Douglas Campbell 125 -- June 7, 2021

 

Alaska Daily Empire, 31-August-1918

Douglas Campbell was born 125 years ago today, on 07-June-1921. He was a native of San Francisco and was the first American ace who flew in American-trained units. His father was later president of the University of California. On 05-June-1918, he scored his sixth victory. Badly wounded in the engagement, he did not fight again. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. 

Eddie Rickenbacker was America's Ace of Aces in World War One. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Alan Winslow was not an ace, but he shared Campbell's first victory, the first official victory by American pilots in an American unit. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. 

All three men were members of the famous 94th Aero Squadron, the "Hat in the Ring" squadron.

Audie Murphy 50 Years -- May 28, 2021

 

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Audie Murphy's father abandoned the family when Audie was young. Audie's mother worked hard to hold her children together. Audie developed great skill at shooting by hunting to feed the family. His mother died when he was 16 and he took care of all of the children as well as he could. After Pearl Harbor, he tried to volunteer for the Army, the Navy and the Marine Corps, but they all rejected him for being below minimum weight and age. He lied about his age and joined the Army. He took part in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, and Torch, the invasion of the south of France. He earned a battlefield commission and nearly every decoration that was out there up to the Medal of Honor.

His experiences left him with a bad case of PTSD, but he went to Hollywood and became an actor, starring in To Hell and Back, his own biography. He appeared in many westerns and in John Huston's adaption of The Red Badge of Courage. When I was young, San Francisco television stations did not play many westerns, so I did not become familiar with his work. 50 years ago today, on 28-May-1971, he died in a plane crash. I knew his name, but not a lot about him at that time.

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Admiral Daniel J Callaghan Society -- April 28, 2011

Tonight I attended the tenth annual meeting of the Admiral Daniel J Callaghan Society of my high school, Saint Ignatius College Prep. Tonight's meeting was held as a Zoom call. Captain Dennis Murphy (Ret), my classmate, interviewed former Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral John M Richardson (Ret). They spoke about faith, service and the current situation of the Navy around the world. They both recalled serving as diplomats in foreign ports. 

After the talk, SI students who had won the Callaghan Society essay contest received their awards. 

Admiral Callaghan, SI 1907, won a posthumous Medal of Honor for his actions at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, where he died on the bridge of the heavy cruiser USS San Francisco. The San Francisco survived the battle and was repaired at Mare Island. She served throughout the war. Her shell-torn bridge is preserved as a monument at Land's End in San Francisco. I took the photo on 07-January-2012.

Dick Bong 100 -- September 24, 2020

 

Carbon County News, 04-May-1944

Dick Bong, America's Ace of Aces in World War Two, was born 100 years ago today, on 24-September-1920. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. He flew P-38 Lightnings in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He returned to America and became a test pilot for Lockheed. He died testing a P-80 Shooting Star, America's first operational jet fighter. 

Memorial Day 2019 -- May 27, 2019

On Memorial Day it is fitting and proper to remember the men and women who gave their lives, who continue to give their lives, to give us the country we deserve.

Marine Sergeant Major Daniel Daly was leading his men into a charge during the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918. He yelled "Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?" Daly is one of the few people who have received the Medal of Honor twice.

I took this photo on 14-December-2007 at the National Cemetery in the Presidio.

Go To ---- Yankee Replies to Huns -- The Lost Battalion -- October 8, 2018

Washington Star, 11-October-1918

100 years ago today, the Lost Battalion was rescued.  A week before, Major Charles Whittlesey led nine companies of the 77th Division forward as part of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The Germans surrounded them.  On the sixth day, the Germans sent a blindfolded prisoner to ask them to surrender.  Major Whittlesey responded "Go to hell."  Major Whittlesey and seven others received the Medal of Honor.  

"GO TO ----" YANKEE REPLIES TO HUNS

Maj. Whittlesey of "Lost" Battalion Firm on Receiving Demand to Surrender.

STORY OF BRAVE STAND

By the Associated Press.

