Hero of the Week 22

Merry Christmas everyone!

This week's hero is...

James Harrison

James Harrison was a prison warden for Rikers Island. He is remembered by most people for being a pioneer of justice and for being one of the very first African-American prison wardens in American history. However one of his lesser know deeds, was what he did on February 1, 1957. On that date, Warden Harrison was forced to make one of the most difficult decisions in his life.

On the night of the first of February 1st, Northeast Airlines Flight 823 took off from LaGuardia Airport. The flight was bound for Miami and was carrying 101 passengers and crew members. Due to a violent snow storm that blew in just as the Flight 823 was leaving LaGuardia, the pilots lost control and the plane plummeted from the sky. It crashed into a patch of trees on Rikers Island. Most of the passengers and crew survived the crash but were trapped in the plane's wreckage with serious injuries. Their situation got even more critical when the wreckage caught fire minutes after crashing.

Warden Harrison saw the crash and immediately came out of the prison to rescue Flight 823's surviving passengers from the burning wreckage. However with only about two dozen guards on the island it became clear that he would need much more assistance if he wanted rescue the passengers. It was then that he made a decision that shocked many of his fellow prison guards. Harrison chose to release 57 inmates to help aid in the rescue. It was an unprecedented decision that almost seemed asinine. Yet, Harrison knew that the passengers of Flight 823 needed all the help that they could get. For the rest of the night, the inmates and guards of Rikers Island rescued as many people as they could from the wreckage of Flight 823. Although 20 people were killed in the crash, the inmates and guards saved a total of 81 people. During the rescue, none of the prisoners attempted to escape or committed any acts of violence. They continued to assist in the rescue until the last survivor was pulled to safety. After this, they all returned to their cells. 

Despite the tragic loss of life, the heroic actions of James Harrison, the guards, and prisoners of Rikers Island had prevented many more lives from being lost. In gratitude for their efforts, many of the 57 prisoners received sentence reductions or were released from prison. Officer Harrison was commended by the city for his decision. He received the police department's Medal of Honor for his participation in the rescue. 

Many times in life, people are faced with a difficult choice. One of the most common is the one that centers on a person putting there trust in an individual (or multiple individuals) who do not seem trustworthy. James Harrison was one of those people who was faced with that kind of difficult decision. And in the end, he made the right call. He chose to trust a number of convicts with doing the right thing and as a result, many people survived a terrible tragedy. I believe that he should be seen as an inspiration to many people around the world.

https://jrusoloward.com/2017/02/03/history-plane-crash-on-rikers-island/

http://www.correctionhistory.org/html/chronicl/nycdoc/html/blackhst.html

https://nypost.com/2017/01/30/how-rikers-island-inmates-became-heroes-after-a-1957-plane-crash/

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/01/29/60-years-later-plane-crash-and-jail-prove-blessing-for-one-survivor.amp.html

http://www.correctionhistory.org/html/chronicl/rikersaircrash/1957rikersaircrash.html

Hero of the Week 21

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Roddie Edmonds

MSGT. Roddie Edmonds was born on August 21, 1919 in South Knoxville, Tennessee. He enlisted in 422nd Infantry Regiment during World War II and saw combat in the Normandy Invasion and the Liberation of France. During the Battle of the Bulge, Edmonds and much of his comrades were captured by the German army. Edmonds along with 1,000 other POW's were then taken to Stalag IXA (a POW camp) near Zieganhain, Germany. It was there that he would be tested in a way that he had never prepared for.

On the first day of arrival in the camp, the German SS in the camp camp and made a terrifying announcement. All of the American POWs who were Jewish to assemble in front of their barracks the following morning. In keeping with their hunt for Jews, the Nazis often tried to identify and separate them from the other Allied POWs. Since Edmonds was the highest ranking enlisted man in the camp, many prisoners turned to him for leadership. Although neither he nor the other prisoners knew about the Holocaust at the time, Edmonds was not willing to allow some of his comrades to be targeted due to their religion. He quickly came up with a plan.

