And So It Begins ...

A view of Hyangwonjeong Pavilion at Gyeongbokgung Palace, dressed in the autumn colors of the changing foliage.
(한국어: 단풍으로 물든 가을옷을 입은 경복궁 향원정의 풍경)

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Once again it is that time of year, when The Missus Herself returns to her homeland for a visit with her family. She and two of her sisters (both of whom live in the US) went last year, and then again this year. (I don't know if they'll go next year, everyone is getting on in years, we shall see.)

So once again Your Humble Scribe is left to fend for himself. I don't mind, not really, I've always been something of a solitary beast. Very catlike in that regard. I don't mind company, but I don't really crave it. If that makes any sense.

So Sarge, you might be asking, why didn't you go as well?

I have been there, once for nearly four years, once for a month, it's lovely, the people are nice but, well, it ain't home, is it? It is for my better half, sure, but not me.

I once understood a lot of the language, and even spoke a bit of it, but that was forty four years ago. I'm a bit out of practice. We speak English at Chez Sarge. When we were first married I mentioned that given my knack for language, perhaps The Missus Herself should teach me Korean.

She pointed out that as the plan was for us to live in the United States, her becoming fluent in English should be the priority. I bowed to her logic. Still and all, I wish I'd picked up more of her native tongue.

That being said, I'm on my own, my knee is getting better, I've a full larder and a hard drive full of computer games I can spend all day and night playing. No one to say, "Aren't you going to bed?"

Nope, I'm footloose and fancy free. My oldest daughter, The Nuke, worries that I'll turn feral, lose all that training her mama put me through. She'd rather I come down to Maryland where she can "take care of me." Yeah, you know, keep an eye on me.

My biggest concern at the moment is finding someone to cut my grass, and not temporarily, as Danny Glover said, in the Lethal Weapon series, I'm getting too old for that shit. I mean, I can do it, I just don't want to. We also travel a lot, if I'm not there to cut it, well, it doesn't get cut. So having a crew to do that for me would be just the thing.

Not easy to do, so far. Everyone wants to just sit on their riding mower, swirl around for a bit, then walk off with my money in their pocket. Our backyard has lots of flower beds, had one fellow say he'd do it, then he backed out when I told him he couldn't use the riding mower in the backyard. Not that I wouldn't let him, it was just not feasible.

Sigh ...

It ain't like the old days where every teenage boy in a ten mile radius was looking for a lawn mowing job to make a bit o' cash in the summer. Now they all want to be interns in an office and poke at a computer all day.

Sigh ...

We'll find someone, eventually.

First World problems, neh?

Hot? Nah, it ain't Hot!

 

 

 

Our highly accurate car thermometer is  saying 109 outside.  Based on my highly accurate skin sensors, I'd say it's a bit higher.

Just sayin'

As seen in last week's post, the builder had got the foundation ready for the concrete.

Progress!

We've now got a foundation, Should be only a few more months before we can move in.

Yes, Beans, my normal Fighter Pilot Patience meter is nearly stuck on zero.  The builder is still saying December. Which is getting closer and is also when our lease is up on our current domicile.

So... 

 

Very clever technique for keeping picture poachers away.  Include your hand in the picture. 

 

 One of the highlights of our weekly "chores" is to let our granddaughter entertain us.

 

We get to have her company Monday and Friday mornings.  I'm not sure of why that's the schedule, but I enjoy her presence.  Puts a smile on my face, yes it does.

Since I'm still prohibited from driving, smile generators are important.  Had the opportunity to go to court and plead my case.  The judge was retired Air Force, so I thought I had a chance.  Nice guy, funny.  However the person sitting on the table to the left was a grumpy old...Don't go there juvat!  Well, this is a family blog, so I'll just use the term "Female Dog".

Despite not having had any additional atrial fibrillation events since Oct 31 last year, she was very concerned I  might have a repeat blackout incident and therefore couldn't recommend my being allowed to drive.  My doctor is very happy with my electrocardiogram results, but what does he know.  She's the expert, she's a LAWYER!

No, just a Female Dog! 

So, I get chauffeured where I need/want to go.  Thank you dear. I know you enjoy the visits to Lowes to look at tools and guy stuff.

