Medal of Honor: D. R. Kingsley

DAVID R KINGSLEY

Second Lieutenant, US Army Air Corps; 97th Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force

Born: 27 June 1918, Portland, Oregon
Died: 23 June 1944, near Ploieşti, Rumania

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, 23 June 1944 near Ploesti, Rumania, while flying as bombardier of a B17 type aircraft. On the bomb run 2d Lt. Kingsley's aircraft was severely damaged by intense flak and forced to drop out of formation but the pilot proceeded over the target and 2d Lt. Kingsley successfully dropped his bombs, causing severe damage to vital installations. The damaged aircraft, forced to lose altitude and to lag behind the formation, was aggressively attacked by 3 ME-109 aircraft, causing more damage to the aircraft and severely wounding the tail gunner in the upper arm. The radio operator and engineer notified 2d Lt. Kingsley that the tail gunner had been wounded and that assistance was needed to check the bleeding. 2d Lt. Kingsley made his way back to the radio room, skillfully applied first aid to the wound, and succeeded in checking the bleeding. The tail gunner's parachute harness and heavy clothes were removed and he was covered with blankets, making him as comfortable as possible. Eight ME-109 aircraft again aggressively attacked 2d Lt. Kingsley's aircraft and the ball turret gunner was wounded by 20mm. shell fragments. He went forward to the radio room to have 2d Lt. Kingsley administer first aid. A few minutes later when the pilot gave the order to prepare to bail out, 2d Lt. Kingsley immediately began to assist the wounded gunners in putting on their parachute harness. In the confusion the tail gunner's harness, believed to have been damaged, could not be located in the bundle of blankets and flying clothes which had been removed from the wounded men. With utter disregard for his own means of escape, 2d Lt. Kingsley unhesitatingly removed his parachute harness and adjusted it to the wounded tail gunner. Due to the extensive damage caused by the accurate and concentrated 20mm. fire by the enemy aircraft the pilot gave the order to bail out, as it appeared that the aircraft would disintegrate at any moment. 2d Lt. Kingsley aided the wounded men in bailing out and when last seen by the crewmembers he was standing on the bomb bay catwalk. The aircraft continued to fly on automatic pilot for a short distance, then crashed and burned. His body was later found in the wreckage. 2d Lt. Kingsley by his gallant heroic action was directly responsible for saving the life of the wounded gunner.

RIP: Paul J. Wiedorfer

Paul Joseph Wiedorfer
17 Jan 1921 - 25 May 2011

ZUI this article from the Washington Post:

Paul J. Wiedorfer, 89, who as an Army private on Christmas Day 1944 charged two German machine-gun nests and single-handedly saved his platoon mates caught in an ambush, an act for which he received the Medal of Honor, died May 25 at the Baltimore VA Medical Center. His family said he had congestive heart failure.

Mr. Wiedorfer, who was born and grew up in Baltimore, was reportedly Maryland’s last surviving recipient of the Medal of Honor, the military’s highest award for valor.

He was 23 when his unit, part of Gen. George S. Patton’s Third Army, was sent to rescue American troops trapped in Bastogne, Belgium, during the first days of the Battle of the Bulge.

*******

“I was probably a little nuts when I did it,” he told the Baltimore Sun in 1995. “But someone was going to die if something didn’t get done.”

*******

Two months later, crossing the Saar River in Germany, Mr. Wiedorfer’s unit came under mortar fire. The soldier next to him was killed instantly. Mr. Wiedorfer was struck by shrapnel, and the blast shattered his leg and injured his hand. He recuperated at a hospital in England, where he was placed in traction.

One day, a fellow patient was reading the Stars and Stripes newspaper and informed Mr. Wiedorfer that he’d just received the Medal of Honor for his Christmas Day bravery.

*******

Mr. Wiedorfer’s wife, the former Alice Stauffer, died in 2008. A daughter, Nancy Mazer, died in 2010.

Survivors include three children, Randee Wiedorfer of Parkville, Md., Paul J. Wiedorfer Jr. of Baltimore and Gary Wiedorfer of Cocoa, Fla.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

ZUI also this article (dated 11 May 2008) from the Baltimore Sun.

There are now 84 living Medal of Honor recipients.

************* *** *************

PAUL JOSEPH WIEDORFER

Private, US Army; Company G, 318th Infantry, 80th Infantry Division

Born: 17 January 1921, Baltimore, Maryland
Died: 25 May 2011, Baltimore, Maryland

Citation: He alone made it possible for his company to advance until its objective was seized. Company G had cleared a wooded area [near Chaumont, Belgium,] of snipers, and [on 25 December 1944] 1 platoon was advancing across an open clearing toward another wood when it was met by heavy machinegun fire from 2 German positions dug in at the edge of the second wood. These positions were flanked by enemy riflemen. The platoon took cover behind a small ridge approximately 40 yards from the enemy position. There was no other available protection and the entire platoon was pinned down by the German fire. It was about noon and the day was clear, but the terrain extremely difficult due to a 3-inch snowfall the night before over ice-covered ground. Pvt. Wiedorfer, realizing that the platoon advance could not continue until the 2 enemy machinegun nests were destroyed, voluntarily charged alone across the slippery open ground with no protecting cover of any kind. Running in a crouched position, under a hail of enemy fire, he slipped and fell in the snow, but quickly rose and continued forward with the enemy concentrating automatic and small-arms fire on him as he advanced. Miraculously escaping injury, Pvt. Wiedorfer reached a point some 10 yards from the first machinegun emplacement and hurled a handgrenade into it. With his rifle he killed the remaining Germans, and, without hesitation, wheeled to the right and attacked the second emplacement. One of the enemy was wounded by his fire and the other 6 immediately surrendered. This heroic action by 1 man enabled the platoon to advance from behind its protecting ridge and continue successfully to reach its objective. A few minutes later, when both the platoon leader and the platoon sergeant were wounded, Pvt. Wiedorfer assumed command of the platoon, leading it forward with inspired energy until the mission was accomplished.

Victoria Cross: J. A. Wood

JOHN AUGUSTUS WOOD

Captain, 20th Bombay Native Infantry

Born: 10 June 1818, Fort William, Calcutta, India
Died: 23 January 1878, Poona, India

Citation: On the 9th of December, 1856, Captain Wood led the Grenadier Company, which formed the head of the assaulting column sent against Bushire. He was the first man on the parapet of the fort, where he was instantly attacked by a large number of the garrison, who suddenly sprang on him from a trench cut in the parapet itself.
These men fired a volley at Captain Wood and the head of the storming party, when only a yard or two distant from that Officer; but, although Captain Wood was struck by no less than seven musket balls, he at once threw himself upon the enemy, passed his sword through the body of their leader, and, being closely followed by the men of his company, speedily overcame all opposition, and established himself in the place. Captain Wood's decision, energy, and determined valour, undoubtedly contributed in a high degree to the success of the attack. His wounds compelled him to leave the force for a time; but, with the true spirit of a good soldier, he rejoined his regiment, and returned to his duty at Bushire before the wounds were properly healed.

[London Gazette issue 22409 dated 3 Aug 1860, published 3 Aug 1860.]


Note: Bushire, or Bushehr, is on the southwestern coast of Iran, on the Persian Gulf.

