A New Year--a New Normal

Hello all.  Hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful Christmas and Holiday Season.  While a tad on the chilly side down in the Lone Star State, we're surviving.  (A fire in the fireplace adds a nice touch of the season as well as a spot of warmth).

Well, the day came and went without much fanfare.  The people I care about offered their congratulations which were appreciated.  The people I supported were all concerned with "what are we going to do?".  

"Well, since you never DID anything before, why do you think you'll change?"

And those other folks....didn't say anything at all.  Which is fine by me, I'd have probably said something that would have gotten me fired.  

Even on my last day.

So, Beans, this is for you.

BTW, that's our help request system on the left.  The orange line is an unassigned request that popped up as I was taking the picture.

"Too Late!  Suckah!"

Easing in to the new Normal now.  Christmas helped.  Mrs J and I got the house all ready (Ok,  Mrs J did most of the directing, I did the initial stuff, she went behind me and made what I did right.)

Then we opened a Pre-Christmas present.  A lens kit for the cell phone camera.  (Not sure how good it's going to be.  The Telephoto lens is pretty good, but getting it in position is a bear)

Our next door neighbors are building a new house.  This is from our front porch.  Their house is about 3/4 mile away.  So, not too bad.  Just took about an hour to get the lens attached properly.

Christmas Mass was at 8 AM.  There was no choir or pianist, both were involved with the Midnight Mass and the Children's Mass at 10 AM.  But we did have someone start singing "Joy to the World" just to have some music.  Pretty gutsy as it came out with the cadence of a dirge.  But it was something. 

RTB'd to Rancho Juvat, cooked up a fritatta, coffee and mimosa's and setttled in the living room.  Cranked up Skype on MBD's laptop and dialed Little Juvat and DIL.  After getting some wiring fixed on the Sandbox side of things, we were soon seeing faces and therefore, ready to open gifts.

One of the "traditions" in Casa Juvat, is the election of the present presenter.  Said person has great responsibility to see that presents are distributed in an even fashion and only one is being opened at a time.  Part of the perks of that office is the snappy uniform that must be worn.  SIL rocked the roll this year!

As MBD and SIL are still in the establishing a home stage of their marriage, I had reconnoitered their apartment around Thanksgiving for gift ideas. I decided on this as something useful, that I could create.

A walnut and maple cutting board.  I'd gotten the idea here and modified it somewhat.  I thought it turned out well and most importantly, so did MBD.  So, one in a row for Dad!

Oskar was gracious enough to hold still for a second (only a second) for a picture.

Even the dogs got into the spirit!
After presenting presents and signing off Skype, we started preparing for dinner.  A bit of Prime Rib, Green Chili Mac and Cheese and Roast Butternut Squash with Gorgonzola and Pecans was the menu.  Oh, and Wine also.


The following day we paraded around Main Street, just to see the sights.  Brought along MBD and SIL's rental dog Scout.

They were dog sitting for friends while simultaneously seeing if a dog would be in their near term future.  While two of us are actually hoping Grand Kids come first, it looks like a dog is inevitable.

C'est la vie

Since Mrs J and I had also given them some patio furniture for Christmas, we loaded up the truck with that and the rest of their loot and followed them to their apartment in Moscow on the Colorado.  

Once more we schlepped furniture up the stairs.  (Man!  I thought I was over that requirement.  Apparently not.).  At that point, my sweet, sweet daughter asked if I would mind hanging some racks in her closets, and oh by the way, how about some pictures on the wall?

And maybe some over here?

I was happy to oblige.  Then a little light lunch and we RTB'd

Traffic leaving Moscow on the Colorado was even worse than normal.  Instead of dropping off to normal just west of town, it was pretty well crowded all the way to our town.  Turns out there was a Hot Air Balloon Festival as well as a Polo Tournament scheduled  for Saturday.