 

 

Charles Loring Jr Medal of Honor

 

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 As may be assumed, this was the fellow that Loring AFB was named after.  The base is as far North East as is possible in the USA, it literally within a few miles of the border of Maine and Canada.  Interesting but not part of the story. Ok, this  gentleman was a very interesting and brave Medal of Honor recipient.  He was shot down in two wars. Born and raised in Portland Maine, he joined the Army Air Corps and was sent to Europe to fly P-47s.  

 

His actual aircraft is the one in the bottom left corner of this picture

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After 55 missions he was shot down and spent the rest of WWII in a POW camp.  

 Upon the end of the war, he was released returned to the US were he was working administrative details. Upon the outbreak of the Korean War, he was transferred to a squadron near and dear to my heart.  At the time it was the 80th Fighter-Bomber Squadron.  Also known as "The Juvats". 

Yes, Beans when I am discussing the actual Squadron, I use a capital "J".  This was the actual Squadron name.

So, Major Charles Loring was a fighter pilot in two wars and a Juvat in the second one. 

 

  

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This was the weapons delivery vehicle of the Juvats at the time. On November 22 1952, Major Loring was leading a flight of F-80s to attack an artillery site that was shelling US troops.  He rolled in to drop his bombs but was hit by AAA (Anti-Aircraft Artillery if you don't know).  His aircraft was barely flyable.  Realizing he would be unable to RTB (return to Base),  he continued the attack, flying his aircraft directly into the artillery site destroying the site, his aircraft and himself. 

"Audentes fortuna Juvat!" * 

Source

 

Citation for the posthumous Award of the Medal of Honor to Major Charles Loring Jr:

Maj. Loring distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While leading a flight of 4 F-80 type aircraft on a close support mission, Maj. Loring was briefed by a controller to dive-bomb enemy gun positions which were harassing friendly ground troops. After verifying the location of the target, Maj. Loring rolled into his dive bomb run. Throughout the run, extremely accurate ground fire was directed on his aircraft. Disregarding the accuracy and intensity of the ground fire, Maj. Loring aggressively continued to press the attack until his aircraft was hit. At approximately 4,000 feet, he deliberately altered his course and aimed his diving aircraft at active gun emplacements concentrated on a ridge northwest of the briefed target, turned his aircraft 45 degrees to the left, pulled up in a deliberate, controlled maneuver, and elected to sacrifice his life by diving his aircraft directly into the midst of the enemy emplacements. His selfless and heroic action completely destroyed the enemy gun emplacement and eliminated a dangerous threat to United Nations ground forces. Maj. Loring's noble spirit, superlative courage, and conspicuous self-sacrifice in inflicting maximum damage on the enemy exemplified valor of the highest degree and his actions were in keeping with the finest traditions of the U.S. Air Force.

*  The 80TFS "Juvat's" official motto is "Audentes fortuna juvat" translated "Fortune favors the Bold!"

Pretty sure I've flown that particular F-4

 

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_J._Loring_Jr. 

 

Improving, Slowly, But Perceptibly ...

OAFS Photo

Being on one crutch to no crutches is a huge difference.

-- Lindsey Vonn Source

She has a point you know. When I first had the knee go out, my right leg was pretty much useless. I had to hang on to something in order to get from Point A to Point B. The Missus Herself dug out the old crutches from a couple of years back and the movement problem was eased, not great but workable.

After a couple of days of Prednisone and staying off of the bad leg I was moving around a lot better.

Prednisone is all gone now, I just take ibuprofen as needed for both the remaining pain, which there is some, and for the inflammation in the knee. (I'm assuming that's there as after 600 mg of ibuprofen the knee feels much better.)

Down to one crutch now, and if I move very slowly and deliberately I can move around with no crutches at all. While it does cause some stress to the right leg, it's gotten better over the last cuppla days. The feeling of not absolutely needing the crutches though is, as Lindsey noted, a very big difference. One might go so far as to say "liberating."

I hate being laid up for any reason, as things improve my morale gets better and better. Now I just need someone to cut my lawn until I'm 100%.

I contacted a local service and we'll see how that goes. The price was right, i.e. cheap, but I'll have to see what kind of job they do. As long as the lawn looks okay I'm happy with that.

No doubt it won't be to The Missus Herself's standard but until the knee is back up and fully mission capable, we'll just have to make do.

We'll see ...

2Lt Lloyd H. Hughes MOH

 

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Lt Hughes  was the first Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Grad to receive the Medal of Honor.  There are 9 total, 2 of which have received them in the past few years. The Corps of Cadets taught you well, Lieutenant  as it did to  all the rest of you. I'm not an Aggie, but I have 4 in the next generation and at least 3 more in the following one. Couldn't be prouder.