Medal of Honor: O. F. P. Hammerberg

OWEN FRANCIS PATRICK HAMMERBERG

Boatswain's Mate Second Class, US Navy

Born: 31 May 1920, Daggett, Michigan
Died: 17 February 1945, Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a diver engaged in rescue operations at West Loch, Pearl Harbor, 17 February 1945. Aware of the danger when 2 fellow divers were hopelessly trapped in a cave-in of steel wreckage while tunneling with jet nozzles under an LST sunk in 40 feet of water and 20 feet of mud. Hammerberg unhesitatingly went overboard in a valiant attempt to effect their rescue despite the certain hazard of additional cave-ins and the risk of fouling his lifeline on jagged pieces of steel imbedded in the shifting mud. Washing a passage through the original excavation, he reached the first of the trapped men, freed him from the wreckage and, working desperately in pitch-black darkness, finally effected his release from fouled lines, thereby enabling him to reach the surface. Wearied but undaunted after several hours of arduous labor, Hammerberg resolved to continue his struggle to wash through the oozing submarine, subterranean mud in a determined effort to save the second diver. Venturing still farther under the buried hulk, he held tenaciously to his purpose, reaching a place immediately above the other man just as another cave-in occurred and a heavy piece of steel pinned him crosswise over his shipmate in a position which protected the man beneath from further injury while placing the full brunt of terrific pressure on himself. Although he succumbed in agony 18 hours after he had gone to the aid of his fellow divers, Hammerberg, by his cool judgment, unfaltering professional skill and consistent disregard of all personal danger in the face of tremendous odds, had contributed effectively to the saving of his 2 comrades. His heroic spirit of self-sacrifice throughout enhanced and sustained the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.


Note: USS Hammerberg (DE 1015) was named in his honour.

Victoria Cross: L. C. Maygar

LESLIE CECIL MAYGAR

Lieutenant, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles

Born: 26 May 1874, Dean Station, Victoria, Australia
Died: 17 November 1917, Palestine

Citation: At Geelhoutboom, on the 23rd November, 1901, Lieutenant Maygar galloped out and ordered the men of a detached post, which was being outflanked, to retire. The horse of one of them being shot under him, when the enemy were within 200 yards, Lieutenant Maygar dismounted and lifted him on to his own horse, which bolted into boggy ground, causing both of them to dismount. On extricating the horse and finding that it could not carry both, Lieutenant Maygar again put the man on its back, and told him to gallop for cover at once, he himself proceeding on foot. All this took place under a very heavy fire.

[London Gazette issue 27405 dated 11 Feb 1902, published 11 Feb 1902.]

Medal of Honor: E. R. Smith

ELMELINDO RODRIGUES SMITH

Platoon Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant), US Army; 1st Platoon, Company C, 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division

Born: 27 July 1935, Wahiawa, Hawaii
Died: 16 February 1967, Vietnam

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty [on 16 February 1967]. During a reconnaissance patrol his platoon was suddenly engaged by intense machinegun fire hemming in the platoon on 3 sides. A defensive perimeter was hastily established, but the enemy added mortar and rocket fire to the deadly fusillade and assaulted the position from several directions. With complete disregard for his safety, P/Sgt. Smith moved through the deadly fire along the defensive line, positioning soldiers, distributing ammunition and encouraging his men to repeal the enemy attack. Struck to the ground by enemy fire which caused a severe shoulder wound, he regained his feet, killed the enemy soldier and continued to move about the perimeter. He was again wounded in the shoulder and stomach but continued moving on his knees to assist in the defense. Noting the enemy massing at a weakened point on the perimeter, he crawled into the open and poured deadly fire into the enemy ranks. As he crawled on, he was struck by a rocket. Moments later, he regained consciousness, and drawing on his fast dwindling strength, continued to crawl from man to man. When he could move no farther, he chose to remain in the open where he could alert the perimeter to the approaching enemy. P/Sgt. Smith perished, never relenting in his determined effort against the enemy. The valorous acts and heroic leadership of this outstanding soldier inspired those remaining members of his platoon to beat back the enemy assaults. P/Sgt. Smith's gallant actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and they reflect great credit upon him and the Armed Forces of his country.

Medals of Honor awarded for Korea

ZUI this US Army press release:

Representatives from the families of two Soldiers -- Pfc. Anthony Kaho'ohanohano and Pfc. Henry Svehla, who gave their lives for their comrades in Korea -- proudly received the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama in the East Room of the White House, May 2, 2011.

Members of the families flew to Washington, D.C., from their homes in Hawaii, Texas, and New Jersey. They were joined by with Sen. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii and Congressman Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, who both sponsored the provision in the National Defense Authorization Act authorizing the Army to award posthumously the highest honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.

Both men were originally awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

************* *** *************

ANTHONY T KAHO`OHANOHANO

Private First Class, US Army; Company H, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division

Born: 1930, Maui, Territory of Hawai`i
Died: 1 September 1951, near Chup'a-ri, Korea

Citation: Private First Class Anthony T. Kaho'ohanohano, Company H, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Chupa-ri, Korea, on 1 September 1951. On that date, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano was in charge of a machine-gun squad supporting the defensive positioning of Company F when a numerically superior enemy force launched a fierce attack. Because of the enemy's overwhelming numbers, friendly troops were forced to execute a limited withdrawal. As the men fell back, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano ordered his squad to take up more defensible positions and provide covering fire for the withdrawing friendly force. Although having been wounded in the shoulder during the initial enemy assault, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano gathered a supply of grenades and ammunition and returned to his original position to face the enemy alone. As the hostile troops concentrated their strength against his emplacement in an effort to overrun it, Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano fought fiercely and courageously, delivering deadly accurate fire into the ranks of the onrushing enemy. When his ammunition was depleted, he engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until he was killed. Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano's heroic stand so inspired his comrades that they launched a counterattack that completely repulsed the enemy. Upon reaching Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano's emplacement, friendly troops discovered 11 enemy soldiers lying dead in front of the emplacement and two inside it, killed in hand-to-hand combat. Private First Class Kaho'ohanohano's extraordinary heroism and selfless devotion to duty are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 7th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.



HENRY SVEHLA

Private First Class, US Army; Company F, 32d Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division

Born: 1932, Newark, New Jersey
Died: 12 June 1952, Pyongony, Korea

Citation: Private First Class Henry Svehla distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifleman with F Company, 32d Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Pyongony, Korea, on 12 June 1952. That afternoon while Private First Class Svehla and his platoon were patrolling a strategic hill to determine enemy strength and positions, they were subjected to intense enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire at the top of the hill. Coming under the heavy fire, the platoon's attack began to falter. Realizing the success of the mission and the safety of the remaining troops were in peril, Private First Class Svehla leapt to his feet and charged the enemy positions, firing his weapon and throwing grenades as he advanced. In the face of this courage and determination, the platoon rallied to the attack with renewed vigor. Private First Class Svehla, utterly disregarding his own safety, destroyed enemy positions and inflicted heavy casualties, when suddenly fragments from a mortar round exploding nearby seriously wounded him in the face. Despite his wounds, Private First Class Svehla refused medical treatment and continued to lead the attack. When an enemy grenade landed among a group of his comrades, Private First Class Svehla, without hesitation and undoubtedly aware of the extreme danger, threw himself upon the grenade. During this action, Private First Class Svehla was mortally wounded. Private First Class Svehla's extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Irony, indeed....

ZUI this post at Gun Free Zone.

H/T to Tam.