Talk about La-De-Dah!  (It got cancelled due to weather)

In any case, I decided we needed to stop in at the winery one of my co-workers (who also walked out with me on the 21st) is now managing.

Nice and quiet, with a very nice Tempranillo.  Just what was needed to round out a pretty good Holiday week.  

Now, back to the new Normal.  My schedule has been a bit of this and that to set things right around the house.  Then a bit of this and that to set things right around the shop.  Did you know that workbenches actually have tops?  Where work can be done?  I'd always thought they were just for tool and other junk storage.

I think I'm going to enjoy things around here. Oh, and maybe fill in a few of the remaining things I haven't yet seen/done from this song

Peace out, ya'll.  Happy New Year.

Vacation, Day Nine

It was a gorgeous day, Saturday, the 29th of December in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Eighteen. The rain had ceased and everything was shiny.

The view out the dining room window -

We've been seeing that particular family of deer off and on since we arrived, today they came to our place for breakfast. Mama and three young'uns in the photo. All the aunts and perhaps a cousin or three came by later. There were at least eight clearly visible.

No doubt you're all wondering why we're in Annapolis as opposed to Alexandria. Well, we have new friends in Annapolis who kindly offered to share Christmas with us. How could we refuse? Bigs things are in the offing. We shall see where the road leads. For now, suffice to say, we've been having a wonderful time. (Yes, I am being mysterious. Patience my children, patience.)

After a lovely breakfast at Miss Shirley's Cafe in Annapolis, we headed down to visit the Academy. It was a great day for it.

That's the entrance to Bancroft Hall, home to the Brigade of Midshipmen, when they're in town. The new friends we have in Annapolis are in the photo. For those who are wondering, I took this shot intentionally. The brightness of the sky almost obscuring the entrance to Bancroft, gives it an almost ethereal feel. Well, it does to me.

I'll tell you, with no shame at all, some of the exhibits within Memorial Hall inside Bancroft had me all teary eyed, must be a lot of dust in there. But seriously, seeing names from history listed therein, both famous and little known, seeing the names of the Academy's fallen, people who as young men and women walked those halls, really got to me. I knew some of them, not personally, but through other friends in the Navy.

The history which echoes within Bancroft Hall is almost staggering.

Ship's Bell, USS Enterprise (CV-6)

Just inside Bancroft Hall, Commandant's Office to the left of the Christmas tree.

Of course, we had to visit the Naval Academy Chapel -

I saw the hymn number, it rang a bell. I noted that the Academy uses the same hymnal as my own church.
# 808 Eternal Father, Strong to Save

The Middies have a beautiful chapel.

History is every place you look -

Monument for the Centennial of the U.S. Submarine Force

It is also the resting place of one of our first naval heroes -

Commodore John Paul Jones lies below the Chapel.

We finished the day's sightseeing at Reynold's Tavern, the ladies had high tea, the men had actual food. Bangers and mash for me, chased with a favorite at Christmas, Stella Artois.

It was a fine day.

Vacation, Day Eight

'Tis a cool, wet day here in Anne Arundel County as I write this, it's the Friday after Christmas. The temperature is warmer than yesterday when we went out to Dulles to visit Udvar-Hazy. My third trip out there, I never tire of that museum. I'll have pictures sometime in the next week or so. I was attempting to transfer them from my phone to my tablet right after we got home, Windows 8 refused to play nicely with my cell phone, and I was too tired to make them get along. When I get back to Little Rhody I'll do that.

It's been a good trip so far, but I am looking forward to getting back to my own domain, visiting is fun. But home is best.

Something I wanted to mention in passing as regards Facebook. For the most part I enjoy that bit of social media, pictures of the grandkids at Christmas, new puppies, friends who are far away, etc., etc. That's the part I enjoy.

But the incessant carping about one political party or the other, commenting on what one might perceive/believe about somebody in the public eye - it's all a big who-fire-trucking-cares for me. There is ample evil and bad news in the world without contributing to it. It all grows so tiresome. But I'll stick it out, for the puppy and kitten pictures.

