OOC # 39
In reply to Nicole Rutledge (msg # 61):
That was pretty awesome. Thank you. I'd heard the name before, but never the story behind why it got mentioned as often as it did.
After I watched that one, there was another one suggested about Chesty Puller, who was the most decorated US Marine on record (and still is, to the best of my knowledge.) The Medal of Honor was one of the few awards he didn't get (probably due in part to backlash about Daly getting two and nominated for a third), but he did get FIVE Navy Crosses and a Bronze Star (and several Purple Hearts). Initially enlisted as a private...retired as a three-star general. He was also documented openly arguing with a firearms instructor at the Army Infantry School about the importance of accuracy vs volume of fire, pointing out numerous battles during the American Revolution where American forces won against vastly superior numbers because of the accuracy of their gun fire. "You can't hurt 'em if you can't hit 'em," was the final point he made. (He was also, coincidentally, George Patton's cousin...) Led the American Marine forces at Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War, guiding them through an incredibly grueling fighting withdrawal that resulted in 1700 dead Americans, vs 25000 dead North Korean and Chinese (the numbers got even more lopsided when you included wounded...)
Been an interesting night of history lessons...*grin*