Leaving the toilet seat up
Leaving the toilet seat up
While I am no Naval Historian, the story of the USS Johnston has always impressed me. Against a vastly superior foe, a lone destroyer charged the Japanese fleet in an attempt to draw fire. After scoring several hits on Japanese cruisers and successfully drawing their fire, the Johnston was left dead in the water and its commander was forced to order abandon ship, but its actions allowed the escort carriers the Johnston had been protecting to escape.
And of course how could a former Cav officer forget one of the times the Cav saved the United States? MG John Buford's defense of the high ground by Gettysburg against a vastly superior foe led to his unit suffering heavy losses and becoming combat ineffective, but it gave the Union time to move their Army up to Gettysburg and command the terrain that aided in their victory. By essentially sacrificing his unit, John Buford made the Union victory at Gettysburg possible.
Last edited by Suvorov; 10-08-2012 at 02:17 PM.
Werner Voss http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_Voss
The fourth highest scoring WWI German Fighter pilot, Voss died while single handedly dog fighting six British aces.
"You can't win a war with choirboys. " Mad Mike Hoare
General Charles Gordon leading the defense of Khartoum against a seige by the Mahdi army that lasted from March 1884 until January 1885. The city fell and Gordon was beheaded two days before a relief force arrived.
Winston Churchill's 1899 book "The River War" gives a detailed account of the Mahdi Revolt and the Siege of Khartoum.
Benghazi, Libya 09/11/2012
This article by sofrep writer Brandon Webb claims 20 escaped because of their actions.Originally Posted by Buckshot
http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com...friend-glen-doherty/
Glen A. Doherty, a security contractor and former member of the Navy SEALs, was killed in Libya on Sept. 12, 2012, while defending the American Mission in Benghazi, Libya. During a memorial service for Mr. Doherty and the three other Americans killed in the attack — the Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, Tyrone S. Woods and Sean Smith — President Obama said of Mr. Doherty: “He believed that his life he could make a difference, a calling that he fulfilled as a Navy SEAL…in Benghazi, as he tended to others, he laid down his life, loyal as always, protecting his friends.”
Mr. Doherty’s best friend and former SEAL Team 3 comrade, Brandon Webb, has written a goodbye letter that we are publishing in full. —At War
Courtesy of Brandon Webb
Left, thousands lined the streets of Boston as Glen Doherty’s coffin passed on its way to burial. Right, Mr. Doherty’s folded flag.
Glen,
I still can’t believe you punched out early on me, but glad to hear from the guys that you fought like a hero–no surprise there.
You should know, your efforts resulted in the rescue of over 20 Department of State personnel. They are alive today because of yours and Ty’s heroic action.
I know you hate funerals as much as I do but, the service in Winchester was humbling and inspiring. The people of Boston are amazing. I had to choke back the tears as me and the boys rolled through town, and thousands of people lined the streets to honor a hero and our friend and teammate. Seeing American citizens united around a hero, if only for a brief moment, restored my faith in humanity and that there’s other things more important in life than killing each other.
Your family is and was amazing. Their poise, patience and the dignity they displayed was incredible to witness. Your mom, Barbara, stood by stoically for hours to ensure she greeted everyone who came to pay their respects. She was an inspiration to everyone who watched. Seeing your dad, his sadness and how proud he was of you, made me give him a big hug, and reminded me to work harder at patching things up with my own father.
Greg delivered one of the best talks I’ve ever heard under the most difficult of situations. What an amazing brother; I hope to get to know him better. His speech made me reflect on my own life choices and how important our relationship with friends and family are. I’m going to work harder at embracing my friends and family the way you always did.
Katie gave such an awesome toast at the wake with all the Bub lessons to live by, I smirked secretly to myself knowing that I’ve heard them all before and will never forget. “Drive it like it’s stolen!” and “Kids don’t need store-bought toys, get them outdoors!” and all the rest.
Your nephews are amazing and so well-behaved. Great parents of course. F.Y.I., I told them I’d take them flying when they come out west. They were beaming when I described all the crazy flying adventures me and their uncle went on. I told them how you and I would fly with my own kids and take turns letting them sit on our laps to get a few minutes at the controls. I’ll do it up right and let them each have a go at the controls.
Sean has been steadfast in his support role and has handled everything thrown at him. Helping him this last week really showed me why he was such a close friend of yours. He’s solid, and I look forward to his friendship for years to come. You chose well having him execute your will, he’s solid.
We are all dedicated, as you explicitly indicated to us all, to throw you the biggest eff-ing party we can, and to celebrate your life as well as our own. Done deal; Sean and I are on it.
Most of SEAL Team 3 GOLF platoon showed up in Boston. It was great to see how guys like Tommy B. just made stuff happen, no matter what was needed. Things just got handled like men of action handle them, no questions asked and no instructions needed — just get it done in true SEAL fashion.
One by one the Tridents were firmly pounded into to the mahogany as the guys paid their respect. Mike and I handed the plank to your mom, choked back tears, and kissed her on the cheek. We both told her how much you’ll be missed by us all.
Afterwards, the Team Guys, Elf, Steve, Sean and others tipped a few back in your honor. In good Irish fashion we drank whiskey from Sean’s “What Jesus Wouldn’t Do” flask, hugged each other like brothers and said goodbye, each in our own way.
We are planning the yearly surf trip to Baja in your memory. We share Steve Jobs’s philosophy on religion and tolerance, but if you can arrange it, please talk to whomever and fire up a good south swell for me and the boys.
My kids will miss their Uncle Glen. I told them it’s O.K. to cry (we all had a good one together) and to be sad but not for too long. You wouldn’t want that. They will grow older, and like the rest of us, and be better human beings for having known you.
You definitely lived up to the words of Hunter S. Thompson:
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a ride!”
When I skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke myself I’ll expect to see your smiling face handing me a cold beer.
See you on the other side, brother. You are missed by many.
-B.W.
Brandon Webb is a former Navy SEAL, author of a memoir, “The Red Circle,” and editor-in-chief of SOFREP (Special Operations Forces Report). He served with his best friend, Glen Doherty, at SEAL Team 3, where they were sniper students together. They had just completed a book together, “Navy SEAL Sniper,” which is due out in January.
British 2nd Parachute Battalion, 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem Bridge, Sep 17-21 1944. ''Out of ammunition. God save the King.''
Thank you for posting that. Inspiring story and I love me some Kipling.A little bit different in that it wasn't in the face of an enemy, but in the same theme of holding (standing? see what I did there?) fast under orders until the end... The HMS Birkenhead:
The wiki entry quotes Kipling:
To take your chance in the thick of a rush, with firing all about,
Is nothing so bad when you've cover to 'and, an' leave an' likin' to shout;
But to stand an' be still to the Birken'ead drill is a damn tough bullet to chew,
An' they done it, the Jollies -- 'Er Majesty's Jollies -- soldier an' sailor too!
Their work was done when it 'adn't begun; they was younger nor me an' you;
Their choice it was plain between drownin' in 'eaps an' bein' mopped by the screw,
So they stood an' was still to the Birken'ead drill, soldier an' sailor too
#RESIST
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Ghetto_Uprising
Ghetto uprisings during the Holocaust
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghetto_uprising
Battle of Wizna
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Wizna
warsaw uprising
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Uprising
Would Operation Anaconda qualify?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Anaconda
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