Saw this beauty out at Udvar-Hazy -

Sikorsky JRS-1
(See below)

The plaque at the museum reads:

This amphibious seaplane is the only aircraft in the Museum that was at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. Ten JRS-1s were at the U.S. naval base when the Japanese attacked during World War II. The Navy immediately sent these unarmed utility craft to search for the enemy fleet. The JRS-1 (used 1937-1944) is the military version of the Sikorsky S-43 "Baby Clipper."

On the day of the attack, the plane wore a very colorful paint job: silver overall, black on the bottom, green tail surfaces, a red band around the rear of the fuselage, and the diamond-shaped squadron insignia behind the cockpit on each side. A few days after the attack, ground crew repainted the plane blue, but it has weathered and the original paint is peeking through. The JRS-1’s current condition is due to many years of storage outside. The Museum intends to conserve and restore the plane.

This is just a quick "I'm alive" post. Not much going on, other than we're having fun.

Hope you are as well.

See you in the funny papers.

Holy Innocents' Day

Carols are the Songs of the Reason for the Season, yes?  So, as such beautiful carols such as "Oh Holy Night," "Silent Night" and "Adeste Fideles" (thanks, juvat, for reminding me of that one) all remind us of His birth, and his birth date, there are other days of Christmas, 12 of them in fact, from Birth (Christmas-Christmas) to the Arrival of the Wise Men (Epiphany).  One of these days of Christmas is not, most assuredly not, a happy day except in only the most Jewish of ways (that is, finding something nice to say about a situation that quite frankly sucks big rocks.)(And anyone who gets upset about calling Jesus a Jew, just remember, He was Jewish till the day He died, and then everybody called him a Christian...(my semi-Jewish wife used that line on her dad when he, the fundamentalist Church of Christ member was yammering about converting to Judaism, it almost killed him when she subsequently became a Catholic.)

Holy Innocents' Day.  The day we celebrate Jesus, Mary and Joseph (and the Holy Ass, no, really, the ass that Mary rode out of Dodge/Bethlehem on, no, seriously, it's a real thing.  There are stupid stories about the holiness of the donkey, can you believe it?  Beans! Solemn day, Solemn DAY!) escaping King Herod and his proclamation to have all the 2 year old and younger male children of Bethlehem put to the sword in a vane attempt to forestall Christ's Coming.  Coupla days late there, bub.

So.  A Holy Day celebrating the Massacre of the Innocents.  Joy, or not, as the case may be.  The Church (that would eventually be the Roman Catholic Church, Church of England and Lutheran as The Church went all broken into bits and pieces over the ages) eventually chose to celebrate it on December 28th, though it was originally rolled into the Epiphany and other Churches choose to celebrate it on other days or not at all depending on who they be and who's in charge at the time.

A day to celebrate the murder of innocent children.  Nice.

It later devolved into a role-reversal day in some places, with children serving roles as adults including officiating masses and such.  Or a day for 'innocents' to play not-so-nice pranks on people and get away with it (kinda like Devil's Night in some big cities up north.)  Or for parents to beat the snot out of their children if they were still asleep when the parents got up (no, really, Church-sanctioned kid-smacking, in the Name of Jesus. Yikes!) or blessing toys or other things.

Soooo... there's a Carol associated with this day, of course.  

"Coventry Carol"

Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Lullay, thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

O sisters too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we do sing
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

Herod, the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight,
All children young to slay.

That woe is me, poor Child for Thee!
And ever mourn and sigh,
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

Sung in a minor key, this is quite the haunting, soulful carol.  Kind of "With Great Joy comes Great Pain" to rip off Stan Lee.

As I grow old, Holy Innocents' Day weighs more and more heavily upon me.  Besides my two older brothers, I have an older sister, who I have never met.  Carolyn was born sickly, with a heart defect and lived for almost a year before she died on December 28th in 1960.  Her death haunted my father for as long as I knew him.  I'm sure it haunts my oldest brother, who actually knew her.  And I know it haunts me.  

