The American Veterans Center

Ninth Annual Conferenceand Awards Banquet

November 9 - 11Arlington, Virginia

SERVINGTHOSE WHO SERVE

TriWest Healthcare Alliance provides access to quality health care for 2.8 million members of America's military family in the 21-state TRICARE West Region.

The Freedom of Many. The Legacy of Few.

TriWest salutes the heroic recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

We are proud to be a sponsor of the 9th Annual American Veterans Center Conference.

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The Directors of the American Veterans Center express their gratitude to the following organizations and individuals for purchasing tables at the Ninth Annual Edward J. Herlihy Awards Banquet for ROTC Cadets and Mid-

shipmen, active duty military personnel, and servicemen wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan

The Tawani Foundation

Triwest Healthcare Alliance

Essex Printing

Fund Raising Strategies, Inc.

Catterton Marketing

Mary Jane Garner

RST Printing

McGuireWoods Consulting

Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Offi ce

The Apache Bravo Young Marines

ZIP Mailing Services, Inc.

Commercial Envelope, Inc.

ColorTree Printing

Hartwell Capitol Consulting

The Fund for American Studies

Young America’s Foundation

Phillips Publishing, Int’l

The George E. Coleman, Jr. Foundation

The mission of the American Veterans Center is to preserve and promote the legacy of America’s ser-vicemen and women from the American Revolution through Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Center is comprised of two divisions - The World War II Veterans Committee and the National Viet-nam Veterans Committee. The American Veterans Center is also the sponsor of the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC.

“Bringing the legacy of the Greatest Generation to the latest generation” is the motto of the World War II Veterans Committee. Through documentary work, speaker programs, and its quarterly publication, World War II Chronicles, the World War II Veterans Committee seeks to bring the history of World War II to today’s students and young people.

The newest project of the American Veterans Center is the National Vietnam Veterans Committee. Based on the outline of the World War II Veterans Committee, the National Vietnam Veterans Com-mittee not only seeks to tell the combat stories of Vietnam veterans, it also seeks to tell their stories after they returned home. While the popular media and fi lm depictions of Vietnam veterans were those of disillusioned men unable to adapt to life following the war, the truth is that most returned home to live productive and successful lives, and were proud to have served. The National Viet-nam Veterans Committee, through its programs which include the publication Valor: The Veterans of Vietnam, is working to tell the true story of Vietnam veterans which has so often been ignored.

The National Memorial Day Parade is held each year along the National Mall in Washington, DC. Fol-lowing the outbreak of World War II, the tradition of a Memorial Day parade in the nation’s capital was ended. In 2004, a coalition of veterans groups came together to sponsor A Parade Salute to World War II Veterans, to coincide with the dedication of the National World War II Memorial. The parade proved such a success that it was decided that the old tradition of a Memorial Day parade be returned. Thus, the National Memorial Day Parade was born. In a magnifi cent tribute to America’s veterans and honored war dead of all eras, the National Memorial Day Parade features over 150 elements, including military and school bands, military units, fl oats, and youth groups, as well as hundreds of veterans from World War II through Iraq and Afghanistan.

Programs of the American Veterans Center include:

• World War II Chronicles and Valor: The Veterans of Vietnam: Published quarterly, World War II Chronicles, which takes its name from the popular radio series featuring Edward J. Herlihy, features stories by and about veterans of the Second World War. From overviews of battles to intimate stories of veterans, World War II Chronicles seeks to keep the legacy of the “Greatest Generation” alive by allowing them to tell their stories to an audience of over 50,000 subscribers. Chronicles’ newest companion publication, Valor: The Veterans of Vietnam, provides a forum for this next generation of heroes to share their experiences with the public. Copies of both publications are donated to over 200 VA hospitals around the country.

American veterans center

world war IIveterans committee

National vietnamveterans committee

• Documentaries: Following in the tradition of World War II Chronicles, the American Veterans Center has produced a number of radio documentary programs on World War II and military history, including D-Day: They Were There, Pearl Harbor: 60 Years of Echoes, and No Greater Love: The Four Chaplains and the Sinking of the Dorchester.

• Veterans Chronicles and Proudly We Hail: Working with the Radio America network, the Ameri-can Veterans Center currently sponsors two weekly radio series, Veterans Chronicles and Proudly We Hail. Hosted by Gene Pell, Veterans Chronicles features interviews with the eyewitnesses to the great and tragic moments in military history. Proudly We Hail is a weekly radio magazine recorded on loca-tion at America’s military bases, historical sites, and museums, featuring tales of heroism, bulletins on veterans’ health issues, and news.

• Youth Activities: The Center supports an annual essay contest with cash awards, a high school scholarship program, a college scholarship program, and a summer internship program.

• World War II Curriculum: The World War II Veterans Committee is in the process of creating a comprehensive curriculum on World War II to be distributed to high school teachers across the country. The curriculum is designed to introduce students to the issues leading to World War II, the great battles of the war, and the civilian and military leaders involved.

• Annual Conference: Each year the American Veterans Center’s national conference is held in Washington, DC, featuring some of America’s most distinguished veterans as speakers. Several hundred high school and college students participate in the conference. Additionally, the event includes wreath-laying ceremonies at the national war memorials, veteran-themed events around the city, and an annual awards banquet, honoring the service of the United States military’s greatest heroes.

• Library and Archives: Each day, books on American military history are received, cataloged, and added to the Center’s library, which now numbers several hundred volumes. The Center also welcomes memoirs, personal accounts, newspaper clippings, and other records pertaining to American military history for inclusion.

American Veterans Center Staff

Michael ParadisoChief Operating Offi cer

James C. RobertsFounder and President

Nicole McKanOffi ce Manager

Tim G.W. HolbertProgram Director

Chris GrahamResearcher

Ann ForkinConference Director

Mary Jane GarnerStudent & Military

Services Liaison

Conference Staff

Lori Allen David Freil

Mary Wilcowski Laura Ymker

Bruce Van DusenAudio and Video Producer

American Veterans CenterNinth Annual Conference

November 8-11, 2006Hyatt Regency Crystal City @ Reagan National Airport

Arlington, Virginia

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, November 8

3:00 PM - Registration open

Thursday, November 9

7:30 AM - Registration open

8:30 AM - Welcoming remarks James C. Roberts - President American Veterans Center

8:35 AM - Adolf Hitler: The Führer and the German People Dr. Jay W. Baird - Author of To Die for Germany: Heroes in the Nazi Pantheon

9:15 AM - A Conversation with Lt. General. Harry W.O. Kinnard - Aide to Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe at Bastogne and commander of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in Vietnam Moderated by Gene Pell, host of the American Veterans Center’s documentary series Veterans Chronicles

9:55 AM - The WASP Pilots in World War II Lorraine Rodgers - One of the original WASP pilots, the fi rst female pilots in American military history

10:25 AM - Okinawa: Infantry Combat Against the Japanese Featuring veterans of the 96th Infantry Division on Okinawa Donald Dencker John “Bos” Ensor Leonard Lazarick Renwyn Triplett

11:10 AM - The Last Ace Brig. General R. Steve Ritchie - The only Air Force ace pilot of the Vietnam War