The next morning, Sergeant Edmonds ordered all 1,275 prisoners (Jews included) to assemble in front of the barracks. The German SS arrived shortly after the prisoners had all lined up. The commander of the camp was among them. He immediately approached Edmonds and demanded that the latter command the Jewish men to step forward. Roddie Edmonds replied, "We are all Jews". The German commander grew furious and threatened to shoot Edmonds if he did not comply. Sergeant Edmonds quoted the Geneva code. He also reminded the commander that Germany was losing the war and he would be tried for war crimes if he killed Edmonds or any of the other prisoners. After being told this, the furious commander backed off and the SS left the camp. After this, Roddie Edmonds and his fellow POWs spent at least five more months in captivity until Germany's surrender in May 1945. Of the 1,275 American prisoners of war at Stalag IXA, it is estimated that at least 200 were Jewish. 

Roddie Edmonds returned home to Tennessee after World War II. After serving in the Korean War, he  retired from the military and raised a family. He died on August 8, 1985. He had never sought recognition for his heroism nor did he mentioned it to any of his family. It was not until 2009, that Roddie Edmonds finally received recognition for his heroism at Stalag IXA after his son (Rev. Chris Edmonds) got in contact with some of his father's fellow POWs. On February 10, 2015 Sergeant Roddie Edmonds was posthumously recognized as Righteous among the Nations by Yad Vasham. He is the first and only American soldier to receive such an honor.

Roddie Edmond's act of defiance was one of the bravest and least known acts of courage in the history of the American experience of World War II. Like many other brave soldiers, he was dedicated to protecting his comrades even at a risk of his own life. He stood face to face with some of the most evil people of the century and called their bluff. I believe that he is one of the bravest unsung heroes of World War II. He is definitely someone who deserves our admiration.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/28/world/middleeast/obama-honor-americans-effort-to-save-jews-the-holocaust.html

http://www.yadvashem.org/righteous/stories/edmonds.html

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/21/europe/us-pow-holocaust-hero/index.html

http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-honors-us-gi-who-told-the-nazis-we-are-all-jews/

Hero of the Week 20

Welcome back viewers!

This week we will honor a team of heroes

Allow me to introduce: the crew of Reeve Aleutian flight 8.

Reeve Aleutian flight 8 was an American domestic flight from Cold Bay, Alaska to Seattle, Washington. The plane itself, was a Lockheed L-188 Electra that carried 10 passengers and 5 crew members. The plane took off from Cold Bay Airport early in the morning on June 8, 1983. The men flying the plane were Captain James Gibson and First Officer Gary Lintner. Also onboard was Flight Engineer Gerald "Moose" Laurin along with two flight attendants (Wendy Croom and Victoria Fredenhagen).

Less than an hour into their flight, Gibson and Lintner began to feel strange vibrations in their controls. The vibrations continued to get worse as the aircraft climbed past 19,000 feet. The pilots eventually decided to turn the plane around and head back to Cold Bay. They then sent Engineer Laurin to take a look at the engines from the passenger cabin. He (along with one of the flight attendants) looked out one of the windows at the two on the plane's right wing. Almost immediately as they began to observe, the propeller from engine No. 4 broke off and flew spinning under the aircraft. Laurin (along with the rest of the passengers and crew) than heard and felt a loud bang that caused the aircraft's cabin to depressurize and its controls to jam. When it was clear, flight attendant Wendy Croom discovered that the propeller had torn an 8 foot long gash in the belly of the aircraft. 

 Laurin returned to the cockpit to help Captain Gibson and Officer Lintner regain control of the airplane. Flight attendant Wendy Croom came in minutes later and alerted the pilots to the 8 foot hole in the fuselage before returning to the passenger cabin to keep the passengers calm. As a result Captain Gibson quickly cut the speed of the plane to keep it from being ripped apart by the wind. After this, he, Lintner, and Laurin began to try and regain control. The first thing they did was turn the autopilot on. This allowed them regain some vertical control and descend to 10,000 feet in order to save their passengers (and themselves) from hypoxia. However, they still had no control over the plane's steering. After a few tense minutes, Gibson and Linter found that although the controls were jammed, they were not severed. Using their combined strength on the yoke, the pilots were able to pull the plane into a wide right bank that put them on a course back to Alaska.

