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