Modern War Heroes

Today is a day dedicated by the United States Air Force to remembering those lost without closure in past and current wars. Throughout our country’s history, many have been simply written off as MIA or POW – never to be found. Families couldn’t have closure on the final whereabouts of a loved one. But the organization JPAC (Joint Pow-MIA Accounting) is hoping to change that. They are engaging in the monumental task of collecting potential MIA victim remains, along with thousands of mitochondrial DNA samples, and comparing them in hopes of finding these lost soldiers. So today let us remember them and hope to one day bring them home.

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I ran across this website this morning. It was created by a man named Steven Curtis who was employed as a photographer during the Vietnam War. His about page mentions that he mostly was commissioned to photograph war images, but he personally was interested in capturing the human element in the midst of such inhumanity. These images are a real reminder that history is alive and that people just like you and me had to endure such hardships.

Nineteenth birthday party

Click here to travel to Stephen’s webpage.

Fighter pilot who fought in three wars died this past June at the age of 89. Our pilots certainly are extraordinary people!

Retired Marine Corps Col. Kenneth L. Reusser, 89, a highly decorated aviator who was shot down in three wars, died June 20. He lived in the Portland, Ore., suburb of Milwaukie.Col. Reusser flew 253 combat missions in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He was shot down in all three, five times in all.

His 59 medals included two Navy Crosses, four Purple Hearts, and two Legions of Merit.

In 1945, while based in Okinawa, he stripped down his F4U-4 Corsair fighter and intercepted a Japanese observation plane at high altitude. When his guns froze, he flew his fighter into the observation plane, hacking off its tail with his propeller.

In 1950, he led an attack on a North Korean tank-repair facility at Inchon, then destroyed an oil tanker, almost blowing himself out of the sky.

In Vietnam, he flew helicopters and was leading a rescue mission when his Huey was shot down. He needed skin grafts over 35 percent of his badly burned body. (source)

Ed “Too Tall” Freeman was a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War. He had always wanted to fly, but standing at an impressive 6′4″, he was denied training since he was “too tall”.  However, in 1955 the army changed its height regulations and he was allowed to fly. Thank goodness he was. This man proved himself to be a hero and many people owe their lives to his unselfishness. If he had not been allowed to be a pilot, what would have happened to them?

This account later earned him the Medal of Honor.

Captain Ed W. Freeman, United States Army, distinguished himself by numerous acts of conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary intrepidity on 14 November 1965 while serving with Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). As a flight leader and second in command of a 16-helicopter lift unit, he supported a heavily engaged American infantry battalion at Landing Zone X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam. The unit was almost out of ammunition after taking some of the heaviest casualties of the war, fighting off a relentless attack from a highly motivated, heavily armed enemy force. When the infantry commander closed the helicopter landing zone due to intense direct enemy fire, Captain Freeman risked his own life by flying his unarmed helicopter through a gauntlet of enemy fire time after time, delivering critically needed ammunition, water and medical supplies to the besieged battalion. His flights had a direct impact on the battle’s outcome by providing the engaged units with timely supplies of ammunition critical to their survival, without which they would almost surely have gone down, with much greater loss of life. After medical evacuation helicopters refused to fly into the area due to intense enemy fire, Captain Freeman flew 14 separate rescue missions, providing life-saving evacuation of an estimated 30 seriously wounded soldiers — some of whom would not have survived had he not acted. All flights were made into a small emergency landing zone within 100 to 200 meters of the defensive perimeter where heavily committed units were perilously holding off the attacking elements. Captain Freeman’s selfless acts of great valor, extraordinary perseverance and intrepidity were far above and beyond the call of duty or mission and set a superb example of leadership and courage for all of his peers. Captain Freeman’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army. (Wikipedia)

In a previous post, I had found a stunning collection of photos from World War II. This time, Life Magazine provides a slideshow of poignant images from the Vietnam War.

Click here to view.

I found this account on TheWall-USA. I feel like I’m over using the word “amazing”, but the thing is the people really are. Break out the thesaurus: awesome, fascinating, incredible, marvelous, prodigious, shocking, stunning, surprising, unbelievable, wonderful – take your pick. These people are it. This young man fought in Vietnam, and valiantly gave his life in a effort to save others during an airlift rescue.

Airman First Class Pitsenbarger distinguished himself by extreme valor on 11 April 1966 near Cam My, Republic of Vietnam, while assigned as a Pararescue Crew Member, Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. On that date, Airman Pitsenbarger was aboard a rescue helicopter responding to a call for evacuation of casualties incurred in an on-going firefight between elements of the United States Army’s 1st Infantry Division and a sizable enemy force approximately 35 miles east of Saigon. With complete disregard for personal safety, Airman Pitsenbarger volunteered to ride a hoist more than one hundred feet through the jungle, to the ground. On the ground, he organized and coordinated rescue efforts, cared for the wounded, prepared casualties for evacuation, and insured that the recovery operation continued in a smooth and orderly fashion. Through his personal efforts, the evacuation of the wounded was greatly expedited. As each of the nine casualties evacuated that day were recovered, Pitsenbarger refused evacuation in order to get one more wounded soldier to safety. After several pick-ups, one of the two rescue helicopters involved in the evacuation was struck by heavy enemy ground fire and was forced to leave the scene for an emergency landing. Airman Pitsenbarger stayed behind, on the ground, to perform medical duties. Shortly thereafter, the area came under sniper and mortar fire. During a subsequent attempt to evacuate the site, American forces came under heavy assault by a large Viet Cong force. When the enemy launched the assault, the evacuation was called off and Airman Pitsenbarger took up arms with the besieged infantrymen. He courageously resisted the enemy, braving intense gunfire to gather and distribute vital ammunition to American defenders. As the battle raged on, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to care for the wounded, pull them out of the line of fire, and return fire whenever he could, during which time, he was wounded three times. Despite his wounds, he valiantly fought on, simultaneously treating as many wounded as possible. In the vicious fighting which followed, the American forces suffered 80 percent casualties as their perimeter was breached, and airman Pitsenbarger was finally fatally wounded. Airman Pitsenbarger exposed himself to almost certain death by staying on the ground, and perished while saving the lives of wounded infantrymen. His bravery and determination exemplify the highest professional standards and traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Air Force.

Check out TheWall-USA:

Here it is not even 8:30 in the morning and I’m already feeling a bit overwhelmed with patriotic pride. I just ran across this article (www.oregonlive.com) that was posted last Sat. (June 27th) describing an amazing man from Milwaukee named Kenneth Reusser. This man participated in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam flying an incredible 253 missions in the Marine Corps. Here’s a quote from the article describing some of his heroic actions.

Reusser flew an amazing 253 combat missions in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He was shot down in all three wars — five times in all. He earned two Navy Crosses, four Purple Hearts and two Legions of Merit among his 59 medals.

In 1945, while based in Okinawa, he stripped down his F4U-4 Corsair fighter and intercepted a Japanese observation plane at an altitude much higher than usual. When his guns froze, he flew his fighter into the observation plane, hacking off its tail with his propeller.

In 1950, while serving in the storied “Black Sheep Squadron,” he led an attack on a North Korean tank-repair facility at Inchon, then destroyed an oil tanker — almost blowing himself out of the sky in the process.

During the Vietnam War, Reusser flew helicopters. He was leading a Marine Air Group in a rescue mission, when his own “Huey” was shot down. He needed skin grafts over 35 percent of his badly burned body.

All I could say was, “Wow!” while I was reading this article. After retiring from the military, Reusser went on to work with Lockheed Aircraft and the Piasecki Helicopter Corp. He passed away the 20th of June at the incredible age of 89.