WITH THE AMERICAN FORCES NORTHWEST OF VERDUN, Wednesday, October 9. -- The brightest spot in the heroic and amazing story of the now famous "lost battalion," which belonged to the 77th Division, as yet untold, was the climax to the fourth day of the troops' beleaguerment in the Argonne forest.

When the men were long foodless and almost wholly without ammunition, and when many were weak from exhaustion but not one despairing, an American who had been taken prisoner by the Germans suddenly appeared at the little camp surrounded in the valley.

The man had been sent blindfolded from the German headquarters with a typewritten note to Maj. Whittlesey, reading:

"Americans, you are surrounded on all sides. Surrender in the name of humanity. You will be well treated."
Weary Yanks Cheer Answer.

Maj. Whittlesey did not hesitate a fraction of a second.

"Go to hell!" he almost shouted. Then he read the note to those around him, and his men, notwithstanding their weariness and hunger, and in imminent danger every moment, cheered so loudly that the Germans heard them from' their observation posts.

None of the battalion could know that relief would come within twenty four hours; none felt very sure that it could come at all before it was too late, but the same spirit animating them at that moment, and every living man, wounded or well, in the battalion enthusiastically approved Maj. Whittlesey's abrupt answer when the news of it was circulated through the position.

Germans Get Behind.

A composite story gleaned from a dozen recitals that the battalion when ordered to advance last Friday pushed Its way rapidly ahead through the forest, and, in its eagerness to catch up with the retreating Germans gradually spread out and widened its ranks. This allowed the Germans to infiltrate unseen behind the Americans, and they fell directly into a cunning trap which the Germans had set for them.

The enemy had planned to catch the Americans in a hollow surrounded on all four sides by heights, the greatest of which was a steep hill directly ahead. The Americans, who were not accustomed to forest fighting, and were filled with eagerness, dashed into this hollow without stopping to think that the enemy might be awaiting them. The members of the battalion were at first checked by their own artillery barrage which had worked steadily forward. Nevertheless, it had not worked as fast as the troops themselves and the battalion proceeded half way up the hill and there they waited for the barrage to pass in front of them. Then they discovered that the Germans on both sides had jointly flanked them and had closed in upon their rear.

Sniping Machine Gun Fire.

Sheltered only in shallow and hastily constructed trenches, the men were subjected to a grilling sniping machine gun fire as well as a trench mortar bombardment every time they showed themselves. Only with the greatest difficulty and with extreme caution could they move from place to place and keep guard against surprise attacks.

The battalion had started with meager rations, expecting more to reach them later. These, of course, could no longer be transported to them. It was the greatest good fortune that they were fairly well supplied with water.

Nightly and daily, too, they sent back volunteer scouting parties, but if these reached the positions in the rear without being captured or killed they could not tell, for none ever returned.

Daily American aviators searching vainly for them flew overhead, but no outcry the men could make brought anything but a volley of shouts and laughter from the Germans in front and behind and to the right and left of them.

Nests All About Them.

The beleaguered men discovered there were German machine gun nests all around them every fifteen feet or so, and a man to show himself ever so briefly was the signal for a sweeping rain of bullets. If a man made an unusual noise trench mortars pounded the vicinity viciously.

Just for diversion, the enemy made a practice of sweeping the whole terrain -- the hillside where the improvised trenches were located and the valley in which the men crawled to get leaves and water -- regularly and then irregularly with machine guns. Snipers were constantly on watch. German 77s pounded the locality and hand grenades also were hourly in evidence. The Americans had no rockets or other signals and they were powerless to attract the attention of any one but the Germans.

Never Gave Up Hope.

As the days passed the Americans grew more and more emaciated and more and more bearded, but they never gave up hope. There was nothing but a grim determination to hold out until the last man was finished. There was not a man in the battalion, wounded or otherwise, hungry or starved, but scorned the idea of surrender. Their ammunition was depleted to a point where the few machine guns in the outfit had but one belt of cartridges apiece and the rifle ammunition was. running so short that they had received orders not to fire at anyone attacking until within such short range that his death or serious injury was almost inevitable.

