AmericanSummer 2008 Valor A publication of The American Veterans Center - World War II Veterans Committee - National Vietnam Veterans Committee Quarterly

Reflections By general Jimmy Doolittle

Plus The Black Sheep Squadron General Andrew J. Goodpaster & Principled Leadership Shock Medicine: A Navy Corpsman in Iraq And A recap of the 2008 National Memorial Day Parade American Valor Quarterly A Quarterly Publication of the American Veterans Center www.americanveteranscenter.org World War II Veterans Committee National Vietnam Veterans Committee www.wwiivets.com www.vietnamvetscommittee.org Summer 2008

Feature -In This Issue- 4 The 2008 National Memorial Day Parade Master of the A recap of the Fourth Annual National Memorial Calculated Risk Day Parade, our nation’s largest Memorial Day celebration presented by the American Veterans Center. On April 18, 1942, Jimmy Doolittle led sixteen B-25 planes on a daring raid on Articles the Japanese homeland. Jimmy Doolittle with his crew, just prior to their famous raid. Lt. Col. Reflections by General James H. Doolittle Richard E. Cole, standing next to In this issue, we share some thoughts 8 Prior to his passing in 1993, Jimmy Doolittle Doolittle, will join the from the General written prior to his American Veterans Center’s shared his thoughts on the military, pilots, and passing which demonstrate the quali- life. In this issue, we print these reflections, as 11th Annual Conference this November to recount his memories ties that made him a hero to genera- well as the original proposed plan to attack Japan of General Doolittle and the raid. in 1942. tions of Americans.

Baa Baa Black Sheep Principled Leadership by Dr. Lewis S. Sorley 13 An excerpt from Veterans Chronicles 17 In 2007, the American Veterans Center inaugurated Brigadier General Bruce Matheson of the famed the Andrew J. Goodpaster Prize and Lecture in honor Black Sheep Squadron tells the story of of one of America’s finest military men. The first “Boyington’s Bastards.” lecture was delivered by Vietnam veteran and Pulitzer Prize-nominated historian Lewis Sorley, who examined the career, and character, of several distinguished veterans.

Shock Medicine by Luis Fonseca Jr. 23 The eyewitness account of the 2003 Battle of Nasiriyah from the first corpsman to receive the Navy Cross in over three decades. Department of Defense Photo

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Not able to make the Annual Conference? Miss the National Memorial Day Parade? Don’t worry! The American Veterans Center is proud to share video clips from all of our events on our website at Bob Feller talks about his World War www.americanveteranscenter.org. Hollywood legend and World War II II experience at the 2006 conference veteran Mickey Rooney speaks on the as televised by C-SPAN. Feller, and importance of Memorial Day during other Major League Baseball players Log on today to watch America’s greatest the television broadcast of the 2008 who served in WWII will join the National Memorial Day Parade. 2008 conference. heroes share their stories! FROM THE EDITOR Valor’s Champion By Tim Holbert

In his must-read new book The Strongest Tribe chronicling the war The mission of the American Veterans Center is to be “valor's in Iraq, Marine Corps veteran and author Bing West laments the champion.” Everything we do is designed to not only honor our fact that the American media has often been quick to denounce veterans from every generation, but to spotlight their stories of our military while generally ignoring our heroes. He writes, “When heroism and to provide a forum for them to share their lessons a single deed of negligence receives vastly more attention than a with the public and future generations. Their selfless service is a hundred deeds of valor, the country is diminished.” More di- model from which all of us can learn. That is why AMERICAN rectly, he writes, “When valor has no champion, America loses.” VALOR QUARTERLY is devoted to first-hand accounts from those who have borne witness to the great moments in American Most Americans look back with shame on the way our veterans military history. It is also why the Center has produced a long were treated after Vietnam. A brave and noble generation of history of documentary work, including the weekly radio series American servicemen came home to scorn, contempt, and ridicule. Veterans Chronicles, featuring interviews with America's most Never again, most agree, should our uniformed men and women distinguished veterans and service members, as well as full-length be treated in such a fashion, regardless of our opinions of the programs like D-Day: They Were There and Pearl Harbor: 60 Years foreign policy of the U.S. government. of Echoes. The Center also produces and sponsors the annual National Memorial Day Parade, which drew over 250,000 Yet while most Americans will say they support the troops, and spectators and was televised around the world in an effort to call most genuinely do appreciate their service, there is something attention to the true meaning of the holiday. missing. Acknowledgment of heroism among our men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan is often looked at by This Veterans Day weekend, we will work to provide another media as tacit support of the war or the administration. forum for these heroes, as we hold the American Veterans Center’s 11th Annual Conference in Washington, DC. The conference, This should certainly not be the case. Heroism among those in which has been televised on C-SPAN, brings together uniform should be as lauded today as it was when they stormed distinguished and decorated veterans from World War II through the beaches of Normandy or scaled Mt. Suribachi. They have Iraq and Afghanistan. There, they share their experiences with nothing to do with government policy; as Tennyson wrote, their fellow veterans, students and young active duty personnel, “Their's not to reason why, Their's but to do and die.” Yet, they and citizens who believe in the importance of spreading an are not victims, and should not be portrayed as such – they are appreciation of our military and its history. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines as great and noble as any in American history. Honor is their right, as it is what they have Our mission is not one that we take lightly. We remain grateful earned. for your support, and hope that you too will continue to champion American valor wherever you find it. AVQ

AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY, Summer 2008 A quarterly publication of the American Veterans Center, 1100 N. Glebe Rd. Suite 910, Arlington, VA 22201. Telephone: 703-302-1012. Fax: 571-480-4140. James C. Roberts - President The American Veterans Center is comprised of two divisions, the World War II Tim Holbert - Editor/Program Director Veterans Committee and the National Vietnam Veterans Committee. Jim Michels - Director of Development Jordan Cross - Director of Communication American Valor Quarterly is mailed to donors to the World War II Veterans Com- mittee or National Vietnam Veterans Committee who make a contribution of $50 Andrew Lee - Graphic Illustrator or more per-year. Contributions help fund the Center and Committees’ various Chris Graham - Researcher speaker conferences, student programs, the National Memorial Day Parade, docu- Michael Paradiso - Publisher mentary and oral history projects, and this publication. To make a contribution or subscribe, call 703-302-1012 ext. 214 or e-mail [email protected]. AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 3 The 2008 National Memorial Day Parade Presented by the American Veterans Center

On May 26, 2008, more than 250,000 spectators lined Con- stitution Avenue in Washington, DC for the Fourth Annual National Memorial Day Parade, presented by the American Veterans Center.

In a spectacular tribute to those who have served and are serving, and most importantly those who have given their lives for our country, the parade featured thousands of participants that included marching bands, veterans, military vehicles, and active duty service personnel. It was televised worldwide on the Pentagon Channel where it could be seen by service mem- bers stationed both at home and abroad.

Memorial Day is one of our nation’s most important and sol- emn holidays. It is not merely a day off work or school, or the “unofficial start of summer” as many call it. Instead, it is a day for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to come together and honor those who have sacrificed in service to our country.

The National Memorial Day Parade was founded by the Ameri- can Veterans Center in 2005 to serve as such an outlet. Prior to that year, Washington, DC - the nation’s capital and head- quarters of our military - was without a parade on Memorial Day for nearly 70 years. Additionally, while parades on Memo- rial Day have been a tradition in small towns and cities around the country for well over a century, sadly, they are slowly fad- ing away as the true spirit of the holiday becomes lost.

The National Memorial Day Parade is our effort to call atten- tion to the meaning of the day, while providing an opportunity for families to gather and honor those who have made the ulti- mate sacrifice. A major theme of this year’s National Memorial Day Parade was honoring the “citizen-soldiers” of the U.S. Army Reserve on the 100th Anniversary of the Reserve. Marching past the hundreds of thousands of spectators were platoons of Reservists (above), the U.S. Army Reserve Band (left), and the parade’s Honorary Grand Marshal, Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz, Chief, Army Reserve and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command.

As the 2007 parade focused on the 60th Anniversary of the Air Force, the 2008 parade was largely devoted to the United States Army and Army Reserve. The parade featured distinguished Army veterans and active duty soldiers throughout, including those who have served from World War II to the present day.

AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 4 The Grand Marshals of the 2008 National Memo- rial Day Parade were “Today’s Heroes” - decorated service members from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The parade was a chance to spotlight their tremendous stories of valor, too often overlooked by the media.

Riding along with the Grand Marshals to help bring attention to their stories were Honorary Marshals Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna. Also accompany- ing the heroes of the U.S. Army was CSM Leon Caffie (pictured right, standing center), Command Sergeant Major of the Army Reserve. Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna have long been supporters of our men and women in uniform, and gladly donated their time to help call attention to the stories of our uniformed heroes. Sinise (pictured left), currently the star of CSI: NY on CBS, is perhaps best known for his role as “Lt. Dan” in Forrest Gump. His band, the Lt. Dan Band, has played for military personnel stationed around the world.

Joe Mantegna (above) currently stars on the hit CBS drama Criminal Minds. In 2004, he was named chairperson of the Na- tional Salute to Hospitalized Veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs and for several years has been co-host, along with Gary Sinise, of the National Memorial Day Concert.

Perhaps the highlight of the parade was the inclusion of stage and screen legend Mickey Rooney (right), vet- eran of the United States Army during World War II. Joining the Army in 1944, Rooney was sent to Europe on a jeep tour along the front lines, entertaining the troops and helping to raise morale. He was awarded the Bronze Star, and served as the Honorary Marshal for World War II Veterans in the 2008 National Memorial Day Parade.

Helping to honor our service members who have been wounded while serving abroad was Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund. Miss Haglund (left) rode alongside soldiers and Marines who are currently recovering from their wounds at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center. She also helped begin the parade with the singing of “America the Beautiful.”

AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 5 As previously mentioned, the National Memorial Day Parade was televised to homes and military bases worldwide on the Pentagon Channel. Not only did this allow for millions of Americans to share in the parade festivities, it also helped to further spotlight the tremendous stories of the parade participants and bring focus to the meaning and importance of the holiday.

Pictured left, American Veterans Center President James C. Rob- erts is interviewed by the host of the parade broadcast Paul McKellips. Clips of the parade telecast can be seen on the parade’s website at www.nationalmemorialdayparade.com.

“Thank you for your service” is something that we should all be sure to tell a veteran on days like Memo- rial Day and Veterans Day. The National Memorial Day Parade is a chance for hundreds of thousands of patri- otic Americans to gather to do just that.

