Studying heros

Flying Pig · October 01, 2008, 05:50:52 PM

I have an 11 year old son, who fortunately loves to read, and currently, wants to be a Paleontologist and a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer. Nice combo. I pay my kid cold hard cash to read biographies. I know, its manipulation.

I have found a couple of sites that outline Medal of Honor recipients military heros. I chose military members because they are not people who have calculated their success that often follows them, should they survive. These are people who have been presented with challenges that the vast majority of people will never encounter. They have made life and death decisions and done things under the most difficult challenges that only someone with a true character could have pulled off. Their character allowed them to react and do the right thing in seconds, not after studying polls or consulting with advisors or calculating financial gain.
None of their actions were done to close a deal or earn a promotion. Most politicians or business people, who often enjoy success, have more or less calculated every move and positioned themselves in relationships or friendships to further their careers. I like for him not only to read about what these heros did, but to read about who they were as people and who they became after.

I came across this guy. Lt. Michael Thornton. The last MoH recipient to receive the Medal as a living recipient live to tell about it and the last Medal to be awarded in Vietnam, Oct. 31,1972. The thing about his medal is that it was earned during a rescue mission to recover what he thought was his Lt.'s dead body (Lt. Tom Norris) who a few months earlier led the rescue of LtCol Gene Hambleton that was portrayed in teh movie "Bat 21". He ended up recovering Norris alive. These are the people I want my kid to look to as heros. Not sports figures or movie stars. The only instance in history where, in the end, a Medal of Honor winner saved another Medal of Honor winner.

flyerthom · October 01, 2008, 07:06:00 PM

Lots of folks will say Greg Boyington. He was a hero but very flawed. I like Col Hubert 'Hub" Zemke.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubert_Zemke

You can also read his story in his own words:

Zemke, Hub, and Freeman, Roger. (1989) Zemke's Wolf Pack: The Story of Hub Zemke and the 56th Fighter Group in the Skies over Europe. Crown. ISBN 978-0517079423

Zemke, Hubert, and Freeman, Rodger (1991) Zemke's Stalag: The Final Days of World War II", ISBN 1-56098-018-4

Flying Pig · October 01, 2008, 07:09:57 PM

Thats why I was sure to point out that I like to look at what people went on to do after......

BillB · October 01, 2008, 07:22:29 PM

PBS has a video available entitled AMERICAN VALOR. Its an oral history with many MoH recipients telling their story. Your local Library may have a copy of the DVD or can get an interlibrary loan for you.

Flying Pig · October 01, 2008, 07:31:32 PM

Interestingly enough....."Pappy" Boyington lived out his days in Fresno. :clap:

CAPTShaw · October 01, 2008, 07:40:48 PM

Major Dick Winters (ret) comes to mind, still living and mind is as sharp as ever.

davedove · October 01, 2008, 07:43:06 PM

What I find interesting is that many of these military heroes go back to their homes and lead very unassuming lives. They don't talk of their actions in the service. Those around them often don't know what the person did until after their deaths, when a relative is going through their things and finds the box with the medal in it.

A.Member · October 01, 2008, 07:47:40 PM

Aside from the more popular "regulars" that are likely to show up, a couple guys "worth the read":
Robin Olds
John Boyd

sardak · October 01, 2008, 08:18:17 PM

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society held its convention in Denver two weeks ago. The "Rocky Mountain News" newspaper ran a series of special reports, Profiles in Honor, on the recipients and their families. Articles, photos and videos here:

Profiles in Honor

Mike

jimmydeanno · October 01, 2008, 08:19:03 PM

Oooh. Robin Olds, good one.

Two of the more "popular" ones, but some of my heros:

Captain Lance P. Sijan, USAF
Admiral James Bond Stockdale, USN

NC Hokie · October 01, 2008, 08:36:55 PM

Here's one. Some of our cadets got to meet him at a community function a couple of weeks ago. Very humble, as is the case with most of these men.

Walter Joseph Marm, Jr.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Joseph_Marm,_Jr.

Flying Pig · October 01, 2008, 08:38:11 PM

Stockdale is a good one. His son was on Fox News this morning. For those who remember, Stockdale was made out by the media to be a bumbling fool during his VP debate in 92. He was running with Ross Perot, who most know is an unbelievable supporter of the military.
He was made fun of on SNL and in the comics because he needed to adjust his hearing aid during a debate. Although the media didn't feel the need to point out that his hearing was damaged as a result of being tortured in the Hanoi Hilton or that he was one of the most highly decorated men to serve in Vietnam. This is why I don't put much weight on debates. They are rehearsed one liners for both sides. It just goes to show how shallow the average American is and that most make their decisions based off snappy commercials and sound bites. By all accounts, he was a man who didnt talk about what he had survived, and would not allow much of his military past to be part of the campaign. Definitely a silent hero by all accounts. And was the only Naval Aviator to win the Medal of Honor.

Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Dec 23, 1923 - July 5, 2005.

Fortunately, one TV personality got it right in 92 and came to Stockdales defense.

"Now I know (Stockdale's name has) become a buzzword in this culture for doddering old man, but let's look at the record, folks.