Maj, Whittlesy, who is a well known New Yorker, had his entire battalion behind him to a man. Capt. Leo Stromme of San Bernardino, Cal, told the Associated Press his men jeered at the idea of surrender and the men who came out of the four days' siege are united in declaring that they never would have given up.

Frank Luke -- September 29, 2018

Arizona Republican, 12-December-1918

American balloon buster Frank Luke, whose career at the front lasted from 12-September-1918 to 29-September-1918, destroyed 14 enemy balloons and 4 airplanes.  Arizona, which had only been a state since 1912, was very proud of him.  Luke was wounded by machine gun fire from the ground while attacking a balloon on 29-September-1918.  He pulled his service sidearm to shoot at approaching German shoulders, but died of his wound.  The Germans buried him.  When I went to look for newspaper reports of his death, I found that it was not reported until after the Armistice.  He was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Mohave County Miner, 30-November-1918

Negro Soldiers Heroes -- September 11, 2018

Tacoma Time, 20-May-1918

I missed the 100th anniversary of 15-May-1918, when Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts were on guard duty in the Argonne Forest. Johnson fought off a German raiding party in hand-to-hand combat. Johnson also rescued Roberts, who was badly wounded.  Johnson was wounded 21 times. Johnson and Roberts were part of the famous Harlem Hellfighters, the 369th Infantry Regiment. The US Army didn't want an African American unit, so the 369th fought under French command. The French gave Johnson and Roberts the Croix de Guerre with a palm. Johnson died in poverty in 1929. Because of racism, the US Army did not award Johnson and Roberts the Purple Heart until 1996. President Barack Obama awarded Henry Johnson the Medal of Honor in 2012.

NEGRO SOLDIERS HEROES

Fight Off 20 Enemy Attackers

(United Press Leased Wire.)

WASHINGTON, D. C. May 20 -- Quiet prevailed along the American front, except for aerial activity, yesterday, Gen. Pershing reported today. Two enemy machines were brought down. The statement follows: "Section A -- Aside from the activities of the air forces on both sides, the day was quiet at all points occupied by our troops. Our aviators brought down two hostile machines.

"Section B -- Reports in hand show a notable instance of bravery and devotion shown by two soldiers of an American colored regiment operating in a French sector.

Attacked by 20.

"Before daylight on May 15, Private Henry Johnson and Private Roberts, while on sentry duty at some distance from one another, were attacked by the German raiding party, estimated at 20 men, who advanced in two groups, attacking at once from flank and rear.

"Both men fought bravely in hand to hand encounters, one resorting to the use of a bolo knife after his rifle jammed and further fighting with bayonet and butt became impossible. There is evidence that at least one and probably a second German was severely cut. A third Is known to have been shot

"Attention is drawn to the fact that the two colored sentries were attacked and continued fighting after receiving wounds and despite the use of grenades by a superior force. They should be given credit for preventing by their bravery the capture of any of our men. Three of our men were wounded, two by grenade. All are recovering, and the wounds in two cases were slight.

Present Colors.

"Maj. Lufbery was killed in flight during which he had been in combat. He was seen to fall from his machine, which fell a short distance from him. He was possibly wounded or dead before he fell. Earlier reports stated that he was, at the time, in long running fight and was flying upHide down at 2,000 feet.

"Last night one of our aviators engaged two German planes and brought down one in the vicinity of Apremont.

"This morning Lieut. Douglas Campbell, flying at 4500 meters, brought down a hostile biplane in the vicinity of Fliry. The hostile plane fell within our lines.

"On May 15 a descendant of one of the French officers who served with the American revolutionary forces presented in the name of the descendants of all such officers a stand of national and regimental colors to two regiments of newly arrived American division.

"The flags bore the inscription, "From the sons of the French champions of American liberty to the American champions for France and humanity."

ANOTHER FOR DOUG

(United Press Leased Wire.)

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN LORRAINE, May 20.-— Lieut. Douglas Campbell of Mount Hamilton, Cal., brought down his second German airplane this afternoon.

The fight took place at a great height. The German plane crashed into the American lines.