11:55 AM - Lunch

2:00 PM - A New Generation of Valor Featuring decorated veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom Moderated by Wade Zirkle - Executive Director of Vets for Freedom and Marine rifl e platoon commander, Operation Iraqi Freedom SSgt. David Bellavia – Veteran of the 1st Infantry Division, Operation Iraqi Freedom Recommended for the Medal of Honor, nominated for the Distinguished Service Cross, and awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and the Conspicuous Service Cross SSgt. Peter Milinkovic – Awarded the Bronze Star for actions with the 1st Marine Division in Iraq; has risen from enlisted private to staff sergeant in just over four years, a nearly unprecedented feat in United States Marine Corps history Capt. Chris Niedziocha – Veteran of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) in Operation Enduring Freedom. Awarded the Silver Star for actions in Afghanistan

6:00 PM - Reception in honor of the legendary Doolittle Raiders of World War II At the Army & Navy Club in downtown Washington, DC

Friday, November 108:30 AM - Welcoming remarks James C. Roberts

8:35 AM - Strength of Character and Military Leadership Lt. General Dave R. Palmer - Former Superintendent of West Point, two-tour veteran of Vietnam, and military historian

9:20 AM - Winston Churchill and His Leadership in World War II Hon. Celia Sandys - Noted author and granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill

9:50 AM - The Doolittle Raiders Featuring: Col. William Bower Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole

Maj. Thomas C. Griffi n M/Sgt. Edwin Horton

Maj. Gen. David M. Jones

Moderated by Col. C.V. Glines, offi cial historian of the Doolittle Raiders and co-author of The Doolittle Raid and I Could Never Be So Lucky Again, the autobiography of Jimmy Doolittle

10:50 AM - Refl ections on the Vietnam War Dr. Lewis Sorley - Vietnam veteran, renowned historian, and author of the celebrated book A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America’s Last Years in Vietnam

1:00 PM - Valor: The Medal of Honor Sponsored by TriWest Healthcare Alliance Featuring Col. George “Bud” Day and Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura Moderated by Lt. Col. George Malone, former National Commander of the Legion of Valor and recipient of the Navy Cross

11:30 AM - The POW Experience: Vietnam Col. George “Bud” Day - Veteran of three wars, recipient of the Medal of Honor, and the most decorated American offi cer since Douglas MacArthur Capt. Jack Fellowes – Pilot of A-6A Intruder operating from the USS Constellation. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star, three Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts

12:30 PM - Lunch

1:15 PM - The Band of Brothers: 101st Airborne, 506th Infantry Regiment in World War II Featuring: Lynn “Buck” Compton Bill Guarnere Ed “Babe” Heffron Don Malarkey Earl McClung Darrell “Shifty” Powers Moderated by Adam Makos, editor of Ghostwings magazine

2:15 PM - A New Band of Brothers: 101st Airborne, 506th Infantry Regiment in Iraq Captain Matthew Cox Captain Matthew Farmer Captain William Jones Captain Morgan Watts First Lieutenant Christopher Rauh Staff Sergeant Rex Swartz

4:00 PM - Wreath Laying Ceremonies at the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial In memory of our fallen heroes

8:30 AM - Welcoming remarks James C. Roberts

Saturday, November 11

Lt. Col. Marion Anthony Marshall - Navigator in the 13th Squadron based in Thailand. Shot down over North Vietnam during his 266th mission. Among awards are fi ve DFCs Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier – F-4C pilot in the 390th TFS stationed in Da Nang. Shot down over North Vietnam during his 80th mission. Awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Silver Stars, the Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts

6:30 PM - Film screening at the United States Navy Memorial Featuring Unsung Heroes: The Flag Raisers of Iwo Jima and Unsung Heroes: Camera Martyrs of Vietnam Films by Lou Reda Productions Commentary by: Lou Reda - Executive Producer for Lou Reda Productions, creator of over 400 documentaries on military history as seen on the History Channel, A&E, the Discovery Channel, and the Biography Channel Hal Buell - Former head of the international photo service for the Associated Press and author of Uncommon Valor, Common Virtue: Iwo Jima and the Photograph that Captured America Reception following hosted by Bob Feller

10:15 AM - Baseball Goes to War Bob Feller - Major league baseball Hall of Fame pitcher and veteran of the USS Alabama in World War II

11:30 AM - Good Morning, Vietnam! Adrian Cronauer - Famed disc jockey in Vietnam portrayed in the fi lm Good Morning, Vietnam

12:00 PM - Fallujah: Two Years Later SSgt. David Bellavia - Veteran of the 1st Infantry Division, Operation Iraqi Freedom. Recommended for the Medal of Honor, nominated for the Distinguished Service Cross, and awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and the Conspicuous Service Cross Sgt. Timothy Connors - Recipient of the Silver Star for actions during Operation Phantom Fury (Second Battle of Fallujah). Veteran of 12 house fi ghts during the battle, the most in recorded American military history Sgt. Jeremy La Force - Veteran Team Leader of Battalion 1/8 in Fallujah 2. Recipient of the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V” and the Navy/Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with Bronze Star Sgt. Matthew Ragan - Battalion Senior Intelligence Analyst responsible for the battalion Dragon Eye, Sensitive Site Exploitation, providing intelligence and photographing the battle during operation Phantom Fury

10:45 AM - Korea: The Forgotten War Col. Warren Wiedhahn - Executive Offi cer, Korean War Veterans Association Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura - Medal of Honor recipient for service with the 3rd Infantry Division near Taejon-ni, Korea CSM Joe Annello - Veteran of the 3rd Infantry Division; served alongside the U.S. Marines at the Chosin Reservoir

2:00 PM - Wreath Laying Ceremony at the National World War II Memorial In honor of our fallen heroes

5:30 PM - Reception - Hyatt Regency Crystal City

6:30 PM - Ninth Annual Edward J. Herlihy Awards Banquet

9:45 AM - Covert Actions in World War II Maj. Gen. John K. Singlaub - Decorated veteran of the OSS in World War II and founding member of the CIA

8:35 AM - Uncommon Valor: Battle of Iwo Jima James Wheeler - Artillery observer assigned to the Fifth Amphibious Corps, C Battery, 2nd 155th Howitzer Battalion Maj. Norman Hatch - Combat cinematographer and photographic offi cer for the 2nd and 4th Marines Frederick Gray - 476th Amphibious Truck Company, attached to the 4th Marine Division; Founder of the Black Iwo Jima Veterans Association

Lieutenant Colonel Lynn “Buck” Compton was born in Los Angeles in 1921. While studying at UCLA, he participated in ROTC for four years. Then left his studies to attend Offi cers Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia, where he was commissioned a second lieutenant in May 1943. Compton joined Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (“The Band of Brothers”) in England in December 1943. He participated in all of 101st Airborne Division’s major campaigns in the European Theatre of Operations. He received the Silver Star, Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He remained in the active reserves from 1946 to 1966.

Sergeant Timothy Connors served as 3rd Squad Leader, 2nd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004. He participated in twelve house fi ghts during the Second Battle of Fal-lujah. In November, he earned the Silver Star for his actions while preventing the body of a fallen fellow Marine from being captured by the enemy. His active duty ended on July 1, 2005.

Speaker Bios

Staff Sergeant David Bellevia is a former Army Staff Sergeant who served in the First Infantry Division (Task Force 2-2). He has been recommended for the Medal of Honor for actions he took in a fi erce urban fi refi ght in the Battle of Fallujah. He has received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Conspicuous Service Cross. He has also been nominated for the Distinguished Ser-vice Cross. He and his platoon were the subjects of a Time magazine cover story “Into the Hot Zone”. David is the vice-chairman for the Vets for Freedom Action Fund. David returned to Iraq in June 2006 as an embedded reporter with the Iraqi Army.

