Hero of the Week 50

Welcome back viewers

This week we will honor three heroes who share a connection

They are: Sergeant Stubby, Winkie, and Reckless

 

Part 1

Stubby was a stray bull terrier who served in the American Army during World War I. He was found and adopted in Connecticut by soldiers of the 77th Infantry Division. He was named Stubby for his stature and his tail. He was smuggled aboard a troop ship and taken to France by a soldier named Robert Conroy. Upon arrival in France, Stubby found himself doing what no dog had ever done for the US Army in history.

Stubby served with the 77th Infantry during the final year of World War I. He participated in at least 17 battles and four major offensives. One of his most memorable achievements was when he captured  a German spy who was photographing American defenses while disguised as a civilian. When the spy attempted to flee, Stubby chased him down before grabbing him by the seat of his pants and holding him until American soldiers arrived on the scene and took the spy into custody. Stubby also became very useful in warning soldiers against mustard gas attacks and locating wounded soldiers. Using his sense of smell, Stubby could sense when mustard gas had been fired by the Germans long before it came into contact with the American trenches. 

One day, Stubby ran up a trench barking wildly, the American company heard his warning and quickly donned their gas masks. As a direct result, the entire company was saved. Stubby himself was wounded several times by gas and shrapnel. However, he survived the war and received a promotion to Sergeant (the first and only dog to receive a rank). After the war, Stubby became a national celebrity and was adopted by Robert Conroy. In 1921, he became the team mascot for the Georgetown Hoyas. He passed away in his sleep on March 16, 1926.

Part II

Winkie was a female pigeon who served in the British Army during World War II. Her job was to deliver messages from locations that could not be accessed by phone lines. During the war, pigeons were frequently used by the RAF in order to rescue downed airman who were in need of rescue. Winkie's navigation skills would be put to the ultimate test on February 23, 1942.

On that day, Winkie was aboard an RAF bomber (Bristol Beaufort). Her number was, NEHU 40 NSL. The bomber was severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire and the crew was forced to ditch in the North Atlantic. The crew all managed to survive the ditching, but found themselves stranded more than 100 miles off the coast of Scotland. As the crew crowded into inflatable rafts they set Winkie free with the hope that she could alert rescuers to their predicament. Despite being covered in oil and facing a more than 120 mile flight, Winkie made it back to headquarters. Although she was not carrying a message, the RAF was able to calculate the position of the downed aircraft by using the time difference between the downed plane's ditching and the arrival of the bird. They also took into account the wind direction and the amount of oil on Winkie's feathers. 

Thanks to Winkie's navigation skills and fast flying, the RAF were able to locate the stranded crew of the bomber within just 15 minutes of her arrival at the base. She received the Dickin Medal for her heroism in saving the crew of the bomber.

Part III

Sergeant Reckless was a thoroughbred mixed breed horse that served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. She was foaled in the year 1948, and was purchased by the 1st Marine Division in October of 1952. From there she began a distinguished career. In one battle, it was she who made the difference between life and death for many marines.

On March 26, 1953, Sergeant Reckless was serving with a Marine Recoilless Rifle platoon at a place called, "Outpost Vegas". In the early morning, they came under heavy attack. Over the next five days, Sergeant Reckless served as an ammunition carrier for the marines. She made more than 51 trips between their positions while carrying ammunition and medical supplies. In all, she is believed to have carried more than 4,000 kilograms (not all at the same time) for more than 35 miles through mountainous terrain and rice paddies. She even carried several severely wounded marines to field hospitals (despite being severely wounded herself at least twice). Incredibly, she did this all by herself without any official guidance from any person.

Throughout the Korean War, Sergeant Reckless participated in more than a dozen combat operations. For her heroic service, she received two purple hearts, the Dickin Medal, and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. She was given a heroes welcome upon her return to the United States. She also received an official promotion to Staff Sergeant. She lived in peaceful retirement until her death on May 13, 1968. She was buried with full military honors.

Epilogue

Although it is true that most war is fought by people. Many of us forget how much service and sacrifice is provided by animals. In many battles and military operations they have made the difference between life and death for people. The actions of Winkie, Stubby, and Sergeant Reckless are proof of this. I believe that they should always be remembered.

https://www.historyextra.com/period/first-world-war/sergeant-stubby-richard-lanni-film-animated-war-dog-american-history/

https://www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck/sgt-reckless-combat-veteran

http://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=15

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-17138990

https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/15/sport/sergeant-reckless-warhorse-spt/index.html

Hero of the Week 49

Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

Virginia Hall

Virginia Hall was born on April 6, 1906. She grew up in Baltimore and learned to speak German and French while she was in college. She eventually found work at several American embassies before being employed by the US State Department. While she stationed in Turkey she was severely injured in a hunting accident that resulted in the amputation of her left leg below the knee. This tragic injury ended her dream of joining the diplomatic core which had rules against anyone with a disability. However, despite this setback, Virginia was still determined. She learned to walk with a prosthetic and resigned her clerical position before moving to Paris in 1940. Little did she know that she was about to face challenges that she never could have imagined.

Virginia Hall was forced to flee from Paris to London when the Nazis invaded that year. Upon her arrival, she volunteered for the British Special Operations Executive (SOE). Within a few weeks, Hall was sent to Southern France as an undercover journalist in August, 1941. Once there, she observed Nazi activities and scouted safe drop zones for Allied commandos in France. This allowed them to get in contact with the French Resistance and supply them with money and weapons. For the next 15 months she continued helped them identify targets and safe houses. In November of 1942, the German Gestapo became aware of Hall's activities. She was forced to flee from France. Despite facing a large manhunt by the Gestapo she successfully eluded them and made it to neutral Spain.

By now the United States had entered the war. In March of 1944, Hall was recruited by the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Upon her induction, she immediately requested to return to France. The request was granted and Hall was landed in Brittany. For the next three months, she worked as a wireless operator. She coordinated parachute drops of arms and supplies for the French Maquis. She also reported German troop movements to Allied intelligence. This information would prove invaluable and make a critical difference in the Normandy invasion. Virginia Hall continued her espionage mission until France was liberated.

After the war in Europe ended, Virginia Hall was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for her heroism. She was the first and only civilian to receive it for heroism in World War II. She was also made an honorary member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). In 1951, Hall was recruited by the CIA, where she worked as an intelligence analyst for the next 15 years. She officially retired in 1966. For the rest of her life, Virginia Hall lived with her family on a farm in Maryland. She never sought publicity for what she did. She passed away on July 8, 1982, at the age of 76.

