Comments for Honor and Privilege.

Honor and Privilege.

2006-04-07T04:59:43Z

This post trumps the H&I Fires for 5&6 April and will be the top post 5&6 April.

My Rotary club celebrated it's 90th anniversary last night with a special dinner meeting to rededicate our 1916 Charter as the 210th Rotary Club. Our Charter was water damaged in a flood last year and we literally got it back from the document restorers the day of the party.

We were graced with the presence of one of our Honorary Members - Colonel (R) Roger Donlon. Roger is one of two Medal of Honor holders living in Leavenworth, the other being Lieutenant Colonel (R) Chuck Hagemeister.

What a treat to meet Roger and his wife. Like every other Medal holder I've ever met - just an ordinary joe... except for that little blue Rosette on his lapel...

He's a tall man that the miles have been easy on to external appearances. Chatting with him and listening to the casual name-dropping of Medal holders was... odd. Except it wasn't name-dropping, as Roger and his wife just simply move in those circles, just having come back from where Roger and 13 other Medal holders did the closing bell ceremony for the NYSE.

The funniest stories revolved around parking places. At the Fort we have the usual reserved parking places for Generals and Command Sergeants Major, Disabled, and Fill-in-the-blank Honoree of the month - and Medal of Honor Winner.

My buddy Mike acts as a mentor for a young government intern (in a good way, unlike some others that come to mind) and Mike and Robert went to the golf course clubhouse for lunch. While going in, Robert asked about the Medal of Honor space and Mike explained about Roger and Chuck. Coming out after eating, Mike saw Roger going in and pointed him out to Robert. As they passed by the Medal of Honor parking spot, which was empty, Robert turned to Mike and said "But he didn't park in the spot...?" To which Mike replied - "That tells you more about the man than the Medal." Mike told that story to Roger and his wife, which caused Roger's wife to chime in with her own story.

She doesn't use the parking spots unless Roger is in the car with her (good for her) but she does like to drag Roger along when she goes to the Commissary if she can. One day she was successful at doing so - and Roger was waiting in the car when his wife came out with with one of the baggers with the groceries. She said the young man had a very grumpy look on his face, and after he'd loaded the groceries in the car - he went around to where Roger was sitting behind the wheel and said "You shouldn't be parking here! This is Mr. Hagemeister's spot!"

Obviously, Roger doesn't go to the Commissary much...

Name dropping...

While discussing the recent passing of two Medal of Honor holders discussed in this space, Roger told us yet another Holder has passed to Fiddler's Green. Michael J. Novosel, another Warrior Angel (Dustoff pilot).

Sigh. There are only 113 living holders now. Roger passed on this interesting tidbit about Mr. Novosel - he was shot down himself one day... and was rescued by another chopper - piloted by his son. One month later, Novosel rescued a shot down chopper pilot - his son.

Another Medal holder passes. The rule of threes holds.

NOVOSEL, MICHAEL J.
Mr. Novosel passed away on April 2, 2006.

Rank and organization: Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Army, 82d Medical Detachment, 45th Medical Company, 68th Medical Group. Place and date: Kien Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 2 October 1969. Entered service at: Kenner, La. Born: 3 September 1922, Etna, Pa. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. CWO Novosel, 82d Medical Detachment, distinguished himself while serving as commander of a medical evacuation helicopter. He unhesitatingly maneuvered his helicopter into a heavily fortified and defended enemy training area where a group of wounded Vietnamese soldiers were pinned down by a large enemy force. Flying without gunship or other cover and exposed to intense machinegun fire, CWO Novosel was able to locate and rescue a wounded soldier. Since all communications with the beleaguered troops had been lost, he repeatedly circled the battle area, flying at low level under continuous heavy fire, to attract the attention of the scattered friendly troops. This display of courage visibly raised their morale, as they recognized this as a signal to assemble for evacuation. On 6 occasions he and his crew were forced out of the battle area by the intense enemy fire, only to circle and return from another direction to land and extract additional troops. Near the end of the mission, a wounded soldier was spotted close to an enemy bunker. Fully realizing that he would attract a hail of enemy fire, CWO Novosel nevertheless attempted the extraction by hovering the helicopter backward. As the man was pulled on aboard, enemy automatic weapons opened fire at close range, damaged the aircraft and wounded CWO Novosel. He momentarily lost control of the aircraft, but quickly recovered and departed under the withering enemy fire. In all, 15 extremely hazardous extractions were performed in order to remove wounded personnel. As a direct result of his selfless conduct, the lives of 29 soldiers were saved. The extraordinary heroism displayed by CWO Novosel was an inspiration to his comrades in arms and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance. In Memoriam.

Sergeant Whiskey - Lead Mr. Novosel over to where Rick Rescorla leads the singing. Then do your duty and clean those feet.

Comment from Sapper Mike on 2006-04-08

2006-04-08T05:18:54Z

I first learned of (then) CPT Donlon by reading his book "Outpost of Freedom" in 1972. It was in a Reader's Digest Condensed Book version. I came across the full book at Ft. Benning while going to Infantry AIT (found it in the Harmony Church Chapel, for some reason). Then, in 1981, while attending DLI for the German Speaker's course, then COL Donlon was attending the quickie Spanish course prior to assignment to Panama. While DLI had a no salute policy, in COL Donlon's case, it was ignored by all. He was quite gracious to the questions of a fairly innocent E-5. Overall, a very fine gentleman. It is good to hear he continues to be well. I wish him and his wife well.