Dr. Jay W. Baird is Professor of History at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He is the author of To Die for Germany: Heroes in the Nazi Pantheon and The Mythical World of Nazi Propaganda, 1939-1945. His current book project concerns the aesthetics of fascism, with particular emphasis on poetry and novels. Dr. Baird is the recipient of Miami University’s Benjamin Harrison Medal-lion for signifi cant achievement in national and international education.

Colonel William M. Bower, an Ohio native, attended Hiram College and Kent State University before joining the Army Air Corps and completing pilot training in October 1940. He was the pilot on Crew No. 12 of the 16 Army B-25 medium bombers that took off from a Navy carrier and bombed Tokyo on April 18, 1942. After the Tokyo Raid, he served with the Mediterranean and 12th Air Forces in England, Africa and Italy. He served in various post-war Stateside operational assignments and his fi nal duty station before retiring in 1966.

Lieutenant Colonel Richard E. Cole was born in Dayton and completed two years at Ohio University before enlisting as a Flying Cadet in November 1940. He completed training in July 1941 and was the co-pilot for Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle on the fi rst plane off the carrier Hornet. He remained in the CBI until June 1943, fl ying cargo from India to China. He returned to the CBI in October 1943 and fl ew with the AAF’s famed 1st Air Commandos in support of Allied operations behind Japanese lines. He had several operational assignments, including operations advisor to the Venezuelan Air Force, before retiring to Texas in 1967.

Command Sergeant Major Joe Annello served in Korea with the 7th RCT, 3rd Infantry Divi-sion. He landed at Wonson in early November, 1950, and fought alongside the U.S. Marines evacuating from the Chosin Reservior. He fought in rear-guard action to Heungnam where they were evacuated to Pusan on Christmas Eve, 1950. He was seriously wounded and captured by Chinese forces on April 24, 1951. He was rescued by U.S. Forces on Jun 1, 1951. He served 3 more tours in Korea with HQ, 8th U.S. Army and the Korean Military Advisory Group. He also served two tours in Japan. He retired in August 1970.

Speaker Bios

Donald O. Dencker was a member of Company L, 382nd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, during the Battles of Leyte, Philippines and Okinawa. For his service he was awarded the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantry Badge and the Presidential Unit Ci-tation. During the Battle of Okinawa, Dencker served as an assistant gunner, gunner and acting squad leader. He is author of the book Love Company: Infantry Combat Against the Japanese, World War II, Leyte and Okinawa, has appeared on the History Channel, and was featured in a Newsweek magazine article titled “War Without Mercy.”

John “Bos” Ensor was a member of C Company, 383rd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Divi-sion, a Rifl e Company during the Battles of Leyte, Philippines and Okinawa, Japan. He served in a front-line rifl e platoon as a Browning Automatic Rifl e (BAR) ammo bearer, a rifl eman and as a platoon radio operator. “Bos” was wounded on Leyte and was in a hospital when the Okinawa landing took place, but rejoined his Company for combat in May and June 1945. For his service he was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Adrian Cronauer needed only 11 credit hours to graduate from college when the draft board pressed him to volunteer for the Air Force. After training in broadcasting and media operations, he was transferred to an Armed Forces Radio station in Greece. He was then transferred to Vietnam. In a time when military media was very boring, Cronauer broke the mold by playing the music GI’s wanted to hear and inserting his own brand of humor into the show. He is the subject of the 1987 fi lm, Good Morning, Vietnam.

Colonel George “Bud” Day enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1942 when he was 17 years old. He spent nearly three years in the South Pacifi c during World War II. In 1950, he joined the Air National Guard. When he was called up for active duty a year later, he applied for pilot training and fl ew fi ghter jets during the Korean War. In 1967, Day was put in command of the Misty Super Facs. On August 26, ground fi re hit his plane. He was captured by the North Vietnamese and spent much of the next six years at the infamous “Hanoi Hilton.” For his resistance against the Vietnamese while in prison, Day was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Captain Matthew D. Cox graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2001 and was commissioned as an infantry offi cer. He attended army airborne school and was assigned to Korea. Cox was an anti-armor platoon leader in D Co, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, support platoon leader for HHC, 1/506th, and company executive offi cer for C Co. He deployed with this battalion to Iraq. While in Iraq he was promoted to captain and moved to become the battalion maintenance offi cer. Cox transferred to the Ordnance corps and is currently the company commander of B Co, 16th Ordnance Battalion.

Captain Matthew Farmer graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1998 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry. He has served in the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Bragg and the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division at Camp Greaves, Korea and Camp Habbaniyah, Iraq. Farmer has deployed to Kosovo, Egypt, Korea and Iraq.

Speaker Bios

William “Wild Bill” Guarnere enlisted in the military when he was 15 years old. He joined Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division in July of 1942 nearly fi ve years later. He fought in the D-Day Invasion in Normandy, Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded in the Bois Jacques during the Battle of the Bulge. He is a recipient of the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. He served as a consultant for the HBO production Band of Brothers.

Major Thomas C. Griffi n was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, graduated from the University of Alabama in 1939 and entered service as a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery but requested relief from active duty to enlist as a fl ying cadet. He was rated as a navigator and was re-com-missioned on July 1, 1940. He was a navigator on Crew No. 9 of the Doolittle Raiders and later served in North Africa. His plane was shot down, and he was captured by the Germans in July 1943. After release in April 1945, he returned to civilian life and established his own accounting fi rm in Cincinnati.

Frederick Gray landed on Iwo Jima on February 19th, 1945 at 9AM. As a member of the 476th Amphibious Truck Company, a component of the 43rd Amphibious Battalion assigned to the 4th Marine Division on Iwo Jima, his duties were to bring equipment and men from ship to shore. All of the 177 enlisted men in the 476th were African-Americans. In the years following the war, Gray sought to bring attention to the sacrifi ces made by African-Americans on Iwo Jima by founding the Black Iwo Jima Veterans Association.

Colonel Carroll V. Glines, historian for the Doolittle Raiders, entered fl ying training in May 1941 and graduated in January 1942. He was a fl ying instructor during WWII followed by tours in Panama and Europe. He received MBA and MA degrees while on active duty and served on the Air University staff before a seven-year tour in the offi ces of the Secretary of the Air Force and Assistant Secretary of Defense. His fi nal assignment was as Chief, Public Affairs for the Alaskan Command. After retirement in 1968, he was an aviation magazine editor and authored 36 books, including three books on the Tokyo Raid.

Captain Jack Fellowes enlisted in the Navy in 1951, received an appointment to the Naval Academy in 1952 and graduated in 1956. He went on to fl ight training and received his wings the following year. He fl ew attack aircraft off aircraft carriers in Vietnam until he was shot down in 1966. Fellowes was held prisoner by the North Vietnamese for the next six and a half years. After repatriation he taught at the Naval Academy. He retired in 1986 after 31 years of service. He has received the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and two Purple Hearts for his service.

Bob Feller was a star pitcher for the Cleveland Indians during the late 1930s and early 1940s. Following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Feller immediately en-listed in the United States Navy, where he was assigned to command a 24-man gunnery squad on the battleship Alabama. After a year of service in the North Atlantic, Feller and the Alabama were sent to the Pacifi c, where he participated in eight invasions, including Iwo Jima. Feller was discharged in August of 1945, after almost four years of service. He returned to baseball and resumed a career that led to his induction into the Hall of Fame.