Virginia Hall was a very incredible person. She suffered a terrible tragedy early in her life, and yet she refused to let it slow her down. She performed great acts of courage at great risk to her own life and made a critical difference in the outcome many military operations in the war. I believe that Virginia Hall should be regarded as one of America's greatest heroes of World War II.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/wanted-the-limping-lady-146541513/

https://americacomesalive.com/2012/03/12/virginia-hall-1906-1982-world-war-ii-spy-for-the-allies/

https://allthatsinteresting.com/virginia-hall

Hero of the Week 48

Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

Guy Gabaldon

Guy Gabaldon was born on March 22, 1926 in Los Angeles, California. As a boy, he grew up shining shoes in order to help his family. When he was 12, he had to move in with a Japanese-American family (the Nakanos) due to the Gabaldon's poverty. While he lived with the Nakano family, Guy learned about Japanese culture and how to speak the Japanese language. Everything changed when World War II broke out in 1941.

The Nakano family was forced to move to an internment camp after the Attack on Pearl Harbor. With no where else for him to go, Gabaldon enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. In 1943, he was shipped out to the pacific as part of the 2nd Marine Division. He was assigned as a scout and observer and would be part of the Invasion of the Japanese held island of Saipan. Gabaldon didn't know it at the time, but his ability to speak Japanese would become very useful.

On June 15, 1944, the battle of Saipan officially began. For the next three weeks, the American forces engaged in vicious combat with the Japanese garrison that resulted in thousands of casualties on both sides. By the month of July, Saipan had been mostly captured and the bulk of the Japanese forces had been depleted. However, thousands of Japanese soldiers refused to surrender and hid in caves and the dense jungle of the island. If Americans ever approached to demand their surrender, the Japanese would ambush them from hidden positions. They would continue to fight until the Americans used flamethrowers and napalm to set fire to the caves and trees. This would cause all those inside to burn to death.

One of the most tragic parts of the invasion of Saipan was that thousands of Japanese civilians found themselves caught in the crossfire of the battle. Many of them were killed in bombing raids and artillery strikes. They were also forced to accompany Japanese soldiers into the caves. This resulted in thousands of them being killed there. Thousands more committed suicide during the battle when approached by Americans (due to hearing horrible propaganda from the Japanese military).

During the battle, PFC Gabaldon had been wounded but did not see as much combat as many of his comrades did. However, he was able to contribute in a much different way. He decided to use his ability to speak the Japanese language in order to convince them to surrender instead of fighting to the death or committing suicide. On July 6, Gabaldon left his post and approached seven Japanese soldiers who had become isolated from their own lines. After speaking to him, they decided to surrender. After returning to American lines with his prisoners, Gabaldon was reprimanded for deserting his post and threatened with a court-martial if he did it again.

Despite this warning, Gabaldon went out again and this time, returned with 50 Japanese prisoners of war who had been convinced to surrender. After this, he was granted the privilege of, "lone wolf" operator. This meant that he could conduct himself in whatever mission that he wanted. He also gained himself a nickname, "The Pied Piper of Saipan". His defining moment came when he convinced a group of 800 Japanese soldiers and civilians hiding near a cliff to surrender. All in all, Guy Gabaldon would successfully convince more than 1,500 Japanese to lay down their arms without further bloodshed. He continued to do this until he was severely wounded in an ambush near the end of the campaign on Saipan.

Despite Guy Gabaldon's best efforts, the vast majority of the Japanese garrison continued to fight on. On July 7, the garrison launched the largest banzai charge in the whole of World War II. This charge would later be considered to be one of the most savage and brutal fights in the entire war. Saipan was finally declared secure, on July 9. By then, the Americans had suffered 13,790 casualties (3,246 killed or missing). Of the Japanese garrison of 29,000, nearly all either fought to the death or committed suicide. A further 30,000 civilians had been killed or committed suicide as well.

Private First Class Guy Gabaldon survived his wounds. He later fought in the battle of Tinian before being given an honorable discharge. For his heroism on Saipan, Gabaldon received the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart. He passed away on August 31, 2006 at the age of 80.

Guy Gabaldon should incredible bravery and compassion during is combat experience in World War II. It takes great courage to confront a fanatical enemy and convince him lay down his arms. By doing this, Guy saved thousands of people from dying unnecessary deaths when it could have been avoided. I believe that he should be revered as one of America's greatest heroes of World War II.

https://www.navysite.de/ships/lha2about.htm

https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/04/us/04gabaldon.html

https://www.wearethemighty.com/pied-piper-corporal-guy-gabaldon

http://www.wtj.com/articles/gabaldon/

Hero of the Week 47

Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

Jankiel Wiernik

Jankiel Wiernik was born in 1889 in Poland. For the first half of his life, he worked as a carpenter around the country before settling in Warsaw. However, his life changed forever at the breakout of World War II. After the fall of Poland to Nazi Germany, Jankiel Wiernik was one of thousands of people who were herded into the Warsaw Ghetto. After spending over a year in the ghetto, he and thousands of others were forced onto a train that took them to a death camp in Eastern Poland. It was a place called, Treblinka.

As soon as they arrived, the prisoners were separated into two groups. One very small group (including Wiernik) were lined up and sent to the barracks to prepare for work. The rest of the prisoners were immediately taken to Treblinka's gas chambers to be murdered.

At first Wiernik was forced to work as a Sonderkommando. He was part of the group that was supposed to retrieve the bodies of the people who had been gassed and take them to the cremetorium to be burned. He was eventually selected to become part of Treblinka's main work force when he revealed his skills as a carpenter to the guards. 

This revelation saved Wiernik's life. He was taken from the Sonderkommando and placed with a handful of prisoners who were being forced to help run the extermination process at Treblinka. For the next year, Wiernik was forced to repair buildings, fix the railroad, and to lead new prisoners to the gas chambers. He witnessed thousands of people being murdered on a daily basis and (along with his few prisoners) was subjected to sadistic brutality by Treblinka's guards. However, they were also secretly resisting.

Due to his position as a carpenter among the prisoners, Wiernik was able to view multiple areas of the death camp. As a result of this, he became a valuable asset to his fellow prisoners who were planning an uprising. The prisoners had been planning this ever since they had heard of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising from new prisoners who had survived the selection process. They were determined to fight back and obtain their freedom or else to die trying. 

On August 2, 1943, the Treblinka Uprising began. First, they broke into the guard's weapons storeroom and seized guns and ammunition. After this, some of the prisoners attacked the guards and set the camp on fire while others broke the gate to the camp open and made a break for the woods. Although the guards were initially caught by surprise, they quickly retaliated. The uprising in Treblinka was crushed within a few hours. By then however, over 300 of the prisoners of Treblinka (including Wiernik who had killed a guard with an axe) had managed to successfully escape. 

