RIP: Frank Buckles

Frank Woodruff Buckles
1 Feb 1901 – 27 Feb 2011

The last surviving US veteran of World War I has died. ZUI this article from Fox News:

He was repeatedly rejected by military recruiters and got into uniform at 16 after lying about his age. But Frank Buckles would later become the last surviving U.S. veteran of World War I.

Buckles, who also survived being a civilian POW in the Philippines in World War II, died of natural causes Sunday at his home in Charles Town, biographer and family spokesman David DeJonge said in a statement. He was 110.

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More than 4.7 million people joined the U.S. military from 1917-18. As of spring 2007, only three were still alive, according to a tally by the Department of Veterans Affairs: Buckles, J. Russell Coffey of Ohio and Harry Richard Landis of Florida.

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Coffey died Dec. 20, 2007, at age 109, while Landis died Feb. 4, 2008, at 108. Unlike Buckles, those two men were still in basic training in the United States when the war ended and did not make it overseas.

The last known Canadian veteran of the war, John Babcock of Spokane, Wash., died in February 2010.

There are no French or German veterans of the war left alive.

Buckles served in England and France, working mainly as a driver and a warehouse clerk. The fact he did not see combat didn't diminish his service, he said: "Didn't I make every effort?"

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He married in 1946 and moved to his farm in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle in 1954, where he and wife Audrey raised their daughter, Susannah Flanagan. Audrey Buckles died in 1999.

ZUI also this article from Voice of America News:

Buckles wanted to serve when World War I broke out, and his lie to the recruiter made it possible. Shortly afterward, at age 16, he deployed to Europe as an ambulance driver. He saw the horror of war close up, ferrying the wounded from the trenches to primitive field hospitals. Later, he drove German prisoners back to Germany.

Buckles left the army in 1920 and years later he went to work for a shipping company in the Philippines. When World War II broke out, he and other Americans there were put in prison camps by the occupying Japanese forces. Although he was not a soldier at that time, he spent more than three years in the notorious Los Baňos prison.

According to Wikipedia, there are now only two surviving WWI veterans: Claude Choules, in Australia, who served with the Royal Navy,* and Women's Royal Air Force veteran Florence Green. The last Italian veteran, Delfino Borroni, died on 26 Oct 08; the last Australian, John Campbell Ross, on 3 Jun 09; the last French veteran, Pierre Picault, on 20 Nov 08, and the last Canadian, John Babcock, on 18 Feb 2010. On the other side, the last German veteran, Erich Kästner, died on 1 Jan 08; the last Turkish veteran, Yakup Satar, on 2 Apr 2008; and the last Austro-Hungarian veteran, Franz Künstler, on 27 May 2008. (Künstler was born in Hungary; the last Austrian-born survivor was August Bischof, who died on 4 March 2006.)


* Choules also served in World War II, with the Royal Australian Navy.

Victoria Cross: Lindsay, M'Kechnie and Reynolds

ROBERT JAMES LINDSAY

Brevet Major, Scots Fusilier Guards

Born: 17 April 1832, Balcarres, Fife, Scotland
Died: 10 June 1901, Wantage, Berkshire

Citation: When the formation of the line of the Regiment was disordered at Alma [on 20 Sep 1854], Captain Lindsay stood firm with the Colours, and by his example and energy, greatly tended to restore order.
At Inkerman [on 5 November 1854], at a most trying moment, he, with a few men, charged a party of Russians, driving them back, and running one through the body himself.

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




JAMES M'KECHNIE

Serjeant, Scots Fusilier Guards

Born: June 1826, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Died: 5 July 1886, Glasgow, Scotland

Citation: When the formation of the Regiment was disordered at Alma [on 20 Sep 1854], for having behaved gallantly, and rallied the men round the Colours.

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









WILLIAM REYNOLDS

Private, Scots Fusilier Guards

Born: 1827, Edinburgh, Scotland
Died: 20 October 1869, Strand, Centre London

Citation: When the formation of the line was disordered at Alma [on 20 Sep 1854], for having behaved in a conspicuous manner in rallying the men round the Colours.