Speaker Bios

Taylor Baldwin Kiland is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at The United States Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. A former naval offi cer, the third generation in her family to serve, she has worked for the global communications fi rm Burson-Marsteller, volunteered for numerous national political campaigns and serves on several charitable boards of directors. Kiland is the co-author of Open Doors: Vietnam POWs Thirty Years Later, published in 2005. Her next two books, a children’s book about careers in the Navy and a walking tour guide of the United States Naval Academy, will be published in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

Captain William Jones enlisted in the National Guard in 1989 and entered Active Duty in 1991. His deployments include Panama, Honduras, Bosnia, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Korea, Kuwait, and Iraq. His military awards include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, United Nations Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Parachutists Badge, Air Assault Badge, Expert Infantrymen’s Badge, Combat Infantrymen’s Badge and the Ranger Tab.

Major General David M. Jones, a native Oregonian, graduated from the University of Arizona in 1936 and was commissioned in the Cavalry. He served for one year and then requested pilot training in June 1937. Rated as a pilot in June 1938, he served with the 17th Bomb Group and was the pilot on Crew No. 5 of the Doolittle Raiders. Afterward, he was fl ying in North Africa with the 12th Air Force when he was shot down in December 1942 and spent 2½ years as a POW. He served in a variety of postwar commands culminating in assignment as Manager for Manned Space Flight Support Operations and retired in 1973.

Master Sergeant Edwin W. Horton, Jr. was born in North Eastham, Mass. and enlisted in the Field Artillery in 1935. He served in Hawaii for three years and re-enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He completed gun turret maintenance and aircraft mechanic schools and volunteered as an en-gineer-gunner on Crew No. 10 of the Doolittle Raiders. He remained in the CBI until July 1943 and served in various Stateside and overseas assignments in Panama and Libya. After retirement in 1960, he was employed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida for 20 years as a test engineer in the Air Force’s Cold Weather Laboratory.

Edward “Babe” Heffron was born in 1923. He joined Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division while the division was resting in England after the Normandy Invasion. He participated in Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. Heffron served as a consultant for the HBO production Band of Brothers.

Major Norman T. Hatch served on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1939-1946. He fought at Tarawa and Iwo Jima and was stationed at Nagasaki during the Occupation of Japan. He has served as combat cinematographer, photographic offi cer for the 2nd and 5th Marine Di-visions and director of photography for the Marine Corps, Headquarters. He has been awarded the Bronze Star, Navy Commendation Medal, Secretary of Defense Meritorious Medal and the National Headliners Award for combat photography in WWII.

Lieutenant Colonel George Malone joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 1965. He was com-missioned a second lieutenant upon his college graduation in 1968. He was ordered to Vietnam in 1968 and was the platoon commander with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He served on active duty until 1971. After leaving active duty, Malone missed being a Marine. He re-entered the Corps in 1975, serving in various assignments until retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1992. Malone served as the National Commander of the Legion of Valor from 2005-2006. He is a recipient of the Navy Cross.

Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Marion Marshall graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1968. He served with the 13th Tactical Fighter Squandron in Thailand. He was on a mission as a backseater over North Vietnam when he was shot down on July 3, 1972. He was imprisoned by the Vietnamese in the “Zoo” and the “Hanoi Hilton” until his release in March 1973. Marshall has received numerous awards including fi ve Distinguished Flying Crosses, four Meritorious Service Medals and the Purple Heart. He retired from the military in 1990.

Speaker BiosLieutenant General Harry W. O. Kinnard graduated from West Point 1939. He was originally S-3 Plans & Operations offi cer for the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment. During the Normandy campaign, he was made acting commander of 1st Battalion. He jumped into Holland still the C.O. of 1st BN. It was Kinnard who suggested that Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe word his formal reply to the German surrender ultimatum with his original verbal reaction: “Nuts!” Kinnard remained in the Army after WWII, attained the rank of general and commanded the First Cavalry Division in Vietnam in 1965.

Leonard Lazarick was a member of Company K, 382nd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Divi-sion, U.S. Army, a rifl e company, during the Battles of Leyte, Philippines and Okinawa, Japan. He served in a front-line rifl e platoon as a rifl eman, Browning Automatic Rifl e (BAR) ammo bearer and a squad leader. “Laz” was wounded on Leyte and on Okinawa. For his service he was awarded two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star with an Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantry Badge, and for service in the 96th Division, the Presidential Unit Citation. “Laz” will appear on a History Channel program this fall on the Battle of Okinawa.

Donald G. Malarkey joined Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (“The Band of Brothers”) in August 1942. He fought in the D-Day invasion, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge and eventually into southern Austria. Malarkey served more days in combat without a wound than any other man in Easy Company. He earned the Bronze Star for his actions on D-Day. He retired from the military a Technical Sergeant.

Sergeant Jeremy S. LaForce enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1998. In 2001, he was assigned to the unit deployment program on Okinawa, Japan and was subsequently attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. In November 2002, he reported to Marine Barracks Washington, DC, where he served until he volunteered for the Individual Augmentation Program in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was temporarily assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines in 2004. LaForce returned to Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. in May of 2005, and was assigned to the Grounds Element as the noncommissioned offi cer in charge.

Speaker Bios

Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura was drafted into the U.S. Army in January 1944, but was unable to be shipped overseas because of his young age. He arrived in Italy just fi ve days before the war ended. He enlisted in the Army Reserves after WWII. He was recalled to active duty in 1950 and was sent to Korea with Company H, 2nd Battalion, 7th Regiment of 3rd Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service on April 24-25, 1951. During the battle that day, he was wounded and captured by the Chinese Communists. He spent the next 28 months in a POW camp before being released in August 1953.

Staff Sergeant Peter Milinkovic enlisted in the Marines on September 11, 2001. A member of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, he has served three tours of duty in Iraq, serving at Ar Ramadi, the Iraqi-Syrian border and in Karbala, where he helped to keep Muqtada al Sadr’s militia in check. At the early age of 22, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant. For his service Milinkovic has been awarded the Bronze Star and the Navy Commendation Medal.

Earl McClung was born in 1923 at the Colville Indian Reservation in Inchelium, Washington. While in his senior year of high school on Feb 15, 1943, McClung was drafted into the U.S. Army. He underwent infantry basic training at Camp Walters, Texas, and volunteered for Airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He joined Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (“The Band of Brothers”) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina before shipping out to England. He participated in all of 101st Airborne Division’s major campaigns in the European Theatre of Operations. He received two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. McClung left the service in 1947.

Major General Edward Mechenbier graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1964. He was assigned to the 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Da Nang in December of 1966. While fl ying a mission in June of 1967, he was shot down and captured and spent nearly six years as a prisoner of war. He is a recipient of two Silver Stars, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. As co-host for the United States Air and Trade Show, Mechenbier has fl own aircraft ranging from a 1908 Wright B Flyer to a Soviet MiG-29 jet fi ghter.

Captain Chris Niedziocha served in Afghanistan in 2004 as a platoon commander with 1st Battalion, 6th Marines where he was the recipient of a Silver Star for valor while leading a bold counterattack against enemy forces. He is currently an instructor at the Marines’ Fleet Anti-Ter-rorism Security Team (FAST) Company in Norfolk, Virginia. Niedziocha is also a member of the Vets for Freedom Action Fund, a bipartisan political action group supporting pro-military, pro-mission policymakers in the war on terror.