Sometimes, just a simple handshake is all that is nec- essary to let a veteran know how grateful we are for what they have done for us.

The National Memorial Day Parade is a marching timeline of American military history. From fife and drum corps and re- enactors of soldiers from the American Revolution and Civil War to the veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam to the active duty service members of today, the parade seeks to honor those who served in all eras of American military history.

Of course, amid the celebrations, we should never forget the true meaning of Memorial Day - remembering those who have fallen in service to our country. This is their day, and we should remember to pause and reflect on their sacrifice.

At exactly 3:00 PM, the parade paused to observe the National Moment of Remembrance (right). The 250,000 spectators were asked to remain silent, as taps was played and bells were rung in honor of the fallen. After a few minutes of silence, the pa- rade resumed.

AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 6 A tremendously important part of the National Memorial Day Pa- rade is the inclusion of hundreds of young people in marching bands, youth groups, ROTC, and organizations like the Young Marines, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and National Guard Youth ChalleNGe. They are the ones who will be counted on to carry the legacy of our veterans into the future, and the parade provides them an opportunity to learn about the values of duty, service, and sacrifice so prevalent among our military men and women.

Many of these youth organizations volunteer to help carry ban- ners (such as the Young Marines, pictured right), escort veterans and VIPs, and to provide water to those marching in the parade. The National Memorial Day Parade is largely a volunteer effort, and we are very grateful for their support.

Mostly, we are grateful for the support of tens of thousands of individuals from around the country who have helped make the National Memorial Day Parade into an annual tradition. Their help has enabled it to become the largest Memorial Day parade in America in only a few short years, a testament to their dedication and to the public’s desire to ensure that we never forget the sacrifices made by those who have come before. AVQ All photos courtesy of the American Veterans Center. A Special “Thank You” To Our Sponsors...

The National Memorial Day Parade would not be possible without the gen- erous support of our sponsors. From television coverage and parade floats to food and accommodations for the parade participants, it is because of them that the parade was a success. We thank each of them for their support of the parade, our veterans, and our men and women in uniform.

The Nation of Kuwait Argon ST The musical group “United We Sing” performs on a float sponsored by U-Haul in the U-Haul Raytheon 2008 National Memorial Day Parade. TriWest Healthcare Alliance United Technologies The Perot Foundation Subway We are especially grateful for the support of thousands of individuals from around the country, including the following U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute Trader Joe's who contributed $500 or more: Booz Allen Hamilton The Washington Times Commerce Bank Marriott Hotels Tutt Bradford Neil Jacoby Betty Rose Joan Crawford Malcolm Jeffrey Carl Salonites CACI AMVETS Hannah Cunningham Lunsford Richardson Ann Seibert Fund Raising Strategies Soldiers Angels Julian Gingold J. Peter Ricketts Neusa Skeoch The Dodge Jones Foundation Harris Teeter Richard Hurley Charles Robinson Patricia Walker AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 7 Reflections About Pilots and Flying By General James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle Flying must be learned from the Jimmy Doolittle (1896-1993) is one of the most admired military ground up. In no other vocation men in U.S. history. He was already famous as an aviation pioneer is ground work or preliminary by the time of his legendary raid on Japan on April 18, 1942, for training more important. which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. In his later years, he reflected on his career, life, and our country. In this issue, we For a pilot, you look for a chap share the general’s thoughts with our readers. who has good eyesight, who has fast reactions, a good sense of One of the privileges of age is the opportunity to sit back and balance, but most important, you think about what you’ve seen and done over the years. In my look for someone who really Young Lt. Jimmy Doolittle in a nine-plus decades, I’ve formed some views about life and living loves to fly. It would be very photo taken on October 23, 1925. that I have freely imposed on trusting audiences, readers and difficult to make a good pilot out Doolittle gained fame as a pilot long before World War II, having listeners. The following thoughts have been extracted from my of someone who hates it. We pioneered blind flying – or flying speeches, writings and interviews for whatever value may be always incline to do best those solely by the use of instruments derived. things that we enjoy doing. rather than sight. My Philosophy of Life Another thing you look for is a pilot who can learn his limitations. I believe we were all put here on this earth with just one purpose: A poor pilot is not necessarily a dangerous pilot as long as he to serve our fellow man. It doesn’t matter what form this service remains within his limitations. And you find your limits in the air takes. You can build a bridge or have a house by the side of the by getting closer and closer and closer and sometimes going road for the weary traveler. The criterion is this: If a man leaves beyond them and still getting out of it. If you go beyond and the earth a better place than he found it, then his life has been don’t get out of it, you haven’t learned your limitations, because worthwhile. you are dead.

I believe we were put on this earth for a purpose. That purpose Aviators are a different breed. And among aviators there is the is to make it, within our capabilities, a better place in which to fighter pilot who is a rugged individualist, and the bomber pilot live. We can do this by painting a picture, writing a poem, building who is a team player. The fighter pilot is up there all alone, just a bridge, protecting the environment, combating prejudice and him and his deity. I think he has a different outlook on life and injustice, providing help to those in need, or in thousands of perhaps a different code of ethics. The fighter pilot in time of other ways. Just so we serve. war does an excellent job; the fighter pilot in time of peace doesn’t seem to fit in quite as well because he never really learns to We should unselfishly serve our fellow man, our Nation and our compromise. The bomber pilot has to, and life is a series of Deity. If we do, then our time on earth will have been worthwhile compromises. And when our time comes to go, we can go happily and peacefully in the knowledge that we have accomplished God’s purpose. A fighter pilot is a chap who flies alone and must think very clearly and act very promptly. He is a chap who develops a lot of I feel that a person should so comport himself as to do no one self-confidence and with that, a desire not to be disciplined. The harm, afford others happiness, extract such personal happiness fighter pilot does very well and is essential in time of war. It is a from life as he can, and make the world a little better place as a little harder for him to adapt to peacetime activity in the military. result of having lived in it. A bomber pilot is a team player and accepts responsibility for others in his plane. He usually does better in peacetime. One’s destiny – which in the final analysis is one’s ability to serve his fellow man – is determined to some degree by his immediate associates, subordinates, contemporaries, and superiors and, most of all, by himself. Doolittle’s takeoff from the USS Hornet as seen from the USS Enterprise.

Top: Bettman/Corbis; Bottom: U.S. Navy Photo Much of today’s aircraft complexity is the result of mechanization, The Work Ethic electrification and automation in order to permit the equipment to accomplish its function and still take as many functions away I’m afraid most of us in America have had it too good for too from the overloaded pilot as possible. long. We’ve gotten soft. On the average, we’re not as courageous or ambitious or hard-working as our ancestors. Of course, there When an airplane takes a pilot where he’s going and brings him are many people today who are willing to dare, who will work, back, and does it repeatedly, he develops a certain attachment for who have integrity. But a high percentage are suffering from what it. And when that airplane does that over a long period of time, a friend of mine calls “the ravages of prosperity.” it can have some very basic faults, but that pilot no longer sees them. He becomes a part of the airplane. There is one thing that worries me about today’s philosophical outlook. There is a tendency to feel that we don’t need to work You come to think of airplanes as forgiving and unforgiving. A hard but can rely on society to take care of us. This is opposite of forgiving airplane is one which corrects a fault if you make it. An what a dynamic society must have. unforgiving airplane is one that amplifies a fault. The Lessons of History When I went into aviation in 1917, my interest in the technical end was minimal and my interest in flying was predominant. I don’t Man, as a tool-making animal, has been on the earth at least a know whether the change in outlook has been in the times or in million years. But it’s only been in the last 5,000 years that he has me. But I am sure at this time I would be interested in piloting as shown any sense of obligation, any concern for anyone but himself. a means to understanding the tool a little better. My great interest The Great Teacher only appeared on earth 2,000 years ago to would be in improving the tool. change the law of expediency to the golden rule. Slavery was with us until a little over 100 years ago. Our national conscience There is no work as intensely interesting as testing and improving has emerged only in recent years. I think the trend is up, and that high speed airplanes. Not even air racing. But I have yet to hear is part of God’s plan for mankind. of the first case of anyone engaged in this work dying of old age. The only good that can come from an aircraft crash is to I think as a nation we have had it good too long. As a result we find out what caused it and then take the remedial action necessary have inclined to become selfish. We are certainly becoming immoral to avoid a reputation. and if we look at history, that has been the course taken by almost every nation in history after they have had it good for a long time. About Worrying They become lazy, they become selfish, they become immoral, they become decadent, and then somebody else comes in and Worry about those things you can fix. If you can’t fix it, don’t takes them over. I hope we correct our faults before that occurs. worry about it; accept it and do the best you can. It is possible to worry about something until you lose your effectiveness. The best way to avoid war is to have the potential enemy know that it’s very unlikely he can win it – in other words, to remove About Fear the temptation. The best way to assure peace is to remain militarily strong. I have never known fear. I have a one-track mind When I get into a difficult situation, I am so busy trying to get myself out of it There is an optimum time to write history. That is after the that I don’t have time for fear. emotions have cooled down and before memory has started to fade. Very frequently when an individual writes history immediately Anxiety comes from a feeling you may not succeed. Fear is after the event, he is still knowingly or unknowingly emotionally something else. Fear is what you feel when you’re in an inextricable involved. I think only after those emotions have cooled can you position. Otherwise, if there’s any chance at all, you don’t feel have a real rationalization. Rational thinking and emotions don’t fear at the time, it comes later. At the time you’re too busy working go together. your way out. History teaches us that every great civilization which has flourished Wisdom and Intelligence and fallen has failed largely because of an erosion of moral values and a gradual unwillingness to exert the considerable effort Wisdom is different from intelligence and comes more slowly. necessary to continue to progress and to compete. Intelligence enables you to learn about things, from books and other sources of information. Wisdom enables you to understand Parenting people, and you acquire it from living. You see many intelligent young people but few wise ones. Parents must set an example. Children are influenced by what you do much more than by what you say. If they see you try to

AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 9 Religion

I have supreme confidence in the efficacy of prayer and believe, wholeheartedly, in the Golden Rule.

I know that bringing God into the picture has made a big difference in many situations I’ve faced. Not that God should remove obstacles or grant special protection or favors but he helps give one confidence and power to overcome the difficulty and fear.

