Pudgy

 Well...Making progress here at La nueva casa de rancho de juvat.  I'm down to 4 boxes remaining in my office.

Top middle is a recently discovered (i.e. it was stowed in the back of the closet and forgotten about) box containing thing's from my Dad's Hero Wall.  So, that one is going to take a while to work through, and probably a Scotch or two.  The box below it is full of pictures from various assignments and stages of the kids growing up.  So that one is going to take quite a bit of Mrs J and my time to sort through (along with a Scotch or two).  The other two are "stuff",  most likely soon to be located at either the dump or St Vinnies.

By the way, I've become quite well known by the staff at St Vinnie's.  Most know they should make haste to a hiding place.  

But that's where we are in the move in process. 

So, what are we going to write about this week, juvat?

Well, Sarge, where do I go every time the well goes dry?

Yep, USAF (and antecedent organizations) Medal of Honor Recipients.

Today, we'll be discussing one of my favorites, Thomas Buchanan McGuire Jr, namesake of what I knew of as McGuire AFB, now known as Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Major McQuire entered the US Army Air Corps in July 1941 through the Aviation Cadet Program and was commissioned and received his pilot wings at Kelly Field in San Antonio in February of 1942.  Initially assigned to a P-39 squadron in the Aleutians, He returned to the lower 48 in December where he met and married Marilynn "Pudgy" Giesler.

You didn't think I titled this post after myself, did you?

In February 1943, he transitioned to the P-38, and in March reported to the 9th Fighter Squadron in New Guinea.  On August 18, 1943, Lieutenant McGuire was escorting Bombers attacking Wewak, New Guinea. During the mission, the escorts were attacked by Japanese fighters.  During this engagement, McGuire shot down two Oscars and one Tony (American names for the Nakajima Ki-43 and the Kawasaki Ki-61)

Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar (Source)

Kawasaki Ki-61 Tony (Source)

Flying another mission to the same target the next day, Lieutenant McGuire shot down two more Oscars making him an Ace in two days.

On October 17th 1943, now 1st Lt McGuire is scrambled to intercept Japanese Bombers a port in New Guinea.  During the intercept, Lt McGuire sees a single P-38 trailing smoke and being chased by 7 Mitsubishi A6M's (the Zero).

The infamous "Zero" (Source)

Lt McGuire immediately attacks and shoots down 3.  However, the odds aren't in his favor and the other 4 attack and render his aircraft unflyable (e.g. they shot him down).  As he's exiting the aircraft, his parachute harness catches on something in the cockpit.  After a thrilling descent from 12000' to 5000' , he manages to free himself and bails out only to find that the handle to the rip cord has been shot away.  He finds the end of the rip cord (sans handle) and pulls that inflating his parachute at 1000'.  He safely lands in the water, but his life raft is shot full of holes.  He is rescued by PT boat about an hour later.  He has a bullet wound in his wrist and broken ribs, but after 6 weeks in hospital, returns to his unit.  For this mission, he's awarded the Silver Star, along with the Purple Heart.

I've never been in a 1 v 7 at all, much less one for "realsies".  To attack under those odds took guts.

In December 1943, he's promoted to Captain (He's 23). On Dec 26, he shoots down 3 Aichi D3A1 Vals. He's got 16 Kills to date.  Now, the thing the got me on this one is his squadron (about 16 P-38s is engaged by ~50 Japanese fighters.  He attacks the dive bombers because his job is to protect the convoy.   The 8 P-38s he attacks with destroy 10 dive bombers (including his 3) as well as three fighters.

Focused on the mission, yeah, I think that's safe to assume.

Aichi D3A1 from Carrier Akagi (Before it was sunk, of course) Source

At this point, the situation in the South Pacific was changing in the Allies favor, which is good.  However, it would also mean that now Captain McGuire goes on a 5 month dry spell with little combat and no kills, but at least a case of Malaria helped the time fly by.  Finally, on May 16th, the drought is broken and he shoots down another Oscar followed two days later by shooting down a Tojo.

