Extracts from Issue 99 Dec 02

WORLD WAR II AMERICAN HEROES
World War II produced many heroes.
One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare, a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific.
One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realised that someone had forgotten to top up his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.
As he was returning to the mothership, he saw something that turned his blood cold.
A squadron of Japanese bombers were speeding their way toward the American fleet.
The American fighters were gone on a sortie and the fleet was all but defenceless.
He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do.
He must somehow divert them from the fleet.
Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes.
Wing-mounted 50 calibers blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another.
Butch weaved in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until finally all his ammunition was spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to at least clip off a wing or tail, in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly. He was desperate to do anything he could to keep them from reaching the American ships. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.
Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival he reported in and related the event surrounding his return.
The film from the camera mounted on his plane told the tale and showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had destroyed five enemy bombers.
That was on 20 Feb 1942 and for that action he became the Navy's first Ace of WWII and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.
A year later he was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of that heroic action to die. Today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.
So the next time you're in O'Hare, visit his memorial, located between terminal 1 and 2, with his statue and Medal of Honour.

Some years earlier there was a man in Chicago called Easy Eddie.
At that time, Al Capone virtually owned the city. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic.
His exploits were anything but praiseworthy. He was, however, notorious for enmeshing the city of Chicago in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
Easy Eddie was Capone's lawyer and for a good reason. He was very good! In fact, his skill at legal manoeuvring kept Big Al out of jail for a long time. To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day.
The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago city block. Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him.
Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had the best of everything; clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organised crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong.
Eddie tried to teach his son to rise above his own sordid life. He wanted him to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things that Eddie couldn't give his son. Two things that Eddie sacrificed to the Capone mob that he could not pass on to his beloved son: a good name and a good example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Offering his son a good name was far more important than all the riches he could lavish on him. He had to rectify all the wrong that he had done. He would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Scar-face Al Capone. He would try to clean up his tarnished name and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this he must testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. But more than anything, he wanted to be an example to his son. He wanted to do his best to make restoration and hopefully have a good name to leave his son. So, he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago street. He had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer at the greatest price he would ever pay.
What do these two stories have to do with one another?
Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son.
B&C 101
Jun 04 - And see: www.acepilots.com/usn_ohare.html
www.ipsn.org/ohare.html
www.aviation-history.com/airmen/ohare.htm
www.ohare.com/ohare/about/about_butch.shtm
www.achievebalance.com/think/ohare.htm
www.hoopsu.homestead.com/motivohare.html
For more about 'Easy Eddie' and Butch O'Hare on this site, see B&C 103 Dec 04

Normandy Visit 2002 by D-Day Veterans
Elizabeth Jordan sent this by e-mail, her first ever! Thanks!
This was another memorable trip to Normandy. Twenty one of us and Richard set off on June 2nd from Norwich for our holiday.
Monday set the tone of the holiday - many, many moments of laughter and teasing, serious, solemn emotional moments and meetings with friends old and new. We were joined by Isabelle, who had first met Bill, Doreen, John Lee and others twenty years before as their guide. She spent the week with us. Msr and Mme Laparquier came with us for much of the time and it was lovely to see them. At various times during the week we were met by a couple making a film who talked to the veterans.
On Monday we went to Banneville Cemetery and then on the Caen War Museum. In the afternoon we went to Grimbosq where a wreath was laid. We met our friends there who again welcomed us to their farm and gave us refreshments. Those who had been before relived old memories, undulled by the passage of time. New visitors as always were amazed and shocked by what had happened in the past and how things now looked so peaceful and normal.
On Tuesday we had a sightseeing drive along the coast looking at the beaches, the remains of the Mulberry Harbours and the German Batteries above Omaha Beach before going to Bayeux, where we spent the afternoon. Unfortunately it rained - or more accurately there was a heavy storm which lasted all the time we were there.
On Wednesday we went to Pavee where we were astonished at the numbers of people who met us at the Memorial. Besides the present mayors of Viessoix, Chenandolle and Burcy there were ex-mayors, crowds of people and children from the school at Viessoix. The children sang "God Save the Queen" in English and also a song for peace, "Hiroshima" by Georges Mousaki. This was beautiful and very emotional. Later in the hall at the reception afterwards, Fred Howell thanked the children and told them that this was what the war had been about - peace for them and future generations. With help from some people able to translate, questions were answered about events at Pavee and Vire.
The day finished with a visit to Rolande and Mireille Laparquier's house - a lovely ending to the day.
Thursday was June 6th. We began at Sword Beach and then went on to Hillman. Again memories were relived and discussed. Blainville again outlived expectations. After the laying of the wreath the mayor referred to the need and wish for peace and harmony and condemned racism. This led on to the presentation of a medal to a man from Blainville who had been working for peace with Germany. This seemed a very appropriate time for the medal to be given - the war being fought for freedom and peace in the world.
On a more personal note it was Vic Keech's birthday. The mayor of Blainville somehow produced a birthday present and Happy Birthday and Joyeux Anniversaire were sung and three (or six) rousing cheers given. All this was repeated again for the film crew.
Friday was a free day, mostly spent round Caen and all too soon the visit was over. Many memories remain - one of the friendliness of so many people - veterans of different groups and nationalities, other people met casually who talk and compare experiences or who just want to know more of what happened all those years ago - of the continued gratitude and warmth of the people of Normandy and the renewed friendships and of course of the revisiting of cemeteries and graves of lost loved ones and the memories they hold.