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

Medal of Honor: E. Childers

ERNEST CHILDERS

Second Lieutenant, US Army; 45th Infantry Division

Born: 1 February 1918, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Died: 17 March 2005

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action on 22 September 1943, at Oliveto, Italy. Although 2d Lt. Childers previously had just suffered a fractured instep he, with 8 enlisted men, advanced up a hill toward enemy machinegun nests. The group advanced to a rock wall overlooking a cornfield and 2d Lt. Childers ordered a base of fire laid across the field so that he could advance. When he was fired upon by 2 enemy snipers from a nearby house he killed both of them. He moved behind the machinegun nests and killed all occupants of the nearer one. He continued toward the second one and threw rocks into it. When the 2 occupants of the nest raised up, he shot 1. The other was killed by 1 of the 8 enlisted men. 2d Lt. Childers continued his advance toward a house farther up the hill, and single-handed, captured an enemy mortar observer. The exceptional leadership, initiative, calmness under fire, and conspicuous gallantry displayed by 2d Lt. Childers were an inspiration to his men.

Victoria Cross: T. Edwards

THOMAS EDWARDS

Private, 1st Battalion, Royal Highlanders

Born: 19 April 1863, Brill, Buckinghamshire
Died: 27 March 1952, Woodford Bridge, London

Citation: For the conspicuous bravery displayed by him in defence of one of the guns of the Naval Brigade, at the battle of Tamai, on 13th March, 1884.
This man (who was attached to the Naval Brigade as Mule Driver) was beside the gun with Lieutenant Almack, R.N., and a blue jacket. Both the latter were killed, and Edwards, after bayonetting two Arabs, and himself receiving a wound with a spear, rejoined the ranks with his mules, and subsequently did good service in remaining by his gun throughout the action.

[London Gazette issue 25356 dated 21 May 1884, published 21 May 1884.]

Medal of Honor: R. I. Bong

RICHARD IRA BONG

Major, US Army Air Corps; V Fighter Command

Born: 24 September 1920, Poplar, Wisconsin
Died: 6 August 1945, North Hollywood, California

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty in the Southwest Pacific area from 10 October to 15 November 1944. Though assigned to duty as gunnery instructor and neither required nor expected to perform combat duty, Maj. Bong voluntarily and at his own urgent request engaged in repeated combat missions, including unusually hazardous sorties over Balikpapan, Borneo, and in the Leyte area of the Philippines. His aggressiveness and daring resulted in his shooting down 8 enemy airplanes during this period.


Note: Major Bong was killed when the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star he was flying crashed following a fuel-pump malfunction.

Richard I Bong AFB, Wisconsin, was named in his honour. The uncompleted base was closed in 1960, and is now the Richard Bong State Recreation Area.

The Cybils: 2010 winners

The winners of the 2010 Cybils (Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards) were announced yesterday:

Elementary & Middle Grade Fiction

Picture Books
Interrupting Chicken, by David Ezra Stein

Nonfiction Picture Books
The Extraordinary Life of Mark Twain (According to Susy), by Barbara Kerley

Easy Readers
We Are in a Book!, by Mo Willems

Short Chapter Books
Zapato Power: Freddie Ramos Takes Off, written by Jacqueline Jules and illustrated by Miguel Benitez

Poetry
Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse, written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josée Masse

Graphic Novels
Meanwhile: Pick Any Path. 3856 Story Possibilities, by Jason Shiga

Fantasy & Science Fiction
The Shadows (The Books of Elsewhere, Vol 1), by Jacqueline West

Middle Grade Fiction
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, by Tom Angleberger


Young Adult

Non-fiction
The Secret of the Yellow Death: A True Story of Medical Sleuthing, by Suzanne Jurmain

Graphic Novels
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty, written by G Neri and illustrated by Randy duBurke

Fantasy & Science Fiction
Rot & Ruin, by Jonathan Maberry

Young Adult Fiction
Split, by Swati Avasthi

Congratulations to all the winners! Not sure about the others, but I'm definitely going to be checking our public library for The Shadows.

The post linked to above includes comments on each book. Links to the complete list of finalists (by category) can be found here, and a sidebar there links to complete lists of nominees.

