Who Died Last Week?
-SPC Joshua L. Hazlewood, 22
Manvel, TX
US Army
-PVT Steven T. Drees, 19
Peshtigo, WI
US Army
-PFC Peter K. Cross, 20
Saginaw, TX
US Army
-SGT Terry J. Lynch, 22
Shepherd, MT
US Army
-SGT Timothy A. David, 28
Gladwin, MI
US Army
-SGT Roger L. Adams Jr., 36
Jacksonville, NC
US Army
-SGT Juan C. Baldeosingh, 30
Newport, NC
US Army
-SPC Robert L. Bittiker, 39
Jacksonville, NC
US Army
-SFC Edward C. Kramer, 39
Wilmington, NC
US Army
-1LT Brian N. Bradshaw, 24
Steilacoom, WA
US Army
Oh yeah, and a pop singer from Gary Indiana and the woman who sold a million posters in the seventies.
edited to add: Thanks for all who informed me of Col. Ed McMahon's service. It is a shame his service was not mentioned by the media. Perhaps I just missed it....... Thank you Colonel.
Manvel, TX
US Army
-PVT Steven T. Drees, 19
Peshtigo, WI
US Army
-PFC Peter K. Cross, 20
Saginaw, TX
US Army
-SGT Terry J. Lynch, 22
Shepherd, MT
US Army
-SGT Timothy A. David, 28
Gladwin, MI
US Army
-SGT Roger L. Adams Jr., 36
Jacksonville, NC
US Army
-SGT Juan C. Baldeosingh, 30
Newport, NC
US Army
-SPC Robert L. Bittiker, 39
Jacksonville, NC
US Army
-SFC Edward C. Kramer, 39
Wilmington, NC
US Army
-1LT Brian N. Bradshaw, 24
Steilacoom, WA
US Army
Oh yeah, and a pop singer from Gary Indiana and the woman who sold a million posters in the seventies.
edited to add: Thanks for all who informed me of Col. Ed McMahon's service. It is a shame his service was not mentioned by the media. Perhaps I just missed it....... Thank you Colonel.
posted by Xavier at 5:37 AM
28 Comments:
Thank you for the Correct perspective! Pop Culture is a virus and pollutant that blinds the public from the sacrifice of true Patriots.
Thank you for that.
My wife and I were talking about this just the other day.
It is worth noting that "Johnny Carson's Straight Man" had a pretty impressive military career.
Ted
Ed McMahon had an amazing service record and long history of serving his country after he was discharged.
Good to have you back Xavier. I just found out a couple of days ago that Shifty Powers of E Company/Normandy fame died last month. I first heard of Mr. Powers when I read Stephen Ambrose's book "Band of Brothers". These guys were the real deal; tough guys who did heroic things and then came back to lead productive (most of them) lives in which they continued to give back to this great country.
If you haven't read the book I'd recommend it highly. There isn't any entertainer or athlete in the world that I'd have any interest in meeting or getting an autograph from, but I sure wish I would have had a chance to shake Mr. Powers' hand. R.I.P. Mr. Powers.
HankH
Glad to see you have your priorities strait. I love reading your blog.
Bravo. We focus on a child molester, a former sex symbol, and a sweepstakes pitch man while young men and women not old enough to drink (or, for that matter, legally purchase a handgun) make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. I knew those names. I'll wager (a lot) that I will not meet another soul today who does.
I am SOO glad you found the list. I was pissed off that the media covered some jack ass singer and not one soldier who gave it all was mentioned.
kudos to you for seeing it too, and welcome back from being on call.
McMahon was a Marine pilot - from Wilkipedia:
His primary flight training was in Dallas and was followed up by fighter training in Pensacola where he received his carrier landing qualifications. He spent the next 2 years as a flight instructor training other Marine pilots. Ed McMahon finally received orders to the Pacific fleet in 1945, but those orders were cancelled after the Atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ending the war.
