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/

Hero of the Week 34

Welcome back viewers

This week we will honor a team of heroes

Allow me to introduce...

The International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone!

This was a group of foreign diplomats, businessmen, missionaries, and journalists who were living in the city of Nanking during the 1930s. Nanking was the capital of China at the time. Some were there for economic opportunities. Others were there on diplomatic missions on behalf of their country and some were there on religious missions. By the year 1937, many of them had come to think of Nanking as their home. However, nothing could have prepared them for when the Japanese invaded China. When that happened, many of them were forced to make a choice.

The Second Sino-Japanese War officially began on July 7, 1937. t By November, the Japanese Army had captured the city of Shanghai and began to advance on Nanking. The city soon became a frequent target for bombing raids. Hoping to protect Chinese civilians from the bombs, the Westerners quickly petitioned their governments to create an international zone within Nanking. Instead, many of them received orders to leave Nanking. Most of them obeyed these orders, however a handful chose to stay. On November 22 they, formed the Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone. 

The committee consisted of 7 Americans, 3 Germans, 1 Dane, and 4 Britons. Headed by the German businessman John Rabe (who happened to be a member of the Nazi party), they established a 3.4 mile area that was deemed to be international territory. Once completed, they raised the flags of their countries show that the zone was international property. As they did, the Japanese reached the outskirts of Nanking. Soon, the city was subjected to shelling and bombing on a daily basis which caused thousands of Chinese refugees to flood into the Safety Zone. During one such bombing raid, Rabe used a giant Nazi flag to shelter refugees from a massive bombing raid as he knew the Japanese wouldn't bomb members of the Nazi party for fear of hurting their alliance with Germany. 

On December 13, the Japanese broke through Chinese defenses and entered Nanking. The Chinese army was soundly defeated and scattered throughout the city. Many of them flooded into the safety zone seeking refuge. Soon Nanking was officially captured by the Japanese army. What remained of the Chinese army retreated (thousands of them were left behind within Nanking). It is estimated that as many as 50,000 people were killed in the capture of Nanking. Little did anyone know, that the carnage was only just beginning.

Within hours of capturing the city, the Japanese army immediately began to massacre the population. They started by slaughtering large numbers of Chinese POWs. They then began to round up numerous civilians and murder them in horrible ways. Some of the Japanese even began killing contests where a number of people were lined up and beheaded one by one. The Japanese also committed numerous acts of rape against Chinese women in Nanking. This is known because the foreigners were secretly documenting the massacre and rescued survivors. Rabe himself wrote, "If I had not seen it with my own eyes, I would not have believed it." Over a course of six weeks, it is estimated that a total of 300,000 Chinese people were murdered in Nanking.

The people who were lucky enough to reach the Safety Zone were able to find some protection. As a sign of respect for international law, the commanders of the Japanese Army ordered there soldiers not to enter the zone. Unfortunately this did not stop Japanese soldiers from secretly entering the zone to kill or rape the people inside. Often times, the foreigners in the zone had to personally intervene to stop people from being massacred in the zone itself. The massacre officially ended in January of 1938 when Japanese commanders set up a puppet government within Nanking and took control of their soldiers. After this, many of the refugees left the Safety Zone and returned to their homes. 

After this, the foreigners received orders to return to their respective countries. They are believed to have saved the lives of over 200,000 people who took shelter in the zone. Many of these foreigners (John Rabe included) did lived to receive any recognition for their heroism. However, their documentation of the massacre was later used as evidence in the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal after World War II.

The heroism of those involved in establishing the Nanking Safety Zone is beyond astounding. They witnessed terrible atrocities being committed and chose to do something about. They did their best to save as many people as they could using what little they had. I believe that they are prime examples of the best of humanity and serve to inspire people around the world. 

https://thenankingmassacre.org/2015/07/04/the-safety-zone-and-american-missionaries/

https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/foreigners-establish-safety-zone-and-intervene-save-civilians-during-nanking-massacre-1937-1

https://www.facinghistory.org/nanjing-atrocities/atrocities/rescue-and-resistance-nanjing

Chang, Iris (1997). The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II

Hero of the Week 33

Welcome back viewers

This week's hero is...