Victoria Cross: F. A. Maxwell

FRANCIS AYLMER MAXWELL, DSO

Lieutenant, Indian Staff Corps, attached Roberts's Light Horse

Born: 7 September 1871, Guildford, Surrey
Died: 21 September 1917, Ypres, Belgium

Citation: Lieutenant Maxwell was one of three Officers not belonging to "Q" Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, specially mentioned by Lord Roberts as having shown the greatest gallantry, and disregard of danger, in carrying out the self-imposed duty of saving the guns of that Battery during the affair at Korn Spruit on 31st March, 1900. This Officer went out on five different occasions and assisted to bring in two guns and three limbers, one of which he, Captain Humphreys, and some Gunners, dragged in by hand.
He also went out with Captain Humphreys and Lieutenant Stirling to try to get the last gun in, and remained there till the attempt was abandoned.
During a previous Campaign (the Chitral Expedition of 1895) Lieutenant Maxwell displayed gallantry in the removal of the body of Lieutenant-Colonel F. D. Battye, Corps of Guides, under fire, for which, though recommended, he received no reward.

[London Gazette issue 27292 dated 8 Mar 1901, published 8 Mar 1901.]


Note: Major E J Phipps-Hornby, Sergeant C E H Parker, Gunner I Lodge and Driver H H Glasock, all of Q Battery, RHA, also received the Victoria Cross for this action.

Medal of Honor: W. F. Lukes and J. F. Merton

WILLIAM F LUKES

Landsman, US Navy; USS Colorado

Born: 18 February 1847, Niderbergdorf, Bohemia
Died: 13 December 1923, Los Angeles, California

Citation: Served with Company D during the capture of the Korean forts [on the Han River], 9 and 10 June 1871. Fighting the enemy inside the fort, Lukes received a severe cut over the head.










JAMES F MERTON

Landsman, US Navy; USS Colorado

Born: 1843, Cheshire, England
Died: unknown

Citation: Landsman and member of Company D during the capture of the Korean forts [on the Han River], 9 and 10 June 1871, Merton was severely wounded in the arm while trying to force his way into the fort.


Note: This action was a result of an attack by Korean shore batteries on two American warships in the Ganghwa Straits on 1 June 1871.

George Cross: J. R. O. Thompson

JENKIN ROBERT OSWALD THOMPSON

Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps

Born: 13 July 1911
Died: 24 January 1944, Anzio, Italy

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: —
Captain Jenkin Robert Oswald Thompson (115213), Royal Army Medical Corps (Claygate, Surrey).

[London Gazette issue 36918 dated 2 Feb 1945, published 30 Jan 1945.]


Note: Captain Thompson was serving aboard HM Hospital Ship St David when that vessel was attacked by enemy dive bombers off Anzio. With the ship rapidly sinking, Thompson organised parties to remove the wounded to safety in nearby boats. One patient in Thompson's ward remained trapped belowdecks when the order was given for all to save themselves. Thompson returned alone to attempt to save this man. Unable to do so, he remained with him, and both men died when the ship went down.

Victoria Cross: Unwin, Malleson, Drewry, Williams, Samson and Tisdall

EDWARD UNWIN
Commander, Royal Navy; commanding SS River Clyde

Born: 17 March 1864, Fawley
Died: 19 April 1950, Hindhead, Surrey

WILFRED ST AUBYN MALLESON

Midshipman, Royal Navy; SS River Clyde

Born: 17 September 1896, Kirkee, India
Died: 21 July 1975, St Clement, Cornwall

GEORGE LESLIE DREWRY

Midshipman, Royal Naval Reserve; SS River Clyde

Born: 3 November 1894, Forest Gate
Died: 3 August 1918, Scapa Flow, Orkneys

WILLIAM CHARLES WILLIAMS

Able Seaman, Royal Navy; SS River Clyde

Born: 15 September 1880, Stanton Lacy, Shropshire
Died: 25 April 1915, 'V' Beach, Gallipoli, Turkey

GEORGE McKENZIE SAMSON

Seaman, Royal Naval Reserve; SS River Clyde

Born: 7 January 1889, Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland
Died: 23 February 1923, Bermuda

Joint Citation: The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers and men for the conspicuous acts, of bravery mentioned in the foregoing despatch: —
Commander Edward Unwin, R.N.
Midshipman Wilfred St. Aubyn Malleson, R.N.
Midshipman George Leslie Drewry, R.N.R.
Able Seaman William Chas. Williams, O.N. 186774 (R.F.R. B.3766) (since killed).
Seaman R.N.R. George McKenzie Samson, O.N. 2408A.