The crew of Reeve Aleutian Flight 8 then got in contact with air traffic controllers who guided the airplane to a nearby airport. As they approached, the crew realized that due to the limited control the airplane was traveling too fast (200 knots) to make a safe landing. The runway at the airport was only 10,000 feet long and if the plane's speed didn't drop, it would overshoot the runway and crash. Gibson, Lintner, and Laurin were advised by ground control to shut down one of their remaining three engines in order to cut their speed. They did so and their speed dropped a bit. They then began their descent.

Their first attempt to land failed when they realized that even with two of their engines off, they were still going too fast. They quickly pulled the plane up and banked around the airport for a second landing attempt. Gibson made a risky decision in order to slow down the plane. He would begin his descent from 800 feet and then immediately shut off the two remaining engines upon touchdown. This meant shutting down the plane, relinquishing all control, and letting it coast to a stop on its own. It was an all or nothing gamble. With a news crew filming from the ground, Reeve Aleutian Flight 8 made its final descent. It touched down and the crew immediately shut down the engines. The airplane then hurdled down the runway at 140 knots. For a while it looked like disaster was brewing (one tire blew out and the brakes caught fire), until the aircraft began to slow down and finally stopped. 

Despite the rough landing, all 15 passengers and crew survived without any injury. For their brave and skillful landing that saved their passengers, the crew of Reeve Aleutian Flight 8 received the Superior Airmanship Award from the Airline Pilot's Association. Their heroism was acknowledged by President Ronald Reagan at a meeting in the White House. Captain James Gibson eventually retired from Reeve and professional flying. He died in 2010. An inquiry that was launched into the near disaster was unable to come up with any conclusion as to why the propeller on engine 4 broke off. To this day, the cause is still unknown.

Every day, millions of people board planes for the purpose of travel. By now it is so routine that many people have forgotten the amount of responsibility given to those who are responsible for their safety. The way I see it, the crew of Reeve Aleutian Flight 8 is a great example of of those who put their lives on the line to transport people by air. They encountered a severe problem that put themselves and their passengers in grave danger. And through a combination of skill and courage they worked the problem and managed to save their passengers and their aircraft. I believe that they should be regarded as some of the greatest heroes in history.

https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19830608-2

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1243&dat=19830610&id=w5FTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A4cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6652,1177269&hl=en

https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Reeve%20Aleutian%20Airways%20Flight%208

Hero of the Week 19

Welcome back viewers!

This week we will honor two heroes who share a connection.

They are...

Sgt. John Kiggins and Lt. Michael Murphy!

 

These two men came from different times and different backgrounds. However they have some major things in common. They both served in the US military, and showed amazing courage in the face of battle. 

Part 1

John Kiggins was born on February 2, 1837 in Syracuse, New York. He enlisted in the Union Army in September of 1862 and was assigned to the 149th New York Infantry. Kiggins eventually rose to the rank of Sergeant. He saw combat at the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. His defining moment however, would come during the 149th regiment's assault on Lookout Mountain.

In November of 1863, the 149th New York was part of the Union Army of the Cumberland (the Union army on the western front). By then, the army had been besieged in the city of Chattanooga Tennessee by the opposing Confederate Army for over two months and was on the verge of collapse. Their supplies were running low, many soldiers were sick with disease, and morale among the rest of them had severely plummeted. If something was not done to lift the siege, the Federals would be forced to surrender the city to the Confederates. The Union commander (Ulysses S. Grant) decided to prepare the Army of the Cumberland to launch an attack on the Confederate siege lines that were positioned at Missionary Ridge. 

However, to get to the ridge, the Federals needed to seize a key position that blocked their advance: Lookout Mountain. Lookout Mountain was part of a mountain range that ran from Georgia to Tennessee. It's peak elevation was 2,389 ft above sea level. The mountain's height made it a very strategic position that needed to be taken if the Federals were going to break the siege. Therefore, General Grant gave the authorization to launch an assault on the mountain. The 149th New York Infantry (Sergeant Kiggins included) would take part. Early on a foggy morning on November 24, the Federals began their assault. Due to the thick fog and clouds that covered the slopes of the mountain, the battle would later be referred to as, "the Battle above the Clouds".