Comment from Carol (Tyler) Kirk on 2006-04-07

2006-04-07T21:17:52Z

I remember Mike Novosel so well. I was at the 3rd Surg when he was flying in wounded to us with the 82nd Dustoff. He was old enough to be a father to most of us there..in fact his son, Mike Jr., was also flying with the 82nd at the same time. Come an evening if we weren't working we would sit around the table at Charlie's Den, the O-club at the 3rd Surg and tell "there I was" tales. Some evenings Mike Sr. and the CO of the 82nd would also be over there and they would stand against the wall at the end of the club and watch the younguns. We used to tease Mike Jr. mercilessly and tell him his Dad made us feel like we were at the senior prom and he was the chaperone. But Mike Sr. never treated us like kids. He treated us like comrades in arms, with a ready smile, a soft word, and a kind manner. I guess I'll see him at Fiddler's Green again one of these days. -Carol T. Kirk, MAJ Ret- RVN 5/1969-12/1970

Comment from HomefrontSix on 2006-04-06

2006-04-07T02:28:48Z

Mr. Novosel was the honored speaker at my husband's WOBC graduation a few years back. A truly incredible human being. A sad day, yes. But what a privilege it was to have had him here on Earth. - hfs

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2006-04-06

2006-04-06T15:34:37Z

Owen - one small correction - Roosevelt didn't die on D-Day, but of a heart attack shortly after. Teddy's Medal was denied out of jealousy on the part of Army leaders. As for the 'not available for officers until 1915' bit - there must be more to the story. Lt Tom Custer (Yellowhair's brother who died with him at Little Big Horn) was awarded one during the Civil War (when the Medal was established) and the Civil War set up the Father Son team - Arthur MacArthur during the Civil War, and Douglas during WWII. Though, in all honesty, Mac the Younger's Medal was rammed through by Roosevelt who desperately needed a hero in 1942 - but made up for the fact that MacArthur probably should have gotten one for his WWI exploits, but he fell afoul of the same dark forces as Teddy did. Professional envy. And Owen, while I see where you got it, only you around here would connect Roger Donlon with Platoon... And my Irish forbears (I admit to no hyphen, however) have always been a combative lot.

Comment from OD on 2006-04-06

2006-04-06T15:33:57Z

And of 728 foreign-born soldiers to win it, 256 came from Ireland.

Comment from Blake Kirk on 2006-04-06

2006-04-06T15:24:20Z

My wife Carol (nee Tyler) served as a nurse with the Army's 3rd Surgical Hospital at Binh Thuy 1968-1969. She knew both of the Novosels when they were flying Dustoff out of Can Tho Navy. Carol later ran into Mike Sr. again when they were both stationed at Fort Rucker several years before Mike Sr. retired. A few years ago we were down in Florida and had dinner with Mike Sr. at his home near Panama City. He was a kind and gracious host. For all that I met him on only a couple of occasions, I am deeply sorrowed by his passing.

Comment from OD on 2006-04-06

2006-04-06T15:21:17Z

That Donlon story sounds just like the final scene of Platoon. I just went and looked up some interesting facts about the MOH. Talking of movies, there's a scene in The Longest Day where Teddy Roosevelt's son, played by Henry Fonda, successfully pleads to be allowed to go ashore with the troops. They never showed it in the movie, but apparently he was killed, won the MOH, and is buried in Normandy. I had no idea. I also learned that: One woman has won it, civilian surgeon Dr. Mary E. Walker, at Bull Run. One of Clinton's last presidential acts was to give one to Teddy Roosevelt for San Juan. It wasn't available to officers until 1915. Nineteen soldiers have won it twice, including my personal favourite, Smedley Butler USMC.

Comment from AFSister on 2006-04-06

2006-04-06T14:01:54Z

Guess that makes me the Castle Court Jester, or something like that, eh John? *groan* Will I *EVER* stop embarassing myself on public forums?

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2006-04-06

2006-04-06T13:25:33Z

Ah, but yer *our* dork, Were-Kitten, yer *our* dork.

Comment from AFSister on 2006-04-06

2006-04-06T13:06:23Z

OK. I'm a dork. I totally missed the part where Roger said that CWO Novosel was ALSO a MoH holder, and had just died. I was implying that Novosel also deserved the award, judging by the story told about his dust-off activities. Anywhoo.... Just ignore the audit-ravaged brain sitting atop the sleek, fuzzy body, gently swinging in the chandelier overhead.

Comment from AFSister on 2006-04-06

2006-04-06T12:53:50Z

You get to meet some pretty darn interesting people, John. CWO Novosel sounds like a hero in my book, and we're all saddened by his loss. Sounds to me like all three were MoH worthy.

Comment from SangerM on 2006-04-06

2006-04-06T11:42:19Z

John, once again, thank you. One of my favorite books as a boy was "These men shall never die." I am still not able to read these citations without becoming very emotional. Hero worship, indeed. Thanks for sharing. V/R

Comment from FbL on 2006-04-05

2006-04-06T04:42:51Z

A toast to CWO Novosel, and a bowing of the head. And a hand of sympathy extended to his brothers.

Comment from cw4(ret)billt on 2006-04-05

2006-04-06T04:09:36Z

When Rick stops singing long enough to take a sip of brew, Mike will stand up and keep the place right tuneful. We'd been expecting this for a while, but it still hits hard. Tell everybody to keep the turnin' side up and the greasy side down, Mike...