Anyhow, on with the history.  As many of you know, the Americans came up with a plan to launch 179 B-24 Bombers on an 18 hour, 2400 mile mission to bomb the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania.  Success would cause a huge fuel problem for the Axis Powers.  Unfortunately, damage was minimal and casualties were high.  54 Aircraft were shot down.  5 Aircrew members received the Medal of Honor, 3 postumously.  

Not a good day for the Air Force.

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Someone always has to be "Tail End Charlie", the last bomber in the attack, unfortunately that was Lt Hughes and his crew.  Thoroughly awakened now the AAA gunners managed to hit his bomber with both large and small caliber AAA.  Barrage Balloons (Large Balloons with heavy metal cables hanging from them that can cause severe damage to an airplane that flies into one) were very numerous in the target area, also complicating the attack.

So, his aircraft was hit by several rounds of AAA and fuel was leaking from the bomb bay and wing fuel tanks. Not a good thing to be happening when there is fire coming up from the target area and you are a LONG way from home. 

Rather than abort his attack and doing a crash landing, he continued the attack, dropping his bombs accurately on target.  As he left the target area, his left wing was on fire so Lt Hughes slowed down to 100 knots to minimize the flames.  He attempted to crash land his plane in a dry river bed, but as he approached it the left wing collapsed and the plane cartwheeled into the ground. 10 men were on board. Lt Hughes and 5 others were killed in the crash.  2 died within a few days of the crash and the two survivors were POWs.

As you may have surmised, that was an extremely tough, costly mission which, unfortunately, had little impact on the outcome of the war. 

But...If you never try, you always fail!

Rest in Peace, Lt Hughes and Crew.  Hero's all! 

Citation for the Award of the Medal of Honor

For conspicuous gallantry in action and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On August 1943, 2d Lt. Hughes served in the capacity of pilot of a heavy bombardment aircraft participating in a long and hazardous minimum-altitude attack against theAxis oil refineries of Ploesti, Rumania, launched from the northern shores of Africa. Flying in the last formation to attack the target, he arrived in the target area after previous flights had thoroughly alerted the enemy defenses. Approaching the target through intense and accurate antiaircraft fire and dense balloon barrages at dangerously low altitude, his plane received several direct hits from both large and small caliber antiaircraft guns which seriously damaged his aircraft, causing sheets of escaping gasoline to stream from the bomb bay and from the left wing. This damage was inflicted at a time prior to reaching the target when 2d Lt. Hughes could have made a forced landing in any of the grain fields readily available at that time. The target area was blazing with burning oil tanks and damaged refinery installations from which flames leaped high above the bombing level of the formation. With full knowledge of the consequences of entering this blazing inferno when his airplane was profusely leaking gasoline in two separate locations, 2d Lt. Hughes, motivated only by his high conception of duty which called for the destruction of his assigned target at any cost, did not elect to make a forced landing or turn back from the attack. Instead, rather than jeopardize the formation and the success of the attack, he unhesitatingly entered the blazing area and dropped his bomb load with great precision. After successfully bombing the objective, his aircraft emerged from the conflagration with the left wing aflame. Only then did he attempt a forced landing, but because of the advanced stage of the fire enveloping his aircraft the plane crashed and was consumed. By 2d Lt. Hughes' heroic decision to complete his mission regardless of the consequences in utter disregard of his own life, and by his gallant and valorous execution of this decision, he has rendered a service to our country in the defeat of our enemies which will everlastingly be outstanding in the annals of our Nation's history.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Herbert_Hughes 

What Did You Call Me?

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While out and about on Wednesday, The Missus Herself and I were both feeling a bit peckish, so we stopped at a local favorite eatery (Palmer River Grille) for lunch. She had the pasta, I had the lobster roll. (For a really good briefing on this New England delight, chase the source under the photo, tells you how to make 'em as well.)

Growing up in New England I didn't get the chance to eat a lot of seafood, Vermont's only coastline of note is along Lake Champlain. We did go to Maine often where I developed a taste for clams, both fried and steamed. But lobster, no didn't get a chance to try it. (Though Dad and my Grandfather would often get lobster from somewhere, from where was a mystery to us kids, and cook them in the kitchen. Which seemed a rather cold blooded thing to do. IYKYK.)