After his escape, Jankiel Wiernik managed to evade the pursuing SS and Gestapo. He was given shelter by a kind Pole who made contact with the Polish resistance in Warsaw. Wiernik eventually joined the Resistance and reported what he had witnessed in Treblinka. The leaders of the resistance urged him to write an account of his experience. In 1944, Jankiel Wiernik wrote a short biography titled, A Year in Treblinka. The book was smuggled out of Poland by the resistance and was published in England and the United States. It was the first written account of what would be known as the Holocaust to ever be published by a survivor. 

For the rest of the war, Wiernik fought with the Polish resistance. When it was over, he testified at the Nuremberg Trials for Nazi war criminals. In 1947, immigrated to Israel. For the rest of his life, Wiernik was continually haunted by his experience in Treblinka. He dedicated much of his later life to building models of the death camp which he donated to museums. In 1961, he testified at the trial of Adolf Eichmann. He died in 1972 at the age of 83.

From the time that it first opened (July, 1942) until the it was liquidated (October, 1943), more than 800,000 people were murdered in the death camp known as, Treblinka. Although 300 prisoners had escaped in the uprising, only around 100 (Wiernik included) survived the war to bear witness to the atrocities that were committed. The last survivor of Treblinka (Samuel Willenberg) passed away on February 19, 2016. 

Jankiel Wiernik truly was a remarkable person. He found the courage and the resilience to survive a terrible ordeal and make sure it was never forgotten. After his escape, he dedicated the rest of his life to preserving the memory of the victims of the Treblinka death camp. Because of men like him, the terrible tragedy of the Holocaust will never be forgotten (even when all the survivors have passed on).

http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/trials/wierniktestimony.html

http://www.zchor.org/treblink/wiernik.htm

https://www.chroniclesofterror.pl/dlibra/show-content?id=305&navq=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jaHJvbmljbGVzb2Z0ZXJyb3IucGwvZGxpYnJhL3Jlc3VsdHM_cT13aWVybmlrJmFjdGlvbj1TaW1wbGVTZWFyY2hBY3Rpb24mbWRpcmlkcz0mdHlwZT0tNiZzdGFydHN0cj1fYWxsJnA9MA&navref=MzE3OzMwNSAzMTU7MzAzIDI5MTsyNzk

https://www.ushmm.org/research/the-center-for-advanced-holocaust-studies/miles-lerman-center-for-the-study-of-jewish-resistance/medals-of-resistance-award/treblinka-death-camp-revolt

Hero of the Week 46

Welcome back viewers.

This week's hero is...

Eugene Bullard!

Eugene Bullard was born on October 9, 1895 in Columbus, Georgia. As a child he and his family experienced terrible racism (including an incident where his father was almost lynched by a mob). He  decided to leave Georgia when he was only 11. He joined a group of gypsies who travelled around the country. Due to experiencing terrible racism around the US, Bullard decided to leave the country and go to Europe. By 1913, he was living in France as a boxer. Little did he know, that he would face a challenge even bigger than anything he had encountered in his life.

In 1914, World War I broke out in Europe. Bullard immediately enlisted in the French Foreign Legion. During the war, he received the Croix de Guerre for valor while fighting at the battle of Verdun (one of the bloodiest battles in history). In 1916, he joined the French Air Corps. For a while he served as a gunner, but he eventually became a pilot. For the next two years of the war, Bullard flew on more than 20 missions and shot down at least one enemy fighter. As a result he became the first African-American pilot in history. However his time in the French Air Corps ended when the United States entered the war in 1918. When this happened, Bullard was transferred to an American infantry unit for the rest of the war.

After World War I ended, Eugene Bullard moved to Paris where he started a family. In the late 1930s, Bullard joined a counter-intelligence network that spied on the Germans in Paris. He and his family fled to New York City when the Germans invaded France in 1940. There Bullard worked as an elevator operator. In 1959, he was made a knight of the French Legion of Honor by French President Charles de Gaulle. Eugene Bullard passed away two years later on October 12, 1961. Although Bullard was considered a hero in France, he never much recognition from the United States. It was not until 1994, when the American Air Force posthumously promoted Eugene Bullard to 2nd Lieutenant.

Throughout history, there are many people who have had the potential to do great things for the world but never get the opportunity. One of the biggest obstacles these people face is racism. Eugene Bullard was one of those individuals. He grew up facing vicious racism and yet never gave up on his trying make his way in the world. He is definitely someone to be held in high regard.

https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/eugene-bullard-1895-1961

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/the-great-war-two-lives-eugene-bullard/

http://www.blackpast.org/aah/bullard-eugene-jacques-1894-1961

Hero of the Week 45

Welcome back viewers!

This weeks hero is...

Leslie Coffelt

Leslie Coffelt was born on August 15, 1910. He became a police officer in Washington DC in 1929. He was assigned to Precinct 3 along K Street. He later left the police force to serve in the Army during World War II. When the war was over, Coffelt returned to Washington to resume his career as a cop. He was eventually posted at the White House to serve as a secret service agent to President Harry Truman in 1945. He served there without serious incident for the next five years. However, nothing could have prepared him for what would happen on November 1, 1950.

On that day, President Truman was staying in a small townhouse in DC called the, Blair House. This was due to renovations being made at the White House that year. Coffelt was one of a number of agents that were standing guard outside the house. That afternoon, two armed men approached the Blair House and opened fire. The guards immediately returned fire and a two minute gunfight ensued.

During the gunfight, Agent Coffelt was shot three times by one of the assailants. Despite the severity of his wounds, he managed to draw his weapon and kill his attacker with a shot to the head. The second gunman was taken down by other agents. 

When it was over, one man (an assassin) was dead and four (three agents and one assassin) had been severely wounded. Leslie Coffelt was rushed to the hospital where doctors tried to save his life. Sadly he died there four hours after he had been shot. He was 40 years old. The other two agents both survived their wounds and the surviving assassin was sentenced to life in prison. President Truman was unharmed during the whole incident. Investigations later revealed that the two assassins were far-left nationalists from Puerto Rico who were angry at the US. They had hoped to gain attention for their cause by assassinating President Truman.

Agent Leslie Coffelt was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He was the first and only individual to date who died while protecting the President of the United States from assassins. President Truman never forgot Agent Coffelt's sacrifice and stayed in contact with the latter's family for the rest of his life. For the last two centuries, many men and women have given their time and energy to protecting the president of the United States. Today, most people forget the courage and self-sacrifice that members of the Secret Service give. Agent Coffelt was one of those individuals. He gave his life to protect his president from a lethal assassin. He is definitely someone to be held in high regard.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/lcoffelt.htm

https://aproundtable.org/blog/secret-service-officer-leslie-coffelt/

Hero of the Week 44

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Douglas Munro

Douglas Munro was born on October 11, 1919 in Vancouver, Canada. His family later moved to Washington State. After he graduated from high school, Douglas attended a year of college before choosing to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard. Although he expected to protect America's shores, little did he know that the Coast Guard would be called to duty in a way he never could have expected.

