World War II Chronicles A Quarterly Publication of the World War II Veterans Committee ISSUE XXXVII, Winter 2006/07 Heroes Then. Heroes Now. World War II Chronicles A Quarterly Publication of the World War II Veterans Committee WWW.WWIIVETS.COM ISSUE XXXVII, Winter, 2006/07 From the Editor -In This Issue- A Gathering of Valor Across the Generations by 4 Tim Holbert Heroes A recap of the American Veterans Center’s Ninth Annual Conference. From November 9-11, 2006, the American Veterans Center and World War II Veterans Committee held its Ninth Annual Confer- Special Feature ence. Here, some of America’s most distin- guished veterans from World War II through Operation Iraqi Freedom gathered to share High school students in attendance at the American Veterans Center 2006 Awardees Ninth Annual Conference take turns shaking their experiences with young students, fel- hands with Medal of Honor recipients “Bud” 10 Each year, we honor several of the United States low veterans, and an admiring public. In this military’s great veterans in an effort to preserve Day and “Hershey” Miyamura, prior to a panel issue, we print several of the stories as told devoted to the Medal. The conference and promote their stories of valor. In this issue, by these heroes of the Greatest provided several hundred students an we recognize our 2006 awardees, heroes from the Generation...and the latest generation. opportunity to meet, and learn from, some of Greatest Generation and the latest generation. America’s greatest heroes. Articles A Conversation with Lt. General Harry W.O. Kinnard The Doolittle Raiders 11 The man responsible for Gen. McAuliffe’s famed 16 Five veterans of the legendary Doolittle Raid on Japan response to the German demand for surrender at remember their mission - and their leader. Bastogne - “NUTS!” - recalls his experience. E Company, 506th Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Fallujah: Two Years Later 20 Division: The Band of Brothers 25 In what was the toughest battle of Operation Iraqi Veterans of one of the most celebrated units of World Freedom, four veterans recount their experiences, and War II share their stories, from Currahee to the Eagle’s remind us that the tradition of valor continues among Nest. this new generation of heroes. Only from the World War II Veterans Committee General James H. Doolittle A Portrait by Sam Ryskind He was an aviation pioneer, a brilliant pilot, and one of the greatest leaders in the history of the United States Armed Forces. He was beloved among the men who served under him, and always led from the front. And for his daring raid on Japan in April, 1942, Jimmy Doolittle was awarded the Medal of Honor. Now available from the World War II Veterans Committee is this full-color, limited edition print reproduction of artist Sam Ryskind’s portrait of General Doolittle. Measuring 20”x24” in size, the painting was commissioned exclusively for the World War II Veterans Committee, with 400 prints signed by five of Doolittle’s Raiders, including Col. William Bower, Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, Maj. Thomas Griffin, M/Sgt. Edwin Horton, and Maj. Gen. David M. Jones. A limited quantity of signed and numbered prints are available for a donation to the World War II Veterans Committee of $500. Unsigned copies are available for ____. To order, call 202-777-7272 ext. 220 or e-mail [email protected] World War II Chronicles - Winter, 2006/07 - 2 From the President Remembering Admiral and Mrs. Thomas Moorer On March 22 America lost a great lady. On that day Mrs. Car- Speaking of the role women played in World War II he said, rie Moorer, widow of the late Admiral Thomas Moorer died “They’ve never gotten the credit they deserved.” after a long illness. Mrs. Moorer navigated innumerable moves during her husband’s Admiral Moorer had one of the most distinguished careers in long career, including duty stations in Japan and Britain and U.S. Military history. A graduate of the many places in between. She took the U.S. Naval Academy, he was a junior lead in raising four children and was a naval aviator at Pearl Harbor when the superb homemaker and hostess as well Japanese attacked. One of the few pi- as a trusted advisor. lots to get his plane off the ground, Lt. Moorer was dispatched on an all night Following Admiral Moorer’s death I flight to look for the Japanese fleet. approached Mrs. Moorer with the idea of naming the Committee’s planned He saw extensive combat in World War new headquarters after him. She and her II and was decorated with the Distin- family readily agreed and we are pre- guished Flying Cross and Purple Heart, paring to launch an ambitious capital and enjoyed a meteoric rise through the drive to acquire the funds