Lieutenant General Dave R. Palmer is a two-tour veteran of Vietnam, former superintendent of West Point, and accomplished military historian specializing in the campaigns of George Washington and the 18th century American army. He often appears as a commentator in televi-sion documentaries on the Revolutionary War period and its generals. He most recently appeared on the History Channel special Washington the Warrior. Palmer is the author of many books, including The Summons of the Trumpet: U.S.-Vietnam in Perspective and George Washington and Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots.

Speaker Bios

The Honorable Celia Sandys is the granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill. She is the author of numerous books on Churchill, including The Young Churchill, Churchill: Wanted Dead or Alive, We Shall Not Fail: The Inspiring Leadership of Winston Churchill, and her most recent work, Chasing Churchill: The Travels of Winston Churchill. She is currently establishing the Churchill Leadership Program for all who aspire to lead. When not lecturing around the world, she lives in Wiltshire, England.

Brigadier General R. Steve Ritchie is the only Air Force “ace” pilot of the air war in Vietnam. A veteran of more than 800 combat hours in the F-4 Phantom during 339 missions over Southeast Asia, Ritchie is the only American pilot to down fi ve MiG-21s, the most sophisticated fi ghters in the North Vietnamese fl eet. Upon leaving active duty in 1974, Ritchie had been awarded the Air Force Cross, four Silver Stars, 10 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 25 Air Medals. He would rise to the rank of Brigadier General in the Air Force Reserve, and served in the Reagan administration.

Sergeant Matthew Ragan redeployed to Iraq on June 15, 2004 and was directly involved in the November, 2004 assault on Al-Fallujah where again he was utilized at the platoon and squad level during the house to house fi ghting. Ragan was the Battalion Senior Intelligence Analyst and was responsible for the Battalion Dragon Eye, Sensitive Site Exploitation, providing squad, platoon and company level intelligence, and photographing the battle.

Lorraine Rodgers was one of 1,074 volunteers of the Women’s Air Force Service Pilots Pro-gram of World War II. Created to relieve male pilots for combat duty, the WASPs were the fi rst women in history to fl y American military aircraft. They logged more than 60 million miles in 78 different types of aircraft. These pioneers far exceeded what was originally planned for them, and they proved they could fl y wingtip-to-wingtip with their brothers in the sky.

First Lieutenant Christopher Rauh is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute. For three and a half months he served as a platoon commander with the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry of the 101st Airborne Division based at the “Lion’s Den” patrol base in Radwaniyah, Iraq. For the next nine months his 38-man platoon was assigned as a military transition team working with forces of the 4th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army in Yusufi yah, south of Baghdad. Rauh participated in numerous foot patrols, mounted patrols and air assaults and was wounded in action.

Darrell “Shifty” Powers was born on March 13, 1923 in Clinchco, Virginia. Not wanting to “miss the war,” in August 1942, at age 19, Powers volunteered for the paratroops. Powers was an original members of Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (“The Band of Brothers”) and underwent basic training with the unit at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. As a member of Easy Com-pany, and often times, a platoon scout, Powers participated in all of the 101st Airborne Division’s major campaigns in the European Theatre of Operations. He received two Bronze Stars. Powers left the service in October 1945, after 3 years of duty.

Lieutenant Wade Zirkle was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2000. He was a Light Armored Vehicle platoon commander in Iraq in 2003. On his second tour in 2004 as a rifl e platoon commander, he was wounded by a suicide car bomb. After rehabilitation, he was honorably discharged. He has received the Purple Heart Medal and two Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medals for Valor. In 2006, he returned to Iraq as a civilian reporter. He appears regularly on CNN and Fox News. His written work has appeared in numerous national publica-tions. He is founder of the Vets for Freedom Action Fund.

Renwyn Triplett was a member of Anti-Tank Company, 382nd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, during the Battles of Leyte, Philippines and Okinawa, Japan. He served in both an Anti-tank Gun Platoon and in the Mine Platoon on Okinawa removing Japanese mines. For his service he was awarded the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantry Badge: and as a member of the 96th Division, the Presidential Unit Citation.

Dr. Lewis Sorley graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1956. His Army service included leadership of tank and armored cavalry units in Germany, Vietnam and the U.S. In Vietnam he was the Executive Offi cer, 1st Battalion, 69th Armor, 25th Infantry Division. He retired from the military a lieutenant colonel. Dr. Sorley is the author of several books including Arms Transfers under Nixon, Thunderbolt: General Creighton Abrams and the Army of His Times and A Better War: the Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America’s Last Years in Vietnam, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Colonel Warren Wiedhahn fought in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. In Vietnam he served with the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines and as the executive offi cer for the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines. He is the founder and president of Military Historical Tours, an organization that specializes in battlefi eld tours. He is also the founder of the Marine Executive Association whose mission is to help retiring Marines fi nd suitable civilian employment. Wiedhahn is the executive offi cer of the Korean War Veterans Association.

Speaker BiosMajor General John K. Singlaub parachuted into France as a member of the OSS during WWII. After WWII, he served with the OSS in China. He served as commander of the 2nd Bat-talion, 15th Infantry Regiment during the Korean War. Singlaub worked in the Pentagon from 1963-65. He served as the commander of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Studies and Observation Group during the Vietnam War until he was transferred to Germany. Singlaub was promoted to Major General in 1972. Among his medals are the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Silver Star.

Staff Sergeant Rex Swartz served with the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Air-borne Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Based out of Camp Stryker, Baghdad, SSgt. Swartz served as a fi re support NCO in infantry operations and effects based operations.

Ninth Annual Edward J. Herlihy Awards Banquet Program

Master of CeremoniesGene Pell, former Director, Voice of AmericaPresident, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty

WelcomeJames Roberts, President

The American Veterans Center

Presentation of ColorsArmed Forces Color Guard, Military District of Washington

National AnthemNadine Salonites

Pledge of AllegianceApache Bravo Young Marines

The BlessingThe Reverend Arnold G. Taylor

World War II Veteran, 99th Infantry Division

Minute of Silence is Observed in Honor of Those Who Have Fallen in Service to Our Country

Retiring of the Colors

A Toast to American Veterans The Honorable Celia Sandys, Author & Granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill

Dinner is ServedCaesar Salad with Romaine Hearts and Parmesan Cheese

Beef Filet and Crab DuoAssorted Rolls with Butter

Wine Selections Bourbin Chocolate and Brandied Cherry Dacquoise with Black Current Sauce

Freshly brewed Starbucks Coffee/Tea Service

A Musical InterludeErin Gantt and Swing Shift

Introduction of Honored Guests

Announcement and Presentation of Awards

Student Essay AwardsFirst Prize - Jessica Gallinaro

James Trimble III Scholarship AwardsChristopher San Jose and Arianna Shroyer

Hunter Scott Youth Achievement AwardThe Apache Bravo Young Marines

A Salute to the Men Who Took Mt. Suribachi and Raised the First Flag on Iwo Jima

3rd Platoon, E Co., 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine DivisionThe most decorated infantry platoon to come out of a single engagement in

U.S. military history

Audie Murphy Award - WWIIThe Doolittle Raiders

Raymond G. Davis Award - KoreaHiroshi MiyamuraMedal of Honor

Joe Ronnie Hooper Award - VietnamColonel George “Bud” Day, USAF-Ret

Medal of Honor

Paul Ray Smith Award - Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi FreedomStaff Sergeant Anthony Viggiani, USMC

Navy CrossOperation Enduring Freedom

Sergeant Timothy Connors, USMCSilver Star

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Edward J. Herlihy Citizenship AwardHal Koster and Jim Mayer

A Tribute to the Band of Brothers - Then and NowThe 101st Airborne Division in World War II and Operation Iraqi Freedom

Maj. General David M. Jones

Colonel William Bower Lt. Colonel Richard E. Cole

Major Thomas C. Griffi n Master Sergeant Edwin W. Horton, Jr.