When World War II began, Douglas Munro was one of many people who answered the call to duty. Although the US Coast Guard was used to protecting American shorelines, they quickly found themselves playing a major combat role in the American war effort in the Pacific. Their mission was to pilot small boats (called a Higgins Boat) carrying marines from ships to their landing zones on an enemy beach. They were also supposed to evacuate wounded marines and sailors. This usually had to be done while under heavy enemy fire. Their actions would make a key difference in the pivotal campaign on Guadalcanal.

On September 27, 1942, Signalman First Class Douglas Munro was part of a number of Coast Guardsman that were transporting around 500 marines to a beachhead on Guadalcanal called, Point Cruz. Their mission was to establish a patrol base in order to attack and drive the Japanese west of a key river (Matanikau River) on the island. Just minutes after the marines left the beach, they were ambushed by a large Japanese force. It became clear that the marines would all be killed unless someone came to their rescue. Munro was the first to volunteer.

Munro quickly led five Higgins boats to the beach in order to pick up the marines that were retreating from the jungle. As they got to the beach, the rescue boats began to receive heavy fire from the Japanese. In an act of complete courage, Munro placed his boat directly in the line of fire (in the river just beyond the beach) in order to draw enemy fire away from the other boats that were rescuing the marines. By doing this, he had also made it so that the Japanese would have to pass his boat in order to attack the others on the beach evacuating the marines. 

Since there were so many of them to evacuate and only five boats (including Munro's), multiple trips had to be made. Getting the wounded on board also made the evacuation painfully slow. Munro's boat received murderous fire from the Japanese guns in the jungle. It was not long before Douglas Munro was struck. However, he (along with his close friend, Raymond Evans) continued to fire back at the enemy using his boat's machine gun. After he was hit a second time, he did not get up. Luckily, all the surviving marines had been safely evacuated from Point Cruz. Munro's crew then quickly turned their boat around and headed away from the beach. As he was lying in his boat, Douglas Munro asked Evans, "Did they get off?". Those were his last words. 

Signalman First Class Douglas Munro died just minutes after his Higgins boat had pulled away from Point Cruz. He was 22 years old. He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart. He was the first member of the U.S. Coast Guard to receive the highest award in the American military. As of today, he remains the only serviceman of the Coast Guard to receive it. His friend, Chief Signalman Raymond Evans, received the Navy Cross.

When it comes to combat in World War II and the many conflicts that followed, the actions of the U.S. Coast Guard are have not been largely acknowledged. Instead those who serve in the Coast Guard are mostly remembered for rescuing people along the American coastline. Many people have forgotten that the Coast Guard is a vital importance to the American military and have played several key roles in combat. Douglas Munro was one of these courageous individuals. He risked his life and made the ultimate sacrifice to save his comrades. As a direct result of his actions, more than 500 marines were successfully rescued from the ambush at Point Cruz. He is definitely someone to be held in high regard.

http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2012/09/the-legacy-of-signalman-1st-class-douglas-munro/

http://www.dodlive.mil/2017/08/06/only-coast-guard-medal-of-honor-recipient-saved-500-marines/

https://veteransfuneralcare.com/blog/the-story-of-douglas-munro-the-only-member-of-the-coast-guard-to-receive-the-medal-of-honor

http://www.uscglightshipsailors.org/mil_stories/CMH/

Hero of the Week 43

Welcome back viewers!

This week we will honor a team of heroes.

They are...

The crew of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station!

The Pea Island Life-Saving Station was located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. In the year 1880, it became the first and only lifesaving station to be operated by an African-American crew. The person chosen to be the keeper of the station was a former slave named, Richard Etheridge. And he and his crew would take part in a daring rescue that would make them heroes.

Etheridge had served in a colored unit in the Civil War. Upon his discharge from the military he joined the Life-Saving service. His skill as a surf man led to his assignment to the station on Pea Island. Due to his skin color, no white men agreed to work with Etheridge at the station (they felt that working under a former slave was too degrading). Therefore, his entire crew would be made up of African-American men. They were: Benjamin Bowser, Lewis Wescott, Dorman Pugh, Theodore Meekins, Stanley Wise, and William Irving. Although Etheridge and his crew frequently faced racism from the very same people that they were protecting, they continued to operate the lighthouse. Their defining moment would come on October 11, 1896.

On that day, a violent storm blew in along the eastern coast of the North Carolina. It was not long before the men on Pea Island noticed a distress flare. They then spotted a three-masted schooner (E.S. Newman) that had run aground about two miles offshore. Etheridge quickly prepared his crew for a rescue of the Newman's passengers and crew. They then launched a surfboat and paddled through the rough sea to the stricken schooner. Once they were there, they found they could not reach the vessel since it was not on dry land. Etheridge realized that there was no room for failure. He made the decision to tie his surfmen together and connected them to the shore by a long rope. The surf men then fought their way through the breaking waves as they went from the schooner to dry land at least ten times. They did this until all of the passengers and crew of the E.S. Newman had been safely evacuated from their ship. 

Despite their heroism, Richard Etheridge and his brave crew of surf men were never officially recognized for their actions. Never the less, the men remained dedicated to their duties at the Life-Saving Station on Pea Island. Richard Etheridge eventually died May 8, 1900 after serving twenty years at Pea Island. He was 58 years old. The station on Pea Island was decommissioned in 1947. For the next whole century, the brave rescue of the E.S. Newman by the men of Pea Island nearly faded into obscurity. It was not until 1996 (on the 100th anniversary of the rescue) that the United States Coast Guard finally recognized them. Richard Etheridge and his six crew members were all posthumously awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal.

Like many heroes before and after, the crew of the Pea Island Station went unrecognized for their heroism and service to our nation. To me the represent some of the best and most remarkable unsung heroes in American history. They lived in a country that did not see them as equal and found it in themselves to risk their lives to save others. It is because of people like them, that many others are alive today. They definitely deserve to always be remembered.

https://www.nps.gov/stateoftheparks/caha/culturalresources/lifesavingstation.cfm

https://blackthen.com/pea-island-life-saving-station-first-all-black-crew-in-the-country/

http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2010/10/coast-guard-heroes-richard-etheridge/

Hero of the Week 42

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Kurt Carlsen

Kurt Carlsen was born on February 20, 1914 in Denmark. He became a sea captain and was placed in command of the SS Flying Enterprise, a simple cargo freighter. It seemed like a pretty uneventful job to many people. However, one day proved to be unlike any other. It was one that would test Captain Carlsen in a way he never could have predicted.