TBR

The current status of my TBR shelf:

Vet in the Vestry - memoirs, by Alexander Cameron *
Quartered Safe out Here - WWII memoirs, by George MacDonald Fraser
Other Worlds Than Ours - SF (short stories), by Nelson Bond
African Exodus: The Origins of Modern Humanity - palaeoanthropology, by Chris Stringer
Terra: Our 100-Million-Year-Old Ecosystem - and the Threats That Now Put It at Risk - palaeontology, by Michael J Novacek
Northrop Hall - historical fiction, by Margaret Bacon
Thumbs, Toes, and Tears: And Other Traits That Make Us Human - palaeoanthropology, by Chip Walter
Owls Well That Ends Well - mystery, by Donna Andrews
Everybody Sees the Ants - YA, by A S King
Poultry in the Pulpit - memoirs, by Alexander Cameron
The White Dragon - SF, by Anne McCaffrey *

(The two books marked by asterisks are rereads.)

Victoria Cross: G. F. Day

GEORGE FIOTT DAY

Commander, Royal Navy

Born: 20 June 1820, Southampton, Hampshire
Died: 18 December 1876, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset

Citation: With great enterprise and gallantry, landed, and successfully carried out a reconnoissance, within the enemy's lines at Genitchi [on 17 September 1855].
This service was performed by Commander Day, with the view of ascertaining the practicability of reaching the enemy's gun-vessels, which lay within the Straits of Genitchi, close to the town. It was performed by Commander Day alone on a dark but fine night, with the assistance of a pocket-compass.
After traversing four or five miles of low swampy ground, occasionally up to his knees in water, he at length advanced to within about 200 yards of the vessels. From the perfect silence on board them, it was his conviction that they were without crews, and when he returned, it was with the full impression that the expedition was a feasible one. This opinion, however, he was induced to change on the following day, in consequence of the increasing activity which was apparent in the direction of the vessels, and therefore he determined on making a second visit to the spot. On this occasion the night was a squally one, and the journey longer and more difficult than before. On reaching the spot, finding the vessels manned, and their crews apparently on the alert, he decided that any attempt to surprise them was out of the question.
(Despatch from Admiral Lord Lyons, 9th October, 1855, No. 844.)
N.B.—It was while attempting a reconnoissance on the same ground, that Captain L'Allemand, of the French steam-vessel "Mouette," lost his life.

[London Gazette issue 21971 dated 24 Feb 1857, published 24 Feb 1857.]

Medal of Honor: A. J. Jackson

ARTHUR J JACKSON

Private First Class, US Marine Corps; 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division

Born: 18 October 1924, Cleveland, Ohio
Died: TBD

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Island of Peleliu in the Palau group, 18 September 1944. Boldly taking the initiative when his platoon's left flank advance was held up by the fire of Japanese troops concealed in strongly fortified positions, Pfc. Jackson unhesitatingly proceeded forward of our lines and, courageously defying the heavy barrages, charged a large pillbox housing approximately 35 enemy soldiers. Pouring his automatic fire into the opening of the fixed installation to trap the occupying troops, he hurled white phosphorus grenades and explosive charges brought up by a fellow marine, demolishing the pillbox and killing all of the enemy. Advancing alone under the continuous fire from other hostile emplacements, he employed similar means to smash 2 smaller positions in the immediate vicinity. Determined to crush the entire pocket of resistance although harassed on all sides by the shattering blasts of Japanese weapons and covered only by small rifle parties, he stormed 1 gun position after another, dealing death and destruction to the savagely fighting enemy in his inexorable drive against the remaining defenses, and succeeded in wiping out a total of 12 pillboxes and 50 Japanese soldiers. Stouthearted and indomitable despite the terrific odds. Pfc. Jackson resolutely maintained control of the platoon's left flank movement throughout his valiant 1-man assault and, by his cool decision and relentless fighting spirit during a critical situation, contributed essentially to the complete annihilation of the enemy in the southern sector of the island. His gallant initiative and heroic conduct in the face of extreme peril reflect the highest credit upon Pfc. Jackson and the U.S. Naval Service.

Report card BS

ZUI this article from The Huffington Post:

Forget the familiar A, B and C on your child's report card -- the new letters to look out for could be B, M and I.

Sending students home with a "weight grade" has been a growing trend over the past few years, with several U.S. states adopting policies to list a BMI calculation on children's school report cards, often with exercise or nutrition tips to help parents keep kids on track. And now Malaysia has just passed a countrywide policy to include a BMI score at school alongside the typical academic marks.

(Links copied from original HuffPost article.)

Say what? Who came up with this nonsense?

H/T to Cheryl Rainfield who, along with fellow author Sarah Darer Littman, thinks this is a very bad idea and has a petition up to stop this practice.

I've signed.

RIP: Claude Stanley Choules

Claude Stanley Choules
3 Mar 1901 – 5 May 2011

The last male veteran from World War I has died. ZUI this article from the Sydney Morning Herald:

Claude ''Chuckles'' Choules was the last-known combat veteran of World War I living in Australia and the last surviving Anglo-Australian to have served in both world wars.

He was also the last surviving sailor of World War I and served in both the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. In fact, he was only two days younger than the RAN, which was established on March 1, 1901.

*******


Claude Stanley Choules, who held dual British and Australian nationality, was born on March 3, 1901, at Wyre Piddle, Pershore, in Worcestershire, one of five children of Madelin and Henry, a haberdasher and gambler.

*******

Choules dropped out of school at 14 and fibbed about his age to join the navy in 1915. The previous year he had tried to join the army as a bugle boy when he learnt that his brothers, Douglas and Leslie, were serving in the British Army. Both had fought at Gallipoli before going on to fight on the Western Front in France, where Douglas was gassed and died a year later and Leslie won the Military Medal for bravery.

After initial training on HMS Impregnable, at one time a 140-gun square-rigged wooden battleship, Choules served in the North Sea on HMS Revenge, flagship of the Royal Navy's first battle squadron.

*******


Between 1920 and 1923, Choules served in the Mediterranean before being seconded with 11 other Royal Navy personnel to come to Australia in 1926 on loan to the RAN as an instructor at Flinders Naval Depot on the Mornington Peninsula.

On the way to Australia, on the passenger ship SS Diogenes, Choules met Ethel Wildgoose, a Scot on her way to Melbourne, and they married not long after.

Choules asked for a permanent transfer to the RAN. He returned to Britain for courses to qualify as a chief torpedo and anti-submarine instructor and he was also on duty for the construction of the RAN's heavy cruisers, Australia and Canberra. He was part of the commissioning crew of HMAS Canberra, in which he served until 1931.

Choules took his discharge from the RAN that year but remained in the reserve; he rejoined the RAN the following year as a torpedo and anti-submarine instructor, with the rank of chief petty officer. During World War II, he served as the RAN's senior demolition expert in Western Australia.

*******


Ethel Choules died in 2006, aged 98, and Claude spent his last years at the Gracewood Hostel at Salter Point in Perth.

His death follows that of American Frank Buckles, who died in February, also aged 110, and who, until then, had been the oldest surviving veteran of World War I. He'd been an ambulance driver near the Western Front. The last Briton to serve in the trenches on the Western Front, Harry Patch, died on July 25, 2009, aged 111. The last Australian World War I Digger, Jack Ross, died in 2009, aged 109.

Claude Choules is survived by his children, Daphne, Anne and Adrian, 13 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

ZUI also this article from The Telegraph.

Choules's death leaves 110-year-old Florence Green, who served in the Women's Royal Air Force, as the only remaining veteran of the First World War.