Audie Murphy AwardFor distinguished service in the United States military during World War II

The most decorated soldier of World War II, Audie Leon Murphy was born to Texas sharecroppers in 1924. He joined the army as a private in 1942, shortly after his 18th birthday. Throughout his three years of active service, Murphy fought with the 3rd Infantry Division in nine major campaigns in the European theatre. He received every medal the Army had to offer including two Silver Stars and three Purple Hearts. He received the Medal of Honor for his valor repelling six German tanks and their supporting infantry near Holtzwihr, France. Murphy also received fi ve medals from France and Belgium. While rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant, Murphy killed over 240 Germans and single-handedly eliminated a tank. He was deactivated on September 21, 1945. After the war, he became nationally known for both his wartime heroism and his leading role in fi lms. Audie L. Murphy is and will remain one of America’s most heroic sons.

On April 18, 1942, sixteen B-25 bombers launched from the airstrip of the USS Hornet, situated deep in enemy controlled waters. Their destination was Japan. Still reeling from the attack on Pearl Harbor, these last few months had gone poorly for the Allies in the Pacifi c. Determined to strike back at Japan and boost American morale, American war planners had conceived of an idea in which twin-engined Army bombers could be launched from an aircraft carrier. Tapped to plan and lead this diffi cult and dangerous mis-sion was the famed aviator and engineer, Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle.

Doolittle’s task was enormous. Gathering together 24 crews at Eglin Field in Florida, he had to teach them to lift off in a B-25 at 50 miles per hour after a 500 foot taxi—less than half the speed and distance pilots were accustomed to using. In order to lighten their loads, the bombers were stripped of all unnecessary equipment, while extra fuel capacity was installed. Each was loaded with four 500-pound bombs.

On April 2, the USS Hornet, with crews and bombers aboard, left Alameda Naval Air Station enroute to Japan. Two and one-half weeks later, an enemy patrol vessel was sighted about 650 miles off the coast of Japan. The vessel was quickly sunk, but not before sending a radio warning to the mainland.

Recognizing that time was of the essence, Doolittle decided to launch the attack immediately, despite being 200 miles further from the Japanese coast than planned. The already dangerous mission now faced an alerted Japan, poor weather, a longer trip that would tax already perilously-limited fuel supplies, and an estimated arrival time during the middle of the day—a much easier time for Japanese fi ghters to attack the B-25s.

After a successful launch, all 16 planes proceeded directly to their military targets in the cities of Yokohama, Kobe, Osaka, and Tokyo. In spite of anti-aircraft fi re and Japanese fi ghters, all 16 planes successfully reached their targets.

Clear of Japanese resistance, the new fear was making it to friendly territory before running out of fuel. Fifteen of the planes raced toward the coast of China, while the 16th fl ew toward Russia, where upon landing, the crew was interned for several months. The other fi fteen crews were forced to bail out or crash land off the coast of China or over its coastal mountains. One crew member was killed bailing out, while two more died while swimming ashore. Eight, were captured, and subsequently starved and tortured, by the Japanese. Following a mock trial, three of the eight were convicted of charges of which they were never made aware. The next day, all three were executed.

Immediately following the raid, Doolittle told his crew that he believed the loss of all sixteen aircraft, combined with the relatively minor damage infl icted on Japan, had rendered his attack a failure and he expected a court martial upon his return to the United States. Instead, the raid provided a tremendous morale boost to a country that was in desperate need of good news. At the same time, Doolittle’s attack struck fear into the Japanese command, which recalled fi ghter units back home to defend against further raids—a strategic shift that would have huge consequences at the next turning point of the war—the Battle of Midway. For his ac-tions, Jimmy Doolittle was awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted to Brigadier General, while each of the Raiders received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Col. William Bower

Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole

Maj. Thomas C. Griffi n

M/Sgt. Edwin Horton

Maj. Gen. David M. Jones

Raymond G. Davis AwardFor distinguished service in the United States military during the Korean War

Raymond G. Davis was appointed a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1938, following his college graduation and ROTC training. Throughout his military career, Davis fought in three wars and fourteen dif-ferent campaigns. He rose to the rank of general, while earning 18 American and seven foreign awards. Among these included the Navy Cross, earned for actions at Peleliu during World War II and the Distinguished Service Medal during Vietnam. However, it was in December of 1950, near the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, that Davis would earn the acclaim that has made him legendary. While carrying his wounded along, he led his battalion over icy ridges to rescue a stranded rifl e company. During this mission alone he was credited with saving over 1,000 Marines from certain death and 6,000 addi-tional Marines from possible destruction. For this, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, and remains one of the great heroes in Marine Corps history.

On the night of April 24, 1951, Corporal Hiroshi Miyamura waited with his fi ve rifl emen and ten machine gunners for the expected attack of the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF). The 3rd Infantry Regiment was situated north of Seoul. The UN forces had recently recaptured the capital city, and their line had advanced farther north. The CCF had already attacked other areas of the line, and the Americans had been forced to withdraw. Holding Seoul was crucial for the Allied forces. Though not militarily strategic to the troops, the city provided the United Nations with extra clout when bartering with the North Koreans for peace.

The Chinese had attacked other areas of the line on the 22nd, driving parts of the UN line backwards and collapsing the ROK 6th Division, several miles to the east of Miyamura and his men. Marines hastily attempted to fi ll the gap as over 250,000 Chinese troops prepared to attack on the early morning hours of the 24th. As darkness fell, the South Korean conscripts among Miyamura’s men deserted the company. The attack began, and the Chinese came in waves for hours. The Americans were forced to pull back as supporting Filipino and Korean

regiments crumpled exposing their fl anks.

As they threatened to overwhelm his squad, Miyamura deserted his machinegun. Charging forward, he killed ten Chinese with his bayonet. He returned to his machine gun, fi ring until the gun jammed. Undaunted he bayoneted his way to the second machinegun, assuring his men that he would cover their retreat. Unaware that Miyamura was still fi ghting, American forces began dropping phosphorus bombs on his position. After killing over 50 Chinese, Miyamura’s ammunition was depleted. He made his way toward what he thought was the U.S. lines. A dying Chinese dropped a grenade after being bayoneted by Miyamura. It exploded fi lling his legs with shrapnel. He stumbled onwards until he was too weak to continue. After crawling into a ditch, he lost consciousness.

The American troops continued to withdraw over territory they had gained less than six weeks before. Miyamura awoke the next morning to fi nd hundreds of passing enemy soldiers. Hoping to remain unnoticed, he played possum. However, one Chinese was not deceived. He stood over Miyamura and in English told him not to worry—the Chinese had a lenient policy. Soon he was joined by other wounded Americans. After helping bandage each other’s wounds, they began their march to the prison camp.

