Two Medals of Honor On The Same Mission

[COSteve]

They don't make flight crews like this anymore. The flight of Old 666.

[Blaine]

Very brave.....

[earlmck]

Wow!

[gamekeeper]

Inspirational.....

[FWiedner]

I think maybe every flight crew is like that.

These guys were just put in the situation to let what they were made of come out and made a good show of it.

[Blaine]

I think maybe every flight crew is like that.

These guys were just put in the situation to let what they were made of come out and made a good show of it.

I heard something like that before: That, the Military doesn't really make a man out of you, it's just that it will bring out what was there all along. If you never were much of a man, then, you wouldn't be one in the Military, either. Still, a force was at work with that outfit that drew all those Men together in one place, don't ya think?

[DixieBoy]

Maybe you guys are right, that bravery like that is in a lot of people just waiting for the opportunity to be presented.

But the nose gunner, Joe Sanoski (sp.?), was made of stuff that not many folks are. Shot to pieces, his only thought is to
get back to his guns so that he can help protect his buddies. God Bless those guys and all the others like them.

Thanks for this Steve. - DixieBoy

[Old Ironsights]

Maybe you guys are right, that bravery like that is in a lot of people just waiting for the opportunity to be presented.

But the nose gunner, Joe Sanoski (sp.?), was made of stuff that not many folks are. Shot to pieces, his only thought is to
get back to his guns so that he can help protect his buddies. God Bless those guys and all the others like them.

Thanks for this Steve. - DixieBoy

They can only kill you once, so if you can continue to fight until you stop moving, why not?

[Terry Murbach]

STEVE, I THOUGHT YOU WERE OVER RE-CONQUERING THE IBERIAN PENINSULA OR SOMESUCH.

[junkbug]

I am not so sure today's service people aren't the equal to their WWII ancestors, but certainly new technology makes the work of present day enlisted soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines less visible. But that doesn't lessen their real sacrifices.

[new pig hunter]

on topic, this story from Vietnam comes to mind. LT Tom Norris, Navy SEAL, and Petty Officer Mike Thornton, Navy SEAL, lead an intel patrol into enemy territory.

Norris would much later receive the MOH for an earlier action he led:
http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3 ... omas-r.php

On the intel patrol, they'all get into a serious fire fight. Norris is severely wounded and Thornton carries him out to safety, for which he receives the MOH:
http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3 ... -edwin.php

From what I've read, this has been the only instance in which a man received the MOH in which the life of another (eventual) MOH was saved during the action.

In the longer version of the story, it is amazing any of the good guys survived. Thornton's MOH write-up understates "a hail of fire" .... in reading the story, you get the feeling there were 10 gazillion rounds expended at the good guys:
http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/_news ... rnton?lite

Cheers,

Carl

[FWiedner]

I think maybe every flight crew is like that.

These guys were just put in the situation to let what they were made of come out and made a good show of it.

I heard something like that before: That, the Military doesn't really make a man out of you, it's just that it will bring out what was there all along. If you never were much of a man, then, you wouldn't be one in the Military, either. Still, a force was at work with that outfit that drew all those Men together in one place, don't ya think?

I am reminded of the quote from Admiral Nimitz regarding the Marine assault on Iwo Jima, that "Uncommon valor was a common virtue." The fact that many men perfom extraordinary feats of fortitude and courage takes nothing away from this fine crew, and does nothing to diminish their heroism. It just means that good and brave men literally fill the ranks.

These men were presented with the test of their mettle and they did what had to be done as many men do in life or death situations.

All I'd dare suggest is that the bomber crews of the Second World-War stand tall among the bravest of the brave, and while the individual tales of their heroism give rightful pause for awe and appreciation, it could have been any crew's story being told and been just as heroic.