John Levitow

John Levitow was born on November 1, 1945 in Hartford, Connecticut. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in June of 1966. He eventually rose to the rank of Sergeant and took a job as a loadmaster for aircraft. His job was to load equipment (ammunition and medical supplies) onto transport aircraft. However, his job could never have prepared him for what happened on February 24, 1969.

That day, Sergeant Levitow was assigned to be the loadmaster on an AC-47 "Spooky" gunship. The Spooky's purpose was to provide close air support for soldiers on the ground and to locate enemy positions. It was armed with numerous machine guns and magnesium flares. Sgt. Levitow's job was to remove the flares (which were stored in canisters weighing 27 pounds) from the rack and set their controls. He would then pass the flares to a gunner who would then pull the pins before throwing them out the cargo door. The flares would then ignite in midair around 20 seconds later. 

Levitow was assigned to Spooky 71. Late at night the crew of Spooky 71 received word that an American army base at Long Binh had come under attack by the Viet Cong and was calling for support. Spooky 71 and a number of other gunships immediately took off and headed for the base. About an hour later they arrived on the scene and began their attack runs. For the next few hours they  dropped flares to illuminate enemy positions before strafing them with their guns. 

Nearly five hours into their mission, disaster struck. An enemy mortar struck Spooky 71's right wing. The explosion from the round tore a three foot hole in the wing and sprayed the hull of the aircraft with shrapnel (mechanics would later count more than 3,500 holes in the aircraft). Levitow and the rest of the crew were setting up a flare to be dropped when the mortar hit. The blast from the mortar sprayed the whole crew with shrapnel from head to foot (Levitow had sustained more than 40 shrapnel wounds). 

When Levitow came to, he began smell smoke. He then noticed (to his horror) that one of the crew had accidentally pulled the pin on the flare when the mortar hit. Now the smoking canister was rolling around in the aircraft among thousands of rounds of ammunition. If the flare ignited it would detonate the ammunition and destroy Spooky 71. As if that wasn't enough, the smoke from the flare was filling the whole aircraft, blinding the pilots, and causing it to plummet from the sky.

Nearly blinded by the smoke and losing blood at a very fast rate, Levitow knew he had to act quickly. He felt his way through the smoke and reached for the burning flare. He found it and quickly threw himself onto it. He then hugged it to his body and stumbled toward the open cargo door at the rear of Spooky 71 (leaving a long blood trail in the process). He then heaved the flare out the door where it ignited just 2 seconds later completely clear of the plane. Levitow then passed out from blood loss (he lost feeling in his limbs as a result).

Thanks to Sgt. Levitow's actions, the whole crew of Spooky 71 was saved. The pilots were able to regain control of the aircraft and successfully returned to base. Despite his severe wounds, John Levitow survived. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor on May 14, 1970. He was the lowest ranking and only enlisted man in the Air Force to ever receive the honor. He also received the Purple Heart Medal. He received an honorable discharge and returned to Connecticut where he worked with fellow veterans. He died of cancer on November 8, 2000 at the age of 55.

The heroism of John Levitow was truly amazing. Despite being severely wounded to the point where he nearly lost his life he put the lives of his comrades before his own. He found the strength to save his crew and aircraft from being killed while suffering from terrible wounds. He is definitely someone who should be held in high regard.

http://www.afhistoryandmuseums.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Article/720006/a1c-john-l-levitow/

https://amcmuseum.org/history/airman-first-class-john-l-levitow/

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/24/nyregion/john-levitow-55-airman-honored-for-bravery-dies.html

Hero of the Week 32

Welcome back Viewers!

This week's hero is...

Cathay Williams

Cathay Williams was born in September of 1842 (some sources say 1844) in Independence, Missouri. She grew up as a slave on a plantation just outside of Jefferson City. However, everything changed for her when the Civil War began. In 1861, Jefferson City was occupied by the Union Army. When this happened all slaves within the city given the opportunity to work for the army as paid laborers (either that or be pressed into service). Williams and many others reluctantly did so.