On the night of Christmas in 1951, the Flying Enterprise was steaming from Germany to the New York City. All seemed well until the ship was caught in a terrible storm while off the coast of England. During the storm, the Flying Enterprise was struck by a massive rogue wave. The impact of the wave  caused the freighter to crack amidship. This crack along with the ship's own shifting cargo, caused it to list 45 degrees to port. By December 28, it became clear the ship was sinking. Carlsen quickly sent out an SOS.

Within hours, rescue ships responded and took off the 40 crew members and 10 passengers from the Flying Enterprise. To everyone's astonishment, Captain Carlsen refused to evacuate the stricken freighter. Instead he returned to his cabin and radioed to that he intended to stay aboard as long as the ship was still afloat. Despite knowing that the listing freighter could plunge beneath the sea at any moment, Captain Carlsen was determined to try and save his ship.

For the next two weeks, Captain Carlsen remained aboard the Flying Enterprise. He used a makeshift radio to maintain contact with rescue ships. His plan was to get a tug boat to tow the stricken ship into the British port of Falmouth in order to salvage the cargo. When Carlsen wasn't coordinating the salvage operation he scavenged for food and water throughout the listing ship (while it was being pounded by waves). He even continued to manage the ship's log. After about a week, Carlsen was joined by another sailor from a tug. The two then secured a tow line to the bow of the Flying Enterprise.

Despite the best efforts of Carlsen and the rescue tugs, it became clear that the Flying Enterprise could not be towed nor saved from its inevitable sinking. At 3 PM on January 10 of 1952,  Captain Carlsen and his companion jumped from the ship (now almost completely on its side) into the sea and were picked up by a tug. An hour later, the SS Flying Enterprise finally slipped beneath the waves.

Although Captain Carlsen had failed to save his ship, he found (to his astonishment) a hero's welcome awaiting him when he reached Falmouth. When he arrived in New York City, he was greeted with a parade on January 17. Captain Kurt Carlsen received the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Award from Congress. Within days he returned to his job to captain another ship (Flying Enterprise II). He continued to work as a sea captain for the rest of his life. He died on October 7, 1989.

The heroism of Captain Kurt Carlsen is a great example for all those who command vessels on the high seas. He showed an enormous amount of responsibility and dedication to his job even at the risk of his own life. He is definitely someone to be held in high regard.

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/06/opinion/the-captain-who-stayed-aboard.html

http://portsidenewyork.org/portsidetanke/2012/01/captain-who-stayed-with-his-ship.html

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19530605&id=MS9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=H-YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5990,1778702

Hero of the Week 41

Welcome back viewers

This week will honor two heroes who share a connection

They are...

Henry Breault and Sheppard Shreaves

Henry Breault was a US Navy sailor from Putnam, Connecticut. By 1923, he was serving on an American submarine called, O-5 as a Torpedo Man 2nd Class. Sheppard Shreaves was a dockworker and diver from Newport News, Virginia. By 1923, he was working at the Panama Canal. Neither of them could have every known that their fates would become intertwined by a terrible accident at the Panama Canal on October 28, 1923. It was an accident would turn both men into heroes.

Part I

Early in the morning the 28th of October, the O-5 (with a crew of 21) was heading south on Limon Bay, on the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal. The sub was one of many ships that were on a routine transit between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. At 6:24 AM disaster struck. Due to a series of miscommunications and maneuvering errors, the O-5 collided with a cargo ship called the, SS Abangarez. The collision tore a ten foot long by three feet wide gash in the hull of the O-5. As a result the sub rolled sharply to port then starboard before plunging bow first beneath the water. The sub was rapidly sinking. 

The crew of the O-5 immediately rushed topside in order to escape from the stricken ship. Henry Breault was one of the last ones out. However he realized that one of his shipmates (Chief Electrician's Mate Lawrence Brown) was asleep in the sub. Instead of jumping ship with the rest of the crew, Breault decided to go back into the stricken sub to try and rescue Brown. He quickly shut the deck hatch before heading below. 

He found Lawrence Brown in his bunk. Brown was awake but unaware of what was happening. Breault and Brown then tried to get to the escape hatch but found it blocked by water that was flooding into the sub. They then made their way to the torpedo room which was airtight. They quickly shut the door to the torpedo room and locked it. Moments later the O-5's battery shorted out plunging the sub into darkness. Although Henry Breault and Lawrence Brown had saved themselves from drowning, they were now trapped within a sunken ship 42 feet beneath the surface. Their only hope was for someone to rescue them from above.

Part II

The O-5 had sunk less than 1 minute after her collision with the Abangarez. Rescue ships quickly arrived and tried to save the crew in the water. The ships rescued 16 crew members from the water. They then realized that five men were missing. At 10 AM almost 4 hours after the O-5 sank, divers descended on the sub and began to hammer on the hull in order to check if there were men trapped inside. When they began to hammer on the torpedo room they got a response from Henry Breault and Lawrence Brown.

Hoping to save the two trapped men a major salvage operation was launched. The only way to rescue Breault and Brown, was to physically raise the massive submarine from the mud and out of the water using cranes and pontoons. Although the rescue team did not have any pontoons, they did have a massive crane barge, Ajax on the Pacific side of the canal. A plan was then made for rescuers to dive to the wreck, attach cables around the sub, and have the Ajax haul it to the surface. The man who would be in charge of this rescue operation was Sheppard Shreaves. 

Shreaves ("Shep") quickly put on a diving suit and took a team down to the sub at 11 AM. From there, they began the painstaking process of digging a tunnel (using a fire hose) under the O-5's bow before wrapping a cable around it. He later described the conditions in an interview, "The O-5 lay upright in several feet of soft, oozing mud, and I began water jetting a trench under the bow. Sluicing through the ooze was easy; too easy, for it could cave in and bury me. Swirling black mud engulfed me, I worked solely by feel and instinct. I had to be careful that I didn't dredge too much from under the bow for fear the O-5 would crush down on me. Once in a while, I'd rap the hull with the nozzle to let the boys know someone was working to bring them out. Their raps were returned weaker each time" The Ajax arrived at the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal at about 10:30 PM.

By the time the tunnel was through, it was about 11 PM. Shep then attached a 4-inch-diameter steel cable around the O-5's bow. The cable was then hooked to the Ajax which began to haul the sub out of the mud. Unfortunately the weight of water-logged sub coupled with the suction of the mud caused the cable to snap under the strain. Despite the setback, Shep and his crew immediately began to dig another tunnel and attach a second cable to the bow of the sub. At 2 AM of October 29, the Ajax again attempted to pull the O-5 to the surface. And again, the cable snapped.