The UN line continued to retreat until the 28th of April. Able to halt the Chinese a few miles short of Seoul, the tide once again turned. As the Americans advanced north, this time it was the Chinese doing the retreating. The line became static as peace negotiations began with the North Koreans and Chinese. Miyamura spent the next 28 months as a prisoner of war. Poorly fed and with no medical attention, he lost over 50 pounds before he was released on August 23, 1953.

Hiroshi Miyamura fought in one of the most savage battles of the Korean War. Through his personal sacrifi ce, he saved the lives of many while inspiring others to fi ght on against overwhelming odds. For his valor, Miyamura was presented with the United States military’s highest award—the Medal of Honor.

Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura

Joe Ronnie Hooper AwardFor distinguished service in the United States military during the Vietnam War

The most decorated soldier in international combat in American history, Joe Ronnie Hooper, a native South Carolinian, joined the military when he was 19 years old. He was deployed with the 501st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, popularly known as the Delta Raiders in 1966. During his two tours of duty in Vietnam, Hooper killed at least 115 Vietnamese. Surpassing both Sergeant Alvin York and Second Lieu-tenant Audie Murphy, Hooper earned 37 medals, including two Silver Stars, six Bronze Stars and eight Purple Hearts. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his courage on February 21, 1968 in the battle of Hue during the Tet Offensive. Among his many acts of valor that day, he is credited with single-handedly destroying three enemy bunkers, eliminating the enemy in four more with grenades and killing additional Vietnamese with his rifl e and bayonet. He accomplished these feats while he was wounded, refusing medical help until his line was restored. Hooper retired as a captain in 1972 at the age of 34, one of America’s great heroes of Vietnam.

On August 26, 1967, then-Major George “Bud” Day, commander of squadron of F-100s nick-named the “Misty Super FACs,” was leading a mission over North Vietnam to locate military targets and call in air strikes on them. Suddenly, ground-fi re hit his plane, destroying its hydraulic controls and forcing it into a steep dive. While Day was able to eject, he smashed into the plane’s fuselage, breaking his arm in three places.

As Major Day descended toward the ground, North Vietnamese militiamen gathered below, eager to make him their prize. Upon being captured, Day was marched to a hidden under-ground shelter to be interrogated. Despite treatment that would break many men, Major Day refused to talk. His captors then staged a mock execution and hung him from a rafter by his feet for several hours. Figuring that Day was too weak to attempt an escape, the North Vietnamese took little care in tying him securely. They fi gured wrong as on his fi fth day of captivity, Day untied himself and escaped.

On the second night following his escape, Day was sleeping in thick jungle undergrowth when a nearby bomb or rocket explosion violently shook him awake, leaving him bleeding from his ears and sinuses and sending shrapnel into his leg. Despite his wounds, Major Day forced himself on toward the south for several days, eating berries and frogs, and evading enemy patrols.

Nearly two weeks later, Day heard helicopters in his vicinity and stumbled toward the sound. Realizing they were U.S. choppers evacuating a Marine unit, Day hurried to catch them. Unfortunately, he arrived just as they were leaving the landing zone. His bad luck continued, as the next day, he ran into a North Vietnamese Army patrol, which shot him in the leg and hand before capturing him and bringing him back to the very same camp from which he had previously escaped. Once again, he was subjected to more torture.

Soon, Major Day was moved to the infamous “Hanoi Hilton.” The conditions were miserable – Day suffered from mal-nutrition, and his wounds were untreated. He was repeatedly tortured, at one point for 48 hours without rest. Finally, the enemy believed that they had broken him, as Major Day began to talk. Once again, they were wrong, as despite being broken physically, Day had the mental strength to provide them with false information on every important question.

In February of 1971, a number of American POWs gathered for a forbidden religious service. They were suddenly interrupted by enraged enemy guards, who burst into the service with rifl es pointed at the prisoners. At that moment, one of the prisoners stood, staring directly into the muzzles of the enemy rifl es, and began to sing. The song was the Star-Spangled Banner, and the man was Bud Day. One by one, the other prisoners stood, joining in the anthem to freedom, their bodies broken, but their spirits strong.

George “Bud” Day was released on March 14, 1973. Three years later, along with fellow POW James Stockdale, he was presented with the Medal of Honor by Gerald Ford. Colonel Day saw extensive service in World War II, and later served in Korea. He is the most decorated living American soldier.

Colonel George “Bud” Day

Paul Ray Smith was born in Texas in 1969. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1989 and was deployed with Bravo Company of the 3rd Infantry Division to Kosovo in 2001, rising to the rank of sergeant fi rst class the spring of 2002. In January of 2003, he was deployed to Kuwait in preparation for what would be-come Operation Iraqi Freedom. On April 4, 2003, two weeks after the invasion, Smith’s unit found itself engaged in heavy combat against superior numbers of enemy forces near Baghdad International Airport. In the heat of the battle, Smith ran under heavy fi re to a nearby mounted machine gun. While maintaining this exposed position, he killed nearly 50 enemy fi ghters before he was mortally wounded. His selfl ess actions saved the lives of more than 100 soldiers and re-pelled the enemy attack. For his valor, he posthumously was awarded the Medal of Honor—to date the only American service member to receive the military’s highest honor for Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.

Staff Sergeant Anthony ViggianiOperation Enduring Freedom

Paul Ray Smith AwardFor distinguished service in the United States military during Operation Enduring Freedom and

Operation Iraqi Freedom

On June 2, 2004, the First Battalion, 6th Marines launched Operation Asbury Park, an mission that aimed to push deep into the Taliban stronghold near Dey Chopan, Afghanistan. Prior to this expedition twenty-four-year-old Sergeant Anthony Viggiani and his men in Charlie Company had seen little combat as they uncovered considerable caches of arms, ammunition and ordnance. However, their luck was not to continue. That day near Siah Chub Kalay, they were ambushed by anti-coalition militia (ACM) and proceeded to fi ght an intense seven hour battle with the enemy.

On the following day as the company entered the village of Khabargho, they spotted approximately 20 heavily armed men fl eeing into the nearby mountains. Squads led by Viggiani and Sergeant Ryan West moved after the enemy. Realizing that the Marines would be hard to escape, the ACM left fi ve fi ghters to cover their retreat farther into the mountains. Three hid in a cave on the right side of the valley; one positioned himself on the opposite hillside, while the fi fth fi ghter waited for the Marines in the valley fl oor. The Marines made

their way over the rough, rock strewn terrain into the valley under intense fi re. As the Marines on the left slope descended into the valley, Lance Corporal James Gould was hit in the calf by a 7.62 round. Corporal Randy Wood helped him fi nd shelter behind a rock. They were targeted with a heavy barrage of bullets from the cave across the valley. One of the bullets ricocheted off a nearby rock and cut across Wood’s cheek.

As Viggiani made his way down the right slope, he saw a break in the rock. When he leaned through the opening, he spotted a piece of cloth. Realizing he had found the ACM’s hideout, he fi red his rifl e into the opening several times, paused and fi red again; but the hostile fi ring continued. Realizing that rifl e power was futile and a grenade was needed to eliminate the enemy, Viggiani sprinted toward two nearby Marines to retrieve one. As he returned to the cave under heavy fi re, the ACM fi ghter across the valley hit Viggiani in the leg. Blood oozed from the wound above his boot. Intent on reaching the cave and eliminating the enemy, Viggiani did not notice. He quickly made his way over the rocks. When he reached the cave, he pulled the pin and tossed the grenade inside fl attening himself against the rocks for protection against the oncoming explosion.