[London Gazette issue 29264 dated 16 Aug 1915, published 13 Aug 1915.]

Williams's medals

ARTHUR WALDERNE ST CLAIR TISDALL

Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve; Anson Battalion, Royal Naval Division

Born: 21 July 1890, Bombay, India,
Died: 6 May 1915, Achi Baba, Gallipoli, Turkey

Citation: The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officer in recognition of his most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty:—
Sub-Lieutenant Arthur Waldene St. Clair Tisdall, R.N.V.R. (killed in action).
During the landing from the S.S. "River Clyde" at V Beach in the Gallipoli Peninsula on the 25th April, 1915, Sub-Lieutenant Tisdall, hearing wounded men on the beach calling for assistance, jumped into the water and, pushing a boat in front of him, went to their rescue. He was, however, obliged to obtain help, and took with him on two trips Leading Seaman Malia and on other trips Chief Petty Officer Perring and Leading Seamen Curtiss and Parkinson. In all Sub-Lieutenant Tisdall made four or five trips between the ship and the shore, and was thus responsible for rescuing several wounded men under heavy and accurate fire.
Owing to the fact that Sub-Lieutenant Tisdall and the platoon under his orders were on detached service at the time, and that this Officer was killed in action on the 6th May, it has only now been possible to obtain complete information as to the individuals who took part in this gallant act. Of these, Leading Seaman Fred Curtiss, O.N. Dev. 1899, has been missing since the 4th June, 1915.

[London Gazette issue 29530 dated 31 Mar 1916, published 31 Mar 1916.]


The despatch mentioned in the citation for Unwin, et al, included the following:

SPECIAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
Commander Edward Unwin, R.N.
While in "River Clyde," observing that the lighters which were to form the bridge to the shore had broken adrift, Commander Unwin left the ship and under a murderous fire attempted to get the lighters into position. He worked on until, suffering from the effects of cold and immersion, he was obliged to return to the ship, where he was wrapped up in blankets. Having in some degree recovered, he returned to his work against the doctor's order and completed it. He was later again attended by the doctor for three abrasions caused by bullets, after which he once more left the ship, this time in a lifeboat, to save some wounded men who were lying in shallow water near the beach. He continued at this heroic labour under continuous fire, until forced to stop through pure physical exhaustion.
Midshipman George L. Drewry, R.N.R.
Assisted Commander Unwin at the work of securing the lighters under heavy rifle and maxim fire. He was wounded in the head, but continued his work and twice subsequently attempted to swim from lighter to lighter with a line.
Midshipman Wilfred St. A. Malleson, R.N.
Also assisted Commander Unwin, and after Midshipman Drewry had failed from exhaustion to get a line from lighter to lighter, he swam with it himself and succeeded. The line subsequently broke, and he afterwards made two further but unsuccessful attempts at his self-imposed task.
Able Seaman William Chas. Williams, O.N. 186774 (R.F.R. B.3766).
Held on to a line in the water for over an hour under heavy fire, until killed.
Seaman R.N.R. George McKenzie Samson, O.N. 2408A.
Worked on a lighter all day under fire, attending wounded and getting out lines; he was eventually dangerously wounded by maxim fire.

Notes: River Clyde was a 4000-ton collier used as a transport to land some 2000 men of the 1st Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers, at Cape Helles on 25 April 1915, during the Battle of Gallipoli.
Tisdall's middle name is spelt "Waldene" in the Gazette, but most sources give it as "Walderne."