For a third time, Shep and his team began to dig a tunnel under the O-5. By 12:30 PM, they had attached a third cable around the bow of the sub. This time however, Shep decided to alleviate some of the strain on the cable by releasing compressed air into the engineroom of the O-5 to unflood the compartment and lighten the boat. Once again, the Ajax attempted to pull the O-5 to the surface. Little by little, the Ajax continued to haul the sub for what seemed like an eternity. Until finally, the bow of the O-5 broke the surface of the water. 

Epilogue

Rescuers then quickly opened the hatch to the torpedo room. Henry Breault and Lawrence Brown emerged from the sub and were helped to the dock. The two men had been trapped beneath the sea for nearly 31 hours. They were rushed to a decompression chamber and later a hospital. Both men made full recoveries. The three missing crew members were confirmed to have drowned during the O-5's sinking. The submarine was later stripped and sold for scrap on December 12, 1924.

Henry Breault was hailed as a hero for going back to save Lawrence Brown during the sinking. On March 8, 1924 he received the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Calvin Coolidge. He was the first submariner and to date the only enlisted submariner to receive the medal for heroism onboard a submarine. Breault would serve in the US Navy for another 20 years. He died from a heart condition on December 5th, 1941.

From the time of his first descent to the final haul of the O-5 from the depths, Sheppard Shreaves had spent nearly 24 hours in the water. For his dedication and hard work in saving Henry Breault and Lawrence Brown, Shreaves was awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal. It was personally presented to him at a banquet hosted Henry Breault. He would go on to make more than 1,000 dives in his lifetime. He retired and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida after working at the Panama Canal for more than 32 years. He died in January of 1968.

Throughout history, there have been many incidents that have produced people who have done heroic deeds. But very rarely has there ever been an incident where a hero was saved by another hero. The connection between Henry Breault and Sheppard Shreaves was one of those incidents. Both of these men put their lives on the line to save another. When Breault realized that one of his shipmates had been left behind, he chose to reenter a sinking ship to save him and became trapped in the process. When Sheppard Shreaves arrived on the scene, he worked day and night in hard conditions to save to men from a terrible fate. The way I see it, both of these men are people who should be held in high regard.

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/military-vehicle-news/submariner-ever-receive-medal-honor-locked-inside-sinking-submarine.html

http://militaryhonors.sid-hill.us/history/o5-pcr.htm

http://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/2016/10/21/torpedoman-2nd-class-henry-breault/

http://www.onenewengland.com/article.php?id=120

http://www.panamahistorybits.com/htmfiles/2015-08-15P.pdf

Hero of the Week 40

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Irena Sendler

Irena Sendler was born on February 15, 1910 in the town of Otwock about 15 miles southeast of Warsaw, Poland. Although she was a Roman Catholic, most of the residents in Otwock were Jewish. As a result, she grew up with many Jewish friends. She was greatly influenced by her parents who were quite friendly with the community and raised her value for all her neighbors regardless of their differences. As a young woman, her values would be put to the ultimate test.

On September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland. By the month of October, they were full control of the country. Almost immediately, the Nazis began to persecute Poland's Jewish population. Those in the city of Warsaw were one of the Nazi's main targets. In November 1940, as many as 400,000 Jews were forced to move into a 1.3 mile complex called a ghetto. Once they were inside, the Nazis walled up the ghetto and sealed it off from the outside world. The conditions in the Warsaw ghetto were deplorable. Its inhabitants suffered from lack of food and medical supplies. This coupled with very poor hygienic conditions and occasional abuse from the Nazi guards caused thousands to die on a daily basis. 

At the time, Irena was working as a Senior Administrator for the Warsaw Social Welfare Department (a humanitarian organization). After seeing the eviction of Warsaw's Jews into the ghetto and hearing of the terrible conditions, she decided to do what she could to help them. As an employee of the WSWD, she was granted a special permit that allowed her to enter the ghetto under the pretext of conducting sanitary inspections. Upon entering, she witnessed the horrible treatment of the Jews firsthand. She then resolved to do everything in her power to help them. In the Fall of 1942, Irena joined Zegota. This wan an underground network made up of Poles who were dedicated to helping Jews in Warsaw. Their main method was to smuggle people out of the ghetto and to secret hiding places in or outside the city. 

At first, Irena and other members of Zegota smuggled out orphans living on the ghetto's streets. Later, she would meet with Jewish parents and asked them to let her get their children out and placed with a Polish family. Although many of the parents were reluctant to do this they relented when Irena promised them, that their children would be returned to them when the war was over. Irena always wrote detailed lists (which she kept in a jar) of the hidden children and their locations so that the families could be reunited. For the next year, Irena smuggled at least 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw ghetto. 

Unfortunately, the Gestapo became suspicious of her activities and arrested her on October 18, 1943. She was then imprisoned in a notorious prison (the Pawiak) for several days. Despite being severely beaten and tortured (she never fully recovered from her injuries) she refused to give the Gestapo any information. As a result she was sentenced to be executed. Luckily, Irena's guards received a bribe from members of Zegota. On the day of her execution, they simply left her in the woods and listed her as executed. Irena spent the remainder of the war in hiding.

At the end of World War II, Irena worked to track down the hidden children and reunite them with their families. Sadly most of children's the parents and extended family had all been murdered at death camps like Treblinka. Of the more than 400,000 people who had been imprisoned in the Warsaw Ghetto (including 80,00 children) just over 1 percent survived the war. 

In 1965, Irena Sendler was recognized and honored by Israel as one of the Righteous among the Nations. She became an honorary citizen in 1991. For the rest of her life, Irena Sendler lived in Warsaw where she worked in education. She was often visited by many of the children that she had rescued. Despite being hailed an international hero, Irena never thought of herself that way and often lamented for not being able to save more people than she had. Irena Sendler passed away on May 12, 2008. She was 98 years old.

Irena Sendler was one of the bravest and most remarkable individuals in history. In one of the greatest tragedies in human history, she was one of the few who saw the horror and chose to take action. She displayed great courage and compassion for those in need. As a direct result of her actions, more than 2,500 people survived the Holocaust. I believe that she should be recognized as one of the greatest heroes in history.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/irena-sendler

http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/righteous-women/sendler.asp

http://www.auschwitz.dk/sendler.htm

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-379-egota

https://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/939081/jewish/Irena-Sendler.htm

Hero of the Week 39

Welcome back viewer!

This week's hero is...