Prayer doesn’t need a dramatic answer to be effective. And there have been times when without prayer to help guide me, I’ve done stupid and foolhardy things. This is enough proof for me. Proposal for the Bombing Attack on Tokyo President Ronald Reagan and Senator Barry Goldwater pin General Doolittle’s fourth star on his uniform in a ceremony on April 10, 1985. Lt. Col. Doolittle had earned a doctorate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and knew the get traffic tickets fixed or hear you lie about their age in order to necessity for thorough planning for any assigned task. After being get them into a movie at half-price, they’re going to discount all given the order in January 1942 to plan a secret mission to retaliate your pious talk about morality. for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he knew that modified Army B-25 Mitchell bombers launched from a Navy aircraft A parent must learn to say “No” occasionally, especially when carrier was the only way it could be done at that time. children are in their formative years. A parent has to be a companion, someone a child can turn to with problems, someone Doolittle wrote the following proposal to General Henry H. who cares. It’s really a very subtle and complex relationship. I Arnold, commander of the Army Air Forces. It is this document don’t think laying down the law does much good; people have that led to one of the most daring attacks of World War II; it had to make their own mistakes and learn from them. far-reaching favorable effects on American morale, and was such Why America is Great a psychological blow to the Japanese that they changed their strategy in the Pacific by attacking Midway Island and lost four carriers and hundreds of men and planes to American forces. There are certain human qualities that make this country great: Although some changes were made during preparations for the 1. Courage, physical and moral. mission, this classic document shows why Doolittle became known 2. Integrity, honesty in word and deed. as “Master of the Calculated Risk.” 3. Intelligence, a knowledge of things and of people. 4. Ambition, a willingness to work, to strive mightily to Subject B-25 Special Project attain our ends – but not at the expense of others. To: Commanding General, Army Air Forces 5. Patriotism, a willingness to place country above self. 6. Discipline, a capacity for orderly conduct, self-imposed. The purpose of this special project is to bomb and fire the 7. Respect, for the person of superior attainments, for industrial center of Japan. excellence of every kind, for law, for self. 8. Morality, a knowledge of what is right and wrong, and It is anticipated that this not only will cause confusion and impede the fortitude to chose the right. production but will undoubtedly facilitate operation against Japan 9. Humanity, kindness, courtesy, fairness to other human in other theaters due to their probable withdrawal of troops for beings of every sort. the purpose of defending the home country. 10. Spirituality, reverence for the power that created and controls the universe. An action of this kind is most desirable now due to psychological effect on the American public, our allies, and our enemies. I’m glad I was born an American. I never had any desire to be anything but an American. The method contemplated is to bring carrier-borne bombers to within 400 to 500 miles (all distances mentioned will be in statute miles) of the coast of Japan, preferably to south-south-east. White House Photo AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 10 assures that the airplane will be fully operational and minimizes the fire and explosion hazard characteristic of a nearly empty tank.

In all other respects the airplanes are conventional. The work of installing the required additional tankage is being done by Mid- Continential Airlines at Minneapolis. All production and installation work is progressing according to schedule, and the 24 airplanes (six spares) should be completely converted by March 15th.

Extensive range and performance tests will be conducted on airplane number 1 while the others are being converted. A short period will be required to assemble and give special training to the crews. The training will include teamwork in bombing, gunnery, navigation, flying, short takeoff, and at least one carrier takeoff for each pilot.

Then-Lt. Col. Doolittle wires a Japanese medal to a 500-pound bomb during If the crews are selected promptly from men familiar with their USS Hornet a ceremony on the flight deck of the shortly before the launch of jobs and the B-25B airplane, the complete unit should be ready his raid on Japan. for loading on the carrier by April 1. General operational They will then take off from the carrier deck and proceed directly instructions will be issued just before takeoff from the carrier. to selected targets in the Tokyo-Yokohama, Nagoya, and Osaka- Kobe areas. Due to the greater accuracy of daylight bombing, a daylight raid is contemplated. The present concept of the project calls for a Simultaneous bombings of these areas is contemplated, with the night takeoff from the carrier and arrival over objective at dawn. bombers coming in up waterways from the southeast and, after Rapid refueling at the landing points will permit arrival at dropping their bombs, returning in the same direction. After Chungking before dark. clearing the Japanese outside coastline a sufficient distance, a general westerly course will be set for one or more of the following A night raid will be made, if, due to last-minute information airports in China: Chuchow, Chuchow (Lishui) Yushan, and/or received from our intelligence section or other source, a daylight Chienou. Chuchow is about 70 miles inland and 200 miles to the raid is definitely inadvisable. The night raid should be made on a south-southwest of Shanghai. clear night, moonlight if Japan is blacked out, moonless if it is not. After refueling, the airplanes will proceed to the strong Chinese air base at Chungking, about 800 miles distant, and from here to All available pertinent information regarding targets and defenses such ultimate objective as may, at that time, be indicated. will be obtained from A-2, G-2, and other existing sources.

The greatest nonstop distance that any airplane will have to fly is 2,000 miles.

Eighteen B-25 (North American medium bomber) airplanes will be employed in this raid. Each will carry about 1,100 gallons of gasoline, which assures a range of 2,400 miles at 5,000 feet in still air.

Each bomber will carry two 500-pound demolition bombs and as near as possible to 1,000 pounds of incendiaries. Photograph Force Air U.S. Bottom: Photograph Navy U.S. Top:

The extra gasoline will be carried in a 175-gallon auxiliary leak proof tank in the top of the bomb bay, and a 175- gallon flexible rubber tank in the passageway above the bomb bay. It is anticipated that the gasoline from this top tank will be used up and the tank flattened out or rolled up and removed prior to entering the combat zone. This

AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 11 The Navy has already drop their bombs may be used to indicate arrival at gassing points supervised takeoff some six or seven hours later. tests made at Norfolk, Virginia, using B-25B Care must be exercised to see that the Chinese are advised just in bombers carrying time, as any information given to the Chinese may be expected loads of 23,000 to fall into Japanese hands and a premature notification would pounds, 26,000 be fatal to the project. pounds, and 29,000 pounds. These tests An initial study of meteorological conditions indicates that the indicate that no sooner the raid is made the better will be the prevailing weather difficulty need be conditions. The weather will become increasingly unfavorable after anticipated in taking the end of April. Weather was considered largely from the point off from the carrier of view of avoiding morning fog over Tokyo and other targets, deck with a gross low overcast over Chuchow and Chungking, icing, and strong load of around westerly winds. 31,000 pounds. If possible, daily weather predictions or anticipated weather A portrait of General Doolittle commissioned by The Navy will be conditions at Chungking and the coast should be sent, at a specified the American Veterans Center. Prints signed by charged with pro- time, in suitable code, in order to assist the meteorologist on the several of the Doolittle Raiders are still available viding a carrier carrier in analyzing his forecasts. by contacting the American Veterans Center. (probably the Hornet), with loading and storing the airplanes, and with delivering them Lieutenant Colonel J.H. Doolittle, Air Corps, will be in charge of to their takeoff position. preparations for and will be in personal command of the project. Other flight personnel will, due to the considerable hazard incident The Chemical Warfare Service is designing and preparing special to such a mission, be volunteers. incendiary bomb clusters in order to assure that the maximum amount that limited space permits, up to 1,000 pounds per Each airplane will carry its normal complement of five crew airplane, may be carried. Forty-eight of these clusters will be ready members: pilot, copilot, bombardier-navigator, radio operator, for shipment from Edgewood Arsenal (Maryland) by March 15th. and gunner-mechanic.

About 20,000 US gallons of 100-octaine aviation gasoline and One crew member will be a competent meteorologist and one 600 gallons of lubricating oil will be laid down at Chuchow and an experienced navigator. All navigators will be trained in celestial associated fields. All other supplies and necessary emergency repair navigation. equipment will be carried on the airplanes. Two ground liaison officers will be assigned. One will remain on First Lieutenant Harry W. Howze, now with the Air Service the mainland and the other on the carrier. Command and formerly with the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, will be charged with making arrangements for the At least three crew members will speak Chinese – one on each fuel caches in China. He will work through A-2 and A-4 and with of the target units. Colonel Claire Chennault, a former Air Corps officer and now aviation advisor to the Chinese government. Colonel Chennault Should the Soviets be willing to accept delivery of 18 B-25B should assign a responsible American or a Chinese who speaks airplanes, on lease-lend, at Vladivostok, our problem would be English to physically check and assure that the supplies are in greatly simplified and conflict with the Halverson project avoided. place. This man should also be available to assist the crews in servicing the airplanes. That the supplies are in place can be The Proposal for the Bombing Attack on Tokyo indicated by suitable radio code signal. Work on placing supplies can be found in General Doolittle’s autobiography, I must start at once. Could Never Be So Lucky Again, written with Colonel C.V. Glines available in hardcover from Shortly before the airplanes arrive, the proper Chinese agencies Schiffer Publications and paperback from Bantam should be advised that the airplanes are coming soon, but the Books, as well as at bookstores nationwide. inference will be that they are flying up from the south in order to stage a raid on Japan. From which they plan to return to the same Veterans of Jimmy Doolittle’s legendary raid will base. be appearing at the American Veterans Center’s 11th Annual Conference - November 6-8, Radio signals from the bombing planes immediately after they Washington, DC. Top: American Veterans Center Bottom: Random House AVQ AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 12 Baa Baa Black Sheep VMF-214 and the Marine Corps’ Most Famous Aviators of WWII An Excerpt from Veterans Chronicles