Why?

Because Christmastime is the season of possibilities.  What can happen in the future.  What has happened in the past.  Mistakes averted, mistakes made.  And the emotional toll of all that baggage.  Which is really what Holy Innocents' Day really is about.  Acknowledging the pain and toll of life, especially the world of the pre-antibiotics and pre-modern medicine, where past 2 years of age the chance of survival climbs incredibly, but 2 and younger?  Just go to any OLD cemetery and count the headstones that just list 'Child' or 'Boy' or 'Girl.'  Subtle hint, there are still lots of countries that seem civilized that don't really track child deaths until around 2yoa.  Still, in this modern world.  There are no assurances of surviving till childhood-childhood.

So, back in really old times, how does a nascent religious movement handle the loss of so many innocent souls?  For all those lost in the past, in the present, in the future...  And, of course, fold in past religions' own festivals and coping methods.  For there is reasonable historical proof that Herod did not in fact order the death of the innocents.  Historical records list a ton of bad stuff that he did.  Killing his own family, putting down insurrections, taxations, land seizures, all that.  No historical proof that Herod killed the young boys of Bethlehem. But... now there's this new religion, and one that preaches salvation to everyone, old, young, saintly, sinner, universal salvation.  Yet there's all these dead innocents everywhere... So.  Holy Innocents' Day.  Where we mourn the loss of so much potential.

For the Innocents lost.  That never got to have Christmas, really.  A good reminder of the terrible toll of times past and present, especially in these new days of resistant strains of the old diseases and waves of un-vaccinated.

A dark day today.  One of loss and reflectance.  But, well, we got a pretty carol out of it.  And it's all happy for the next 8 days until the end of Epiphany and then the long stretch till Lent.

On Boxing Day

Lex would recognize this.

Spent Sunday in Alexandria, at The Nuke's, then on Monday headed up to Annapolis to spend Christmas.

He'd probably recognize this as well.

Christmas was fun, got to play with Legos, and before you start making "stepping on Legos jokes," I have to tell you that we always maintain a FOD-free workplace. In nearly 40 years of Lego activities, I've never stepped on a Lego.

That I can remember.

Yup, we built a Christmas train. A major endeavor, I can tell you,.

On Boxing Day we went for a walk, saw a few deer in the neighborhood. Apparently they are so used to humans in this area, they don't run off unless you have a six-year old with you.

Just before they spotted the six-year old.

It's been an excellent vacation so far. Good company, good food, good times.

 

Just the way a family Christmas should be

 

Alexandria Christmas Tree.



Annapolis Christmas Tree.

Here's something to entertain you. Identify the location in the following photo. 'Twas the view from my aircraft on Sunday last.

We're having a wonderful time, hope you are as well!

Establishing the Continental Navy

Hope you all had a blessed and wonderful Christmas.  We missed an anniversary of note the other day.  Saturday, December 22 marked the 243rd year since the Continental Congress created a Continental Navy.  This was way back in 1775, also naming Esek Hopkins, Esq., as Commander in Chief of the fleet.  

What's that you say?  Something about October 13th 1775?  Ok, yes, that's what's known as the Navy's actual birthday, and it is, because on that date Congress cracked open the checkbook and authorized the Navy via funding and administration of the force.  That took a little time though and in December it officially created the Navy by establishing a Fleet hierarchy.

The Continental Captains                                         Britannica

Congress also named four captains to the new service: Dudley Saltonstall, Abraham Whipple, Nicholas Biddle and John Burrows Hopkins, pictured above in order. Their respective vessels, the Alfred, Columbus, Andrew Doria and Cabot, along with schooners Hornet, Wasp, and Fly, were the first ships of the Navy’s fleet.  Several of these were originally merchant vessels, purchased and outfitted with guns.  Five first lieutenants, five second lieutenants, and three third lieutenants also received their commissions on Dec 22nd.  One of those first lieutenants included future American hero John Paul Jones.
 