At first, progress was painfully slow. The attackers found themselves at a major disadvantage due to the Confederates holding the high ground and the thick fog which caused many of them to be subjected to friendly fire. The first regiments to assault the mountain were beaten back with heavy casualties. The 149th was one of the few to gain a foothold on the mountain. Just when it seemed that the regiment was about to reach the Confederate line they were hit from behind by their own artillery. The men of the 149th were now pinned down between the Confederate guns and the Union artillery. 

Sgt. Kiggins knew something needed to be done to stop the friendly fire and save his comrades. He knew that the only way to do was to get the artillery to see the regiment's flag. In an act of amazing courage, Sgt. John Kiggins grabbed the flag, ran to a nearby tree stump, stood on top of it, and frantically waved the flag to the artillery below him. This left Kiggins in a dangerously exposed position to the Confederate defenders who began to train their fire on him. He was shot numerous times and yet continued to wave the flag until he was noticed by the Federal artillery men who quickly ceased fire. After this, Sgt. Kiggins collapsed from his wounds (doctors would find a total of nine bullet holes in his clothing). 

Part II

Michael Patrick Murphy was born on May 7, 1976 in Smithtown, New York. Early in his life, he was known for defending those who were close to him. This is probably what led to his choice to become a Navy Seal. He enlisted in the Navy in 2000. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 only served to further inspire his determination. After years of rigorous training and preparing for the fiercest and most secretive combat, Murphy earned his Navy Seal trident in July of 2002. Following this, he was deployed to Afghanistan.

While he was serving in Afghanistan, Murphy was given a highly dangerous counter-insurgency mission in the Kunar Province. The mission was to locate a high ranking leader of the Taliban (Ahmed Shah) and assassinate him. The operation was codenamed: Red Wings. One June 27, 2005, Murphy along with three other Navy Seals (Matt Axelson, Danny Dietz, and Marcus Luttrell), were all inserted deep into enemy territory out to carry out the operation. For the next day and a half the four-man squad stealthily made their way to their target's alleged location. This was deep within the forested mountains and out of contact with the rest of the Coalition forces. 

As the team was nearing their target, the mission took a turn for the worse. They were discovered by three goat herders who happened upon them by chance. The four seals quickly detained the Afghans and pondered what to do with them. One of the seals (Matt Axelson) suggested executing the Afghans due to the risk of the latter alerting the Taliban to their presence. However, Murphy made the decision to allow the Afghans to go free. It was a decision that would have dire consequences.

Immediately after letting the goat herders go, Murphy and his team quickly abandoned their mission and began to vacate their position. Unfortunately, Murphy and his team were attacked by more than 100 Taliban fighters within an hour of releasing the goat herders (they likely ratted them out). Despite being severely outnumbered, the four seals managed to kill at least 35 of the Taliban attackers. However all four of them were shot numerous times and it became clear without help, they would all be killed. Their situation became even more dire when Danny Dietz (the radio man) was killed and his radio destroyed. Despite being shot numerous times Michael Murphy made a brave decision. He decided to climb up onto a large rock in order to get a cell phone signal. It was a near-suicide decision but hopefully he would be able get in contact with American forces. With some cover from Marcus Luttrell and Matt Axelson, Murphy ran into the open and climbed the large rock. Once he was there he finally got a signal on his cell phone and made contact. Murphy then collapsed from blood loss after being shot multiple times. 

Epilogue

As a direct result of John Kiggins' actions, the 149th New York was able to continue its attack until it pierced the Confederate line. Soon the whole line collapsed under the weight of the attacking Federals and the battle of Lookout Mountain ended in a victory for the Union. Despite suffering multiple wounds (luckily most of them were graze wounds) Kiggins survived. He continued to serve with the 149th New York until the regiment was mustered out on June 12, 1865 at the end of the Civil War. Nearly 30 years later, Sgt. John Kiggins received the congressional Medal of Honor for his amazing heroism at the battle of Lookout Mountain. He worked as a nightwatchman in Syracuse until his death on September 29, 1914. He was 77 years old.