Colonel William F Cody, 100 Years -- January 10, 2017

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Colonel William F Cody, Buffalo Bill, died 100 years ago today, on 10-January-1917.  He received the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1872 for his gallantry as a scout.  It was revoked in 1917 when Congress changed the rules and had many older medals reviewed.  It was restored in 1989.  

Seattle Star, 10-January-1917

"BUFFALO BILL"
LOSES HARD FIGHT;
HE DIES AT NOON

DENVER Colo., Jan 10 — Wm F Cody (Buffalo Bill) is dead. The noted plainsman and scout breathed his last at 12:05 p m. today, and with his paasing it seemed to the thousands of friends who had closely followed hi« fight for life as if the laat vestige of the old West, the "wild and woolly" West, had passed with him.

He died at the home of his sister. Mrs May Cody Decker, of this city, where for weeks he lay critically ill, fighting the hardest battle of his life.

Hope Gone for Weeks

Weeks ago friends despaired of his recovery from a complication of disease. but Buffalo Bill refused to give up. He rallied to the extent that he could be removed to Glenwood Springs for his health, but a relapse occurred and he was brought back to Denver.

Thruout his 70 years, Buffalo Bill has always been active and won the most admiration of young America by his adventuresome life. 

Killed Buffaloes

He was born William Frederick Cody, but in 1867 killed 4,280 buffalo in 18 months, and ever since
America has known him as Buffalo Bill.

Up to the civil war, Cody was a pony express rider. He enlisted with the the Seventh Kansas aa scout
and guide during the war. and became colonel.

Government Scout

In 1868 Cody tiecame a government scout and furnished the thrills of Indian warfare, of which most American boys have read. He boasts he took part in more Indian battles than any other white man.  In one he savs. he killed Yellow Hand, the Cheyenne chief, in a hand-to-hand fight.

Buffalo Bill bacame rich with his Wild West show, which he started in 1876. He toured the world with his cowboye and ponies, giving Europe its first glimpse of America's wild and woolly West.  Later he lost the bulk of his fortune.

Tried to Make Stage Star

Retiring from the show, Buffalo Bill lived on his Western ranch, where he has devoted his later years to reclamation of arid lands in Wyoming.  He turned the Big Horn valley from a barren, sun-dried  waste into fruitful, wealth-producing country. 

At one time Cody spent $60,000 to make Mrs Katherlne Clemmons Gould, wife of the millionaire, Howard Gould, a stage star.  He sued her for that amount, which he claimed he lost in the unsuccessful venture.  The suit was withdrawn, however, before decision was made.

Pearl Harbor Day, 2015 -- December 7, 2015

www.navsource.org

74 years ago a sneak attack by forces of the Japanese Empire sank or damaged much of the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in the territory of Hawaii. The Japanese Empire came to regret doing this.

USS West Virginia was one of the dreadnaughts parked in Battleship Row when the Japanese attacked.  Six aerial torpedoes hit her, but some were duds.  Two bombs started fires which spread across the ship. Captain Mervyn S Bennion was severely injured by shrapnel.  He refused to be evacuated and died at his post.  He later was awarded a posthumous Congressional Medal of Honor.  Messman Third Class Doris Miller was among the men who tried to evacuate the captain.  Doris Miller was awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery. 

West Virginia sank in shallow water.  After the attack, she was pumped out and patched.  She sailed to the Puget Sound Navy Yard and was heavily rebuilt. 

West Virginia participated in the Battle of the Surigao Strait, the invasion of Iwo Jima, the invasion of Okinawa, and was present at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay. 

The photo shows West Virginia in San Francisco Bay about 1934 during the building of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. 

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlin 100 Years -- February 24, 2014

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlin of Maine died only 100 years ago.  He took a leave of absence from his position as a professor at Bowdoin College to volunteer for the Union Army.  He served well, rising to the rank of Brigadier General, with a brevet to Major General.  He received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his leadership of the 20th Maine on Little Round Top during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg.  Chamberlin was wounded six times during the war. 