From 1861 to 1865, Cathay Williams worked as a washerwoman and a cook for the Union Army.  Although she did not find the work to be enjoyable, Cathay was able to learn much about military life and became fascinated by it. Her work also allowed her to witness a number of battles including the battle of Pea Ridge, the Red River Campaign, and the Shenandoah Valley Campaign (where she briefly worked for General Philip Sheridan). She continued work for the army until the War ended in 1865. After that she was released from her service.

Unfortunately, although slavery had been abolished by now, there were not many opportunities for freed African-Americans in the United States (especially not in the former slave states). Like so many former slaves, Williams found herself unemployed without any job offers. She then decided to enlist in the American Army under the guise of a man named, "William Cathay". On November 15, 1866, Williams successfully enlisted in the 38th Infantry Regiment (a segregated unit). This made her the first African-American woman to have ever served in the American military. For the next two years, she served at military posts in the Western United States (it is unknown if she ever saw combat). However, in July of 1868, Williams got sick and had to report to the field hospital. It was then that her true gender was revealed. As a result, she received an honorable discharge from the army and worked as cook for military until the year 1870.

After her military service ended, Cathay's health began to decline. She later applied for a military pension for her service (sadly, it was never approved). Much of what happened in her later life is not known. She is presumed to have lived her remaining years in Trinidad, Colorado before dying of natural causes sometime in the 1890s.

Cathay Williams was a remarkable individual. She was born into slavery, grew up in a very difficult period, and tried to make the most her life. One of those ways was to serve her country even though she faced terrible discrimination. Cathay Williams is one of the most unsung yet inspirational figures in history. She is definitely someone to be held in high regard.

https://www.nps.gov/people/cwilliams.htm

http://www.amazingwomeninhistory.com/cathay-williams/

http://blackartblog.blackartdepot.com/african-american-history/buffalo-soldiers/8-facts-cathay-williams-female-buffalo-soldier.html

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/cathay-williams/

Hero of the Week 31

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Ulrich Wegener

Ulrich Wegener (no relation to Armin Wegener) was born on August 22, 1929 in Jüterbog, Germany. While growing up he was forcefully conscripted into the German Army during the final days of World War II. After the end of the war, Wegener became a police officer in Western Germany. He eventually rose to the rank of colonel. In 1972 however, Wegener and the rest of the world watched as  a terrible tragedy unfolded during the Summer Olympics in the city of Munich. 

On September 5, 1972, 8 Palestinian terrorists infiltrated the olympic compounds and took 11 Israeli athletes and coaches hostage. After a day long standoff, German police attempted to rescue the hostages and kill the terrorists. However, the rescue was botched and all 11 hostages were killed (along with a German police officer). Wegener was among those who watched the horror unfold on International TV. 

Inquiries into the massacre concluded that the botched rescue happened due to a lack of coordination and a lack of training among the German police in handling terrorist situations. The German government concluded that the country needed to have an elite police force that was equipped and trained to deal with terrorists (especially hostage situations). Ulrich Wegener was asked to create and lead this elite unit. Wegener (who had been affected by the massacre) accepted the task. He then got in contact with special forces from Great Britain, Israel, and the United States. With their help, Wegener was able to create the elite police unit that could combat terrorists. This unit was officially established on April 17, 1973 and was named, "GSG-9". The creation of GSG-9 came not a moment too soon.

On October 12, 1977, a German airliner (Lufthansa Flight 181) took off with 86 passengers and 5 crew members on board. Minutes after takeoff the plane was hijacked by four Palestinian terrorists of the PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine). The terrorists diverted the plane to five different airports before finally stopping at an airport in Mogadishu, Somalia after running low on fuel. Once there, the four terrorists demanded the release of 13 imprisoned terrorists and a ransom of $15 million. The situation became even more dire when the terrorists executed the pilot of the flight and threatened to begin executing more hostages if their demands were not met. To save the hostages and not give in to the terrorists's demands, German chancellor Helmut Schmidt gave the green light for Colonel Wegener to launch a rescue mission codenamed: Operation Feuerzauber (Fire Magic). 

