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 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:54:22 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification 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... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html Thu, 06 Apr 2006 23:59:43 -0600 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. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43704 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43704 Sat, 08 Apr 2006 00:18:54 -0600 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 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43693 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43693 Fri, 07 Apr 2006 16:17:52 -0600 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 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43569 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43569 Thu, 06 Apr 2006 21:28:48 -0600 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. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43557 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43557 Thu, 06 Apr 2006 10:34:37 -0600 And of 728 foreign-born soldiers to win it, 256 came from Ireland. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43556 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43556 Thu, 06 Apr 2006 10:33:57 -0600 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. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43555 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43555 Thu, 06 Apr 2006 10:24:20 -0600 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. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43554 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43554 Thu, 06 Apr 2006 10:21:17 -0600 Guess that makes me the Castle Court Jester, or something like that, eh John? *groan* Will I *EVER* stop embarassing myself on public forums? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43551 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43551 Thu, 06 Apr 2006 09:01:54 -0600 Ah, but yer *our* dork, Were-Kitten, yer *our* dork. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43548 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43548 Thu, 06 Apr 2006 08:25:33 -0600 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. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43546 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43546 Thu, 06 Apr 2006 08:06:23 -0600 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. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43545 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43545 Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:53:50 -0600 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 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43542 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43542 Thu, 06 Apr 2006 06:42:19 -0600 A toast to CWO Novosel, and a bowing of the head. And a hand of sympathy extended to his brothers. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43539 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43539 Wed, 05 Apr 2006 23:42:51 -0600 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... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43537 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/04/honor_and_privilege.html#comment-43537 Wed, 05 Apr 2006 23:09:36 -0600