One thought on “DE-413 Survivors January 2013 Newsletter”
J. VAL SMITH
I WOULD APPRECIATE HAVING THE ABILITY TO CONTACT ONE OR MORE OF ADM. COPELAND’S CHILDREN AND/OR GRANDCHILDREN FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING THEM WITH A WELL-DESERVED MEMENTO OF ANNAPOLIS, WHERE HE “ALMOST” WENT.
I AM A 1952 GRADUATE ALONG WITH JIM LOVELL, TOM STAFFORD, AND TWO OTHER ASTRONAUTS, AND I BELIEVE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN OUTSTANDING MIDSHIPMAN AND GRADUATE.
I REALIZE THAT IT WAS HIS CHOICE NOT TO, BUT I JUST WISH TO HONOR HIM BY SEEING THAT HIS DECENDANTS HAVE SOMETHING PHYSICAL TO REMIND THEM OF THAT PHASE OF HIS LIFE.
HE WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST HEROS OF WWII, AND IN MY OPINION THE NAVY CROSS WAS INADEQUATE; HE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE MEDAL OF HONOR.
I HAVE A SPEAKING ACQUAINTENCE WITH SUCH MATTERS SINCE I AM THE TREASURER OF THE SURVIVORS OF FOX CO., SECOND BATTALION, SEVENTH MARINE REGIMENT, FIRST MARINE DIVISION IN KOREA.
OUR 230 MAN INFANTRY COMPANY RECIVED FIVE MEDALS OF HONOR IN THREE YEARS OF COMBAT, UNPRECEDENTED IN THE KOREAN WAR…PERHAPS IN ANY WAR.
AS A RIFLE PLATOON COMMANDER I WROTE MY CORPSMAN UP FOR AN ACTION WE WERE IN WHICH WOUND UP BEING ONE OF THE FIVE MEDALS. UNFORTUNATELY HE LEFT US MARCH OF LAST YEAR JUST SHORT OF HIS 82ND.
HE HAD A SECOND DISTINCTION AS BEING THE ONE WHO CHOSE WHICH OF THREE COFFINS (EUROPE, PACIFIC, KOREA) WOULD BE BURIED WITH THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER FROM WWI.
I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE ME TO HELP HONOR THE MEMORY OF THIS GREAT HERO.
GOD BLESS OUR TIN CAN SAILORS
(I SERVED ON THE USS NOAH AS A FIRST CLASS MIDSHIPMAN!)
I WOULD APPRECIATE HAVING THE ABILITY TO CONTACT ONE OR MORE OF ADM. COPELAND’S CHILDREN AND/OR GRANDCHILDREN FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING THEM WITH A WELL-DESERVED MEMENTO OF ANNAPOLIS, WHERE HE “ALMOST” WENT.
I AM A 1952 GRADUATE ALONG WITH JIM LOVELL, TOM STAFFORD, AND TWO OTHER ASTRONAUTS, AND I BELIEVE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN OUTSTANDING MIDSHIPMAN AND GRADUATE.
I REALIZE THAT IT WAS HIS CHOICE NOT TO, BUT I JUST WISH TO HONOR HIM BY SEEING THAT HIS DECENDANTS HAVE SOMETHING PHYSICAL TO REMIND THEM OF THAT PHASE OF HIS LIFE.
HE WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST HEROS OF WWII, AND IN MY OPINION THE NAVY CROSS WAS INADEQUATE; HE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE MEDAL OF HONOR.
I HAVE A SPEAKING ACQUAINTENCE WITH SUCH MATTERS SINCE I AM THE TREASURER OF THE SURVIVORS OF FOX CO., SECOND BATTALION, SEVENTH MARINE REGIMENT, FIRST MARINE DIVISION IN KOREA.
OUR 230 MAN INFANTRY COMPANY RECIVED FIVE MEDALS OF HONOR IN THREE YEARS OF COMBAT, UNPRECEDENTED IN THE KOREAN WAR…PERHAPS IN ANY WAR.
AS A RIFLE PLATOON COMMANDER I WROTE MY CORPSMAN UP FOR AN ACTION WE WERE IN WHICH WOUND UP BEING ONE OF THE FIVE MEDALS. UNFORTUNATELY HE LEFT US MARCH OF LAST YEAR JUST SHORT OF HIS 82ND.
HE HAD A SECOND DISTINCTION AS BEING THE ONE WHO CHOSE WHICH OF THREE COFFINS (EUROPE, PACIFIC, KOREA) WOULD BE BURIED WITH THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER FROM WWI.
I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE ME TO HELP HONOR THE MEMORY OF THIS GREAT HERO.
GOD BLESS OUR TIN CAN SAILORS
(I SERVED ON THE USS NOAH AS A FIRST CLASS MIDSHIPMAN!)
J. VAL SMITH
CAPTAIN USMC
469-247-7227