IMDB

No, not that JPJ (he's from Led Zepplin), this one!

Navy.mil

Eighteen Officers commissioned all on the same day.  I heard that it was an epic Wetting Down, but the history books don't seem to have much on that party.  Interesting note about JPJ, he had his first command at the age of 21, a Brigantine named John, but this was during his nautical service as a merchant skip in the West Indies.  His naval service didn't begin until he was commissioned at age 28.  He served aboard the new Flagship, Alfred, as Esek Hopkins' first lieutenant.  

The new Admiral Hopkins, as he was dubbed by George Washington, was a Rhode Islander of some standing. His brother was Stephen Hopkins, the state’s governor.  So essentially it was a political appointment.  Esek Hopkins had married well and used his wife’s fortune to buy a ship. Talk about marrying up!  It proved a wise investment. He added to his wealth working as a privateer during the Seven Years’ War. In his new position, Congress promised to pay him $125 per calendar month plus commissions. He was told that he could also look forward to some share of the prizes allotted to the captors.  Now that's what I call incentive pay!  Notice that one of his Captains was also named Hopkins?  That was his son.  By the way, Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina designed Hopkins’ personal standard, which flew from the first navy fleet.  You might recognize it.

Pinterest

Hopkins’ first assignment was to assess the feasibility of an attack on British naval forces in the Chesapeake Bay. After sailing south with his meager force of eight ships, Hopkins decided that victory in such an encounter was impossible. He sailed to the Bahamas instead, where he attacked the British port of Nassau, a decision for which he was eventually relieved of his command upon returning to the continent.

900 miles.  That's how far Hopkins sailed after being ordered to sail down the Chesapeake to essentially conduct a fact-finding mission.  Ok, it wasn't just to find out if they could do it, but "take or destroy all the naval force of our enemies that you may find there."  The answer to the feasibility question was no, but Admiral Hopkins wanted some tropical liberty, joyriding his fleet down to the Bahamas.   

Pinterest

Actually, Hopkins was authorized to continue on to North or South Carolina and "to follow such courses as your best Judgment shall suggest to you... to distress the Enemy by all means in your power."  He did the Esek Hopkins version of "Run Forrest, Run!" though, and didn't stop until he approached the Caribbean.  Hopkins knew the Brits stored gunpowder and weapons down in Nassau and he thought their capture would be better for public relations.  Like he'd be a hero for making a supply run vice actually fighting.  "I have not yet begun to fight" was JPJ's quote, but it didn't mean the same to Hopkins.  

Hopkins was formally censored for his actions down in the Bahamas, and after then sailing to Newport RI and getting his fleet trapped in Narraganset Bay by the British blockade, he was relieved, then officially dismissed in January of 1778 by Congress.*  I think the problem was that Congress put an Army guy in charge of the Navy.  At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Hopkins was appointed Brigadier General of Rhode Island's militia.  Due to his political connections, being the brother of a signer of the Declaration of Independence and Governor of Lil Rhodie, he was given command over the Continental Navy and the rank of Admiral, making him the equal of George Washington.  Even after being fired though, like many slimy politicians, he continued in R.I. politics, serving for over 10 years in the Assembly.

I probably shouldn't put our history in the context of today's ethics though.  I'm sure Hopkins was one of many rich and powerful men put into other positions of power.  The fledgling county was probably not in a position to put the man-on-the street into leadership posts.  It would have been nice to have a professional sailor in charge of the Navy, but they were all most likely busy serving the King.

USS Constitution, one of the original six frigates of the new U.S. Navy.                          Source

Due to some serious federal debt, the naval force was disbanded after the war and didn't become the U.S. Navy until 1794 when the building of six frigates was authorized by Congress.  The Naval Act of 1794 was signed into law by Adm. Hopkins former "equal" - President George Washington.  That's probably a post for another day though.  