At this point, he is promoted to Major (He's "almost" 24) and is the Commander of the 431st Fighter Squadron.  Over the next 6 months, he'll bring his score to 31 trailing Major Dick Bong (the leading Ace in the American military) who has been sent home after achieving 40 kills. 

On Christmas day, 1944, Major McGuire shoots down 3 following it the next day by adding 4 more.  Both of these events occurred while going to the aid of other Allied aircraft that are being attacked by larger numbers of Japanese fighters.  The odds on both those days were 3 or 4 to one in the Japanese favor.

This brings him to within 2 kills of Major Bong's record.  Unfortunately, not wanting to mar Major Bong's reception back in the US, Major McGuire is grounded until Jan 6, 1945.  On the 7th, Major McGuire is leading a flight of 4 P-38s towards Mindoro Island.  Over Negros Island, they are attacked by a single Oscar.  Major McGuire's wingman is under attack and Major McGuire is trying to get into gun parameters to shoot the bad guy before the bad guy shoots his wingman.  

The fight spirals down to just above the ground.  In a final, desperate, attempt to get lead on the Oscar, Major McGuire pulls a little too hard on the yoke and the P-38 stalls and crashes, killing Major McGuire.

Rest in Peace, Warrior

Source

Major McGuire's Medal of Honor Citation:

He fought with conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity over Luzon, Philippine Islands. Voluntarily, he led a squadron of 15 P-38's as top cover for heavy bombers striking Mabalacat Airdrome, where his formation was attacked by 20 aggressive Japanese fighters.

In the ensuing action he repeatedly flew to the aid of embattled comrades, driving off enemy assaults while himself under attack and at times outnumbered 3 to 1, and even after his guns jammed, continuing the fight by forcing a hostile plane into his wingman's line of fire.

Before he started back to his base he had shot down 3 Zeros.

The next day he again volunteered to lead escort fighters on a mission to strongly defended Clark Field. During the resultant engagement he again exposed himself to attacks so that he might rescue a crippled bomber.

In rapid succession he shot down 1 aircraft, parried the attack of 4 enemy fighters, 1 of which he shot down, single-handedly engaged 3 more Japanese, destroying 1, and then shot down still another, his 38th victory in aerial combat.

On 7 January 1945, while leading a voluntary fighter sweep over Los Negros Island, he risked an extremely hazardous maneuver at low altitude in an attempt to save a fellow flyer from attack, crashed, and was reported missing in action.

With gallant initiative, deep and unselfish concern for the safety of others, and heroic determination to destroy the enemy at all costs, Maj. McGuire set an inspiring example in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.

Before I leave, I've got a favor to ask.  Our guests this weekend just left and Mrs J went down to clean the guest house up.  I had met the couple when they arrived on Friday.  Nice folks, maybe early 50's, friendly little fuzz ball of a pooch.  I introduced myself and the wife introduced herself and her husband.  Friendly enough, but I got a feeling of reservation, a "holding something back" kind of feeling.

A "none of your business, juvat" neon sign started flashing in my head, so I gave my standard spiel asking them to call us if they needed anything at all.  Drove past the guest house a couple of times and waved at them sitting on the porch.  They left early Sunday morning for their drive back to the Dallas Metro area.  

Mrs J and I went by later to start resetting it for our next guests.  We have a guest book that our guests can leave comments in.  Theirs was heartbreaking.  The weekend had been paid for in advance by a Doctor. We thought it was an employee of the month thing. No, They had recently lost their 2 year old Granddaughter to a brain injury incurred in a fall.  They had just needed to get away from things for a bit and the Granddaughter's Doctor made the reservation.  They said the stay had helped.  

If you could spare a moment and put in a word to the Big Guy for Phil and Teresa and their Granddaughter, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_McGuire
• http://acepilots.com/usaaf_mcguire.html
• https://www.airforcemag.com/article/valor-number-two-with-honor/