When the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia surrendered at Appomatox Courthouse, Chamberlin led the Union Troops as the defeated Confederates passed in review.  Chamberlin ordered his men to stand at attention and carry arms (a form of salute) as a sign of respect. 

After the war, Chamberlin served as Republican Governor of Maine.  After he left office, Chamberlin returned to Bowdoin College and taught until the effects of his wounds forced him to resign.  He volunteered to serve in the Spanish-American War but was turned down because of his health.  When he died in 1914, he was considered to be the last veteran of the US Civil War to die of his wounds. 

A lot of people became aware of Chamberlin when he was prominently featured in Ken Burns' 1990 series The Civil War. 

Chamberlin's Medal of Honor citation:
"The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 2 July 1863, while serving with 20th Maine Infantry, in action at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for daring heroism and great tenacity in holding his position on the Little Round Top against repeated assaults, and carrying the advance position on the Great Round Top."

Pearl Harbor Day #4 -- December 7, 2013

72 years ago a sneak attack by forces of the Japanese Empire sank much of the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in the territory of Hawaii. The Japanese Empire came to regret doing this.

Heavy cruiser USS San Francisco, CA-38, was fortunate to survive the attack, as she waited to have her bottom scraped and new anti-aircraft guns installed. By December 16, she was ready to sail with a task force which attempted to relieve Wake Island. In October, 1942, under the command of Admiral Daniel J Callaghan, she was the flagship at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Callaghan knew that his task force was vastly outnumbered and outgunned, but he did his duty. He died on the bridge and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

In March, 2011, I was honored to meet three men who served at Pearl Harbor and Guadalcanal with Callaghan on the San Francisco.

San Francisco survived the battle and was repaired at Mare Island. She served throughout the war. Her shell-torn bridge is preserved as a monument at Land's End in San Francisco.  I took the photo on 07-January-2012. 

Pearl Harbor Day #2 -- December 7, 2011

70 years ago a sneak attack by forces of the Japanese Empire sank much of the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in the territory of Hawaii. The Japanese Empire came to regret doing this.

Heavy cruiser USS San Francisco, CA-38, was fortunate to survive the attack, as she waited to have her bottom scraped and new anti-aircraft guns installed. By December 16, she was ready to sail with a task force which attempted to relieve Wake Island. In October, 1942, under the command of Admiral Daniel J Callaghan, she was the flagship at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Callaghan knew that his task force was vastly outnumbered and outgunned, but he did his duty. He died on the bridge and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

In March, I was honored to meet three men who served at Pearl Harbor and Guadalcanal with Callaghan on the San Francisco.

San Francisco survived the battle and was repaired at Mare Island. She served throughout the war. Her shell-torn bridge is preserved as a monument at Land's End in San Francisco.

Admiral Daniel J Callaghan Society -- March 31, 2011

Today I took a day off so I could attend the Saint Ignatius Downtown Business Lunch. This was the first one I had attended since the early 1990s. There was a much bigger crowd today at the Marines' Memorial. The school is inaugurating an Admiral Daniel J Callaghan Society to provide scholarships to kids who want to go into the military. Admiral Callaghan, SI 1907, won a posthumous Medal of Honor for his actions at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, where he died on the bridge of the cruiser San Francisco. His great-great-granddaughter, who is a student at SI, was there, as were three of his crew who were with him at Pearl Harbor and Guadalcanal. The retired Senior Chief organizes the Memorial Day services at the San Francisco Monument.

Two of my classmates who attended Annapolis, retired Captain Dennis Murphy and Admiral Jim Shannon, were there. We had two tables full of members of our class. Dennis introduced Jim, who spoke about changing Naval doctrines and some of his experiences, and his thoughts about Admiral Callaghan living through the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, and then going to Annapolis, serving in FDR's White House, then commanding the San Francisco through Pearl Harbor and leading a vastly outnumbered and outgunned task force into battle at Guadalcanal.

He also spoke about Father Paul Capitolo, who is retiring. Everyone loves Father Capitolo. I asked him what he will be doing. He said he is not looking forward to being around other retired Jesuits -- being around the kids has kept him young.

One man said "It's hard to find places to honor the military in San Francisco."