Lori Piestewa

Lori Piestewa was born on December 14, 1979 in Tuba City, Arizona. She grew up on the Navajo Indian Reservation (she was of Hopi descent). Many in her family had served in the military (her father was a veteran of Vietnem). After 9/11, Lori decided to follow her family's legacy and enlisted in the US military. She was assigned to the 507th Army Maintenance Company as as a Private First Class and was deployed to Iraq in early 2003. 

On March 23, 2003, Lori and the 507th were part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Their mission that day was to eliminate resistance in the city of Nasiriyah. The 507th, was one of the last companies of a long column of vehicles that was patrolling the city. Unfortunately, a small part of the convoy (the 507th included) took a wrong turn and became lost in Nasiriyah. While trying to get out the convoy drove directly into a deadly ambush. Lori (who was the driver of a vehicle) attempted to drive out of the ambush zone. However, an RPG struck the vehicle and caused it to crash, knocking Lori unconscious with severe wounds to her head. Her comrades in the vehicle attempted to continue fighting but were quickly surrounded and overwhelmed. Eleven American soldiers were killed in the ambush as Nasiriyah. Lori was taken prisoner along with six others (including her close friend, Jessica Lynch).

On April 13, 2003, Coalition forces located and rescued the POWs from the 507th Company. Sadly, Pfc. Lori Piestewa had died of her wounds not long after her capture. She was 23 years old. Lori was one of the first Americans to be killed in the Invasion of Iraq and the first woman of Native descent to be KIA. She was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal. In the aftermath of the ambush at Nasiriyah, most of the news media was centered on Jessica Lynch and Shoshana Johnson (the first female African-American POW). However, very little attention was given to Lori Piestewa despite being credited as the real hero by Lynch. Even today, she has been largely forgotten by the American public. 

To me, Lori Piestewa represents most of the people who have served in our military. She was a brave and strong-willed woman gave her life for her country and received very little in return. Like many before her, she has passed into history without much recognition from those she died to protect. I hope that someday, she will get the major recognition that she very much deserves. 

http://www.oshadavidson.com/Piestewa.htm

https://www.army.mil/americanindians/piestewa.html

https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/news/remembering-lori-ann-piestewa-hopi-woman-warrior/

Hero of the Week 38

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Abbie Burgess

Abbie Burgess was born on August 1, 1939 in Rockwell, Maine. She grew up in Rockwell until she and her family moved to the Matinicus Rock lighthouse at Penobscot Bay after her father had found work as the keeper of the lighthouse there. Adjusting to life on Mantinicus Rock was far from easy for Abbie and her family. The work around the lighthouse was very tedious and the weather was usually very harsh. However, nothing could have prepared anyone for what would happen in January of 1856.

That month, Abbie's father (Samuel) left the lighthouse to retrieve supplies from Rockwell. Samuel left Abbie in charge of the lighthouse (as her mother was sick at the time). As the days past, a large storm approached the bay. For the next couple of days, the storm battered the lighthouse. Soon the waves began to break over and flood the island. In desperation to save her family, Abbie quickly got her mother and younger siblings out of their house and walk to the lighthouse. Once her family was inside, Abbie immediately went to the storehouse to get food and water (she also grabbed her pet chickens as well). After this she locked the door to the lighthouse. 

Despite his best efforts, Abbie's father could not return to Matanicus Rock as the violent storm made any landing impossible. By January 19, Matanicus Rock was almost completely underwater with only the lighthouse tower remaining above sea-level. For the next four weeks, Abbie Burgess and her family remained in the lighthouse waiting out the storm and the foul weather that followed.  During this time, Abbie cared for her family and kept the light in the tower burning. She described the experience many years later. 

"The new dwelling was flooded and the windows had to be secured to prevent the violence of the sray from breaking them in. As the tide came, the sea rose higher and higher, till the only endurable places were the light-towers. If they stood we were saved, otherwise our fate was only too certain. But for some reason, I know not why, I had no misgivings, and went on with my work as usual. For four weeks, owing to rough weather, no landing could be effected on the Rock. During this time we were without the assistance of any male member of our family. Though at times greatly exhausted with my labors, not once did the lights fail. Under God I was able to perform all my accustomed duties as well as my father's."

Abbie's father eventually returned with a rescue party to find his family alive and well. The family would continue to live at the lighthouse for another 5 years until Samuel Burgess lost his position due to political reasons. After that Abbie's family returned to Rockwell. However Abbie stayed behind at the lighthouse as an assistant the new keeper (a man named, John Grant) in operating the light. She eventually fell in love and married one of Grant's sons (Isaac Grant). Abbie and Isaac (who was also an assistant keeper) remained at Matanicus Rock until they were reassigned to the Whitehead Light in 1875. They worked there with their four sons for the next 15 years until they retired in 1890. Abbie Burgess died in Portland on June 6, 1892 at the age of 53.

Abbie Burgess is one of the most exemplary figures that I have ever read about. She was someone who dedicated her life to serving her fellow citizens and her duty. She had great responsibility placed on her at a very young age and still came through. I believe that she is one of the greatest heroes in American history!

http://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/abbie-burgess-16-year-old-heroine-matinicus-rock-lighthouse/

http://maineanencyclopedia.com/grant-abbie-burgess/

http://www.newenglandlighthouses.net/matinicus-rock-light-history.html

Hero of the Week 37

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Gertrude Ederle

Gertrude Ederle was born on October 23, 1905 in New York City. She became an avid swimmer very early in her life. When she was a teenager she left school and joined the Women's Swimming Association. In 1924, Ederle competed in the Summer Olympics in Paris. There she won one gold and two bronze medals. However, her biggest accomplishment would occur just about a year later. This would be when she took the challenge of trying to swim across the English Channel. 

In early August of 1925, Ederle began her swim. However, after she swam 23 miles for more than 8 hours, she suffered a case of bad luck. During the swim, Ederle paused while facedown in the water. Fearing she was drowning, her coach ordered another swimmer to retrieve Gertrude from the water. As a result, her first attempt to cross the channel ended in failure. Despite this setback, she was not deterred from another attempt to swim across the channel.

A little after 7 AM on August 6, 1925, Gertrude Ederle once again, waded into the channel and began her long swim across. Despite very choppy seas, Ederle continued to swim nonstop all the way across the channel. During her swim, she kept herself focused by swimming to a tune in her head (it was called "Let me call you Sweetheart") to the rhythm of her stroke. After swimming for more than 14 hours Gertrude Ederle finally made it ashore on the English coast. Although the English Channel is only about 21 miles long the rough seas caused her to swam an estimated 35 miles. Her time of 14 hours and 31 minutes was a world record that stood for the next 25 years. 