Medal of Honor: A. W. Knappenberger

ALTON W KNAPPENBERGER

Private First Class, US Army; 3d Infantry Division

Born: 31 December 1923, Cooperstown, Pennsylvania
Died: 9 June 2008

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action involving actual conflict with the enemy, on 1 February 1944 near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy. When a heavy German counterattack was launched against his battalion, Pfc. Knappenberger crawled to an exposed knoll and went into position with his automatic rifle. An enemy machinegun 85 yards away opened fire, and bullets struck within 6 inches of him. Rising to a kneeling position, Pfc. Knappenberger opened fire on the hostile crew, knocked out the gun, killed 2 members of the crew, and wounded the third. While he fired at this hostile position, 2 Germans crawled to a point within 20 yards of the knoll and threw potato-masher grenades at him, but Pfc. Knappenberger killed them both with 1 burst from his automatic rifle. Later, a second machinegun opened fire upon his exposed position from a distance of 100 yards, and this weapon also was silenced by his well-aimed shots. Shortly thereafter, an enemy 20mm. antiaircraft gun directed fire at him, and again Pfc. Knappenberger returned fire to wound 1 member of the hostile crew. Under tank and artillery shellfire, with shells bursting within 15 yards of him, he held his precarious position and fired at all enemy infantrymen armed with machine pistols and machineguns which he could locate. When his ammunition supply became exhausted, he crawled 15 yards forward through steady machinegun fire, removed rifle clips from the belt of a casualty, returned to his position and resumed firing to repel an assaulting German platoon armed with automatic weapons. Finally, his ammunition supply being completely exhausted, he rejoined his company. Pfc. Knappenberger's intrepid action disrupted the enemy attack for over 2 hours.

Book list - Jan 11

Elleander Morning - AH, by Jerry Yulsman *
Caesars' Wives: Sex, Power, and Politics in the Roman Empire - ancient history, by Annelise Freisenbruch
Six Geese A-Slaying - mystery, by Donna Andrews
Murder with Peacocks - mystery, by Donna Andrews
Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon - mystery, by Donna Andrews
Discord's Apple - modern fantasy, by Carrie Vaughn
Firestorm! - children's historical fiction, by Joan Hiatt Harlow
Dreadnought - AH, by Cherie Priest
Maria: My Own Story - memoirs, by Maria von Trapp
The Masterharper of Pern - SF, by Anne McCaffrey


Ten books last month, with only one reread (marked by an asterisk). I haven't set an official goal this year, though I do expect to read around 200 books.

No Carnegie Medal winners this time round, so I'm still at 48 of 71. But I've started reading this year's Newbery Medal winner, Moon Over Manifest....

Victoria Cross: J. D. Baskeyfield

JOHN DANIEL BASKEYFIELD

Lance-Sergeant, The South Staffordshire Regiment (1st Airborne Division)

Born: 18 November 1922, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Died: 20 September 1944, Oosterbeek, Netherlands

Citation: On 20th September, 1944, during the battle of Arnhem, Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield was the N.C.O. in charge of a 6-pounder anti-tank gun at Oosterbeek. The enemy developed a major attack on this sector with infantry, tanks and self-propelled guns with the obvious intent to break into and overrun the Battalion position. During the early stage of the action the crew commanded by this N.C.O. was responsible for the destruction of two Tiger tanks and at least one self-propelled gun, thanks to the coolness and daring of this N.C.O., who, with complete disregard for his own safety, allowed each tank to come well within 100 yards of his gun before opening fire.
In the course of this preliminary engagement Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield was badly wounded in the leg and the remainder of his crew were either killed or badly wounded. During the brief respite after this engagement Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield refused to be carried to the Regimental Aid Post and spent his time attending to his gun and shouting encouragement to his comrades in neighbouring trenches.
After a short interval the enemy renewed the attack with even greater ferocity than before, under cover of intense mortar and shell fire. Manning his gun quite alone Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield continued to fire round after round at the enemy until his gun was put out of action. By this time his activity was the main factor in keeping the enemy tanks at bay. The fact that the surviving men in his vicinity were held together and kept in action was undoubtedly due to his magnificent example and outstanding
courage. Time after time enemy attacks were launched and driven off. Finally, when his gun was knocked out, Lance Sergeant Baskeyfield crawled, under intense enemy fire, to another 6-pounder gun nearby, the crew of which had been killed, and proceeded to man it single-handed. With this gun he engaged an enemy self-propelled gun which was appoaching to attack. Another soldier crawled across the open ground to assist him but was killed almost at once. Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield succeeded in firing two rounds at the self-propelled gun, scoring one direct hit which rendered it ineffective. Whilst preparing to fire a third shot, however, he was killed by a shell from a supporting enemy tank.
The superb gallantry of this N.C.O. is beyond praise. During the remaining days at Arnhem stories of his valour were a constant inspiration to all ranks. He spurned danger, ignored pain and, by his supreme fighting spirit, infected all who witnessed his conduct with the same aggressiveness and dogged devotion to duty which characterised his actions throughout.