George Cross: M. A. Ansari

MATEEN AHMED ANSARI

Acting Captain, 5th Battalion, 7th Rajput Regiment

Born: 1915
Died: 29 October 1943, Hong Kong

Citation: The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the GEORGE CROSS, in recognition of most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner, to the undermentioned --
Captain (acting) Mateen Ahmed Ansari, 7th Rajput Regiment, Indian Army.

[London Gazette issue 37536 dated 18 Apr 1946, published 16 Apr 1946.]


Note: Captain Ansari was taken prisoner by the Japanese after the fall of Hong Kong. A relative of the ruler of the Princely States, he was tortured by the Japanese in an attempt to get him to renounce allegiance to Britain. When this failed, he was sentenced to death, along with over thirty others, and beheaded.

Victoria Cross: E. Swales

EDWIN SWALES, DFC

Captain, South African Air Force; 582 Squadron

Born: 3 July 1915, Inanda, Natal, South Africa
Died: 23 February 1945, near Valenciennes, France

Citation: Captain Swales was "master bomber" of a force of aircraft which attacked Pforzheim on the night of February 23rd, 1945. As "master bomber," he had the task of locating the target area with precision and of giving aiming instructions to the main force of bombers following in his wake.
Soon after he had reached the target area he was engaged by an enemy fighter and one of his engines was put out of action. His rear guns failed. His crippled aircraft was an easy prey to further attacks. Unperturbed, he carried on with his allotted task; clearly and precisely he issued aiming instructions to the main force. Meanwhile the enemy fighter dosed the range and fired again. A second engine of Captain Swales' aircraft was put out of action. Almost defenceless, he stayed over the target area issuing his aiming instructions until he was satisfied that the attack had achieved its purpose.
It is now known that the attack was one of the most concentrated and successful of the war.
Captain Swales did not, however, regard his mission as completed. His aircraft was damaged. Its speed had been so much reduced that it could only with difficulty be kept in the air. The blind-flying instruments were no longer working. Determined at all costs to prevent his aircraft and crew from falling into enemy hands, he set course for home. After an hour he flew into thin-layered cloud. He kept his course by skilful flying between the layers, but later heavy cloud and turbulent air conditions were met. The aircraft, by now over friendly territory, became more and more difficult to control; it was losing height steadily. Realising that the situation was desperate Captain Swales ordered his crew to bale out. Time was very short and it required all his exertions to keep the aircraft steady while each of his crew moved in turn to the escape hatch and parachuted to safety. Hardly had the last crew-member jumped when the aircraft plunged to earth. Captain Swales was found dead at the controls.
Intrepid in the attack, courageous in the face of danger, he did his duty to the last, giving his life that his comrades might live.

[London Gazette issue 37049 dated 24 Apr 1945, published 20 Apr 1945.]


Note: Capt Swales's DFC was gazetted in issue 36954, dated 23 Feb 1945:

Captain Edwin SWALES (6ioiV), S.A.A.F., 582 Sqn.
This officer was pilot and captain of an aircraft detailed to attack Cologne in December, 1944. When approaching the target intense anti-aircraft fire was encountered. Despite this a good bombing attack was executed. Soon afterwards the aircraft was attacked by five enemy aircraft. In the ensuing fights, Captain Swales manoeuvred with great skill. As a result his gunners were able to bring effective fire to bear upon the attackers, one of which is believed to have been shot down. Throughout this spirited action Captain Swales displayed exceptional coolness and captaincy, setting a very fine example. This officer has completed very many sorties during which he has attacked a variety of enemy targets.

Medal of Honor: P. Mullen

PATRICK MULLEN

Boatswain's Mate, US Navy; USS Wyandank and USS Don

Born: 6 May 1844, Baltimore, Maryland
Died: 14 February 1897

Citation: Served as boatswain's mate on board the U.S.S. Wyandank during a boat expedition up Mattox Creek, 17 March 1865. Rendering gallant assistance to his commanding officer, Mullen, lying on his back, loaded the howitzer and then fired so carefully as to kill and wound many rebels, causing their retreat.








Citation: Served as boatswain's mate on board the U.S.S. Don, 1 May 1865. Engaged in picking up the crew of picket launch No. 6, which had swamped. Mullen, seeing an officer who was at that time no longer able to keep up and was below the surface of the water, jumped overboard and brought the officer to the boat, thereby rescuing him from drowning, which brave action entitled him to wear a bar on the medal he had already received at Mattox Creek, 17 March 1865.


Notes: Mullen was one of nineteen men to receive a second award of the Medal of Honor.
Wyandank was a wooden-hulled, sidewheel ferryboat acquired by the Navy in 1861 and storeship for the Potomac Flotilla. Don was a British blockade runner captured off North Carolina in 1862, used to enforce the Union blockade of Confederate ports in Virginia.

Book list - Apr 11

Dragonsdawn - SF, by Anne McCaffrey *
Cryoburn - SF, by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Judith Durham Story: Colours of My Life - biography, by Graham Simpson
The Exeter Blitz - children's historical fiction, by David Rees (Carnegie Medal, 1978)
No Nest for the Wicket - mystery, by Donna Andrews
Dragonflight - SF, by Anne McCaffrey *
The Penguin Who Knew Too Much - mystery, by Donna Andrews


Only seven books last month, two of them rereads (marked by asterisks). I'm not setting an official goal this year, though I do expect to read around 200 books.

The one Carnegie Medal winner brings me up to 50 of 71. My thanks to the Elihu Burritt Library (Central Connecticut State University), New Britain CT, for the ILL.

Royal wedding

Wasn't going to say anything about yesterday's wedding, but I just noticed that HRH the Duke of Cambridge, who holds the rank of Lieutenant, RN,* was appointed Commodore-in-Chief, Submarines, in 2006.


Congratulations to the happy couple.


* As well as those of Flight Lieutenant, RAF, and Captain, The Blues and Royals.

Medals of Honor to be awarded for Korea

ZUI this White House press release:

On Monday, May 2 at 12:00 PM Eastern, President Barack Obama will award Private First Class Anthony T. Kaho’ohanohano [KA ho OH hano hano], U.S. Army, and Private First Class Henry Svehla [SUH vay luh], U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry.

*******

Private First Class Kaho’ohanohano will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions in combat on September 1, 1951, while in charge of a machine-gun squad with Company H, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea.

When faced by an enemy with overwhelming numbers, Private First Class Kaho’ohanohano ordered his squad to take up more defensible positions and provide covering fire for the withdrawing friendly force. He then gathered a supply of grenades and ammunition and returned to his original position to face the enemy alone - delivering deadly accurate fire into the ranks of the onrushing enemy. When his ammunition was depleted, he engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until he was killed. His heroic stand so inspired his comrades that they launched a counterattack that completely repulsed the enemy.

*******

Private First Class Henry Svehla will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions in combat on June 12, 1952, while serving as a rifleman with Company F, 32d Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea.

Coming under heavy fire and with his platoon’s attack beginning to falter, Private First Class Svehla leapt to his feet and charged the enemy positions, firing his weapon and throwing grenades as he advanced. Disregarding his own safety, he destroyed enemy positions and inflicted heavy casualties. When an enemy grenade landed among a group of his comrades, without hesitation and undoubtedly aware of the extreme danger, he threw himself on the grenade. During this action, Private First Class Svehla was mortally wounded.

Update 1144 29 Apr: ZUI also this article from the US Army's website.