Despite the heroism of Michael Murphy, Operation Red Wings ended in tragedy. His call for help did make it through to Navy Seal headquarters. As a result, a Chinook helicopter (carrying 8 Navy Seals, and 8 Army Night-Stalkers) came to aid of their trapped comrades. Sadly, the helicopter was shot down by a Taliban RPG. All 16 men on board were killed in the crash. All in all, Operation Red Wings had resulted in the worst loss of life for American Navy Special Warfare since World War II.  As for Murphy's two remaining comrades, Matt Axelson continued to fight back against the Taliban until he died of blood loss. His body was later found with many dead Taliban fighters lying near by. Marcus Luttrell was severely wounded but managed to evade the Taliban before he was found by local villagers who sheltered him and eventually transferred to American forces (he made a full recovery from his wounds). Lt. Michael Patrick Murphy died of his wounds just minutes after he made that phone call. He was only 29 years old. For his selfless and heroic sacrifice in making a desperate call for help he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. 

Despite the differences in time and conflict, both of these men displayed incredible valor and dedication to their comrades. Regardless of the end result of the battle or whether they lived to receive the praise they so rightfully deserved their acts were no less heroic. John Kiggins and Michael Murphy both put their lives on the line to save their brothers-in-arms. What this should show us is that for those who serve in our military, one thing has never changed. That is the dedication that they have to protecting each other and the country the love. That is something that will always remain in our nation's military. For me, there is no greater heroism.

Further Information:

https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=John+Kiggins

https://books.google.com/books?id=wk48AAAAMAAJ&q=%22John+Kiggins%22&dq=%22John+Kiggins%22&num=100&client=firefox-a&pgis=1#v=snippet&q=%22John%20Kiggins%22&f=false

https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/149thInf/149thInfMain.htm

https://sofrep.com/84722/remembering-navy-seal-michael-p-murphy-medal-honor-6282005/

http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/moh/murphy.html

Luttrell, Marcus (2007). Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10. Little, Brown and Company.

Hero of the Week 18

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Robert Smalls

"My race needs no special defense, for the past history of them in this country proves them to be the equal of any people anywhere. All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life"

Robert Smalls was a slave who was born on April 5, 1839 in Beaufort, South Carolina. He grew up on a plantation that was owned by a man named John McKee. During his early life as a slave, Robert worked on Mckee's plantation and in the house with the rest of the slaves. However in 1851, Robert was taken to Charleston SC where the McKee family owned a second house. In Charleston, he worked as a lamplighter and sailmaker. He eventually became a sailor and an expert navigator on the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia. He got married to woman named, Hannah in 1856 and had two kids. 

Like most slaves, Robert yearned to live as a free human being. He was also constantly terrified of his family being sold to a different master in another part of the country. If that happened, Robert knew he would likely never see them again. Therefore, he was constantly watching and waiting for the right opportunity to escape from bondage. 

When the Civil War broke out, a large armada of Union ships set up a blockade around Confederate ports. The blockade was especially thick around Charleston Harbor. In the beginning of the war, Robert Smalls was one of many slaves who were forcefully conscripted to serve in the Confederate Navy under white commanders. He was stationed as a deckhand on an ammunition ship named, CSS Planter. The Planter was a former cotton steamer that was converted to supply Confederate soldiers in river operations along the Carolina coast. 

During his time on the Planter, Smalls secretly planned an escape from slavery. He eventually came up with a bold plan. Smalls planned to sneak his family and other slaves onto the Planter, commandeer the ship, and then sail it to the Union fleet that was blockading the harbor. It was a very risky plan. The blockade was ten miles away from the harbor. Smalls would have to pass at least five major Confederate outposts and fortifications in order to reach the fleet. The risk of being captured was very high. And Smalls knew that if he was caught, he and his fellow slaves would be severely punished by the Confederates. There was also the risk of being sunk by the blockading Union ships which had been instructed to sink or capture any ships that tried to leave the harbor (these ships were called, "blockade runners"). Despite these risks, Smalls was determined to be free and confident in his navigating abilities. If the escape failed, he resolved to blow up the ship instead of returning to slavery.

