some time to reach deep water where they could submerge. The Barb had sunk a Japanese Train!
The eight sailors who blew up the train conducted the ONLY GROUND COMBAT OPERATION on the Japanese homeland during World War ll. GO NAVY!......Medicineman!
The USS Barb flew a battle flag unlike any other ship. In addition to the Medal of Honor ribbon at the top of her flag identifying the heroism of her Captain, Cmdr. Eugene 'Lucky' Fluckey, at the bottom border she bore the image of a Japanese train locomotive. Therein lies the story!
It was 4 A.M. July 18, 1945 in Patience Bay, off the coast of Karafuto, Japan. Barb was on her twelfth war patrol, the fifth under 'Lucky' Flucky. On January 8th they had sunk a large Jap Ammunition ship and then two weeks later in Mamkwan Harbor found more than 30 enemy ships.
In only 5 fathoms (30 feet) of water they launched the forward torpedoes, then turned and fired four from the stern tubes. They recorded eight hits on six ships.
Now as they prowled slowly along the coast they noticed the trains that ran along the coastline, carrying supplies. Cmdr. Fluckey decided to blow the rail line and a plan was designed to set a micro switch so that the train would blow itself up.
Billy Hatfield was a kid when he cracked walnuts under the pressure of trains on the ties and came up with this idea. Eight sailors were picked, all single, except Hatfield, all departments represented, both USN and USNR and at least half had to have been Boy Scouts and experienced in medical emergencies.
July 23, 1945, the night was dark and the men went ashore in two rafts, set one of the subs 55 lb. scuttling charges and made there way back to the Bard, which now sat 600 yards off shore with only 6feet of water beneath her hull. When they were only half way to the sub a train appeared on the scene and five minutes after the explosion lit up the sky they scrambled aboard and turned to watch the fireworks. Moving at two knots it took them some time to reach deep water where they could submerge. The Barb had sunk a Japanese Train!
The eight sailors who blew up the train conducted the ONLY GROUND COMBAT OPERATION on the Japanese homeland during World War ll. GO NAVY!......Medicineman!
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