More Australian VCs to be awarded?

ZUI this article from the Sydney Morning Herald:

John Simpson is among 13 servicemen in contention for a Victoria Cross, write Mike Carlton and Dylan Welch.

HE IS a legendary Australian figure - a man who dodged shrapnel and snipers' bullets to ferry casualties of the Gallipoli campaign on the back of his donkey to the safety of Anzac Cove.

Now John Simpson Kirkpatrick, who enlisted as John Simpson to avoid being revealed as a deserter, is finally to receive the official recognition he deserves.

*******


Today, the government will name him as one of 13 long-dead members of the navy and army to be considered for Victoria Crosses.

Australians have won 98 VCs since 1899, two since 1969. The most recent recipient was the SAS Corporal Benjamin Roberts-Smith this year.

Those being considered served in both World Wars and in Vietnam. Ten are from the navy and two, including Kirkpatrick, from the army.

No sailor of the Royal Australian Navy has been awarded the VC.

*******

The standout navy candidate for a posthumous medal is Hector "Hardover Hec" Waller, a seaman born in rural Victoria and generally recognised to have been our finest fighting captain.

He led the five Australian destroyers of the Scrap Iron Flotilla in the Mediterranean in 1940-41, in the thick of the naval war against the Italians and Germans. Twice he won the Distinguished Service Order there, the second time for extraordinary seamanship in the Royal Navy's last great fleet action, the Battle of Matapan in March 1941.

ZUI also this announcement from the Australian Department of Defence.

The complete list is as follows:

Gunner Albert Neil Cleary - Royal Australian Artillery, 1945
Midshipman Robert Ian Davies - HMS Repulse, 1942
Leading Cook Francis Bassett Emms - HMAS Kara Kara, 1942
Lieutenant David John Hamer - HMAS Australia, 1945
Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick - Australian Imperial Force, 1915
Lt Cdr Robert William Rankin - HMAS Yarra, 1942
Able Seaman Dalmorton Joseph Owendale Rudd - HMAS Australia (attached HMS Vindictive), 1918
Ordinary Seaman Edward Sheean - HMAS Armidale, 1942
Leading Aircrewman Noel Ervin Shipp - Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam, 1969
Lieutenant Commander Francis Edward Smith - HMAS Yarra, 1942
Lieutenant Commander Henry Hugh Gordon Dacre Stoker - HMAS AE2, 1915
Leading Seaman Ronald Taylor - HMAS Yarra, 1942
Captain Hector Macdonald Laws Waller - HMAS Perth, 1942

Update 1148 24 Jan 12: The Canberra Times have announced the addition of Warrant Officer Jack Kirby (Viet Nam, 1966) to this list.

RIP: Tul Bahadur Pun VC

Tul Bahadur Pun VC
23 Mar 1923 - 20 Apr 2011

ZUI this article from The Telegraph:

Lieutenant Tul Bahadur Pun, who died on April 20 aged 88, won the Victoria Cross while serving with the Second Chindit Expedition in Burma in 1944.

Early in March that year the Second Chindit Expedition, a force of six brigades comprising some 9,000 men together with stores, was air-landed in Burma. The main objectives of the Expedition were twofold: first, to support the advance on Myitkyina by the American-led Chinese troops and to establish a strong position astride the Japanese lines of communication; and secondly, to impede the build-up of Japanese forces for an invasion of India by harassing them in the Mogaung area.

The Chindits were supplied by establishing a number of fortified bases with airstrips south of Myitkyina. These strongholds provoked a strong reaction from the Japanese, and some of them subsequently proved indefensible and had to be abandoned.

On May 27 the 77th Indian Brigade was ordered to capture the Japanese supply centre of Mogaung. After almost a month of savage fighting which had greatly depleted the brigade’s numbers, the 3rd Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles was ordered to attack the railway bridge at Mogaung on June 23.

*******

Tul Bahadur Pun was born on March 23 1923 at Banduk village in the Myagdit district of west Nepal. He enlisted in the Gurkha Brigade in west Nepal and, after completing his basic training, joined the 3rd Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles for the Chindit Expedition.

After Independence in 1947, he transferred to the British Army and joined the 2nd/6th Gurkha Rifles, seeing action in Malaya and Hong Kong. He rose to be regimental sergeant major of his battalion and retired from the Army in May 1959 in the rank of honorary lieutenant.

*******

He was twice married, and is survived by his second wife, Punisara, and by his two sons and eight daughters.

ZUI also this article from the BBC.

There are now eight surviving VC holders, including two recipients of the Victoria Cross for Australia and one recipient of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand:

Flt Lt John A Cruickshank VC, RAFVR - North Atlantic, 1944
Sgt William Speakman VC, The Black Watch - Korea, 1951
Capt Ram Bahadur Limbu VC MVO, 10th Gurkha Rifles - Borneo, 1965
WO Keith Payne VC OAM, Australian Army - Vietnam, 1969
Pte Johnson G Beharry VC, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment - Iraq, 2004
Cpl Bill H Apiata VC, New Zealand SAS - Afghanistan, 2004
Tpr Mark G S Donaldson VC, Australian SAS - Afghanistan, 2008
Cpl Ben Roberts-Smith VC, Australian SAS - Afghanistan, 2010

************* *** *************

TUL BAHADUR PUN

Rifleman, 6th Gurkha Rifles

Born: 23 March 1923, Banduk, Nepal
Died: 20 April 2011, Banduk, Nepal

Citation: In Burma on June 23rd, 1944, a Battalion of the 6th Gurkha Rifles was ordered to attack the Railway Bridge at Mogaung. Immediately the attack developed the enemy opened concentrated and sustained cross fire at close range from a position known as the Red House and from a strong bunker position two hundred yards to the left of it.
So intense was this cross fire that both the leading platoons of "B" Company, one of which was Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun's, were pinned to the ground and the whole of his Section was wiped out with the exception of himself, the Section Commander and one other man. The Section Commander immediately led the remaining two men in a charge on the Red House but was at once badly wounded. Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun and his remaining companion continued the charge, but the latter too was immediately badly wounded.
Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun then seized the Bren Gun, and firing from the hip as he went, continued the charge on this heavily bunkered position alone, in the face of the most shattering concentration of automatic fire, directed straight at him. With the dawn coming up behind him, he presented a perfect target to the Japanese. He had to move for thirty yards over open ground, ankle deep in mud, through shell holes and over fallen trees.
Despite these overwhelming odds, he reached the Red House and closed with the Japanese occupants. He killed three and put five more to flight and captured two light machine guns and much ammunition. He then gave accurate supporting fire from the bunker to the remainder of his platoon which enabled them to reach their objective.
His outstanding courage and superb gallantry in the face of odds which meant almost certain death were most inspiring to all ranks and were beyond praise.

[London Gazette issue 36785 dated 9 Nov 1944, published 7 Nov 1944.]

Victoria Cross: A. P. Sullivan

ARTHUR PERCY SULLIVAN

Corporal, 45th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers

Born: 27 November 1896, Crystal Brook, South Australia
Died: 9 April 1937, Birdcage Walk, London

Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 10th August, 1919, at the Sheika River, North Russia.
The platoon to which he belonged, after fighting a rearguard covering action, had to cross the river by means of a narrow plank, and during the passage an officer and three men fell into a deep swamp.
Without hesitation, under intense fire, Corporal Sullivan jumped into the river and rescued all four, bringing them out singly. But for this gallant action his comrades would undoubtedly have been drowned. It was a splendid example of heroism as all ranks were on the point of exhaustion and the enemy less than 100 yards distant.