The guy was the first guy in and the last guy out of Vietnam, a war that many Americans, including our present President, did not want to dirty their hands with.

The reason he had to turn his hearing aid on at that debate is because those [farg]ing animals knocked his eardrums out when he wouldn't spill his guts. He teaches philosophy at Stanford University, he's a brilliant, sensitive, courageous man.

And yet he committed the one unpardonable sin in our culture: he was bad on television.- Dennis Miller"

bosshawk · October 02, 2008, 12:21:36 AM

A personal friend of mine: Major General Patrick Brady, who was a Medevac Huey pilot for two tours in Viet Nam. Won the MOH on his second tour, probably because they weren't awarding it during his first tour. I first knew Pat when we were both First Lieutenants and we used to beat up each other on the basketball court.

flyerthom · October 02, 2008, 05:32:39 AM

Here's one that may be slightly controversial. This man objected to the War in Vietnam yet went there and did his duty with a medic bag rather than a gun.
Ben Sherman

http://www.amazon.com/Medic-Story-Conscientious-Objector-Vietnam/dp/0891418482

I've read the book, it's worth the read.

Cecil DP · October 02, 2008, 05:56:46 AM

Quote from: Flying Pig on October 01, 2008, 08:38:11 PM
Stockdale is a good one. His son was on Fox News this morning. For those who remember, Stockdale was made out by the media to be a bumbling fool during his VP debate in 92. He was running with Ross Perot, who most know is an unbelievable supporter of the military.
He was made fun of on SNL and in the comics because he needed to adjust his hearing aid during a debate. Although the media didn't feel the need to point out that his hearing was damaged as a result of being tortured in the Hanoi Hilton or that he was one of the most highly decorated men to serve in Vietnam. This is why I don't put much weight on debates. They are rehearsed one liners for both sides. It just goes to show how shallow the average American is and that most make their decisions based off snappy commercials and sound bites. By all accounts, he was a man who didnt talk about what he had survived, and would not allow much of his military past to be part of the campaign. Definitely a silent hero by all accounts. And was the only Naval Aviator to win the Medal of Honor.

Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Dec 23, 1923 - July 5, 2005.

Fortunately, one TV personality got it right in 92 and came to Stockdales defense.

"Now I know (Stockdale's name has) become a buzzword in this culture for doddering old man, but let's look at the record, folks.

The guy was the first guy in and the last guy out of Vietnam, a war that many Americans, including our present President, did not want to dirty their hands with.

The reason he had to turn his hearing aid on at that debate is because those [farg]ing animals knocked his eardrums out when he wouldn't spill his guts. He teaches philosophy at Stanford University, he's a brilliant, sensitive, courageous man.

And yet he committed the one unpardonable sin in our culture: he was bad on television.- Dennis Miller"

Actually Captain Michael Estocian, Cmdr Clyde Lassen, and Major Stephen Pless USMC were also Naval aviators who were awarded the Medal of Honor. Estocian was declared MIA and his remains were never recovered, PLess was kilkled in P'Cola when his motorcycle was run off the road, and Lassen died within the last couple of years.

Trung Si Ma · October 02, 2008, 12:35:36 PM

Another great man was COL James "Nick" Rowe, SF. (http://www.psywarrior.com/rowe.html)

I had the distinct "pleasure" of going through one of the first classes of his SERE school.

John Bryan · October 02, 2008, 01:18:18 PM

Since he is interested in the USCG how about Douglas Albert Munro (October 11, 1919 – September 27, 1942) is the only member of the US Coast Guard to ever earn the Medal of Honor. He did so saving a group of US Marines at the Battle of Guadalcanal.

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker is another interesting MOH awardee....she is the only woman to earn the award. She was a Civil War surgeon.

Then there is Willie Johnston the youngest to earn the MOH , only 12 (a year older then your son and the age of our youngest cadets).

ColonelJack · October 02, 2008, 01:52:37 PM

COL Robert B. Nett, USA, won the MoH as a lieutenant in the Pacific in WWII. He was the Industrial Arts teacher at the high school I attended in Columbus, GA, and is still very active in the community around Ft. Benning.

Col. Nett was an unofficial "advisor" to our school's ROTC program. Our Senior Enlisted Instructor, 1SG Gordon Burke, constantly referred cadets to Col. Nett for "counseling" when needed. I had one -- and only one -- session with the colonel and came away a changed person.

He's one I would recommend.

Jack

A.Member · October 02, 2008, 02:23:26 PM

Since my edit was noticed, I'll add back to the list: William Pitsenbarger

I excluded him only because I'm not aware of a biography on him. However, he is a hero's hero and his story is one to be told.

ol'fido · October 03, 2008, 12:14:47 AM

I'll go with Col. George "Bud" Day. Did you see him and the other POWs at the RNC? Read the biographgy by Roger Coram, "American Patriot: The life and Wars of Bud Day". Also, how about Larry Thornses.

If your son wants to study paleontology, have him read "Under a Lucky Star" by Roy Chapman Andrews. He was the real "Indiana Jones".

Last but not least, Theodore Roosevelt, MOH and Nobel Peace Prize, plus a Pulitzer and he was a noted amatuer naturalist and outdoorsman.