Veterans Chronicles, the American Veterans Center’s weekly radio or the “Whiffinpoof series, features the stories of America’s greatest military heroes, in Song,” which is the Yale their own words. The program is hosted by Gene Pell, former drinking song. And we NBC Pentagon Correspondent and Moscow Bureau Chief, as dearly loved that song. well as Director for Voice of America and President of Radio We managed to sing it Free Europe/Radio Liberty. frequently and it was always the very last one Each week, Gene talks to distinguished service members from in our repertoire. World War II all the way through Operation Iraqi Freedom, allowing them to share their insights on the great and tragic Figuring the squadron moments in American military history. Veterans Chronicles airs should have a name, it nationwide on the Radio America network, downloaded via was suggested that the podcast, and heard online at www.americanveteranscenter.org. name be “Boyington’s Bastards” because the In this issue of American Valor Quarterly, we print the excerpt squadron was kind of from a recent episode focusing on the legendary Black Sheep formed in a bastardly Squadron of World War II. Led by “ace” pilot Gregory “Pappy” fashion. We had no Boyington, the squadron was formed in 1943 and was in action ground echelon. We over a half-dozen South Pacific islands. In less than three months, had no airplanes. The Prior to commanding the Black Sheep, the Black Sheep pilots destroyed or damaged 273 Japanese aircraft, press people at the Greg “Pappy” Boyington flew for another famed outfit of American pilots - the sank ships, destroyed ground facilities, and perhaps most time said if you do American Volunteer Group, best known as remarkably produced eight “ace” fighter pilots from only a single anything noteworthy the Flying Tigers. He would earn both the squadron. Retired Brigadier General Bruce Matheson served in we can’t hardly go back Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor for that squadron, and he recently sat down with Gene to talk of his and mention your his heroism in leading the Black Sheep. experiences and how they came to be known as the “Black Sheep.” name – in those days when you couldn’t use four letter words – so we had to do Brigadier General Bruce Matheson: The “Black Sheep” name better than Boyington’s Bastards. So somebody said why don’t came from our first combat tour. We had a squadron which was we make it the “Black Sheep”? We thought that was a pretty comprised almost entirely of college students, and these college good idea, so we decided we were the Black Sheep, and referred students came from colleges all over the country. These were the to ourselves that way, as did the press. When we went to Sydney days before television and we didn’t have any radio out there and on our first R&R – rest and recuperation visit – in November of there was no entertainment. So our entertainment was comprised 1943, our squadron intelligence officer had patches made up, of singing, which sounds like an ancient thing to do. We had unknown to us. The patches featured a little hump-backed sheep, several good voices in the group and we sang four-part harmony. the words VMF14, and a corsair on the top. But across diagonally One of the songs that one of the it had the bar sinister, which represents “bastardly.” We made our Ivy Leaguers brought along point, but we made it orally through our patch, and we have was the “Black Sheep” carried this bastard patch ever since. And the bastard patch is still proudly worn by 214’s pilots who are today in Yuma, Arizona, and I believe they have also made a deployment to Iraq.

Gene Pell: Well that’s a great history, though as a Harvard man I can say I might have preferred Boyington’s Bastards in the first place!

BG Matheson: I imagine you would!

Pell: How did you get involved in it? Top & bottom: National Archives photos AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 13 Australia – stole the number, really, as I found out after the war, and many people were very bitter about that. Boyington was placed in charge as the commander, and we went into combat as VMF-214, nicknamed Black Sheep. We were still bastards because we had no ground echelon. We had no ground troops of our own because there weren’t any for us. So we were forced during our two combat tours to kind of prevail on whoever was around to help us with such things as refueling, rearming, repair, that sort of thing. So we went through our entire two tours as a kind of a bastard outfit.

Pell: Where were you permanently based? You had to have a place to park your planes.

BG Matheson: We were permanently based on some of the forward airstrips. For instance, when we started out combat, we started at a little island called the Russells, which is north of Guadalcanal. We flew strikes from “Pappy” Boyington speaks with other Marines of VMF-214. With 97 confirmed there, up north into the Solomons. Then when Munda air-to-air kills and eight fighter “aces,” the Black Sheep became one of the most was captured by the Americans, they completed the recognizable air units of World War II, earning the Presidential Unit Citation. airfield that the Japanese had started and made it usable, and we flew from Munda Air Strip for the balance of Years later, the squadron would be portrayed in the television series Baa Baa Black our six-week tour. Sheep (later syndicated under the name Black Sheep Squadron) with Robert Conrad playing Boyington. By the time we returned from our first R&R in Sydney, BG Matheson: I came into the squadron pretty much like we came back to the New Hebrides to reform, retrain, and everybody else, as one of a large replacement pool. It really was absorb new pilots for replacements for the people we lost. That comprised of two sorts of folks – folks like me, brand new 2nd made the squadron a little bit bigger. The next permanent base, Lieutenants literally just off the boat who had never as you might call it, for six weeks was a place called Vella Lavella seen combat, and a group of people who had one or two or more combat tours behind them and were looking to fly a third tour. The requirement out there was three combat tours and then you went home. So we were in this replacement pool which was in the past used to feed pilots into the squadrons as the need arose, either as people got sick, shot down, killed, wounded, whatever.

The time we arrived out there, however, there was sort of a lull in the war, and we didn’t need many replacements, so this pool built up until eventually we had 20 or 30 people built up. At the same time, the war looked to be gaining momentum in that they intended to invade Bougainville. So the call went out to see what we could do to strengthen our forces. The obvious solution to the generals in charge was, “Why don’t we do something with these replacement VMF-214 continued to serve beyond World War II, becoming the first Marine squadron pilots? Rather than dribble them out one at a time, to see action during the Korean War in which they participated in the Inchon landing and the withdrawal from Chosin Reservoir. maybe we could form them into a squadron.” And this was done. In 1957, VMF was redesignated VMA (for “attack” as opposed to “fighter”). VMA-214 was deployed to Vietnam, and continues on today, having been twice deployed to Iraq as We took the squadron number “214” from a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pictured above are AV-8Bs of VMA-214 stationed squadron which at the time was on R&R in Sydney, aboard the USS Peleliu in 2005.

AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 14 the RAF had fighter sweeps where they sent huge gaggles of fighters up against each other. But in the Pacific we didn’t have fighter sweeps. The fighters did all escort work and air defense. For instance, most of the victories at Guadalcanal were air defense victories. It was people who were there to defend the Guadalcanal complex. The Japanese were in the offensive mode, and our Marine and Navy fighters on the strip there would take off to defend the strip. I don’t want to take anything away from those people Marion Carl as well as Medal of Honor recipients Joe Foss and John L. Smith, but they had the comfort of knowing they were fighting right above their own home field. If they got shot down, made a water landing or bailed out, they had a fairly good chance they would be brought back. When we got involved, particularly in our second tour, we were flying above 200 miles across open water, to a Japanese bastion, Brigadier General Bruce Matheson, USMC (Ret) speaks at the American Veterans Center’s 10th Annual Conference in November 2007. Joining which is what Rabaul was, and you took your chances there. Matheson were his fellow Black Sheep, Tom Emrich, Ed Harper, and Jim Hill. When we’ve gotten together, we’ve often talked about the 12 people we lost, which was a quarter of our squadron, which is in the Northern Solomons, and we flew from there. At and wondered how many of these guys were really shot down this point, we were fighting against the Japanese at Rabaul and at versus how many of them got lost and couldn’t find their way that time, the thought was that Rabaul probably would have to be back. We had zero navigational aids – we had no radar, no invaded as we invaded the other islands in the Solomons. But we LORAN, no SHORAN, no TACAN, none of the things which were successful enough – and when I say ‘we’ I mean the entire are common. No GPS of course, so it was purely magnetic air effort: U.S. Marine Corps, Army Air Corps – we were successful headings on the compass and you picked a course and if your enough to completely rid the area of Japanese planes. When we compass was working right, you got back to your little island. left after our second tour, there were almost no Japanese aircraft But as I say, we often wonder how many of our contemporaries available because they were either shot down or they had been and buddies and squadron mates might not have been shot down, evacuated. So the powers that be decided that we didn’t have to but were lost on the way home. invade Rabaul, we could just bypass it. They literally left about 50,000 Japanese in the Rabaul area to more or less wither on the Pell: So what Boyington really did was shift the squadron to a vine. Some survived, most didn’t. proactive from a reactive mode?

Pell: Given the nature of this squadron, having no ground echelon BG Matheson: Precisely. And it was not just the squadron did you have comparatively more of the autonomy to act on because he was able to enlist the generals’ support. At times we your own? Was Boyington capable of drawing up assignments? would have the early fighter sweeps with as many as 60 or 80 fighter aircraft on our side, but Boyington soon decided that this BG Matheson: No, no. Boyington was a major, which in those was far too big an outfit – just far, far too big to control. So the days was a pretty high-ranking officer for the Marines. But later fighter sweeps got down to be around maybe 24 planes, Boyington was relatively firmly under control of the General who and they were usually comprised of two or three different was ComAirSols, which was “Commander Aircraft Solomon squadrons who would each contribute some of the planes. So, Islands.” Boyington took his directives from ComAirSols and for instance, on Boyington’s last flight, which I happened to end various general officers. General Mulcahey was one who I up flying, I think we had pilots and fighters there from three remembered as a personal friend of Boyington’s. Boyington was Marine squadrons and a couple of Navy squadrons. It was a able to prevail upon Mulcahey to get us to go on fighter sweeps pretty big mixture. because before that time our pure mission was to escort bombers, both Navy and Marine Corps, and Army Air Corps B-25 Matheson would go on to fly missions in Korea bombers. He argued that we should do fighter sweeps, so maybe and command Marine Air Group 36 in Vietnam, we could go up to places like Rabaul, and catch the fighters before retiring with the rank of brigadier general. they came down to do harm. To hear this and many other episodes of Veterans I don’t think that Boyington invented fighter sweeps because I am Chronicles, visit our site at pretty sure that the fighter sweep program per se was a product www.americanveteranscenter.org. of the battle of Britain. I think both the German Luftwaffe and AVQ

AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 15 Thank You For Your Support!

The American Veterans Center, with its two divisions - the World War II Veterans Committee and the National Vietnam Veterans Committee - is grateful for your continued support in our shared mission of preserving the history and legacy of America’s veterans and service members. Through its various programs, the Center has sought to provide an outlet for veterans to share their experiences with the public, and to teach their lessons to the younger generation. The support of thousands of individuals across America has allowed the Center to expand its efforts over the years, instituting a number of quality projects, including: The National Memorial Day Parade How You Can Help Our nation’s largest Memorial Day commemorative event. Annual Veterans Conference All of our programs, including this A gathering of America’s greatest military heroes, where their stories magazine, are solely funded through the are recorded for posterity. Documentaries and Radio Series voluntary contributions of individuals like Programs including Veterans Chronicles, Proudly We Hail, and the you. If you would like to support our work, upcoming Medal of Honor Moment. please send your tax-deductible donation in American Valor Quarterly the enclosed envelope today or visit our Our magazine devoted entirely to first-hand accounts from the website at www.americanveteranscenter.org. eyewitnesses to the great and tragic moments in military history. Every bit helps, and we remain grateful for Youth Activities and Educational Outreach Including scholarships, internships, and opportunities for students to your support. learn from our military men and women. Supporting Our Troops Featuring regular steak dinners for our wounded warriors recuperating at Walter Reed and Bethesda Medical Center.