[London Gazette issue 31572 dated 29 Sep 1919, published 26 Sep 1919.]

Medal of Honor: R. E. O'Malley

ROBERT EMMETT O'MALLEY

Sergeant (then Corporal), US Marine Corps; Company I, 3d Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division (Reinforced)

Born: 3 June 1943, New York City, New York
Died: TBD

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the communist (Viet Cong) forces at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While leading his squad in the assault against a strongly entrenched enemy force [near An Cu'ong 2, South Vietnam, on 18 August 1965], his unit came under intense small-arms fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Sgt. O'Malley raced across an open rice paddy to a trench line where the enemy forces were located. Jumping into the trench, he attacked the Viet Cong with his rifle and grenades, and singly killed 8 of the enemy. He then led his squad to the assistance of an adjacent marine unit which was suffering heavy casualties. Continuing to press forward, he reloaded his weapon and fired with telling effect into the enemy emplacement. He personally assisted in the evacuation of several wounded marines, and again regrouping the remnants of his squad, he returned to the point of the heaviest fighting. Ordered to an evacuation point by an officer, Sgt. O'Malley gathered his besieged and badly wounded squad, and boldly led them under fire to a helicopter for withdrawal. Although 3 times wounded in this encounter, and facing imminent death from a fanatic and determined enemy, he steadfastly refused evacuation and continued to cover his squad's boarding of the helicopters while, from an exposed position, he delivered fire against the enemy until his wounded men were evacuated. Only then, with his last mission accomplished, did he permit himself to be removed from the battlefield. By his valor, leadership, and courageous efforts in behalf of his comrades, he served as an inspiration to all who observed him, and reflected the highest credit upon the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.

Victoria Cross: G. R. D. Moor

GEORGE RAYMOND DALLAS MOOR

Second Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion The Hampshire Regiment.

Born: 22 October 1896, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia
Died: 3 November 1918, Mouveaux, France

Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and resource on 5th June, 1915, during operations south of Krithia, Dardanelles. When a detachment of a battalion on his left, which had lost all its officers, was rapidly retiring before a heavy Turkish attack, Second Lieutenant Moor, immediately grasping the danger to the remainder of the line, dashed back some 200 yards, stemmed the retirement, led back the men, and recaptured the lost trench.
This young officer, who only joined the Army in October, 1914, by his personal bravery and presence of mind, saved a dangerous situation.

[London Gazette issue 29240 dated 24 Jul 1915, published 23 Jul 1915.]

Medal of Honor: R. T. Emmet

ROBERT TEMPLE EMMET

Second Lieutenant, 9th US Cavalry.

Born: 13 December 1854, New York City, New York
Died: 25 October 1936

Citation: Lt. Emmet was in G Troop which was sent to relieve a detachment of soldiers under attack by hostile Apaches. During a flank attack on the Indian camp [at Las Animas Canyon, New Mexico, on 18 September 1879], made to divert the hostiles Lt. Emmet and 5 of his men became surrounded when the Indians returned to defend their camp. Finding that the Indians were making for a position from which they could direct their fire on the retreating troop, the Lieutenant held his point with his party until the soldiers reached the safety of a canyon. Lt. Emmet then continued to hold his position while his party recovered their horses. The enemy force consisted of approximately 200.

Operational Honours List

Light blogging lately whilst dealing with the aftermath of the move. It's amazing what goes on in the world when you're not keeping track of your usual news sources....

ZUI this article (dated 25 Mar 11) from the MOD Defence News:

A total of 136 members of the Armed Forces have received honours and awards in the Operational Honours List dated today, 25 March 2011.

ZUI also this article:

Any one of the stories these brave servicemen and women have to tell is humbling. It seems invidious to single any out for special attention. The ones here give just a flavour of the calibre of not just the recipients of these awards, but of all our Armed Forces.

Ninety-three gallantry awards were made, including three Conspicuous Gallantry Crosses, five Distinguished Service Orders, 14 Military Crosses and a Distinguished Flying Cross. In addition to these, 43 meritorious awards were made, including three CBEs and four OBEs.

Members of the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force were all included on the list. (The complete list is given in the first article linked to above.)

Amongst those honoured:

Corporal Isobel Ann Henderson, Royal Army Medical Corps, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).




Corporal Dipprasad Pun, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, received the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC).





Acting Lance Corporal Kylie Elizabeth Watson, Royal Army Medical Corps, became the fourth woman to be awarded the Military Cross (MC).*



Squadron Leader Matthew David Roberts, Royal Air Force, received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

(The above awards were all earned in Afghanistan.)


* The other three were also medics, two from the RAMC and one from the Royal Navy.

Photographs © Crown Copyright/MOD 2011.

Carnegie and Greenaway short lists announced

CILIP - the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals - have released the short lists for this year's Carnegie Medal and Kate Greenaway Medal. The Andrew Carnegie Medal, named for the Scottish philanthropist, has been awarded annually since 1937 to the writer of "an outstanding book for children." In addition to the gold medal, the winner receives £500 worth of books to donate to a library of his/her choice.

This year's short list consists of:

Prisoner Of The Inquisition, by Theresa Breslin
Doubleday (Ages 12+)

The Death Defying Pepper Roux, by Geraldine McCaughrean
Oxford Children's Books (Ages 10+)

Monsters of Men, by Patrick Ness
Walker (Ages 14+)

The Bride's Farewell, by Meg Rosoff
Puffin (Ages 12+)

White Crow, by Marcus Sedgwick
Orion (Ages 12+)

Out Of Shadows, by Jason Wallace Andersen Press (Ages 14+)

I haven't read any of these yet. Three of the authors listed have already received the Carnegie Medal: McCaughrean for A Pack of Lies (1988), Breslin for Whispers in the Graveyard (1994) and Sosoff for Just in Case (2007). I haven't read the first two of these books either, but Just in Case is one of my least-favourite Carnegie books. YMMV.

The Kate Greenaway Medal, named for the nineteenth-century artist, has been awarded annually since 1957 to the illustrator of "an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people." As with the Carnegie Medal, the winner receives a golden medal and £500 worth of books to donate to a library of his/her choice; since 2000, the winner has also been awarded the £5000 Colin Mears Award.

This year's short list consists of:

FArTHER, by Grahame Baker-Smith
Templar (Ages 8+)

Me And You, by Anthony Browne
Doubleday (Ages 4+)

April Underhill, Tooth Fairy, by Bob Graham
Walker (Ages 5+)

Jim, written by Hilaire Belloc and illustrated by Mini Grey
Jonathan Cape (Ages 6+)

The Heart And The Bottle, by Oliver Jeffers
HarperCollins (Ages 5+)

Big Bear, Little Brother, written by Carl Norac and illustrated by Kristin Oftedal
Macmillan (Age range: 3+)

Ernest, by Catherine Rayner
Macmillan (Age range: 3+)

Cloud Tea Monkeys, written by Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham, and illustrated by Juan Wijngaard Walker (Age range: 8+)

Browne has already received the Greenaway Medal twice, for Gorilla (1983) and Zoo (1992). Four of the others have also received it: Wijngaard for Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady (1985), Graham for Jethro Byrde - Fairy Child (2002), Mini Grey for The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon (2007) and Rayner for Harris Finds His Feet (2009).