Wegener led 30 commandos of GSG-9 to Mogadishu on October 18, 1977. They quietly landed at the airport and took positions around the hijacked aircraft. Wegener decided to launch the rescue from the aircraft's rear (this was its blind spot). While this was happening, a negotiator distracted the terrorist leader and Somali soldiers lit a bonfire in front of the aircraft which caused the remaining terrorists to rush to cockpit. This left the hostages unguarded and presented a window of opportunity for the rescue. Wegener and GSG-9 did not waste the opportunity. At 2:07 their assault began. They climbed onto the wings and blasted open the aircrafts emergency doors. The commandos then threw stun grenades which disoriented the terrorists and made them easy prey. Within seven minutes three of the terrorists were killed and the fourth was severely wounded and captured. 

As a result of the rescue all of the remaining 90 hostages on Lufthansa Flight 181 were saved. Operation Fire Magic was declared a major success and the GSG-9 commandos returned to a hero's welcome in Germany. Ulrich Wegener received the Federal Cross of Merit for his heroism in leading the rescue. He would continue to command GSG-9 until 1979 when he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General of German Federal Police. He retired from the police force in 1988 and went on to train many countries in ways of countering terrorism. Ulrich Wegener died on December 28, 2017 at the age of 88.

To this day, thousands of people around the world have been victimized by acts of terrorism. Ranging from aircraft hijackings, hostage situations, mass shootings, and bombings, these acts of killed many people and left deep scars on the world. However, there are those who stand up to terrorists and find a way to fight back against them and deter future attacks. Ulrich Wegener was one of those people. He was a man who witnessed a terrible act of terrorism and resolved to find a way to prevent future attacks from happening. Because of this, the hostages of Flight 181 all survived their ordeal and many other people have been rescued from similar situations. I believe that Ulrich Wegener is one of the greatest heroes in history.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/03/obituaries/ulrich-wegener-dead-german-commando-ended-hijacking.html

http://www.dw.com/en/ulrich-wegener-german-hero-of-mogadishu-dies-aged-88/a-42018291

https://special-ops.org/sof/mission/hijacking-of-lufthansa-737-airplane/

Hero of the Week 30

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Adolph Kiefer

Adolph Kiefer was born on June 27, 1918. During his early childhood, he fell into a Chicago drainage canal during winter. Despite having a near-death experience, his accident prompted Kiefer to learn how to swim. While he attended high school, he joined the swim team and quickly established himself as being very skilled. When Kiefer was 16 years old, he became the first athlete to ever break the one-minute mark in 100-yard backstroke. His skill and talent at backstroke led to his recruitment by the United States's 1936 Olympic team. 

At the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Kiefer won the gold medal for the men's 100 m backstroke. He also set an Olympic record at 1:05.9. His record would not be broken for 20 years (he also became good friends with Jesse Owens). From the years 1934 to 1942, he would win more than 200 races and set at least 17 world records at distances of 100 to 1,500 yards. However, his proudest personal achievement was what he did while serving in the US Navy during WWII.

In the summer of 1942, Kiefer put his athletic career on hold and entered the US Navy. To his astonishment he found out that nearly all of the American sailors (even the officers) did NOT know how to swim (some records show that more sailors died from drowning than gunfire). Although the navy did have a Swim Training Program it was quite inadequate in teaching the sailors how to swim for long periods of time. 

Kiefer immediately set about running swimming and lifesaving instructions for the entire American navy. He convinced the commanders of the navy to make swimming lessons compulsory for all members of the navy (enlisted men and officers). As a result, no man was allowed to board a ship without taking a 21 hour course in swimming. One of the strokes that he taught was the, "victory backstroke", where both arms were extended over the head to form a V. This stroke was credited with saving the lives of thousands of American sailors from drowning after their ships were sunk in battle. 

Throughout World War II, as many as 2 million American recruits learned to swim at 6 different bases. Even after the end of WWII, the US Navy still uses the programs and strokes that Kiefer introduced in 1942. Many years later, Kiefer remarked that teaching the navy to swim was the biggest thing that he had ever done in his life (much more valuable than his gold medal).