A Special Thank You to the Members of Our Presidents Club

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AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 16 Principled Leadership The Inaugural Andrew J. Goodpaster Prize and Lecture General Andrew J. Goodpaster is one of the U.S. Military’s I read once that a biographer should show rather than tell. I have towering figures of the 20th century. A recipient of the always liked show and tell. In these remarks I will try to mostly Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star for valor during World show. In these examples of principled leadership you will find War II, he would go on to serve as staff secretary for President qualities I am sure you expect—integrity, courage (both physical Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, and and moral), decency, selflessness and reliability among them. But Superintendent of West Point. He was universally admired for there are other attributes, perhaps less often thought of in his intellect, devotion to duty, fairness, and sense of decency. connection with warriors, that are also part of the story. These include compassion, kindness, consideration and sensitivity. Despite his battlefield heroics and rise through the ranks, General Goodpaster was at heart a scholar. Having earned graduate degrees Goodpaster in Engineering and International Affairs from Princeton, Goodpaster was most proud of his First, then, to Andrew J. Goodpaster, whose scholarly achievements, and was often regarded lifetime of dedication and service has inspired as the epitome of the “soldier-scholar.” this memorial. He got off to a good start, graduating second in his 456-man West Point From its founding, General Goodpaster was a Class of 1939, which was itself one of West strong supporter of the World War II Veterans Point’s most distinguished, rising quickly as Committee and the American Veterans Center young officers during World War II and until his passing in 2005. His advice in those early thereafter serving at very significant levels for years helped ensure that the Center would not many years. merely survive, but thrive, and we owe him a debt that can never be repaid. To honor his General Goodpaster’s intellect made him a legacy, the Center inaugurated the Andrew J. natural for the Corps of Engineers, in which Goodpaster Prize and Lecture in 2007, honoring General Andrew J. Goodpaster as he was commissioned upon graduation, and in achievements of other “soldier-scholars.” Made Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. it he proved as brave as he was brainy, earning possible by the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, this prize the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and two Purple and lecture is our way of spotlighting the finest in military Hearts while leading a combat engineer battalion through desperate scholarship and honoring one of our military’s most noble soldiers, fighting in Italy. helping to ensure that his legacy will live on. After the war he earned a Ph.D. at Princeton. His “utilization” The inaugural Goodpaster Prize was presented to Dr. Lewis tour for that schooling was four years at SHAPE (Supreme Sorley. A 1956 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, his service Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe). A well-known journalist, included leadership of tank and armored cavalry units in Germany with perhaps only a little hyperbole, observed that as a colonel and Vietnam. He retired a lt. colonel and has gone on to write Goodpaster was given a blank sheet of paper and told to create several books, including Honorable Warrior: General Harold K. Johnson NATO. Colonel Goodpaster did in fact personally draft General and the Ethics of Command, Thunderbolt: General Creighton Abrams and Order Number 1 by which the newly activated SHAPE assumed the Army of His Times, and the Pulitzer Prize-nominated A Better operational control of allied forces dedicated to defense of War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America’s Last Western Europe. He also became a close associate of and a trusted Years in Vietnam. His recent work Honor Bright: History and Origins aide to Dwight Eisenhower, subsequently serving him as staff of the West Point Honor Code and System was released in July 2008. secretary throughout the Eisenhower presidency. General Goodpaster’s long tenure in that key position stemmed from the The American Veterans Center congratulates Dr. Sorley on his universal perception that he was an honest broker, a man to be outstanding work, and is proud to print his remarks, delivered trusted, one who was invariably fair and discreet and who had on December 11, 2007 in Washington, DC. the total confidence of the President.

I am grateful for this opportunity to talk with you about a topic No one was surprised when, an appropriate number of years of great contemporary relevance. That topic is principled later, General Goodpaster followed his former boss by becoming leadership. I will begin with General Andrew J. Goodpaster, in SACEUR (Supreme Allied Commander, Europe) in his own right, whose honor this lecture series is being inaugurated. My other holding that position for five critical years. First, though, he served examples will also be drawn from the military realm, for that is in another demanding post, deputy commander of the U.S. what I know best, it has been the focus of my scholarly endeavors, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. I will tell you of one and it is where my heart resides. AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 17 episode which illustrates sporting event for English ladies called the slow bicycle race. The how he brought to bear the object was, while riding one of those old-fashioned bicycles with full weight of his a very large front wheel, to go as slowly as possible without professional integrity in that being disqualified by going out of your lane or putting your feet difficult environment. down. This required extreme feats and gyrations of balance at near-immobility. It was an apt analogy. The personal relationships Field commanders in General Goodpaster established with NATO leaders, military Vietnam were continually and civilian alike, and the respect and admiration those officials vexed by what many viewed had for him, were key elements in his considerable ability to as unreasonable restrictions influence the alliance during his tenure. on conduct of the war. Besides what were known General Goodpaster also brought to the command in Europe a as “rules of engagement,” realistic understanding of the multiple constituencies he served. prescribing how the forces At one point, when the Air Force offered to upgrade the aircraft and their weaponry could be assigned to him, his executive officer explained that the new model employed, there were the would not require refueling stops and would thus be able to get Andrew J. Goodpaster as a major geographical him to Washington much faster. Responded General Goodpaster, West Point cadet - 1939. restrictions which placed “I don’t want to get to Washington any faster.” enemy sanctuaries across Vietnam’s borders with Laos and Cambodia off limits to allied forces. At the heart of his strength as a leader was one fundamental trait, uncompromising integrity. This, and his unflagging willingness to MACV’s leadership was determined that, however serve, resulted in his being called out of retirement to become disadvantageous, these orders would be scrupulously observed. Superintendent at West Point in the wake of a very serious honor At a given staff meeting another senior officer, in fact the MACV crisis. Moreover, he accepted the assignment even though it carried chief of staff, took the occasion to suggest some deviousness — only three-star rank, this after he had served for many years deliberately keeping up border violations, which had thus far been wearing four stars. Here his essential modesty was on display, as infrequent accidental incursions, “until,” he proposed, “they was his customary placing of service before self. become the norm.” General Goodpaster reacted very strongly to this suggestion of willful disobedience. “I don’t think our There are many stories from his days back at West Point that government can or will get into the Cambodian business by the illustrate the kind of man General Goodpaster was, and the kind by-products, side effects, of a pattern of violations,” he counseled. of example and influence he brought to bear — exactly, I might Persisted the other officer, a major general: “My thought is that say, what was needed at that crucial juncture. I like one rather this is what we would force by getting into accepting this as the simple story about a stained glass window given by the West norm.” General Goodpaster, this time in a harder tone: “I must Point Class of 1944 as a thirtieth reunion gift to the Military say my reaction right now is that that’s an improper course on Academy. The window was installed above the main entrance to our part, it’s an improper thing to do, and we can’t be drawn into the Cadet Mess, and featured powerful lights that shone through playing that kind of a game.” And they were not. the glass at night, producing a dramatic display. Part of West Point’s agreement in accepting the gift was a commitment to turn General Goodpaster often spoke forthrightly of what officers on the lights and illuminate the window every night. should be like, and what we have a right to expect of them. The Association of the United States Army has a lecture program Three years later, when the nation faced an energy crisis, the named in honor of General Lyman L. Lemnitzer. I was present Department of the Army issued stringent conservation guidelines. on the evening of the inaugural presentation in that series, when At West Point the Post Engineer ordered an end to outdoor the speaker was General Goodpaster. He cited “wise and effective illumination — including the Class of 1944’s stained glass window. American leadership” as “the major reason for success in WWII In due course a member of that class saw what had happened and the Cold War,” and spoke of the essentiality of “respect for and complained to the Superintendent. General Goodpaster called American-style civil-military relationships” under both good and the appropriate staff member into his office, along with the Post not so good civilian leadership. Engineer. The conversation was brief. “Is it true that we promised to illuminate the 1944 window at night?” General Goodpaster Commanding the NATO armed forces was a task demanding asked. “Yes, sir, we did,” said the staff officer. “A promise is a principled leadership of a high order, along with well-honed promise,” General Goodpaster replied. “We will continue to diplomacy. One of the perennial problems was making progress illuminate their window.” toward burden sharing so that the various partner nations were carrying their fair shares of the load. General Goodpaster often End of meeting. characterized progress in that realm as being a lot like a wonderful United States Military Academy AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 18 General Goodpaster was still serving as Superintendent when, on 20 January 1981, Iran released 52 American diplomats and military personnel who had been held hostage for 444 days. When they returned to the United States, these people and their families were taken to a place where they could have some quiet time together before having to deal with the press and the public. The place chosen was West Point. Goodpaster greeted the former hostages and their families with these reassuring words: “You have been delivered from evil, and you are now safe at a place of great strength and beauty.” One can only imagine the impact of that simple statement, so typical of the man who delivered it.

Abrams

General Goodpaster’s career was, at a most important juncture, linked with that of Creighton W. Abrams. During the first year General Abrams commanded U.S. forces in Vietnam, General Goodpaster was his deputy. As those familiar with my work Lt. General Goodpaster as Superintendent of West Point. General know, I have long been interested in the professional values Goodpaster came out of retirement following the notorious cheating exemplified by General Abrams. That interest began in the early scandal of 1976 to restore a sense of honor to the academy. When he 1970s, when I commanded a tank battalion in Germany that was retired from the academy in 1981, Goodpaster’s rank was immediately returned to the four stars of a full general. descended from the 37th Tank Battalion then-Lieutenant Colonel Abrams had commanded during World War II. The Army we the battalion, “I can recall during our tank battles Abe was right had in Europe in the 1970s was in desperate straits, having been alongside of our tank giving orders to my tank commander and adversely affected in almost every realm by the ongoing war in having a ball shooting tanks like the rest of the boys. He would Vietnam. There was not enough money, not enough spare parts, mix in wherever the toughest battle was.” And, he added, “It not enough gasoline or ammunition, and especially not enough made us feel more like fighting harder when you could see a experienced leadership at the crucial lower levels — captains and great man like Abe right alongside of you.” lieutenants and sergeants. Officers in higher headquarters said that in the morning they would In an effort to motivate the soldiers in my battalion, I tried to tune their radios to Abrams’ frequency, just to be entertained by learn more about the history of the outfit in World War II. I read his hard-driving leadership. “In a combat situation Abrams turned everything I could find, even made a trip to Bastogne. Then I out to be a fairly impatient man,” observed one officer. That was wrote a short history and had that mimeographed, gave little an accurate assessment, and the results were nothing short of talks throughout the battalion, and so on. In retrospect I don’t spectacular. The 37th Tank Battalion was often the lead element think I much influenced the troops, who were basically just passing of Patton’s Third Army in its drive across France. It was the first through. Our battalion, like many others of that day, was turning to cross the Moselle River; it was the outfit that punched through over about a quarter of its strength every 90 days. But in the to Bastogne, on the day after Christmas of 1944, to relieve the process of all this I influenced myself a good deal, so much so encircled 101st Airborne Division; and it was the first element of that later I decided to tell the Abrams story for a wider audience. Third Army to reach the Rhine. Wrote his division commander, That eventually became a book entitled Thunderbolt: General “The brilliant combat record of Lieutenant. Colonel Creighton Creighton Abrams and the Army of His Times. Abrams constitutes one of the sagas of this war.”