Those of you Chanters familiar with U.S. Navy history might be familiar with the names of those first four captains.  We've had three ships named Whipple- two destroyers and most recently, a Knox Class frigate.  Biddle gave his name to a guided missile cruiser in service for over 30 years.  John Paul Jones has lent his name to two destroyers, one of which is still active- DDG-53, the third in the Arleigh Burke Class.  Surprisingly, we've had three ships named after Hopkins, but probably because he was our first Admiral, and not due to his prowess in battle on the sea. 

Full disclosure: I lifted heavily from History.com for much of this post, as well as a piece on the Revolutionary War about Esek Hopkins.  Merry Christmas and Happiest of New Years to Sarge, Juvat, Beans, Lush, and all the Chanters out there.



*Saltonshall was given Hopkins' command and didn't fare much better.  An uncoordinated attack on the Brits up in Maine failed miserably and forced the burning of the Continental Navy ships to prevent them from falling into British hands.  Commodore Saltonshall was court martialed and drummed out of the service.

Merry Christmas!

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. - Luke 2:16-20 NIV

May you have Peace.

 

May you have Joy.

 

May you have Love.

 

Merry Christmas my Dear Friends.

 

 

No such thing as a Hero*

Thanks for all the good wishes yesterday.  I had a brief epiphany driving home Friday.  I'd been worried that this retirement would be like the one from the Air Force.  A complete change in my life.  Leaving a career I loved, leaving the place I lived with little likelihood that I'd have regular interaction with Friends I'd made.

The epiphany was that, in reality, this was more like my switching jobs at the Pentagon.  In stead of robbing peter to pay paul on the Air Staff, (a job I hated), I'd switch my loyalties to the Joint Staff and handle current operations (a job I was more suited for).  I'd still get to see the people I wanted to see and avoid those I didn't.

Which is where I'm at on this retirement thing.  I enjoyed working with and for the 98% of the staff that were "good folks", but the 15 or so people that were/are total jerks made the job suck.  The new job, working with and for Mrs J and her honey-do list, sounds like fun.  And the perks are much better.  I'll still see the folks I care about and will avoid those I don't.

So.  No más on the retirement posts.  It makes the working stiffs on the editorial staff feel bad (you know who you are); and we can't have that.

But I still have responsibilities posting on Monday's, irrespective on whether that Monday is something such as....I don't know.....Christmas Eve.  And Ebenezer Sarge hasn't had HIS epiphany with the ghosts of Christmas....Yet.

Bah Humbug, juvat! I ain't afraid of no Ghosts!

Source

So, we'll go with an old standby.

This story is fairly fascinating in its twist and turns.  

John C. Morgan was a Texan, who had learned to fly while at UT-Austin (hisssss!).  While working on an Oil rig had broken his neck which classified him as 4-F for the draft.  In August of 1941, the war was going hot and heavy, but we weren't involved (officially) yet.  Not eligible for the draft, Mr. Morgan joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Sergeant Pilot with RAF Bomber Command.  In March of '43, the transferred to the US Army Air Forces.  

Which caused a conundrum. 

Bomber Pilots in the Army Air Force were officers, and he was enlisted.  Necessity being the mother of bending all rules, he was designated a Flight Officer (F/O) (I'm certain with no boost in pay,  allowances or privileges) and assigned as a co-pilot in a B-17.

On July 26¹,  He is flying on his 5th mission, a bombing mission to Hanover, Germany.  During the run-in to the target, the formation is attacked by FW-190s and his B-17F is hit.  His pilot, Lt Robert Campbell is hit in the head, splitting open his skull.  He slumps forward against the controls, pushing the aircraft out of formation.  With his left hand, F/O  Morgan, pulls the injured pilot off the controls while simultaneously flying the bomber back into the comparative safety of the formation.  