But yes, trips to Maine were a thing as a child. Every now and again Mom and Dad would load up the car (to include Your Humble Scribe and his two kid brothers) early on a Saturday morn and off to Maine we'd go. Usually the Wells/York area.

One of the highlights of those trips was to stop along the way for breakfast. Not at some eatery but at a place with picnic tables. Mom would break out the cereal bowls, milk, cereal, and (a special treat) some fresh fruit to go on top of the cereal. Blueberries were a huge favorite of mine, peaches being a close second.

We'd spend the day at the beach, braving the Arctic waters of the North Atlantic (my earliest memories are of sweltering in the hot sun on some sandy beach then going into the water to freeze my butt off), then as the sun began to sink behind us, we'd load up and head back to Vermont. (A three hour trip IIRC. Queue the Gilligan's Island theme.)

More often than not we'd stop at a restaurant in Maine, or along the very short New Hampshire coast, to eat. Mom and Dad always got lobster, at least my memories say so. Once upon a time one of the brothers asked, "What's lobster taste like?"

Panicked adult looks would follow, along with the answer, "This is grownup food, you wouldn't like it. Do you want a hot dog or a burger?"

I learned later in life that the phrase "grownup food" generally meant, "this stuff is damned expensive, if everybody wants lobster, no one gets lobster." I mean I get it, I was once a lowly enlisted guy with a wife and three kids living in base housing making somewhere around a thousand bucks a month. Not bad, but we didn't eat lobster, ever. (We kept  the Hamburger Helper people in business for years!)

As I got promoted, we could indulge, but I didn't get lobster, I'd kind of forgotten about it. Another thing is, we were never stationed in New England or anywhere near New England and trust me, Red Lobster ain't "bad" but I think you get thrown out of New England if you actually ate there while traveling.

When we'd visit New England I'd always get fried clams (whole belly damn you, take those strips back to the bloody kitchen, damn your eyes!), and was content. After retiring, having spent the last years of my Air Force career in Germany (nope, no lobster there, but schnitzel to die for) I actually tried lobster again. Fell in love I did.

Not with the entire animal mind you. When I eat, I want to eat, not wrestle with the thing I'm trying to eat. The Missus Herself once jumped in when our waitress¹ was recommending some rather messy sandwich concoction to me, she said, "Oh no, he doesn't like touching his food, that looks far too messy."

Well, okay, I confess that I am that way. I even get a little grossed out eating fries. Lately it's all done with a fork. Now sandwiches are an exception, as long as they ain't too messy (sorry sloppy joe, you taste good, but no, too messy) I don't mind touching bread, I love bread, bread is good.

So (back to our theme) lobster rolls were just the thing for me. A little messy yes (after all they grill the bun with butter) but I don't mind. Lobster is delicious, there are days I literally crave it.

Wednesday was one such day, but while talking about lobster rolls and a particular friend of ours The Missus Herself said, "She doesn't like too much mayonnaise on her lobster sandwich."²

Time seemed to stop ...

"What did you call it?"

"A lobster sandwich," she answered with a warning look.

"Now babe, understand, this is New England, it's called a lobster roll, because it comes in a roll. Do you call a hot dog a hot dog sandwich? No, it's just a hot dog." My explanation obviously fell on deaf ears.

"Why not call it a hot dog roll?"

Okay, she had me there. English is, in truth, a very confusing and contradictory language at times. In truth, she speaks it very well, the nuances she simply ignores. Until I point them out.

Then she ignores me.

So I went back to eating my lobster sandwich, er, roll and life went on, much as it has done for thousands of years. Though for a very long period with no hot dogs and no lobster rolls. I mean yeah, those are both sandwiches of a sort, we just don't call 'em that.

One way or the other, I love 'em.

¹ Back when you could call them that. I despise political correctness.

² Lobster rolls come in two styles, Connecticut style - which is served hot with melted butter, on a New England style hot dog bun, and Maine style - cold lobster salad, with mayo and often chopped up celery or some other accent. The Connecticut style, while absolutely delicious is far too messy. Melted butter squirting over my fingers, thanks, but no. I'll eat it with a fork if that's all they've got.

John Levitow Medal of Honor

 

 

 

 

  

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 Ok, campers, there's going to be a lot of smoke and noise, death and destruction in this posting.  When y'all were kids (Sarge was in his 30's but still a kid), we all listened to the song "Puff the magic Dragon" released by Peter, Paul and Mary in 1963.  Catchy tune!