I went into that project viewing Abrams as an exemplar of the Along the way Abrams was awarded two Distinguished Service kinds of values soldiers ought to admire and emulate. Had the Crosses, two Silver Stars, and a battlefield promotion to colonel. research revealed otherwise, I would of course have been quite disappointed. Fortunately, the more I learned about General What is most remarkable to me about this aggressive battle leader Abrams the clearer it was that he was exactly as he seemed to be. is how he was regarded by the men under his command. A radio operator from the battalion would later write to Abrams that he The motto of the 37th Tank Battalion, led by Abrams throughout had never forgotten his “strong sense of values” and his “magnetic World War II, was “Courage Conquers,” and if ever there was a feeling of leadership.” As a result, he said, “I still respect you as a

motto exactly right for the outfit bearing it, this was the one. soldier and love you as a fine human being. I teach children to Academy Military States United grow up to be like General Abe.” Wrote his maintenance sergeant: Abrams led from the front, standing in the turret of his Sherman “I have fond memories of the kind of man Abrams was. He tank, which was named “Thunderbolt.” Said a tank driver from never made things more difficult and unhappy than they were, as did some of the officers of far less rank.” AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 19 Abrams retained his personal modesty through it all. “He was no Johnson change from a captain to a colonel,” said Marvin Mattingly, his reconnaissance sergeant throughout the war. Abrams himself gave General Abrams was in turn linked with another officer of the credit to his soldiers. “I have traveled in gallant company,” he impressive probity and moral strength, Harold K. Johnson. During wrote to his wife Julie as the campaign drew to a close. the crucial three years of the build-up of American ground forces in Vietnam (1965-1967), Abrams was Vice Chief of Staff for In later years Abrams had many occasions to speak to younger Chief of Staff Johnson. They developed a relationship of soldiers about what he thought was important about their extraordinary professional and personal closeness. profession. One especially moving example occurred during the period when American forces were withdrawing from Vietnam. General Johnson had been serving as the Army’s Deputy Chief Over time General Abrams was literally sending his army home of Staff for Military Operations for less than a year when one of before himself. As each major unit prepared to depart, Abrams those periodic games of musical chairs took place in the upper visited to thank them and bid them farewell. echelons of leadership. General Maxwell Taylor left his post as Chairman of the Joint To an outfit in which he had once served he Chiefs of Staff to become U.S. Ambassador said that, “in a changing world, changing to the Republic of Vietnam, and Army times and changing attitudes, the 1st Infantry Chief of Staff General Earle Wheeler Division, more than any other division in moved up to become the new Chairman. our Army, represents a constancy of those essential virtues of mankind — humility, While decisions on successor leadership were courage, devotion and sacrifice. The world pending, the Army’s Chief of Chaplains, is changed a lot,” he continued, “but this Major General Charles Brown, made a division continues to serve, as it had in the Saturday afternoon visit to the home of beginning. I choose to feel that this is part Secretary of the Army Stephen Ailes. Brown of the cement, and the rock, and the steel was an amateur clockmaker, and had that holds our great country together.” And volunteered to see if he could repair one of then, his voice husky with emotion, he closed Ailes’s clocks. That job successfully by quoting back to them the division’s own accomplished, the two men were sitting on great motto: “No Mission Too Difficult, No the back stoop drinking a beer. Ailes asked Sacrifice Too Great — Duty First.” General Creighton W. Abrams Chaplain Brown what he thought about General Johnson. “Well, I’ll tell you, Stephen,” Abrams served in Vietnam for five years, the last four as Brown responded, “he’s the strongest moral force in the Army commander of all U.S. forces there. On his last night, speaking to today.” Not long afterward Harold K. Johnson was announced officers assembled in the command mess, he told his colleagues: as the next Army Chief of Staff. “The longer I serve, the more I am convinced that the single most important attribute of the professional officer is integrity.” He had come to that high post by a very difficult and challenging road. As a young officer he was assigned to the Philippine Scouts, Then he came home to become Army Chief of Staff. During commanding a battalion of the 57th Infantry, as he put it, “only those last years General Abrams would often speak about what long enough to lose it” when American forces were ordered to it had meant to him to be a soldier. At one of his last public surrender to the Japanese early in World War II. Johnson survived appearances — he died after not quite two years in office as the Bataan Death March and the ghastly ordeal of two Japanese Chief of Staff — General and Mrs. Abrams were attending an “hell ships.” Altogether he was a prisoner of war for 41 agonizingly Armor Ball in Washington. After dinner he was asked to say a long months. few words. Dancing had already begun, so he just stood at a microphone alongside the dance floor as people gathered around The Japanese treated their prisoners brutally and unpredictably. him. He spoke very quietly, but with obvious emotion, about Dealing with them was thus risky at best. Under these service, and about the privilege of service. He had no script or circumstances Colonel Johnson held a succession of positions of notes, and spoke for only a few minutes. trust, beginning with that of commissary officer for the prisoners, who in the vital matter of food chose the man they trusted the Afterward, on the way back to Fort Myer, General Abrams was most. Food, after all, represented the difference between life and slumped in the back seat of the sedan, tired and subdued. “How death, and there was never enough. do you think my talk went?” he asked Julie. “Well,” she replied, “all I can tell you is what I heard in the ladies’ room. Two young Johnson set about doing what he could to remedy that. The women were talking, and one said to the other, ‘I’ve been trying prisoners who worked were allowed to retain a small portion of to get my husband to get out of the Army. But after listening to their meager wages, and to spend that on supplemental food U.S. Army that, I’m glad he wants to stay in.’” AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 20 purchased by the commissary officer. During eighteen months in survive. At one point Johnson himself was down to 92 pounds that position, Johnson spent a million and a half pesos to procure from his customary 180, and an American physician said there fruits and vegetables, sugar, oil, lard, rice and eggs. Only a third was “no medical reason why he should have been alive.” But of the total, half a million pesos, came from “legitimate” prisoner Johnson survived, and did so with his spirit and self-respect intact. pay. The rest was money the men had concealed, money they had obtained by selling watches and rings to their guards, and money Johnson’s future held many further challenges, not the least of smuggled in from outside. which was assignment to command a hastily thrown-together provisional infantry battalion in the very early days of the Korean The Japanese said that the prisoners could not spend more for War. His valor in that assignment earned him a Distinguished food than they earned in wages. To circumvent this, Johnson Service Cross, promotion to colonel, and successive command kept two sets of books—one for the benefit of the Japanese, a of two regiments. Professionally, he was back in business. second for scrutiny by his fellow prisoners. It is ironic that the most ethical of men would, in the higher General Johnson came to the Army’s top interest of saving lives, prove to be so job as Chief of Staff at a very difficult time. creatively deceptive. The buildup for the Vietnam War was underway, and without the call-up of reserve Johnson also used the power of his position forces that every contingency plan had to insist that those prisoners who were able contemplated for such a campaign. Upon to work and earn money donate some of it being sworn in Johnson recited a portion to help those who were too ill to work. of the Scout Oath: “On my honor I will do When the food ration was cut to two sacks my duty to God and to my country.” of rice a day, he replaced the shortfall with purchases made from the commissary fund’s He laid out the imperatives of professional profits. This undoubtedly saved more lives. conduct to every audience he addressed. To ROTC cadets about to be commissioned When the tide of battle turned in the Pacific, he said: “Our standard is truth—basic, and allied forces were on the verge of unadulterated truth. There can be no trifling liberating the Philippines, the Japanese—in with the truth. You can’t be content with manic determination not to give up their the half truth. The whole truth—that is what prisoners—began evacuating them on General Harold K. Johnson is expected of you.” commercial vessels bound for Japan. These ships, their holds crammed with sick and starving prisoners, were He told cadets about to graduate from the Military Academy: not marked in any way. The allies thus bombed them repeatedly, “You will be expected to know your profession. As leaders you unaware that their own men were on board. Many prisoners must be firm, fair and yet human and compassionate. You must were killed and wounded. That disaster, and the unspeakable be selfless. You should be aware of a basic fact that a great deal conditions in which the prisoners were held, led to these being can be accomplished if one is not overly concerned with who called “Hell Ships,” a designation still recalled by every survivor. gets the credit for the deed.”

On one such ship Colonel Johnson, the senior American aboard, To newly appointed brigadier generals he said: “Your job is to sought to do what he could to keep a few men alive. Every day uphold th[e] integrity [of the Army]—just play it straight.” And they were pushing overboard the corpses of men who had died to Army officers working outside the Department of the Army: during the night. Somehow Johnson had managed to hang on to “You do what is right for the country, and the Army will live his West Point class ring. Now he traded it to a guard for some with it.” All those were admonitions he demonstrated by example water and tinned fish. Another officer recalled what Johnson had every day of his life. done. “He carefully brought this food and water down,” he said, “and, in view of all these men in that hold, he meted out what he Soldiers had been given. In his lifetime many honors were accorded him, but never to equal how he was regarded by these men in this These leaders were masters of the art of building trust. At the instance. It was a small amount of food and a small amount of heart of that ability was their genuine love of soldiers, their water, but it was distributed with perfect integrity on his part.” becoming personal modesty, and the admirable standards of integrity and competence they demonstrated in all aspects of their Johnson later called the period when he was a prisoner of war “a lives, personal and professional alike. great laboratory of human behavior.” Some men lost all scruples,

others demonstrated previously unrevealed strength of character. At Carlisle Barracks, home of the Army War College, there is a Army U.S. Some simply gave up and died, while others were determined to memorial to General Abrams on which are carved these words

AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 21 of his own: “There Monday 25 December 1944 (Christmas Day): “Three days earlier, must be, within our we had five officers in the company; now we are down to only Army, a sense of one, Lieutenant Green.” “At this point, our company is down to purpose and a less than 100 men, and our daily casualties are from 15 to 20.” dedication to that purpose. There must Tuesday 26 December 1944: “Only five men are left in our squad be a willingness to today, but we are the biggest one in the platoon.” march a little farther, to carry a heavier Wednesday 27 December 1944: “We received five replacements load, to step out into in our squad, doubling its size.” General Goodpaster speaks at the World War II the darkness and the Veterans Committee’s annual conference. unknown for the Thursday 28 December 1944: “Our platoon is down to around General Goodpaster spoke at every conference safety and well-being 20 men, loosely grouped into three squads.” during its early years, lending his prestige and of others.” That is credibility. Seated next to him is American the soldier’s task. Friday 29 December 1944: “We moved up to the paratroopers Veterans Center president, James C. Roberts. and talked with them for a few minutes. We were impressed by One of General Abrams’ favorite sayings was that “people are how much more rested they looked than we did.” not in the Army, people are the Army.” Often he would add, “and by people I do not mean personnel. I do not mean end- Saturday 30 December 1944: “It was so cold…that the water in strength. I do not mean MOS’s. I do not mean files. I do not our canteens froze right on our bodies. We ate snow or melted it mean any such categories that deal with people as a commodity. down to drink or to make coffee.” I mean living, breathing, serving human beings…. Whatever is accomplished,” he stressed, “is accomplished with people. They Thursday 4 January 1945 (jumping forward five days since the are at the heart of our preparedness, and this preparedness —as last diary entry): “I am now the leader of a rifle squad, a tribute a nation and as an Army— depends upon the spirit of our soldiers. to how much seniority one acquires in an infantry company in Without it we cannot succeed.” five weeks.”

