Memorial Day 2022
I was unable to bring myself to write a blog about Memorial Dey before yesterday, the actual day on which we recognize the fallen. Those who died while in service to our nation. I am still emotionally upset by the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Texas, and what will once again be an utter failure on the part of our elected leadership to take action to prevent the next such tragedy. But there is a need to honor our fallen. With words and ceremonies on this annual observance and every day by our actions.
On Tuesday morning my thoughts are wandering regarding the fallen. I am remembering Theodore Roosevelt Junior. A man, who like his father, earned the Medal of Honor for his bravery on the field of battle. A man who was described by General George S. Patton as "...one of the bravest men I've ever known." Considering that General Patton was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross twice for his own bravery, that is quite a compliment. A man whose death from a heart attack during his service in World War II is just as worthy of being honored as that of any other military servicemember who dies while serving our nation.
My thoughts turned to Captain Ramon Ortiz, whose death in the crash of an F-4C fighter jet on a routine Air National Guard training mission was worthy of worldwide news covverage only because his plane was piloted by Captain Dean Paul Martin, the son of singer Dean Martin. I've mentioned this crash before in this blog but have not said much more about it until now. I was "on the mike" on the day of that crash, anchoring the news at KNUU-970, all-news radio in Las Vegas. The coverage was so laser-focused on the death of Captain Martin, Captain Ortiz was treated as an after thought. We should have done better by him. I should have done better by him and for that, I'm sorry.
I've thought about the crew of Swan 38. These six brave souls were aboard a WC-130H when they flew into the eye of Typhoon Bess on 12 October 1974. Their bodies were never found. In those days the "penetration" missions flown by the crews of these aircraft were the best way to gather information on these tropical cyclones. Swan 38 was part of the 54th Weather Reconnasaince Squadron. They remain the only crew lost while flying this type of mission in a WC-130 aircraft.
I am thinking about Army Private Kenneth R. Shadrick. He was killed on July 5, 1950. He gained national noteriety when it was reported that he was the first American casualty of the Korean War. Turns out that the report was not correct, but the name of the first American casualty of that war never became known.
This weekend I learned that Chief Warrant Officer David Hillemon was the last American killed in hostile action (thus far) during the Korean War. He was part of a 2-man crew flying a helicopter on 17 December 1994 that accidentally flew into North Korean airspace and was shot down. Fortunately, the other crewmember Chief Warrant Officer David Hall survived and was eventually released by the North Koreans.
I am thinking of 241 U.S. Marines who died in the Beirut Barracks bombing on 23 October 1983 and wondering how many might still be alive if the sentries had been allowed to have magazines in their weapons.
I am thinking of the 8 U.S. military personnel who died at Desert One when the attempt to rescue the hostages being held at our Embassy in Tehran failed. It was a tragedy of errors, civilians trying to tell the military how to do its job; and it helped to create the successful Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) that exists today.
My mind wanders to the 31 American military personnel who were killed during the Berlin Airlift which went on from June of 1948 until May of 1949.
I am remembering six Marine Corps recruits who drowned during an unscheduled training march on 8 April 1956.
I am remembering all who served and died while serving. And honoring their sacrifice.
On Tuesday morning my thoughts are wandering regarding the fallen. I am remembering Theodore Roosevelt Junior. A man, who like his father, earned the Medal of Honor for his bravery on the field of battle. A man who was described by General George S. Patton as "...one of the bravest men I've ever known." Considering that General Patton was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross twice for his own bravery, that is quite a compliment. A man whose death from a heart attack during his service in World War II is just as worthy of being honored as that of any other military servicemember who dies while serving our nation.
My thoughts turned to Captain Ramon Ortiz, whose death in the crash of an F-4C fighter jet on a routine Air National Guard training mission was worthy of worldwide news covverage only because his plane was piloted by Captain Dean Paul Martin, the son of singer Dean Martin. I've mentioned this crash before in this blog but have not said much more about it until now. I was "on the mike" on the day of that crash, anchoring the news at KNUU-970, all-news radio in Las Vegas. The coverage was so laser-focused on the death of Captain Martin, Captain Ortiz was treated as an after thought. We should have done better by him. I should have done better by him and for that, I'm sorry.
I've thought about the crew of Swan 38. These six brave souls were aboard a WC-130H when they flew into the eye of Typhoon Bess on 12 October 1974. Their bodies were never found. In those days the "penetration" missions flown by the crews of these aircraft were the best way to gather information on these tropical cyclones. Swan 38 was part of the 54th Weather Reconnasaince Squadron. They remain the only crew lost while flying this type of mission in a WC-130 aircraft.
I am thinking about Army Private Kenneth R. Shadrick. He was killed on July 5, 1950. He gained national noteriety when it was reported that he was the first American casualty of the Korean War. Turns out that the report was not correct, but the name of the first American casualty of that war never became known.
This weekend I learned that Chief Warrant Officer David Hillemon was the last American killed in hostile action (thus far) during the Korean War. He was part of a 2-man crew flying a helicopter on 17 December 1994 that accidentally flew into North Korean airspace and was shot down. Fortunately, the other crewmember Chief Warrant Officer David Hall survived and was eventually released by the North Koreans.
I am thinking of 241 U.S. Marines who died in the Beirut Barracks bombing on 23 October 1983 and wondering how many might still be alive if the sentries had been allowed to have magazines in their weapons.
I am thinking of the 8 U.S. military personnel who died at Desert One when the attempt to rescue the hostages being held at our Embassy in Tehran failed. It was a tragedy of errors, civilians trying to tell the military how to do its job; and it helped to create the successful Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) that exists today.
My mind wanders to the 31 American military personnel who were killed during the Berlin Airlift which went on from June of 1948 until May of 1949.
I am remembering six Marine Corps recruits who drowned during an unscheduled training march on 8 April 1956.
I am remembering all who served and died while serving. And honoring their sacrifice.
posted by me at 1:30 PM
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