[London Gazette issue 36807 dated 23 Nov 1944, published 21 Nov 1944.]

Medal of Honor: W. L. Fox

WESLEY LEE FOX

First Lieutenant (later Captain), US Marine Corps; commanding Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division

Born: 30 September 1931, Herndon, Virginia
Died: TBD

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as commanding officer of Company A, in action against the enemy in the northern A Shau Valley [on 22 February 1969]. Capt. (then 1st Lt.) Fox's company came under intense fire from a large well concealed enemy force. Capt. Fox maneuvered to a position from which he could assess the situation and confer with his platoon leaders. As they departed to execute the plan he had devised, the enemy attacked and Capt. Fox was wounded along with all of the other members of the command group, except the executive officer. Capt. Fox continued to direct the activity of his company. Advancing through heavy enemy fire, he personally neutralized 1 enemy position and calmly ordered an assault against the hostile emplacements. He then moved through the hazardous area coordinating aircraft support with the activities of his men. When his executive officer was mortally wounded, Capt. Fox reorganized the company and directed the fire of his men as they hurled grenades against the enemy and drove the hostile forces into retreat. Wounded again in the final assault, Capt. Fox refused medical attention, established a defensive posture, and supervised the preparation of casualties for medical evacuation. His indomitable courage, inspiring initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger inspired his marines to such aggressive action that they overcame all enemy resistance and destroyed a large bunker complex. Capt. Fox's heroic actions reflect great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps, and uphold the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

Honours

Finally remembered to check the New Year's Honours List.

Order of the British Empire – Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Antonia, Lady FRASER, CBE
Historian and Author. For services to Literature.
(London, W8)

Order of the British Empire – Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Burt KWOUK
Actor. For services to Drama.
(London, NW6)

Piers John SELLERS
Astronaut. For services to science

Lady Antonia is the author of The Six Wives of Henry VIII, as well as numerous other books, both non-fiction and fiction. Kwouk played Inspector Clouseau's servant, Cato, in the Pink Panther movies. Sellers flew on missions STS-112 (Atlantis), STS-121 (Discovery) and STS-132 (Atlantis).

Australian VC awarded for Afghanistan

ZUI this article from the Sydney Morning Herald:

CORPORAL Ben Roberts-Smith remembers with great clarity little moments from the battle of Shah Wali Kot in Afghanistan.

He remembers lying on his back as Taliban bullets cracked around him and seeing leaves falling off the trees above him. It took a second to register that it was the rounds ripping the leaves off the branches as enemy gunfire swept back and forth.

Most of all he remembers coming face to face with two Taliban fighters, a split second before he shot them dead.

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Yesterday [23 January] he was awarded Australia's highest military honour, the Victoria Cross of Australia, for his actions at Shah Wali Kot on June 11 last year.

He has previously been awarded Australia's third-highest military gong, the Medal of [sic] Gallantry, for his part in another action in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province in May 2006, making him the only Australian to have received both honours.

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The towering 32-year-old father of five-month-old twin girls and a young son was presented the Victoria Cross by the Governor-General, Quentin Bryce, at his Special Air Service regiment's home base, Campbell Barracks, in Perth.

''In these times of hardship and grief for many Australians, you bring our hearts to soar and you remind us of the strength and the endurance of the human spirit,'' she said.

The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, said at the ceremony that while he exhibited humility, mateship, and love of family, Corporal Roberts-Smith was different. ''He will always know, as we know now, that in the heat of battle he did not fail when mateship and duty called.''

He was awarded the VC for actions as a patrol second-in-command with the Special Operations Task Group.

The investiture was also watched by his wife, Emma, the Chief of Defence Force, Angus Houston, and a host of other politicians and military brass.

ZUI also this article - with a very interesting photo - from The Australian. The citations for Roberts-Smith's VC and Medal for Gallantry, along with his official biography, can be found here.

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BENJAMIN ROBERTS-SMITH

Corporal, Australian Special Sir Service

Born: 1 November 1978, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Died: TBD

Citation: For the most conspicuous gallantry in action in circumstances of extreme peril as Patrol Second-in-Command, Special Operations Task Group on Operation SLIPPER.