HKJ held a like view: “It is the soldier who fights; it is the soldier Later, reflecting on this period, Private Calvert wrote that “official who bleeds and dies if he must; it is the soldier who brings the records show that our 51st Armored Infantry Battalion entered victory home,” he said. “Where does he get this devotion? I wish the Bulge with about 600 men and had total casualties of 461 in I could say that we issue it to him in the Army, but we can only three weeks, including 54 killed and 151 wounded. The rest of help him find it. He brings it with him from family, the church, the casualties resulted from injuries, frozen feet, other illnesses or and schools of his hometown, or he doesn’t bring it at all.” captivity. As our activity had top priority, we received 347 replacements during the 21 days, some of whom are also included The exemplars of principled leadership I have spoken about were in the casualty figures, plus another 85 men who returned to duty alike in their devotion to, respect for, and commitment to the from hospitals.” We need to remember men like Robert Calvert well-being of the soldier. I am sure all would have agreed with with reverence and awe. General Abrams: “We’ve got to always remember—whatever echelon you serve at, no matter how sublime the strategic concept, I conclude where I began, by expressing my deepest gratitude and no matter how infinite the detail of the plan, the Army decision for the privilege of helping to honor the memory, the life, the is rendered by these men whose normal habitat in time of war is example, and the contributions to our nation of General Andrew forward of the artillery.” J. Goodpaster. He, and the others I have spoken about, represent the absolute best of the profession of arms, of service to our I am almost finished, but I want to tell you about one such man. nation, and of principled leadership. Thanks to all of you for I don’t know very much about him, but you will soon see why I being here to help celebrate their memory. respect him for his fortitude and courage. His name was Robert Calvert Jr., and this is the story from his diary of about two Lewis Sorley’s new book, Honor Bright: History weeks with Company C, 51st Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th and Origins of the West Point Honor Code and Armored Division, during the Battle of the Bulge. System is now available from McGraw-Hill publishing and bookstores nationwide. He will Sunday 24 December 1944 (Christmas Eve): “Our company be appearing with the American Veterans commander was evacuated with pneumonia, and we lost our Center’s 11th Annual Conference from November platoon sergeant because his feet froze. My squad leader, Ted, 6-8 in Washington, DC. moved up to platoon sergeant. Larry, a private who joined the AVQ division in October, is now in charge of our squad.”

AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 22 Shock Medicine By Luis Fonseca Jr., Hospitalman Second Class, U.S. Navy

Luis Fonseca Jr. received the Navy Cross - second only to the out that they didn’t have a medical section. They use the Navy’s. I Medal of Honor - for heroism serving with the 2nd Marine didn’t want to join the army because my dad had already done it, Expeditionary Brigade during the Battle of An Nasiriyah in Iraq and I wanted to create my own path. on March 23, 2003. He was the first Navy corpsman to receive the Navy Cross in 32 years. When I decided to join the Navy, I thought to myself, what is the hardest thing someone can do in life that everyone always talks Marine Company A, First Platoon, to which Fonseca was assigned, about? Of course I thought of the medical services. Since I had was charged with the capture of the northernmost bridge in An dropped out of high school I wanted to prove to people I could Nasiriyah. After embarking on their mission, they began to take still do what I really wanted to do in life. Just like any enlisted guy, heavy RPG, mortar, machine-gun, and small arms fire. A direct I went to basic training. Then I went into what’s called the Navy mortar hit knocked out a vehicle, leaving several Marines wounded. A School, where I learned my primary job. I am a general-duty He evacuated them from the burning vehicle and administered corpsman, so I learned the basics of what a corpsman does every aid, then loaded them into his amtrac. When the amtrac was hit, day dealing with medical records, dealing with drugs, everything he evacuated them again, carrying one of the Marines across open from Tylenol to morphine. I learned the basics of IV punctures, ground despite being under intense enemy fire. The valor he how to start an IV line, draw blood and give immunizations. displayed was reminiscent of the corpsmen who served on Iwo Jima and in Hue City. After that training, I got what’s called a “dream sheet,” where I listed my top three priorities that I wanted to do. I always knew HM2 Fonsenca will join the American Veterans Center’s 11th I wanted to be a field medical corpsman. I always knew I wanted Annual Conference from November 6-8, 2008. In this issue of to be with a Marine Corps unit. I wanted to do trauma medicine American Valor Quarterly, we share his first-hand account of the and shock medicine. Battle of An Nasiriyah. I had been trained well, but the question remained: How well can When I was in high school, I was into a little bit of everything. I you train to go to war and prepare to die? It’s just something you played soccer from the ninth grade to my senior year. I was in have to accept. I tell junior corpsmen when they’re getting ready band. I was part of a Hispanic Club that put on shows in to go over to Iraq or Afghanistan for the first time, “You know, traditional Latin-style dances. I think I always had a girlfriend. you could die in your sleep tonight or you could die a hundred years from now. You don’t know. Because you know that you But I was just kind of stuck. I was eighteen years old and I felt I might die doesn’t mean you should stop living life.” needed a change in my life. I didn’t want to be at my ten-year high school class reunion and have my friends ask me what I was Everything you do in combat has to be second nature. You do doing and have to answer, “I’m not really doing anything.” I not have time to stop and think about what’s next in the process. wanted to do something with my life. I wanted to feel some You can’t pull out a book and look up the answer or ask a buddy sense of accomplishment. what to do next. The one second that you stop to think about what’s going on could cost someone I’ve always been intrigued with medicine. I have always liked their life. In the heat of battle, that helping people even as a little kid. In fact, I was CPR and one split second decision could first-aid-certified at the age of thirteen. When I went to cost a life or save a life.

talk with the Marine Corps, I found Joe Raedle/Getty Images Raedle/Getty Joe

AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 23 I wondered what our enemy could have been thinking. They weren’t going to do anything to us with this small-arms fire. I knew we were going over to secure this bridge in five or ten minutes and nothing could stop us. Then the rest of the First Marine Division could push forward to Baghdad. Unfortunately it didn’t play out like that.

As soon as the first RPG hit, we heard mortar rounds coming in at us and heavy machine guns. Artillery was striking down on us. We were getting hit for the left, the right, from behind, from the front and from above. About five minutes after the fight started, my platoon sergeant called over the intercom system: One of our ‘tracs got hit, number 211, the one right in front of me. Marines dodge sniper fire during the epic 2003 Battle of An Nasiriyah, There were hurt Marines, and instinctively I knew it was my job the toughest fight in the initial march toward Baghdad. The battle is to go out there and help them. In the three years before this chronicled in the book Marines in the Garden of Eden: The True Story of moment, I had never done what I considered to be my real job. Seven Bloody Days in Iraq by Richard S. Lowry. This was my time to show my guys that I knew what I was By March 23, 2003 in An Nasiriyah, I’d been in Iraq for just two doing. or three days. It started off pretty much like any day. We woke up in the morning, cleaned ourselves up, and prepared to push My platoon sergeant told me he was going to open up the back forward. We knew what our mission was and that we would be hatch for just a second. I thought about my family and something securing a bridge later that day. It was the Saddam Canal Bridge along the lines of Lord, help me. In the time it takes you to turn a over the Euphrates River near An Nasiriyah, about two hundred doorknob and step out of your house, that’s how long I thought miles southeast of Baghdad. I don’t think anyone in their wildest about all that. Then my mind went blank, and all I thought about dreams really thought it was going to get as bad as it did. was that I had to get to my guys.

We pulled up and stopped on the southern part of the town. I I ran about thirty-five to forty meters north towards the amtrac. remember seeing all these Iraqi tanks on fire, so we knew that When I got there, I saw that it was engulfed in flames. There were our air support had been there and pretty much demolished all five wounded, and I helped get them out of the amtrac. Two of of their mobilized units. We stopped and crept forward a little them had partial lower limb amputations; three had shrapnel or bit. That was the same time and place where Jessica Lynch and flash burns. One had a broken leg. Once we got them out, we set her convoy got ambushed, so one of our tanks and one of our them on the deck and I did basic first aid, stopped the bleeding, amtracs got diverted to go help them. and put splints on. We had to move the men, though, because their amtrac was on fire and it was going to blow up due to Word came over the radio that we were still supposed to push secondary explosion from their own ammunition going off inside. forward to help secure the northern bridge. A lot of question marks went up in the air. We didn’t have tanks. We didn’t all have Right before we moved them, I heard a crackling from above. I armor plating. My platoon sergeant got on the horn to verify the looked up and saw scatter bombs. Once the bombs went off, I command. He verified that we were still supposed to push gave the order to move the casualties into my amtrac. When we forward. He gave the order. got there, I reassessed and redressed the wounds. I flushed out people’s eyes who had flash burns. I decided to give them sedation, When we got to the southern bridge, all the locals were smiling and the two that had partial lower leg amputations, I went ahead and waving at us, saying “hi” and giving us the thumbs-up. Real and gave them morphine for the pain. Using a black permanent friendly. All of a sudden, it was like you see in the movies, where marker, I put a big “M” for morphine on their foreheads along you have daylight and then it turns black. We crossed a point with “12:31” for the time I administered it. This way everybody where everything was gloomy. No one was on the streets anymore. down the line knows what is going on with this patient.