Smalls chance came on May 13, 1862. While the white officers and crew were sleeping in Charleston, Smalls and a handful of other slaves woke up early in the morning and snuck onto the Planter. At around 3 in the morning, they untied the ship and began to sail her out of the harbor. Before leaving the harbor they sailed to the pier to pick up the women and children (Small's family included). After this, the Planter began to steam out of Charleston. For the next two hours, they steamed passed the Confederate fortifications. During the voyage most of the escaped slaves hid in the cabin of the ship with Smalls and the other slave crew members mascarading as the crew. Thanks in part to a heavy fog, they passed by the fortifications without incident. By 4:15, the Planter had passed Fort Sumter which was the last of the Confederate fortifications between the slaves and the Union blockade. They were eventually sighted and approached by one of the Union ships (USS Onward). Smalls acted quickly: he ripped down the Confederate flag on the ship and raised a white sheet. After seeing this, the Onward pulled alongside the Planter and received the passengers. With that, Robert Smalls and his group of 16 slaves were finally free.

Robert Small's escape to freedom immediately captured the attention of the American public. He became a legend and was praised as a freedom fighter by President Lincoln. In addition to stealing a vessel from the Confederate Navy, Smalls had also brought all the ship's ammunition with him. He also provided valuable knowledge to Union intelligence about Confederate shipping and troop movements around Charleston. This knowledge later led to the capture of many blockade runners along the Carolina coast. 

For the rest of the war, Robert Smalls served as an advisor in the Union Navy while his family lived in Philadelphia. Although he still experienced racism, he never once regretted escaping from slavery. When the Civil War ended, Smalls played a prominent role in the Reconstruction era. He and his family eventually returned to their old home in Beaufort SC. In 1868, he was elected as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. In 1884, Smalls was elected to U.S. House of Representatives in South Carolina's 7th district (the first African-American to ever do so). For the rest of his life, Smalls fought against racism and for equality. He died on February 23, 1915 at the age of 75.

Robert Smalls was very brave and remarkable individual. He was a slave who never lost the desire to be a free man. He fought so that others continued to do so until his death. There is no doubt that Robert Smalls was one of the most inspirational figures in American history and should be revered by all who fight for freedom.

Further Information:

http://history.house.gov/People/Detail/21764

https://www.biography.com/people/robert-smalls-9486288

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/thrilling-tale-how-robert-smalls-heroically-sailed-stolen-confederate-ship-freedom-180963689/

Hero of the Week 17

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Margaret Utinsky

Margaret Utinsky was born on August 26, 1900. In the 1920s Margaret met and married an American soldier named, John "Jack" Utinsky while she was traveling in the Philippines in 1934. For a few years, the two lived peacefully in the nation's capital (Manila). That all changed when the Japanese military attacked Pearl Harbor and invaded the Philippines in December of 1941. By the beginning of January they had captured Manila. Although Margaret was ordered to return to the United States with many other American women, she refused and remained in the Philippines. Meanwhile, American and Filipino forces were defeated on the Bataan peninsula. The last American bastion was on the island of Corregidor. The garrison surrendered on May 6 after a two day battle. With that, the Japanese were in complete control of the Philippines.

During this time, Margaret was in hiding. She created a fake identity (Rena Utinsky from Lithuania) and joined the Filipino Red Cross. Eventually she decided to make her way to Bataan to look for her husband, Jack. When Margaret arrived in Bataan she was horrified by state of the American and Filipino POWs who were being treated with the utmost cruelty by their captors. Many of them had been killed on the infamous Bataan Death March and were suffering from starvation and abuse by the Japanese guards. Those that survived the march were either transported to Japan or held in prisoner of  war camps in the Philippines in deplorable conditions. Seeing this made Margaret resolve to help the prisoners in any way she could.