With the three fi ghters silenced, help reached Gould and Wood. The Marines were able to eliminate the others; and in less than ten minutes after entering the valley the Marines were ready to move out. It was then that his comrades noticed the crimson stain above Viggiani’s boot. Encouraged by his fellow Marines to return to the aid station, Viggiani refused, determined to continue with his company deeper into the mountains after the enemy. After taking two aspirin, he was once again on the move. For his relentless determination in destroying a brutal enemy, Viggiani was awarded the Navy’s second highest award for valor, the Navy Cross.

Paul Ray Smith AwardSergeant Timothy Connors

Operation Iraqi Freedom

On November 15, 2004, the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division, came under fi re from three sides as they attempted to clear a section of twenty houses in the eastern section of the Iraqi city of Fallujah, long known as a hotbed of terrorist activity. The city had been declared secure two days previous; the Marines were now eliminating the remaining insurgents. As the Marines in Battalion 1/8 took cover, LCpl Travis Desiato was shot down in the corridor of a small one-story, three room house. Fearing for Desiato’s safety and feeling responsible as he had allowed Desiato to fi ght that day, Corporal Timothy Connors decided to investigate the situation.

Connors, already a veteran of eleven house fi ghts and the battalion’s most experienced squad leader, cau-tiously moved towards the entrance. As he entered, he noticed the main room on his right was empty. A corridor on his left led past a second room into a back bedroom. Against the bedroom wall in plain sight was Desiato’s body, stricken by a hail of bullets as he had fallen to the fl oor. LCpl Matthew Brown followed Connors into the house. After confi rming that Desiato had been killed, Connors entered the corridor, deter-mined not to let his fellow Marine’s body fall into enemy hands. A barrage of AK fi re greeted him. Quickly stepping back and grabbing a SAW, he let two hundred rounds fl y into the backroom. Silence reigned.

Connors grabbed a grenade and pulled the pin. Pulling his arm back to throw the grenade, he glanced down the corridor. His eyes locked with a man with a full beard and wild hair, his arm also back and armed with a grenade. “Grenade!” Connors yelled as he pulled Brown into the room on his left. After the explosion, they moved out into the courtyard. Making his way down the narrow alley to a small window, he raked the room with bullets before quickly retreating before the insurgents could get to the window and return fi re. Next Connors threw a stick of C-4 down the corridor and ran to take shelter under the overhang of another house with three other Marines. The C-4 blew. Before the Marines could react a muzzle poked out of a hole in the roof and sprayed the wall a few feet above their heads with bullets. Connors threw a grenade into the opening, the explosion silencing the enemy.

The main Marine force had pulled back to a larger house about thirty feet away. After lobbing a few more grenades at the house, Connors and his companions joined their fellow Marines. Corporals Eubaldo Lovato, Camillio Aragon, Brad Donaghy, and Lonnie Longenecker returned with Connors to the house. The other Marines provided covering fi re. They entered the house; a short burst of fi re came from the back room. Aragon and Longenecker threw a few grenades into the room and were greeted with silence. Suddenly Donaghy noticed that Desiato’s SAW was missing. Apparently it was in enemy hands. Not knowing if there was anyone else in the room, Connors and Aragon inched down the hallway. When they reached the door of the room, Aragon fi red his pistol into the room. Silence. As he re-cocked, they were met with two hundred rounds of SAW power. The stream of bullets fl ew past. The two Marines stumbled backwards to the door of the next room where Lovato was pulling the pin on a grenade. “Frag out!” he yelled.

After reaching safety, they decided that they needed more fi repower. Tanks were called in. With the house now breached, the Marines rushed forwards, killing two insurgents attempting to escape. They discovered six insurgents in the room. The one with the thick beard and wild hair that had lobbed the grenade at Connors resembled Omar Hadid, a notorious terrorist who Abu Musab al-Zarqawi reported martyred but whose body was never identifi ed. Hadid was known for being particularly brutal, and was the leader of the Fallujah insurgents.

The battle for Fallujah was one of the toughest fi ghts in recent American military history. There, the Marines and Army attacked room by room, reminiscent of the battle of Hue City, three and one-half decades earlier in Vietnam. Prior to the taking of Fallujah in November of 2004, many insurgents believed that the United States military would never fi ght in such close combat, that they would rely on air and artillery strikes. This attitude changed with Fallujah, as the insurgents learned that the choice to stand and fi ght the Americans would be a fatal one.

Timothy Connors, in his four-hour battle to retrieve the body of his fallen comrade, personifi ed the toughness of the United States Marine Corps in Fallujah. He would end up fi ghting at least a dozen of these vicious house-battles, the most in recorded American military history. For his courage, he would be awarded the Silver Star, and is a worthy successor to those Americans who fought at Iwo Jima, the Chosin Reservoir, and Hue City.

Chris San Jose and Arianna Shroyer

James Trimble III Scholarship – Awarded to one or more outstanding high school seniors, in association with the Young Marines.

Hunter Scott Youth Award – Recognition for a young person (under the age of 18) who has done signifi cant work to preserve the legacy of the World War II generation.

Edward J. Herlily Citizenship Award - Individual recognition for signifi cant work in preserving the legacy of America’s veterans and active-duty ser-vice members.

The Apache Bravo Young MarinesApache Junc-tion, Arizona

Hal Koster and Jim Mayer

Earl McClung

Darrell “Shifty” Powers

Donald G. Malarkey

William “Wild Bill” Guarnere

Edward “Babe” Heffron

Lynn “Buck” Compton

Matthew Cox William JonesMatthew Farmer

On August 19, 1942, the fi rst commander of the newly formed 101st Airborne Division, Maj. Gen. William C. Lee, told his recruits that while the 101st had no history, it had a “rendezvous with destiny.” And so it would, as the brave young men of the 101st fulfi lled that prophecy, parachuting into Normandy the night before D-Day, holding out against all odds during the siege of Bastogne, and leading the drive into Germany, taking Hitler’s mountaintop retreat known as “The Eagle’s Nest.”

It seemed at every turn, E Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, was there. No matter how tough the going, these men hung together, relying on each other to survive, and ultimately defeat, one of the most evil ideolo-gies the world has yet known. Along the way, they became more than soldiers, they became brothers.

Now, over sixty years after victory in World War II, the 101st Airborne Division is once again being called on to take on an ideology no less dangerous than Hitler’s Nazism. Once again, these soldiers are serving with the same cour-age, discipline, and honor displayed by those who came before. A new generation of brothers has risen to carry on the legacy of those who served so well in World War II, Vietnam, and Desert Storm.

The American Veterans Center is proud to honor the soldiers of the 101st Airborne from the Greatest Generation and the Latest Generation.

The Greatest Generation...

...and the Latest Generation.

Christopher Rauh

Rex Swartz

We salute the courageousmen and women of our Armed Forces

Fund Raising Strategies, Inc.1420 Spring Hill Rd., #490, McLean, VA 22102

voice 703-226-0212 fax 703-734-7993

The Tawani Foundation, offi cial sponsor of the Ninth Annual Conference, honors the “Uncommon Valor”

of America’s veterans of all generations.

www.tawanifoundation.org