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Anyhow, somehow that became the nickname for the AC-47.  The C-47 was an early cargo transport for the new USAF.  As in "OK Army, we don't belong to you anymore, but we'll still deliver cargo and provide air support for you provided you give us your cargo aircraft".   Voila!, the C-47 became an Air Force Aircraft.  Well, as the aircraft aged and bigger, better, faster cargo airplanes were developed, the Army  said, "Hey Air Force, we need some Air support aircraft that can provide a lot of firepower and can stay on target for a long period of time." 

 

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The Air Force said "we can put some Gatling guns on the C-47 and turn it into a Close Air Support aircraft.  But because it's old, slow and has to be fairly close to the target, it's got to be used at night."

"Light up the sky" takes on a new meaning 

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So, the AC-47  went to war and did a pretty darn good job. and subsequent more capable versions were/are being built.  Currently that mission is handled by the AC-130.

Anyhow, back to A1C Levitow. The Medal of Honor action occurred on February 24 1969 when he was asked to fill in as Loadmaster for another guy. The aircraft's call sign was "Spooky 71"

His job would be to "set the ejection and ignition timer controls on Mark 24 magnesium flares and pass them to the gunner for deployment. These flares were 27-pound (12 kg) metal canisters 3 feet (0.91 m) long that would burn at 4,000°F, illuminate with the intensity of two million candlepower and burn for two and a half to three minutes."  Source

The gunner wold place the safety pin ring on his finger to pull it quickly when given the order by the pilot.  Unfortunately, the aircraft had a AAA round go off which damaged the aircraft, wounded several people, including A1C Levitow.  It also threw the gunner off balance and he dropped the flare, pulling the fuse.  Despite A1C Levitow's wounds, he managed to crawl over to the fuse, pick it up, hugging it to his body (remember the temperature I cited above, the heat  was rapidly getting there) and crawled to  the door and threw it out.  A couple of seconds later, the flare exploded further damaging, but not destroying the aircraft.  The aircraft managed to make it home.

I'm known to say "I'd rather be lucky than good".  In this case, it was infinitely better that A1C Levito was good AND lucky!
 

President Nixon presented him with the Medal of Honor on May 14, 1970.  Well deserved IMHO.  Unfortunately, SGT Levito died of cancer in November 2000.

SGT Levito proved the validity of this statement.

"No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his well being, to risk his body, to risk his life, in a great cause."

Theodore Roosevelt.

 

Rest in Peace, Hero! You earned it! 

 

Citation to accompany the award of the Medal of Honor to Sgt John Levitow

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Levitow (then A1C), U.S. Air Force, distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while assigned as a loadmaster aboard an AC-47 aircraft flying a night mission in support of Long Binh Army post. Sgt. Levitow's aircraft was struck by a hostile mortar round. The resulting explosion ripped a hole 2 feet in diameter through the wing and fragments made over 3,500 holes in the fuselage. All occupants of the cargo compartment were wounded and helplessly slammed against the floor and fuselage. The explosion tore an activated flare from the grasp of a crewmember who had been launching flares to provide illumination for Army ground troops engaged in combat. Sgt. Levitow, though stunned by the concussion of the blast and suffering from over 40 fragment wounds in the back and legs, staggered to his feet and turned to assist the man nearest to him who had been knocked down and was bleeding heavily. As he was moving his wounded comrade forward and away from the opened cargo compartment door, he saw the smoking flare ahead of him in the aisle. Realizing the danger involved and completely disregarding his own wounds, Sgt. Levitow started toward the burning flare. The aircraft was partially out of control and the flare was rolling wildly from side to side. Sgt. Levitow struggled forward despite the loss of blood from his many wounds and the partial loss of feeling in his right leg. Unable to grasp the rolling flare with his hands, he threw himself bodily upon the burning flare. Hugging the deadly device to his body, he dragged himself back to the rear of the aircraft and hurled the flare through the open cargo door. At that instant the flare separated and ignited in the air, but clear of the aircraft. Sgt. Levitow, by his selfless and heroic actions, saved the aircraft and its entire crew from certain death and destruction. Sgt. Levitow's gallantry, his profound concern for his fellowmen, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Levitow 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_AC-47_Spooky 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter,_Paul_and_Mary