Corporal Benjamin Roberts-Smith enlisted in the Australian Regular Army in 1996. After completing the requisite courses, he was posted the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment where he saw active service in East Timor. In January 2003, he successfully completed the Australian Special Air Service Regiment Selection Course.

During his tenure with the Regiment, he deployed on Operation VALIANT, SLATE, SLIPPER, CATALYST and SLIPPER II. Corporal Benjamin Roberts-Smith was awarded the Medal for Gallantry for his actions in Afghanistan in 2006.

On the 11th June 2010, a troop of the Special Operations Task Group conducted a helicopter assault into Tizak, Kandahar Province, in order to capture or kill a senior Taliban commander.

Immediately upon the helicopter insertion, the troop was engaged by machine gun and rocket propelled grenade fire from multiple, dominating positions. Two soldiers were wounded in action and the troop was pinned down by fire from three machine guns in an elevated fortified position to the south of the village. Under the cover of close air support, suppressive small arms and machine gun fire, Corporal Roberts-Smith and his patrol manoeuvred to within 70 metres of the enemy position in order to neutralise the enemy machine gun positions and regain the initiative.

Upon commencement of the assault, the patrol drew very heavy, intense, effective and sustained fire from the enemy position. Corporal Roberts-Smith and his patrol members fought towards the enemy position until, at a range of 40 metres, the weight of fire prevented further movement forward. At this point, he identified the opportunity to exploit some cover provided by a small structure.

As he approached the structure, Corporal Roberts-Smith identified an insurgent grenadier in the throes of engaging his patrol. Corporal Roberts-Smith instinctively engaged the insurgent at point-blank range resulting in the death of the insurgent. With the members of his patrol still pinned down by the three enemy machine gun positions, he exposed his own position in order to draw fire away from his patrol, which enabled them to bring fire to bear against the enemy. His actions enabled his Patrol Commander to throw a grenade and silence one of the machine guns. Seizing the advantage, and demonstrating extreme devotion to duty and the most conspicuous gallantry, Corporal Roberts-Smith, with a total disregard for his own safety, stormed the enemy position killing the two remaining machine gunners.

His act of valour enabled his patrol to break-in to the enemy position and to lift the weight of fire from the remainder of the troop who had been pinned down by the machine gun fire. On seizing the fortified gun position, Corporal Roberts-Smith then took the initiative again and continued to assault enemy positions in depth during which he and another patrol member engaged and killed further enemy. His acts of selfless valour directly enabled his troop to go on and clear the village of Tizak of Taliban. This decisive engagement subsequently caused the remainder of the Taliban in Shah Wali Kot District to retreat from the area.

Corporal Roberts-Smith’s most conspicuous gallantry in a circumstance of extreme peril was instrumental to the seizure of the initiative and the success of the troop against a numerically superior enemy force. His valour was an inspiration to the soldiers with whom he fought alongside and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.

RIP: Barney Hajiro

Barney Fushimi Hajiro
16 Sep 1916 - 21 Jan 2011

ZUI this article from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser:

The nation's oldest living recipient of the Medal of Honor, Barney Hajiro, died Friday at Maunalani Hospital in Honolulu.

He was 94.

Hajiro had been awarded three Distinguished Service Crosses by the Army while serving with a rifle company in the 442 Regimental Combat Team during World War II in Europe.

One of those awards was upgraded to the Medal of Honor 46 years after the war ended at the urging of Sen. Daniel Akaka who authored congressional legislation requiring the Army to determine whether 22 Asian and Pacific Island Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross had not been properly recognized because of the war's anti-Japanese sentiment. Twenty, including Sen. Daniel Inouye, were members of the famed segregated Japanese American 100th Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

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Hajiro was the eldest of nine children and left the 8th grade at Puunene on Maui to work in the sugar-cane fields for 10 cents an hour, 10 hours a day. Because he had to leave school to help support his family, Hajiro, an aspiring track star, was never able to pursue his dream to compete in high school and college.

He is survived by a son, Glenn; wife, Esther, and one grandson.

According to the Medal of Honor Society, there are now 85 living Medal of Honor recipients.