After the end of World War II, Kiefer became an innovator and entrepreneur for swimming. His innovations included the first nylon swimsuit, a commercial line of floating kick boards, and the PVC rescue tube that lifeguards now use. These along with many other innovations helped to revolutionize the sport of swimming around the world. In 1965, Adolph Kiefer was in inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. In 2013, USA Swimming named him, "the father of American swimming". Kiefer lived to age of 98 (even then he was still swimming) before passing away on May 5, 2017. At the time of his death he was the last surviving gold medalist from the 1936 Summer Olympics.

For more than 100 years, the world has watched millions of athletes compete in the sporting events of the Summer and Winter Olympics. What many of us usually forget about is what these athletes do when they are not competing. We don't realize many of them use their talent and skills to do much more than break records. Many of them also use them to help the world around them. Adolph Kiefer was one of those people. He was an impressive athlete who used his gift to help people and revolutionize the sport of swimming. I believe that he is a great example of what it takes to be a true champion and a major inspiration to the whole world. 

https://www.kiefer.com/history-pages-188.php

https://www.kiefer.com/adolph-kiefer---our-founder-pages-317.php

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/adolph-kiefer-olympic-champion-who-taught-the-navy-to-swim-dies-at-98/2017/05/06/c92be39c-326a-11e7-8674-437ddb6e813e_story.html?utm_term=.fb3d7a7400f3

https://www.cnn.com/2017/05/06/us/olympic-swimmer-adolph-kiefer-dies/index.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/05/sports/olympics/adolph-kiefer-dead-olympic-swimming-champion.html

Hero of the Week 29

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Henrietta Bell Wells

Henrietta Wells (born Henrietta Bell) was born on October 11, 1912 in Houston, Texas. She grew up in a neighborhood that was very segregated and very racist at the time. She attended Phyllis Wheatley High School and graduated in 1929. After that she enrolled in Wiley College (a segregated school) with a scholarship. There she met an English professor named Melvin Tolson who invited her to join the college's debated team. Tolson was a well-known poet who believed that argumentation was good way to improve mental alertness.

Wells was the only female member of the debate team, but she quickly established herself as being able to deliver a very effective argument. She and her team went on to have debate challenges with numerous other black colleges, and won them all. However, a defining moment for the Wiley debate team wass when Professor Tolson chose to challenge the debate team of the University of Michigan (an all-white college). To everyone's surprise, the debate team from UM accepted the challenge. At the debate itself, neither team was declared a winner. Never the less, it was recorded as the first ever interracial debate between colleges. Professor Tolson and Henrietta Wells later considered it a step forward for civil rights. The team from Wiley College later won the most well known victory when it defeated the National Debate Champion, University of Southern California. Wells herself was instrumental in this victory.

Henrietta Wells had to eventually leave the team after just over a year due to financial problems. She went on to marry and become a teacher and social worker. She later served as the Dean of Women at Dillard University. She eventually retired after teaching for many decades. Henrietta Wells died on February 27, 2008 at the age of 95.

Today Henrietta Wells is considered to be a pioneering debater. She was a woman who grew up in a harsh world at a very harsh time. Yet she made the best of it and used her wits to live her life in the best way she could. Her actions took part in helping to end segregation and step forward for equality. I believe that she is definitely someone to be held in high regard.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/us/12wells.html

http://archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2008/03/17/henrietta_bell_wells_96_was_on_great_debate_team/

Hero of the Week 28

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Jose Calugas!

Jose Calugas was born on December 29, 1907 in the Philippine Islands. He grew up as a farmer in the Filipino province of Iloilo. On March 15, 1930, Jose enlisted in the Philippine Scouts. The Scouts were a branch of the United States Army that was stationed in the Philippines (the nation had been occupied by American forces since 1904). The Scouts mostly consisted of young Filipino men serving under the command of American officers. For the next ten years Jose served and trained with the Scouts. He eventually rose to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned to the 88th Field Artillery Regiment. In the year 1941, Sgt. Calugas's training and courage would be put to the ultimate test.

On December 7th, 1941, the American Naval Base at Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese Navy. Much of the American Navy was either sunk or severely damaged in the attack. Just days after, the Japanese Army launched a full scale invasion of the Philippines. The American and Filipino forces under General Douglas MacArthur were quickly overwhelmed. By January of 1942, they had pulled back to the Bataan peninsula. There they began a fighting retreat.