She began by organizing a small resistance network that smuggled food and medical supplies to POWs being held at the Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan prison camps. She eventually learned that her husband, Jack Utinsky had died in one of the camps of malnutrition. Although she was distraught at losing her husband Margaret resolved in further to help the POWs who were being held by the Japanese. She smuggled more food and medicine to the prisoners and even took letters from their families. She also smuggled supplies to the American and Filipino resistance and provided them with intelligence of Japanese movements. Her code name was, "Miss U".

Eventually the Japanese became suspicious of Margaret's activities and arrested her. They took her to the Fort Santiago prison and brutally interrogated her. She was beaten on daily basis and hung with her arms tied behind her back. She was also sexually assaulted and forced to watch other prisoners being tortured and executed. Despite all the punishment she endured, Margaret never revealed anything to her captors. After 32 days of captivity, Margaret was released after she agreed to not act against the Japanese government and sign a document that said she had been treated, "well" by her captors. During her captivity she had lost at least 45 pounds, gangrene had infected one of legs (luckily it was treated), and her hair had turned white.

After her release, Margaret went into hiding but continued to aid the resistance in any way she could. She did this until the American forces returned to the Philippines. Margaret then provided critical information about the whereabouts of POW camps and how many prisoners were being held there. Her information would play a critical role in the rescue of POWs from the Cabanatuan prison camp. After the end of World War II, Margaret Utinsky returned to the United States. In 1946, she received the Medal of Freedom for her heroism. She died on August 30, 1970 in Gardena, California. 

Margaret Utinsky was a brave and moral women who put her life on the line to save soldiers in need. She endured terrible treatment and never broke. I believe that she is definitely someone to held in high regard.

Further Information:

https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Margaret%20Utinsky

http://philippine-defenders.lib.wv.us/html/utinsky_margaret_bio.html

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=2633

Hero of the Week 16

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Gen. Anthony McAuliffe

Anthony Clement McAuliffe was born on July 2, 1898 in Washington D.C. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1919. During World War II, McAuliffe took part in the North Africa campaign and the Normandy invasion where he commanded the artillery of the 101st Airborne Division. His leadership and tactics played a major role in the capture of the city of Carentan during the Breakout from the Normandy landings and the liberation of France. McAuliffe also participated in Operation Market Garden. However, General McAuliffe is best known for his heroic stand at the town of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.

In December of 1944, the Western Allied forces (American, British, and Canadian) were positioned along the German border in the Ardennes Forest (101st Airborne Division included). Most of the soldiers took the time to have some R&R and believed that the Germans were doing the same. Unfortunately that was not the case. The German Army was ready to launch a massive offensive to drive a wedge between Allies in Belgium, capture the port city of Antwerp, and eventually push the Allies back into the sea.

The Germans launched their attack on December 16. The Americans were caught completely off guard and suffered terrible casualties. In just a few days, the Germans pushed nearly all of the Allied soldiers out of the Ardennes. However, their advance quickly stalled. This was due to the fact that they had advanced so far and so rapidly that they left isolated pockets of American soldiers who were still fighting. The most strategic of these was the small Belgian town of Bastogne. Bastogne was a road junction that connected all the way to the port city of Antwerp. Therefore it was a critical position for the Allies. On December 18, elements from the 101st Airborne, 10th Armored Division, 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion, the 333rd (an African-American unit) and 755th Field Artillery Battalions under the command of General McAuliffe fell back to the town and established a strong defensive perimeter. On December 20th, the German army completely surrounded the American defenders of Bastogne. Thus began one of the most famous sieges in World War II.

For the next two days Germans launched attack after attack on the defenders at Bastogne. The defenders were continuously bombed by the Luftwaffe and German artillery. They faced attacks by German tanks and infantry and both sides suffered severe casualties. Yet the Americans were determined to hold Bastogne and beat off everything the Germans threw at them. On December 22, General McAullife received news that the American 4th Armored Division (led by George S. Patton) was making a drive north to rescue the defenders of Bastogne. That same day, he received a demand from the German commander demanding he surrender Bastogne. General McAuliffe responded with a simple word in reply, "NUTZ". In other words, "You can go to Hell!" The general's act of defiance was heard by his soldiers who were further inspired to continue holding Bastogne. Through acts of stubbornness and bravery (and some help from the weather) the defenders of Bastogne continued to hold off the Germans for the next four days. The siege of Bastogne officially ended when Patton's 4th Division pushed into the Germans from the south and forced them to pull back. 