Our convoy was twelve vehicles deep, and we were number twelve. These were definitely life-threatening wounds. With amputations, Our lead vehicle was taking small-arms fire. I was standing lookout especially ones that happen so quickly and aggressively, all the and my platoon sergeant said, “Hey Doc, get back in the vehicle.” veins and arteries retract into the muscle. The muscles contract to As soon as I sat down, I heard the first small-arms rounds ding stop the bleeding. That’s the perfect time to apply the tourniquet. off our amtrac. Then we heard, “rocket in the center lane.” If you don’t, the muscles will naturally begin to relax and the Seconds later our vehicle diverted to the right and then came veins and arteries open up and all the blood rushes out just like back up to the left. We were moving out of the path of the RPG water from a hose. That will send your body into shock.

U.S. Marine Corps Photo that an insurgent had shot down the road towards us. AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 24 I had been taking care of these patients for about ten or fifteen We lost eighteen Marines that day. Fifteen others were wounded minutes when they called me over the intercom and said that and had to leave the battlefield. Ten others were wounded slightly number 206 had been hit. I ran north about two hundred to two and didn’t have to leave the battlefield. That had to have been hundred and fifty yards with my medical bag. I couldn’t find one of the worst days of the war. number 206, but I stopped and helped out some other grunt corpsmen who were attached to the infantry unit. We set up a The one thing that surprised me, and it surprises just about collection point to help them medevac their casualties. everyone, was that I weighed 150 pounds at the time. I’m five feet five and I carried a two-hundred-pound Marine on my back, I kept running another two hundred yards, trying to find 206, but plus all of my equipment and my medical gear. I was also surprised I still couldn’t find it. I ran into the commanding officer for Charlie by how much knowledge and training I retained. I was able to Company, and I said, “Hey sir, I got word that 206 had been hit make split-second decisions. but I can’t find it. Do you have any word on that? He told me, “Doc, I believe that Honestly, I thought I was going to die. I is a message in error so go back to your knew there was a bullet with my name on amtrac. You’re doing a great job and keep it. I thought, “I’m going to do my job up the good work.” “Roger that, sir,” I until I get hit.” I needed to save my boys. said and went back to my amtrac. I needed to take them back home. I was running up and down looking for number I stood outside of my amtrac, taking a 206 for an hour or an hour and a half, pee. The crazy things a person does. I don’t just coming up on wounded and, want to say that I was shell-shocked but I unfortunately, deceased Marines. I didn’t didn’t really grasp the enormity of what think I was going to make it out of this was going on. I heard everyone shouting, alive. But it wasn’t an overwhelming “Doc, get back inside,” and I said, “Hold feeling. I would honestly say it was more on, I’ve got to finish peeing.” As soon as of a calming feeling, like “I can’t believe I got back inside and closed the hatch, a this is where I’m going to die.” But then mortar round landed on our amtrac. We I’d hear Marines crying in pain and think, took two more hits, another one on the “I may die but these guys need me right right side and one on the top. Then an now.” I was doing my job, which is not RPG struck the front, blowing out our to think about my safety but to think about transmission and disabling our vehicle. the safety of my Marines. I wish I could Luis Fonseca Jr. after being presented the Navy Cross - the first corpsman to receive the award have done more. At that time, I decided to take the casualties since Vietnam. out of my now-disabled vehicle and get Because I was in the Navy and was them somewhere safer. We opened up the hatch and moved four assigned to a Marine unit, I felt like an outsider at first. They had patients to another amtrac. The fifth Marine I personally fireman- earned the title United States Marine, and I hadn’t. I had to prove carried over open ground under intense machine-gun and rocket myself, that I could hang with them, do PT with them, hump fire. I made it to a ditch, and he and I hung out there for a while. with them. One of the greatest honors, believe it or not, is hearing my Marines tell me, “Doc, regardless of what branch of the This was the sixth hour of the firefight. We were in the ditch for service you’re in, you are a Marine in our eyes.” Marines are some about ten minutes. Sometimes it feels like we were there two of the best people I’ve ever met. Guys trust me now. hours. The badly wounded Marine was one of the guys who had a lower leg amputation. I kept monitoring him and he was doing “Shock Medicine” by Luis Fonseca, Jr. is excerpted well. I kept talking to him, keeping him alert and awake. Then we from HEROES AMONG US, edited by Chuck saw an amtrac come by. I flagged him down, ran up the road Larson, copyright (c) 2008 by Chuck Larson. Used and told him to follow me. I ran back to the ditch and we loaded by permission of Dutton Signet, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. up our casualty. We went south through the city, offloaded our casualties to the Second Battalion, Eighth Marines, cleaned up HEROES AMONG US: Firsthand Accounts our amtrac, and proceed back north to regroup with our platoon, from America’s Most Decorated Warriors in Iraq Hardcover NAL Bottom: Photo Navy U.S. Top: which was engaged in the fight. We took fire on the way. By the and Afghanistan is available at bookstores time we got there, things had calmed down. There were little nationwide. sporadic firefights here and there. Air support was coming in. The tanks finally caught back up with us. AVQ

AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Summer 2008 - 25 Registration Now Open! The American Veterans Center’s 11th Annual Conference November 6-8 -Washington, DC

The American Veterans Center invites you to join us for the nation’s premier Veterans Day event! From Novem- ber 6-8, 2008, some of America’s most distinguished veterans and active duty service members will gather in Washington to share their experiences and memories of the defining moments in American military history. The conference will feature three days of speakers and panels, wreath-laying ceremonies at our nation’s war memori- als, private VIP receptions, and the annual gala awards banquet honoring our greatest military heroes. The 11th Annual Conference will be a weekend none who attend will ever forget. Registration is now open, and space is limited, so sign up today! To request a daily schedule and registration form, call 703-302-1012 ext. 220 or e-mail [email protected] Highlights Include:

The Doolittle Raiders - Veterans of Jimmy Doolittle’s Major League Baseball Veterans of WWII - Men who legendary attack on Japan. put their sports careers on hold to serve in the United States Military. The Filthy Thirteen - Including Bob Feller, Monte Irvin, Mickey Vernon, The men of the 101st Lou Brissie and Jerry Coleman Airborne Division who (Additional participants TBA) made up the true story behind the famous film, Col. Dave R. The Dirty Dozen. Severance - Com- mander of E. Co., Theodore “Dutch” 28th Marines on Iwo Van Kirk - The naviga- Jima, which scaled Mt. In the famous photo from Stars and Stripes, men of the “Filthy Thirteen” apply war tor of the Enola Gay, the Suribachi and raised paint prior to D-Day. The war paint and B-29 Superfortress that the flags. mohawks were inspired by their leader, Jake McNiece. Joining McNiece at the 2008 dropped the first atomic conference will be the four other survivors bomb. Lt. Gen. Julius of the famed unit. Becton - Decorated The Tuskegee Airmen - Veterans of the legendary air veteran of WWII, Ko- unit which comprised the first black pilots in U.S. military rea, and Vietnam, and history. later director of FEMA & President Dr. Lewis Sorley - Veteran of Vietnam and author of the of Prairie View A&M The first flag is raised atop Mt. Suribachi during Pulitzer Prize-nominated book, A Better War University. the battle of Iwo Jima. Then-Captain Dave Severance led the company that secured the They Also Serve: The Contribution of Women to the The Tet Offensive: mountain. U.S. Militar y - Some of the military’s most distinguished 40th Anniversary - A discussion on the major turning female veterans and active duty personnel share their ex- point of the Vietnam War. periences. We Were Soldiers - Lt. General Hal Moore, Good Morning, Vietnam - Featuring famed Air Force Joseph Galloway, and veterans of DJ Adrian Cronauer, portrayed by the battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam. Robin Williams in the famous film. Gen. Moore and Joe Galloway will discuss their new book, WE ARE The Last Ace - Brig. Gen. R. Steve SOLDIERS STILL: A Journey Back Ritchie, the only Air Force “ace” to the Battlefields of Vietnam. pilot of Vietnam and the U.S. military’s last ace. The Medal of Honor - Veterans who have received our nation’s high- Today’s Heroes - Several of the est military award. most highly decorated service mem- bers from Iraq and Afghanistan. Black Hawk Down - Featuring Matthew Eversmann, veteran of The Medal of Honor: A New the Battle of Mogadishu whose Hal Moore walks among the North Vietnamese casualties Generation - Service members during the epic battle of Ia Drang. General Moore and Joe who served alongside the five re- story was told in the best-selling Galloway will join the conference in an exclusive discussion book and portrayed by Josh of their long-awaited sequel to the best-selling We Were Soldiers cipients from Iraq and Afghanistan Hartnett in the 2001 film. Once...And Young. share their stories of valor.

War and New Media - War correspondents and mili- Back to Iraq - Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom tary bloggers share how new forms of media are chang- who have returned to report on the effects of “The Surge” ing the way we look at war. and the current situation. Also Included

An exclusive discussion and reception at the historic Army & Navy Club to celebrate the publication of General Hal Moore and Joseph Galloway’s new book, WE ARE SOLDIERS STILL.

A VIP reception in honor of the Major League Baseball players who served in World War II with tribute to Bob Feller on his 90th birthday. Black Hawk helicopter Super64 flies over the Somali Special guests include our heroic Wounded Warriors from Walter Reed capital of Mogadishu on its fateful mission, October 3, 1993. Super64 was downed in the battle, and two Delta Army Medical Hospital and Bethesda Naval Hospital. Snipers - Randy Shugart and Gary Gordon - were inserted at their own request to protect the injured crew from an approaching mob. Shugart and Gordon were killed in that Wreath-laying ceremonies at the National World War II Memorial, action, and would be posthumously awarded the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Medal of Honor. The 11th Annual Awards Banquet, the grand finale of the conference honoring America’s greatest military heroes.

To request a daily schedule or registration form, call 703-302-1012 ext. 220, e-mail [email protected], or write us at: American Veterans Center / 1100 N. Glebe Rd. Suite 910 / Arlington, VA 22201 The conference will be held at the Renaissance Washington Hotel / 999 9th St., NW / Washington, DC 20001. Transportation will be provided to all off-site events from the Renaissance. Hotel reservations should be made directly with the Renaissance by calling 800-468-3571 or 202-898-9000. Be sure to tell the reservation clerk that you are attending the American Veterans Center’s conference in order to obtain the reduced rate of $219 (single/double). Room rates available through October 5, 2008. Again, space is limited! Be a part of history, and register today! Please note that while participants are confirmed, schedule is subject to change. The American Veterans Center 1100 N. Glebe Rd. Suite 910 Arlington, VA 22201