At this point, there is no radio or intercom, so determining the status of the bomber is nearly impossible, which is ...

The top turret gunner has been hit by a 20mm shell which tore off his left arm, leaving him bleeding profusely.  He has fallen out of the turret eventually being found by the Navigator.  Believing him to be bleeding to death, the navigator bails him out.  He is captured on landing, but survives the war.

The attack has also destroyed the oxygen capabilities in the rear of the aircraft.  The waist and tail gunners are unconscious due to hypoxia.

The badly injured pilot has regained consciousness and is fighting F/O Morgan for the controls.  F/O Morgan has to use his left arm to fight and keep the pilot away from them.  

He has the option of turning around and going home which would leave him defenseless against any further German attack. Or he can continue to fly to the target with the formation.  He chose the latter.

2 hours later, the navigator and bombardier enter the cockpit and restrained the pilot. The formation, with F/O Morgan's B-17,   reaches Hanover and drops their bombs then returns to Britain.  With fuel tanks empty, F/O Morgan sucessfully lands the bomber.  Lt Campbell is rushed to the hospital, but dies shortly thereafter.  The gunners recover from frostbite, and the turret gunner, though a POW, survives the war.

F/O Morgan is promoted to Second Lieutenant and awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.

 On his 26th mission, he is shot down in an attack on Berlin and captured by the Germans, becoming the only person to be captured after being awarded the Medal of Honor.

According to this Source this is his bomber going down

Repatriated after the war, he returns to the US and resumes work in the Oil industry,  Recalled to Active Duty during the Korean War, he applies for combat duty, but the Air Force assigns him to Cargo aircraft.  After the war, he serves in the Reserves, retiring as a Lt Col.

Lt Col Morgan passed away in 1991.  He is survived by his son, a retired Air Force Officer and 7 grand children, three of whom are serving in the Army or Marines.

*The title of the post comes from his answer to a question about valor and heroism. 

" There's no such thing as a hero. ... I was pushed into circumstances where I was forced to act. You can never say how you're going to react to something until it happens, but I think most people would have done the same."

I'm not sure that is true, but I would hope so. 

Col Morgan's Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, while participating on a bombing mission over enemy-occupied continental Europe, 28 July 1943.

Prior to reaching the German coast on the way to the target, the B17 airplane in which 2d Lt. Morgan was serving as copilot was attacked by a large force of enemy fighters, during which the oxygen system to the tail, waist, and radio gun positions was knocked out.

A frontal attack placed a cannon shell through the windshield, totally shattering it, and the pilot's skull was split open by a .303 caliber shell, leaving him in a crazed condition. The pilot fell over the steering wheel, tightly clamping his arms around it. 2d Lt. Morgan at once grasped the controls from his side and, by sheer strength, pulled the airplane back into formation despite the frantic struggles of the semiconscious pilot.

The interphone had been destroyed, rendering it impossible to call for help. At this time the top turret gunner fell to the floor and down through the hatch with his arm shot off at the shoulder and a gaping wound in his side.

The waist, tail, and radio gunners had lost consciousness from lack of oxygen and, hearing no fire from their guns, the copilot believed they had bailed out.

The wounded pilot still offered desperate resistance in his crazed attempts to fly the airplane. There remained the prospect of flying to and over the target and back to a friendly base wholly unassisted.

In the face of this desperate situation, 2d Lt. Officer Morgan made his decision to continue the flight and protect any members of the crew who might still be in the ship and for 2 hours he flew in formation with one hand at the controls and the other holding off the struggling pilot before the navigator entered the steering compartment and relieved the situation.

The miraculous and heroic performance of 2d Lt. Morgan on this occasion resulted in the successful completion of a vital bombing mission and the safe return of his airplane and crew.

Rest in Peace, Warrior!

Footnotes
1. His citation says 7/28/43. The AF Historical Support Site shows the change to 7/26/43