As an Officer in the reserves, McMahon was recalled to Active Duty during the Korean War. This time, he flew the Cessna O-1E Bird Dog, a single engine unarmed plane. He functioned as an artillery spotter for the Marine Batteries on the ground and as a forward controller for the Navy and Marine Fighter/Bombers. He flew a total of 85 combat missions, earning a number of Navy Air Medals. After the war, he stayed with the Marines as a reserve Officer , retiring in 1966 as a Colonel.
-Hoop
Your priorities are definitely in the right place.
Good to see someone can put it all into the proper perspective...
Thank you for posting relevant news.
I've dodged most of the mania around this, but thank you for a healthy frame of reference just the same.
Jim
Johnny Carson's straight man = Ed McMahon, Colonel, United States Marine Corps, Retired. Semper Fi!
Thank you for posting this.
The media coverage of events is pitiful
I would prefer not to be named
Robert Groves
NB4F@ARRL.NET
Thank you for resetting the moral compass. The masses need to see this list.
God bless them and their families. May we be worthy of their service.
fwiw, dunno if you're aware of Colonel Ed's service as a FAC and care for vets returning from Nam. He is more than worthy of mention with that list of fallen.
If I may be so bold, a July 1 news clipping posted here...
http://blackeagle603.blogspot.com/2009/07/colonel-ed-has-died.html
Johnny Carson's straight man served, too.
Before Ed McMahon became Johnny Carson's straight man he was a Marine. During WWII he joined to become a fighter pilot. After receiving his commission and wings in early 1945, McMahon was sent to the Corsair Operational Training Unit at Lee Field, Green Cove Springs, Florida. Upon completion of training, he became an instructor in the same unit. After the war ended he returned to civilian life. He was recalled during the Korean War. After several months of training McMahon arrived in Korea in February 1953. He flew 85 missions artillery-spotting missions in a Cessna OE Bird Dog before returning home in September 1953. McMahon remained active in the Marine Reserves retiring as a full colonel in 1966. It has been over 50 years since the Korean War but Ed paid his dues and deserves more respect than to be lumped with a poster girl and a child molester. http://www.militarymuseum.org/McMahon.html
Thank you. These are the real heros. They deserve our recognition, honor and respect.
Matt
Nicely put.
Welcome back!
Chris
Xavier, if I may, you're a little off base on this one. Very unusual as you are normally "spot on." BG Ed McMahon served his country as a Marine fighter pilot instructor in WWII and a Birddog, O1-E pilot in Korea. The same week that the bankrupt suspected pedophile entertainer died of a drug overdose and was given "a moment of silence" in Congress, Darrell "Shifty" Powers, 506th Inf, and MAJ Ed Freeman, MOH, also died. They got no such honor in Congress. vpg
In Ed McMahon's defense, He was a Marine in WWII and was active duty in Korea. From Wikipedia:
"He flew the Cessna Bird Dog, as an artillery spotter for the Marine Batteries on the ground and as a forward controller for the Navy and Marine Fighter/Bombers. He flew a total of 85 combat missions, earning a number of Navy Air Medals. After the war, he stayed with the Marines as a reserve Officer retiring in 1966 as a Colonel."
Unfortunately, McMahon is more remembered for being a straight man to Johnny Carson than a young Marine pilot with huge clanging brass cojones flying a plane that moved slower than the speed of smell over enemy lines.
The only difference between Col. McMahon and that list of brave young men is that he didn't have to make the ultimate sacrifice. But he was willing.
Semper Fi Col. McMahon.
some terse and powerful commentary right there, sir...thank you.
jtc
Also one of the worst micromanaging SECDEFs we have ever had.
A heartfelt salute to the fallen Soldiers, and a firm about face for the unnamed pop singer...
It's a shame that unsung heroes along with personal friends and family members pass from this world without even a mention in the press -- people who REALLY make a difference -- while unmentioned famous individuals are dietized in the news.
Thanks for posting.
Albert
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
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