We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:27:54 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification ...*only* a Distinguished Flying Cross? I've always honored my Dad's service - but if this is a DFC and not Medal of Honor... then my Dad's DFC (and him not an Aviator) takes on a whole new meaning to me. Ladies and Gentlemen, I say to you: Glenn Rojohn, Captain, USAAF. Captain Rojohn died in August 2003. I got this in email. An excerpt: He felt a huge impact. The big bomber shuddered, felt suddenly very heavy and began losing altitude. Rojohn grasped almost immediately that he had collided with another plane. A B-17 below him, piloted by Lt. William... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html Thu, 24 Mar 2005 09:48:44 -0600 I couldn't read that story until I got home - for some reason the site was blocked at work. What a story. The town he was from is only about 20 miles from where I grew up, too. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19231 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19231 Thu, 24 Mar 2005 23:02:36 -0600 Wow. Commemorative Air Force. That's a shame, really. It's not like the confederates were Nazis, for cryin' out loud. [sigh] That really sucks, to be sure. I LIKED the name. Phooey on PC. As for the old guys and their stories, I told you all once about my visit to the Bataan-Corregidor reunion a few years ago. A day to remember, to be sure. Old guys, telling tales. A great way to spend an evening. Fortunately, not all of that history will be lost. In addition to what has ended up on the web in gerneral, the Library of Congress has the Veterans History Project at this site: www.loc.gov/vets/ A worthy way to spend MY tax dollars--I don't care how they spend anyone elses.... :-) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19203 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19203 Thu, 24 Mar 2005 16:12:05 -0600 Commemorative Air Force. I kid you not. (check under the tail) I kinda understand, and I kinda wish they'd stood up for it, too. Damian - I'm sorry, but they can only not be replaced in terms of their memory. Just as with the Greatest Generation, so to with this one: By Their Deeds Shall You Know Them. Click each word. This generation's fighting men and women have proven they can Stand and Deliver just as well as their Grandfather's and Great-Grandfather's did. *I* will brook no argument on that subject. Your mileage may vary - but there is No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great for these kids - and it puts great pressure on their leaders to be worthy. A Good Thing. Duty First, People Always. Or these guys... ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19191 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19191 Thu, 24 Mar 2005 14:05:13 -0600 Ah, Damian - all Real Soldiers I know are sentimental saps. We just cry on the inside! Well, since I'm hardly a Real Soldier, I mist up on the outside when I read stuff like that. I know I can't do a damned thing about the passage of time, but it bothers me that we're losing these gentlemen - with their stories, their wisdom, their devotion, their heroism - at an ever-increasing rate. While I have all the respect in the world for those who do the fighting today, The Greatest Generation simply cannot be replaced.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19190 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19190 Thu, 24 Mar 2005 13:46:56 -0600 BTW, at the Confederate Air Force Museum in Harlingen Texas, they had an AF Medal of Honor section in which one could read the citations for all the AF/Army Air Corps Medals of Honor awarded. As amazing as Capt Rojohn's actions were, some of the M-o-H citations I've read describe heroism that to me is just beyond imagining. Also BTW, this story was helped in my mind by the excellent movie, Memphis Belle, which I still watch at least once a year. wow... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19187 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19187 Thu, 24 Mar 2005 13:12:01 -0600 What Damian said! "These men shall never die!" http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19186 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19186 Thu, 24 Mar 2005 13:05:06 -0600 Holy COW! What a story.... I am at a loss for words (I know- you all find that REALLY hard to believe, but I am!) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19178 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19178 Thu, 24 Mar 2005 11:47:34 -0600 John - The only criteria for an award of the DFC is "for heroism or extraordinary achievement in aerial flight." The reg doesn't say a thing about having to be an aviator. Just a hero. Nuff sed. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19176 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19176 Thu, 24 Mar 2005 11:28:39 -0600 Ah, Damian - all Real Soldiers I know are sentimental saps. We just cry on the inside! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19174 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19174 Thu, 24 Mar 2005 11:27:05 -0600 I can't believe I get choked up more often reading your tough-guy milblog than I do anywhere else on the 'net. And at work, too. Thanks for posting this one. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19171 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/all_i_can_say_is.html#comment-19171 Thu, 24 Mar 2005 11:00:04 -0600