for this ef- ranks of the Navy. Admiral Moorer fect. The new Moorer Center will also served as Commander of both the At- include a tribute to Mrs. Moorer. During full military burial honors for Adm. lantic and Pacific Fleets (the only man Thomas H. Moorer at Arlington National to ever do so) as Chief of Naval Op- Cemetery in 2004, Mrs. Carrie Moorer receives the If you would like more details on the erations and as Chairman of the Joint National Ensign from retired Vice Adm. Joe P. capital campaign please write to me at Chiefs of Staff. Moorer, Adm. Moorer’s surviving brother. the following address: Tom and Carrie Moorer had a long and loving marriage and World War II Veterans Committee were true partners in life. The Admiral was a featured speaker 1030 15th Street, NW at the first seven of our national conferences and he frequently Suite 856 spoke with affection about his wife. Washington, DC 20005 “They say a wife can make a man successful or happy.” he said. I hope you will join with me in completing this living memo- “Mine has made me both successful and happy.” rial to a great American hero – and to his wonderful wife. He related how, after Pearl Harbor, his young wife had to make Sincerely, her way back to their home in Alabama, traveling by ship, train and bus for several weeks with an infant in her arms. James C. Roberts President World War II Chronicles World War II Chronicles, Issue XXXVII, Winter 2006/07. A quarterly publication of the World War II Veterans Committee, 1030 15th St, NW Suite 856, Washington, DC 20005. Telephone: 202-777- 7272. Fax: 202-408-0624. The World War II Veterans Committee is a division of the American Veterans Center. World War II Chronicles is mailed to donors to the World War II Veterans Committee who make a contribution of $50 or David Eisenhower - Honorary Chairman more per-year. Contributions help to fund the Committee’s various James C. Roberts - President speaker conferences, student programs, the National Memorial Day Tim Holbert - Editor/Program Director Parade, documentary and oral history projects, and this publication. To Jim Michels - Director of Development make a contribution or subscribe, call 202-777-7272 or e-mail Michael Paradiso - Publisher [email protected]. World War II Chronicles - Winter, 2006/07 - 3 Valor Across the Generations By Tim Holbert Editor Everywhere one looked, from November 9 through 11 at dents in attendance to come forward and shake the hands the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, in Arlington, Virginia they of these two men. Miyamura received the Medal of Honor saw a hero. Gathering there for the American Veterans for his service on April 24-25, 1951, where during an Center’s Ninth Annual Conference were distinguished intense battle north of Seoul, he killed over 50 Chinese veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Opera- attackers before being felled by an enemy grenade. He tions Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Here, they was captured and held as a POW for the next 28 months. met with and spoke to their fellow veterans from across the generations, a grateful “Bud” Day needed little in- public, and several hundred troduction to the audience. high school and college stu- Shot down by the North dents, eager to hear of their Vietnamese on August 26, experiences in service to 1967, Day was seriously America. wounded and captured. Despite being tortured and The conference proved to physically spent, Day es- be a who’s who of Ameri- caped from captivity, nearly can heroes, and featured reaching the safety of a unit such legends as veterans of of U.S. Marines. He was the “Doolittle Raiders” and eventually recaptured, and “Band of Brothers” from sent to the infamous World War II, former pris- “Hanoi Hilton.” Day be- oners of war from Vietnam, came one of the great lead- Veterans of the legendary Doolittle Raiders led a wreath laying cer- Medal of Honor recipients, emony at the National World War II Memorial on November 11, 2006, ers among the Vietnam and decorated veterans of part of the Ninth Annual Conference. Assisting the Raiders and POWs, and was later Iraq and Afghanistan. Join- providing color guard were kids from the Young Marines program. awarded the Medal of ing them were such promi- The conference provided an opportunity for hundreds of young Honor for his heroism. John nent veterans as Lt. Gen. people to meet some of America’s greatest heroes. McCain, his cellmate in Dave R. Palmer, former Superintendent of West Point Hanoi, would call him “the bravest man I have ever met.” and noted military historian; Dr. Lewis Sorley, veteran of Vietnam and the preeminent historian on the war today; At the conclusion of the panel, Malone told the students, Lt.