On January 16, 1942, Sgt. Calugas was stationed with a small unit near the village of Culis. His job at the time was to prepare the day's meals for the men along the front line. It was called KP (kitchen patrol). However, just after noon, the American and Filipino soldiers came under heavy fire from the Japanese. Calugas quickly organized his unit and began to return fire with their few artillery guns at the Japanese. For the next hour men of the 88th held their ground against the attackers. However just after 2 PM, one of the guns went silent. Fearing the worst, Calugas himself went over to the gun and found that its crew had all been killed by a bomb hit (the gun itself was knocked over but could still fire). 

Sgt. Calugas quickly organized a small group of men to pull the gun up. With his small group of men, Calugas began to personally load, aim, and fire the artillery piece. For the next few hours, Calugas fired the artillery gun at the Japanese and inflicted numerous casualties at them. At one point during the battle, he spotted a small group of Japanese soldiers attempting to cross a footbridge over a creek. He quickly aimed his gun at the bridge and fired. His shot completely obliterated the bridge along with dozens of enemy soldiers. The effect caused the Japanese to momentarily halt their attack on the main line of defense. They then redirected their attack on Sgt. Calugas's position. Calugas quickly ordered his remaining men to pull back while he continued to fire at the Japanese, inflicting even more casualties. It was only when he ran out of ammunition that Sgt. Calugas finally vacated his position and fell back. By sheer luck, he came upon an empty truck which he used to load his gun (and his field kitchen). He eventually reached his unit later that evening. 

Despite the heroism of Jose Calugas, the Japanese Army eventually broke through the American and Filipino lines. For the next two months fierce fighting continued on the Bataan peninsula until it became clear the Americans and Filipinos could no longer hold out. General Douglas MacArthur was ordered to escape from the Philippines to Australia by President Roosevelt. MacArthur reluctantly did so, but upon his arrival he vowed to return to the Philippines. The replacement general of the American and Filipino forces (Gen. Edward King) surrendered to the Japanese on April 9, 1942. As a result more than 60,000 American and Filipino soldiers became prisoners of war. 

It was then that they began to endure brutal captivity by the victorious Japanese. Calugas along with his fellow prisoners were taken on a long and very brutal march that is now called, the Bataan Death March. As many 18,000 prisoners (mostly Filipinos) were murdered on the road. Calugas and the rest of the POWs eventually arrived at Camp O'Donnell where he would remain for the next year and a half. Calugas was repeatedly beaten while he was being held the prison camp. He also contracted both malaria and dysentery. Despite this, Jose Calugas never gave up. In October 1943, he escaped from the camp and joined a Filipino guerrilla unit. He continued to fight with them until the Liberation of the Philippines by General MacArthur (who fulfilled his promise to return).

About a month after he had left the Philippines, MacArthur had heard of Calugas's heroism during the battle of Bataan and recommended him for the Medal of Honor on February 24, 1942. Sergeant Jose Calugas officially received the medal from General Richard Marshall on April 30, 1945. Calugas would serve in the American Army for another twelve years and became an American citizen. Jose retired from the military in 1957 and moved with his family to Tacoma, Washington where he became a businessman. He lived in the United States for the rest of his life until his death on January 19, 1998. He was 90 years old.

Ever since the United States came to be thousands of brave men and women have served in the military. And many of them were not born in the United States nor were they citizens. And yet they risked their lives to fight for the country they chose to be part of. These are people who represent the best of humanity. Jose Calugas was one of those people. He was undoubtedly one of the bravest men to ever serve in the American military during WWII. He was not a citizen and yet he fought with great courage and intrepidity above and beyond the all of duty. I believe that he should be regarded as a great hero.

http://www.historylink.org/File/10939

http://www.hawaiireporter.com/the-first-filipino-medal-of-honor-cpt-jose-cabalfin-calugas-u-s-army-1907-1998/

https://www.army.mil/article/39797/the_us_armys_philippine_scouts

http://www.us-japandialogueonpows.org/Calugas.htm