The Battle of the Bulge would continue on until January of 1945. Ultimately the German attempt to drive the Allies out and capture Antwerp failed. As a result the Allies emerged victorious. This was the last major offensive ever launched by the German military during World War II. 

The heroic stand at Bastogne resulted in many units (namely the 101st Airborne) to awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. General McAuliffe received the Distinguished Service Cross for his role in commanding the garrison. He continued to serve in the military until he retired in 1956 at the rank of a four star general. He resided in Chevy Chase, Maryland until his death on August 11, 1975 at the age of 77. He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery.

General Anthony McAuliffe was one of the best generals in American history. He used his tactics and leadership to inspire his soldiers to hold a key position against major odds. Like many before and after, they not only survived, they won. His leadership and courage truly is the stuff of legends. I believe that he was one of the biggest heroes of the last great war who should never be forgotten.

Further Information:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anthony-C-McAuliffe

http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent/1,12044,ML_mcauliffe_bkp,00.html

https://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=79

http://biography.yourdictionary.com/anthony-mcauliffe

Hero of the Week 15

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Sgt. Ernest Kouma

Ernest Kouma was born on November 23, 1919. He enlisted in the military in 1940 and served in World War II as a tank commander. After World War II ended, Kouma was stationed in Japan as part of an occupation force. When the Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950, he once again answered the call to duty. Although Kouma had already been in combat, his tour in Korea would far exceed anything he had previously experienced.

In the first weeks of the war the United Nations' forces were soundly defeated by the North Korean Army. They were eventually pushed back to a small perimeter around the port-city of Pusan (the perimeter would eventually be known as: "the Pusan Perimeter"). Ernest Kouma was part of the 72nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. His tank battalion was positioned at the small village of Agok near the Naktong River. Their objective was to hold their position at the river and to keep the North Koreans from crossing and breaking through the Pusan Perimeter. On the night August 31st, the North Koreans launched their attack.

From midnight until 1:30 in the morning, Kouma and his tank crew continued to fight the advancing North Koreans. At one point during the battle, nearly every American tank at the Naktong river was either knocked out or forced to retreat. Kouma's tank was the only one that remained in the fight. Even after his tank became completely surrounded by the enemy soldiers, Kouma continued to give commands to his crew and personally returned fire at the enemy. He manned his tank's .50 caliber machine gun and repelled numerous attacks. When the gun's ammunition ran out, Sgt. Kouma threw grenades and fired his pistol. He continued to do this even after he was severely wounded. After a total of nine hours he finally gave to order to withdraw back to American lines. For the next eight hours they fought their way through hordes of communist soldiers until they finally reached friendly positions. 

During the battle, Sgt. Kouma is believed to have killed at least 250 enemy soldiers. He received the Medal of Honor for his incredible leadership and courage during the battle. He also received the Purple Heart. Ernest Kouma would serve in the army for another 20 years before retiring in the year 1971 after a total of 31 years in the military. For the rest of his life he lived in Kentucky until his death on December 19, 1993.

Sergeant Ernest Kouma's incredible bravery while serving in Korea is truly remarkable. He and his tank crew faced very long odds against a vastly superior force. Despite being wounded, Kouma continued to fight and lead his crew until they were forced to retreat. And even then, he remained in the fight. His story is the stuff of legends. He is definitely someone who deserved the Medal of Honor and someone to be held in high regard.

Further Information:

http://soldiers.dodlive.mil/2015/09/heroes-of-the-naktong/

http://www.military.com/HomePage/TitleHistories/1,10982,100001%7C967848,00.html

http://www.militaryhallofhonor.com/honoree-record.php?id=1189