In the words of the children's song:
'By all those who are already dead
By all those who are still alive
By those who would like to live at last
Maybe peace will come tomorrow.'

Thanks to Bill Holden MBE for organising another very successful and enjoyable trip and to Msr and Mme Laparquier for all their help and Richard for driving us so comfortably and safely. Elizabeth Jordan
B&C 99

JUBILEE PARADE 4 JUNE 2002
Six Association Members accompanied Maj John Denny and marched down the Mall for the Golden Jubilee Parade. Standard Bearer Ray Segon reported: �The security ring around London took 90 minutes to penetrate despite our passes. It involved a circumnavigation via Bloomsbury, Marble Arch, Victoria and Chelsea to gain entrance to Westminster from Millbank. By then we were in need of toilets and those at Tothill Street were like Mafeking. What a relief!
We found our position in the vast parade. A search party located the ration stores, run by the WVS. The lunch bag of sandwiches, crisps, chocolate, drink and sweets contained a surprise item - a plastic raincape! 22 000 bags were issued. It was a 3 hour wait before we moved off to the Mall. But once we heard the Guards Band bass drum beat and the cheering of the immense crowd, our step picked up.

With standard held high, our chests swelled, accompanied by that shiver down the spine as our detachment, representing over 300 years of Regimental Service, gave an eyes left to our Sovereign at the Victoria Memorial. At that moment, memories came flooding back to me, and I am sure to others, who participated in the 1953 Coronation parades around the world. The only regret was that Paul Boxall was unable to attend due to ill health. It was a day which will linger long in our memories.�
Right: Maj John Denny, Simon Hatch, Alan Nichols, Ray Segon (Std Bearer), Chris Stimpson, Bill Buller and Barney Taylor
B&C 99 & 101

ROYAL GARDEN PARTY SANDRINGHAM
An abundance of Royal Norfolk ties was evident at HM The Queen�s Garden Party at Sandringham on 18 Jul 2002. Cols Paul Long and Paul Raywood, Majors Fred Ayers, John Housego, William Reeve (in a fetching Panama hat. Cameras were not permitted but see right for an exclusive), The Norfolk Editor, Capt Ray Pillar and Trevor Gage Esq. Trevor was 1 R Norfolk 1960-1974 and Col Paul Long�s Radio Op in Aden when the latter was Mentioned in Despatches.

OMITTED!
Also at Sandringham was The Reverend Canon William Sayer, in uniform so not wearing a Royal Norfolk tie!

LATE EXTRA
A mystery photographer caught the former Regimental Sec in his hat! Was this the same chap who took an earlier photograph of a hat?

MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES
The Regimental Archive records (along with many other Old and Bold at: www.sandawana.freeserve.co.uk/6_ranglian/eve_of_show_notes_ta.htm) have:
'Colonel Paul Long (addressed as Colonel) Country Landowners Association Chief Clerk. Ex-Regular Royal Anglian, former CO 5 ROYAL ANGLIAN and Hon Col of A (Norfolk) Coy. Was Commandant STANTA and did lots of huntin', fishin' an' walkin'. Was ACF County Commandant when not huntin' and fishin'. Liked reading the �Sun� at ACF Camp but nothing else known until he was dined out and the chronicler dug out the following. Discretely hidden in the Army list under his name is �LG 040565 Despatches�. This refers to the London Gazette, which publishes Honours and Awards. In 1965 Colonel Paul was �mentioned in despatches� for exemplary service. In the US forces he would have been awarded a Purple Heart as he was wounded in action. What was this exemplary service? His Battalion were in Aden and Lt Long and his Platoon were out on patrol, on foot - live rounds up the spout etc. Their path was blocked by boulders strewn across the road by local Arabs, intent on more than mischief. Without a second thought, the Platoon Commander, Lt Long, promptly commenced moving the boulders. He was bending over to get a good grip on a boulder. At this point a local dissident Arab aimed his rifle. He was a good shot and achieved his aim, inflicting a wound on Lt Long's bum!'
B&C 99