(Amazon UK links provided for reference. Most, if not all, are probably also available from Amazon US. Supporting independent booksellers, as always, is recommended.)

The winners will be announced on 27 June.

Victoria Cross: A. G. Hore-Ruthven

ALEXANDER GORE HORE-RUTHVEN

Captain, 3rd Battalion the Highland Light Infantry

Born: 6 July 1872, Windsor, Berkshire
Died: 2 May 1955, Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire

Citation: On the 22nd September, 1898, during the action of Gedarif, Captain Hore-Ruthven, seeing an Egyptian officer lying wounded within 50 yards of the advancing Dervishes, who were firing and charging, picked him up and carried him towards the 16th Egyptian Battalion. He dropped the wounded officer two or three times, and fired upon the Dervishes, who were following, to check their advance. Had the officer been left where he first dropped, he must have been killed.

[London Gazette issue 27057 dated 28 Feb 1899, published 28 Feb 1899.]



Note: At the time of his death he was Brigadier General the Earl of Gowrie VC GCMG CB DSO** PC.
Gedarif (Al Qadarif) is in the Sudan, not far from the Ethiopian border.

Medal of Honor: J. T. O'Callahan and D. A. Gary

JOSEPH TIMOTHY O'CALLAHAN

Commander, Chaplain Corps, US Naval Reserve; USS Franklin (CV 13)

Born: 14 May 1904, Boston, Massachusetts
Died: 18 March 1964, Worcester, Massachusetts

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as chaplain on board the U.S.S. Franklin when that vessel was fiercely attacked by enemy Japanese aircraft during offensive operations near Kobe, Japan, on 19 March 1945. A valiant and forceful leader, calmly braving the perilous barriers of flame and twisted metal to aid his men and his ship, Lt. Comdr. O'Callahan groped his way through smoke-filled corridors to the open flight deck and into the midst of violently exploding bombs, shells, rockets, and other armament. With the ship rocked by incessant explosions, with debris and fragments raining down and fires raging in ever-increasing fury, he ministered to the wounded and dying, comforting and encouraging men of all faiths; he organized and led firefighting crews into the blazing inferno on the flight deck; he directed the jettisoning of live ammunition and the flooding of the magazine; he manned a hose to cool hot, armed bombs rolling dangerously on the listing deck, continuing his efforts, despite searing, suffocating smoke which forced men to fall back gasping and imperiled others who replaced them. Serving with courage, fortitude, and deep spiritual strength, Lt. Comdr. O'Callahan inspired the gallant officers and men of the Franklin to fight heroically and with profound faith in the face of almost certain death and to return their stricken ship to port.


Notes: USS O'Callahan (DE 1051/FF 1051) was named in his honour.
O'Callahan, a Jesuit priest, was a maths professor at Holy Cross before the war. One of his students there was John V Power, who received a posthumous Medal of Honor for his actions as a Marine Corps first lieutenant at Kwajalein in 1944.



DONALD ARTHUR GARY

Lieutenant, Junior Grade, US Navy; USS Franklin (CV 13)

Born: 23 July 1903, Findlay, Ohio
Died: 9 April 1977

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as an engineering officer attached to the U.S.S. Franklin when that vessel was fiercely attacked by enemy aircraft during the operations against the Japanese Home Islands near Kobe, Japan, 19 March 1945. Stationed on the third deck when the ship was rocked by a series of violent explosions set off in her own ready bombs, rockets, and ammunition by the hostile attack, Lt. (j.g.) Gary unhesitatingly risked his life to assist several hundred men trapped in a messing compartment filled with smoke, and with no apparent egress. As the imperiled men below decks became increasingly panic stricken under the raging fury of incessant explosions, he confidently assured them he would find a means of effecting their release and, groping through the dark, debris-filled corridors, ultimately discovered an escapeway. Stanchly determined, he struggled back to the messing compartment 3 times despite menacing flames, flooding water, and the ominous threat of sudden additional explosions, on each occasion calmly leading his men through the blanketing pall of smoke until the last one had been saved. Selfless in his concern for his ship and his fellows, he constantly rallied others about him, repeatedly organized and led fire-fighting parties into the blazing inferno on the flight deck and, when firerooms 1 and 2 were found to be inoperable, entered the No. 3 fireroom and directed the raising of steam in 1 boiler in the face of extreme difficulty and hazard. An inspiring and courageous leader, Lt. (j.g.) Gary rendered self-sacrificing service under the most perilous conditions and, by his heroic initiative, fortitude, and valor, was responsible for the saving of several hundred lives. His conduct throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and upon the U.S. Naval Service.


Note: USS Gary (FFG 51) was named in his honour.

George Cross: B. Johnson

BARRY JOHNSON

Warrant Officer Class 1 (Staff Sergeant Major), Royal Army Ordnance Corps

Born: 25 January 1952, London
Died: TBD

Citation: WO1 B. Johnson, R.A.O.C. serving as an E.O.D. operator in N. Ireland completed 25 E.O.D. tasks, including the safe neutralization of 9 live devices. The most significant incident occurred [in Derry on 7 October 1989,] when W.0.1 Johnson was tasked to a vehicle which, it was suspected, contained mortars designed to be fired at a nearby Security Forces base. The vehicle had been abandoned in the middle of a housing estate and beside a hospital.
WO1 Johnson immediately realized that civilian lives would be put at risk if any of the mortar bombs were inadvertently launched during his disposal action. The normal procedure would have been to deal with the mortars by using a remotely controlled vehicle to disrupt the device. He decided that this posed too great a risk to civilian lives and that he would have to remove the bombs from their firing tubes and dismantle them by hand.
With the help of his assistant, the firing tubes were carefully moved from the back of the vehicle and placed on the ground. As the next stage was extremely hazardous, due to the delicate nature of the bombs, WO1 Johnson sent his assistant back behind cover and continued the render-safe procedure alone. He placed the firing tubes so that if they fired or exploded, the patients in the hospital would not have been in danger. In the dark, and in a bitterly cold drizzle, which made the handling of metal objects more hazardous, he proceeded to remove the bombs, dismantling each in turn. While he was dismantling the last bomb, there was an explosion, causing him very serious injury to his face, eyes and legs. Completely blinded by high velocity fragments, he was thrown across the road by the force of the blast, suffering multiple injuries to his legs.
Such was his courage and determination to ensure that the task was completed safely that, although in great pain, he refused to be evacuated until he had carefully briefed his assistant on the precise details of the device so that the operation could be safely completed by a replacement operator.

[London Gazette issue 52324 dated 5 Nov 1990, published 5 Nov 1990.]

Victoria Cross: P. Mahoney

PATRICK MAHONEY

Serjeant, 1st Madras Fusiliers

Born: 1827, Waterford, County Waterford, Ireland
Died: 30 October 1857, Lucknow, India

Citation: For distinguished gallantry (whilst doing duty with the Volunteer Cavalry) in aiding in the capture of the Regimental Colour of the 1st Regiment Native Infantry, at Mungulwar, on the 21st of September, 1857. (Extract from Field Force Orders of the late Major-General Havelock, dated 17th October, 1857.)

[London Gazette issue 22154 dated 18 Jun 1858, published 18 Jun 1858.]