Upon her return to the United States, Gertrude Ederle received a hero's welcome. However, unknown to many Gertrude had been suffering from a major hearing problem since she was a child. Her time spent in the English Channel caused her hearing problem to get even worse. This caused to try and avoid the spotlight. In 1933, she suffered a bad fall that severely injured her back. As a direct result, here professional career as a competitive swimmer came to an end. To make matters worse, by now her hearing was almost gone.

Despite her competitive career being over, Gertrude Ederle eventually returned to the water. She got a job as a swim instructor at the Lexington School for the Deaf in New York. She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1965. From that point on she lived a modest and quiet life until her death on November 30, 2003. She was 98 years old. Gertrude Ederle was a very remarkable woman. While growing up she made many accomplishments while secretly dealing with a number of challenges. I believe that she is definitely someone to be held in high regard.

https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/01/sports/gertrude-ederle-the-first-woman-to-swim-across-the-english-channel-dies-at-98.html

https://www.biography.com/people/gertrude-ederle-9284131

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gertrude-Ederle

Hero of the Week 36

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Rick Rescorla

Rick Rescorla was born on May 27th, 1939. Throughout his early life, Rescorla dedicated much of his life to serving in the United States Army. He served in the battle of the Ia Drang Valley during the Vietnam War. For his service and valor he received the bronze star and purple heart. Although he displayed incredible courage in Vietnam, it was what he did on 9/11 that turned him into a legend.

Following his retirement from the army, Rescorla became employed as a security director for Morgan Stanley, a financial services firm located in the South Tower of the World Trade Center. He was present during the 1993 terror attack on the twin towers and helped to coordinate its evacuation. In the aftermath of the 1993 attack, Rescorla made major improvements to the trade center incase for the need of future evacuation. Unlike many, Rescorla believed that there would be a second attack on the trade center in the years to come. He was proven right on September 11, 2001.

When American Flight 11 flew into the North Tower, Rescorla immediately assumed the worst and ordered the evacuation of Morgan Stanley's employees. Using a bullhorn and a walkie-talkie, he directed people to the staircase and organized an orderly evacuation out of the tower. Minutes after he did this, United Flight 175 struck the South Tower. This caused Rescorla to step up the evacuation. For the next 50 minutes Rescorla successfully evacuated a total of 2,700 people from the South Tower. Despite being urged to evacuate himself, he refused to do so until he made sure everyone else was out. He was last seen on the 10th floor heading up to check for more people. The South Tower collapsed at 9:59 AM killing all who were still inside. Rick Rescorla's body was never found. He was 62 years old.

The heroism of Rick Rescorla was truly remarkable. He put his life on the line multiple times for his countrymen during his military service and his civilian life. Instead of living a relaxing life of retirement after serving in the Army, he continued to dedicate his life to protecting those around him. And on a day that became the worst in American history, he gave his life to save them. I believe that he is one of the greatest heroes in the world.

https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/Rick-Rescorla-Saved-2-687-Lives-on-September-11

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2001/10/28/a-tower-of-courage/c53e8244-3754-440f-84f8-51f841aff6c8/?utm_term=.928a732c24d3

https://www.thayerleaderdevelopment.com/blog/2017/leadership-on-9-11-the-story-of-rick-rescorla-and-morgan-stanley

Hero of the Week 35

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Joshua James

Joshua James was born on November 22, 1826. He grew up in Hull Village, Massachusetts in a large family. One of the things that James was fascinated by, was the sea. In his early years James was very much determined to become an expert seaman who would travel the world. However his life was forever changed when tragedy struck. In April 1837, Joshua James witnessed his mother (whom he was very close to) and one of sisters drown in boating accident while he watched from shore. It was after this that the young boy made a solemn promise to himself. He would forever do everything in his power to saving the lives of anyone who fell to the mercy of the sea.

In December 1941, James joined a volunteer crew of the Massachusetts Humane Society. It was then that he participated in his first rescue at sea. Over the next few decades, James continued to serve in the Humane society and participated in rescuing hundreds of people from wrecked ships. One of his finest hours would be in the winter of 1888. 

On November 25th, a massive hurricane swept along the Atlantic coast of the northeastern states. From his observation post, James noticed a number of schooners out at sea. Knowing that they were likely going founder in such terrible weather, he immediately ordered a beach patrol to prepare for the worst. Before long, a schooner (Cox and Green) ran aground and began to break up. James quickly organized a rescue (luckily the ship wasn't too far from the shore). Using a breeches buoy, James and his crew were able to successfully rescue 9 men from the stricken schooner. However, this was only the beginning.

Within minutes of the rescue, James was notified that another schooner (Gertrude Abbot) had run aground nearly an eighth of a mile up the beach. By now it was getting very dark and the hurricane's winds blew at an estimated 100 mph. To further complicate matters, the Abbot was too far out for its crew to be rescue by the breeches buoy. The rescuers would need to board a rescue boat, paddle through the rough seas to the schooner, evacuate the crew, and then paddle back to shore. Knowing the danger that was involved in this rescue, James told his crew that this would be volunteer only. To his surprise, every man volunteered. They quickly set out in a rescue-surf boat. Despite nearly losing a man overboard, they made it to the Abbot and rescued its eight man crew. As they were nearing the shore, a wave smashed the rescue boat into the shore, shattering it. Luckily, everyone survived. 

After this rescue, Joshua James and his fellow volunteers resumed their beach patrol. For the rest of the 25th of November and into the early morning of the 26th, James and his crew came to the rescue of six wrecks and saved the lives of at least 29 men. For their heroism in the hurricane of 1888, Joshua James and his crew were all awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal by the Massachusetts Humane Society and U.S. Lifesaving Service. Within a year, James was appointed keeper of the U.S. Lifesaving station at Hull, Massachusetts. A position that he would hold until his death.

For the rest of his life Joshua James remained in the Lifesaving service (this organization later became the Coast Guard) and participated many more rescues. Including a massive hurricane in November 1898, where he participated in saving the lives of 41 people. He continued to save people until his death from a heart attack on March 19, 1902. He was 75 years. During his entire lifetime, Joshua James is believed to have saved the lives of more than 200 people. Today, he is one of the most revered figures within the United States Coast Guard. 

Joshua James was a remarkable individual who dedicated his life to saving people from disasters at sea. As of today, his legacy lives on in those who continue serve in our nation's Coast Guard and protect people around the world. I believe that he should be seen as one of the most influential unsung heroes in American history. 

http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2015/07/who-was-joshua-james/

http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2016/02/the-long-blue-line-joshua-james-u-s-life-saving-service-hero/

https://excellentorpraiseworthy.org/2018/04/joshua-james-the-greatest-lifesaver-3/

https://www.atlanticarea.uscg.mil/Area-Cutters/CGCJAMES/History/