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

BARNEY FUSHIMI HAJIRO

Private, US Army; 442nd Infantry Regiment

Born: 16 September 1916, Territory of Hawai`i
Died: TBD

Citation: Private Barney F. Hajiro distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 19, 22, and 29 October 1944, in the vicinity of Bruyeres and Biffontaine, eastern France. Private Hajiro, while acting as a sentry on top of an embankment on 19 October 1944, in the vicinity of Bruyeres, France, rendered assistance to allied troops attacking a house 200 yards away by exposing himself to enemy fire and directing fire at an enemy strong point. He assisted the unit on his right by firing his automatic rifle and killing or wounding two enemy snipers. On 22 October 1944, he and one comrade took up an outpost security position about 50 yards to the right front of their platoon, concealed themselves, and ambushed an 18-man, heavily armed, enemy patrol, killing two, wounding one, and taking the remainder as prisoners. On 29 October 1944, in a wooded area in the vicinity of Biffontaine, France, Private Hajiro initiated an attack up the slope of a hill referred to as "Suicide Hill" by running forward approximately 100 yards under fire. He then advanced ahead of his comrades about 10 yards, drawing fire and spotting camouflaged machine gun nests. He fearlessly met fire with fire and single-handedly destroyed two machine gun nests and killed two enemy snipers. As a result of Private Hajiro's heroic actions, the attack was successful. Private Hajiro's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit, and the United States Army.

Victoria Cross: E. B. B. Towse

ERNEST BEACHCROFT BECKWITH TOWSE

Captain, The Gordon Highlanders

Born: 23 April 1864, Westminster, London
Died: 21 June 1948, Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

Citation: On the 11th December, 1899, at the action of Majesfontein, Captain Towse was brought to notice by his Commanding Officer for his gallantry and devotion in assisting the late Colonel Downman, when mortally wounded, in the retirement, and endeavouring, when close up to the front of the firing line, to carry Colonel Downman on his back; but finding this not possible, Captain Towse supported him till joined by Colour-Sergeant Nelson and Lance-Corporal Hodgson.
On the 30th April, 1900, Captain Towse, with twelve men, took up a position on the top of Mount Thaba, far away from support. A force of about 150 Boers attempted to seize the same plateau, neither party appearing to see the other until they were but 100 yards apart. Some of the Boers then got within 40 yards of Captain Towse and his party, and called on him to surrender. He at once caused his men to open fire and remained firing himself until severely wounded (both eyes shattered), succeeding in driving off the Boers. The gallantry of this Officer in vigorously attacking the enemy (for he not only fired, but charged forward) saved the situation, notwithstanding the numerical superiority of the Boers.

[London Gazette issue 27208 dated 6 Jul 1900, published 6 Jul 1900.]


Note: Captain Towse was Sir Beachcroft Towse, VC KCVO CBE, at the time of his death.

Medal of Honor: G. W. Rud and C. H. Willey

GEORGE WILLIAM RUD

Chief Machinist's Mate, US Navy; USS Memphis (CA 10)

Born: 7 October 1883, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Died: 29 August 1916, Santo Domingo City, Santo Domingo

Citation: For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession while attached to the U.S.S. Memphis, at a time when that vessel was suffered total destruction from a hurricane while anchored off Santo Domingo City, 29 August 1916. C.M.M. Rud took his station in the engineroom and remained at his post amidst scalding steam and the rushing of thousands of tons of water into his department, receiving serious burns from which he immediately died.






CHARLES H WILLEY

Machinist, US Navy; USS Memphis (CA 10)

Born: 31 March 1889, East Boston, Massachusetts
Died: 11 September 1977, Concord, New Hampshire

Citation: For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession while serving on board the U.S.S. Memphis, at a time when that vessel was suffering total destruction from a hurricane while anchored off Santo Domingo City, 29 August 1916. Machinist Willey took his station in the engineer's department and remained at his post of duty amidst scalding steam and the rush of thousands of tons of water into his department as long as the engines would turn, leaving only when ordered to leave. When the boilers exploded, he assisted in getting the men out of the fireroom and carrying them into the engineroom, where there was air instead of steam to breathe. Machinist Willey's conduct on this occasion was above and beyond the call of duty.


Note: Lt Claud A Jones also received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Memphis's engine room.

Kangaroo tying

And Roberta X has the BASIC idea....


H/T to Tam and to Dustbury.