Medal of Honor: N. E. Kearby

NEEL ERNEST KEARBY

Colonel, US Army Air Corps; commanding 348th Fighter Group

Born: 5 June 1911, Wichita Falls, Texas
Died: 5 March 1944, near Wewak, New Guinea

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy, Col. Kearby volunteered to lead a flight of 4 fighters to reconnoiter the strongly defended enemy base at Wewak [on 11 October 1943]. Having observed enemy installations and reinforcements at 4 airfields, and secured important tactical information, he saw an enemy fighter below him, made a diving attack and shot it down in flames. The small formation then sighted approximately 12 enemy bombers accompanied by 36 fighters. Although his mission had been completed, his fuel was running low, and the numerical odds were 12 to 1, he gave the signal to attack. Diving into the midst of the enemy airplanes he shot down 3 in quick succession. Observing 1 of his comrades with 2 enemy fighters in pursuit, he destroyed both enemy aircraft. The enemy broke off in large numbers to make a multiple attack on his airplane but despite his peril he made one more pass before seeking cloud protection. Coming into the clear, he called his flight together and led them to a friendly base. Col. Kearby brought down 6 enemy aircraft in this action, undertaken with superb daring after his mission was completed.

Carnegie Medal books

Having finished reading the Newbery Medal winners in August of '09, I'm continuing with the books which have been awarded the Andrew Carnegie Medal - the British equivalent of the Newbery Medal, now awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).

The medal was first awarded in 1937, for the best children's book of 1936, but there have been three years when no book was considered suitable, so there are only 71 winners thus far. In addition to the gold medal, the winner receives £500 worth of books to donate to a library of his/her/their choice.

Here's the list. (Dates marked in red indicate the six books I had already read before last year; dates in purple indicate the ones I've read since.)

1936: Pigeon Post, by Arthur Ransome
1937: The Family from One End Street, by Eve Garnett
1938: The Circus is Coming (aka Circus Shoes), by Noel Streatfield
1939: Radium Woman, by Eleanor Doorly
1940: Visitors from London, by Kitty Barne
1941: We Couldn't Leave Dinah, by Mary Treadgold
1942: The Little Grey Men, by 'BB' (D J Watkins-Pitchford)
1943: Prize withheld as no book was considered suitable
1944: The Wind on the Moon, by Eric Linklater
1945: Prize withheld as no book was considered suitable
1946: The Little White Horse, by Elizabeth Goudge
1947: Collected Stories for Children, Walter De La Mare
1948: Sea Change, by Richard Armstrong
1949: The Story of Your Home, by Agnes Allen
1950: The Lark on the Wing, by Elfrida Vipont
1951: The Wool-pack, by Cynthia Harnett
1952: The Borrowers, by Mary Norton
1953: A Valley Grows Up, by Edward Osmond
1954: Knight Crusader, by Ronald Welch (Felton Ronald Oliver)
1955: The Little Bookroom, by Eleanor Farjeon
1956: The Last Battle, by C S Lewis
1957: A Grass Rope, by William Mayne
1958: Tom's Midnight Garden, by Philipa Pearce
1959: The Lantern Bearers, by Rosemary Sutcliff
1960: The Making of Man, by Dr I W Cornwall
1961: A Stranger at Green Knowe, by Lucy M Boston
1962: The Twelve and the Genii, by Pauline Clarke
1963: Time of Trial, by Hester Burton
1964: Nordy Bank, by Sheena Porter
1965: The Grange at High Force, by Philip Turner
1966: Prize withheld as no book was considered suitable
1967: The Owl Service, by Alan Garner
1968: The Moon in the Cloud, by Rosemary Harris
1969: The Edge of the Cloud, by Kathleen Peyton
1970: The God Beneath the Sea, by Leon Garfield and Edward Blishen
1971: Josh, by Ivan Southall
1972: Watership Down, by Richard Adams
1973: The Ghost of Thomas Kempe, by Penelope Lively
1974: The Stronghold, by Mollie Hunter
1975: The Machine Gunners, by Robert Westall
1976: Thunder and Lightnings, by Jan Mark
1977: The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler, by Gene Kemp
1978: The Exeter Blitz, by David Rees
1979: Tulku, by Peter Dickinson
1980: City of Gold and Other Stories from the Old Testament, by Peter Dickinson
1981: The Scarecrows, by Robert Westall
1982: The Haunting, by Margaret Mahy
1983: Handles, by Jan Mark
1984: The Changeover, by Margaret Mahy
1985: Storm, by Kevin Crossley-Holland
1986: Granny was a Buffer Girl, by Berlie Doherty
1987: The Ghost Drum, by Susan Price
1988: A Pack of Lies, by Geraldine McCaughrean
1989: Goggle-eyes, by Anne Fine
1990: Wolf, by Gillian Cross
1991: Dear Nobody, by Berlie Doherty
1992: Flour Babies, by Anne Fine
1993: Stone Cold, by Robert Swindells
1994: Whispers in the Graveyard, by Theresa Breslin
1995: Northern Lights, by Philip Pullman*
1996: Junk, by Melvin Burgess
1997: River Boy, by Tim Bowler
1998: Skellig, by David Almond
1999: Postcards From No Man's Land, by Aidan Chambers
2000: The Other Side of Truth, by Beverley Naidoo
2001: The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, by Terry Pratchett
2002: Ruby Holler, by Sharon Creech
2003: A Gathering Light, by Jennifer Donnelly**
2004: Millions, by Frank Cottrell Boyce
2005: Tamar, by Mal Peet
2006: ***
2007: Just in Case, by Meg Rosoff
2008: Here Lies Arthur, by Philip Reeve
2009: Bog Child, by Siobhan Dowd
2010: The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman
2011: To be announced....

So the count now is 49 down, 22 to go, with the short list for this year's winner to be announced later this month. The ILLs are still coming in, but I forgot to note what library I should thank for the latest book.


* His Dark Materials, Book 1. Published in the US as The Golden Compass.

** Published in the US as A Northern Light.

*** Up through the award for 2005, the winners were referred to by the year of publication. Beginning in 2007, the winners were referred to by the year the award was given, as with the American Newbery Medal. Thus there is no "2006 winner" of the Carnegie Medal. Tamar, the 2005 winner, was published in '05, and received the medal in '06. Just in Case, the 2007 winner, was published in '06 and received the award in '07.

Book list - Mar 11

The Tick of Death (aka Invitation to a Dynamite Party) - historical mystery, by Peter Lovesey
Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos - mystery, by Donna Andrews
Time for the Stars - SF, by Robert A Heinlein *
The Shadows - children's fantasy, by Jacqueline West
Dragonsinger - SF, by Anne McCaffrey *
The Skies of Pern - SF, by Anne McCaffrey *
We'll Always Have Parrots - mystery, by Donna Andrews
A Great Big Ugly Man Came up and Tied His Horse to Me: A Book of Nonsense Verse - children's poetry, compiled and illustrated by Wallace Tripp *
Dragonsong - SF, by Anne McCaffrey *
Rose's Are Red, Violet's Are Blue and Other Silly Poems - children's poetry, compiled and illustrated by Wallace Tripp
Atlantis and Other Places: Stories of Alternate History - AH (short stories), by Harry Turtledove
The Stronghold - children's historical fiction, by Mollie Hunter (Carnegie Medal, 1974)
Dragondrums - SF, by Anne McCaffrey *
Rough Cider - mystery, by Peter Lovesey

14 books last month, with six rereads (marked by asterisks). I'm not setting an official goal this year, though I do expect to read around 200 books.

The one Carnegie Medal winner brings me up to 49 of 71, though I'm afraid I forgot to note what library supplied the ILL.