Here is a picture of myself and the last surviving Battle of Iwo Jima Medal of Honor recipient, Cpl. Hershel W. Williams. I had the great honor of meeting Mr. Williams at the Tulsa Medal of Honor Day ceremony, Saturday, April 27th 2013. He is 89 years young and still sharp as a tack. As I was standing next to him some guy had said he had spent 13 years in the Army. Mr. Williams said, "you know what the Army stands for?" "It means Ain't Ready for the Marines Yet!" We all chuckled and the Army guy even said he had never heard that one before. It was really a great day.
Also to T.G. in last week's newsletter, I was on the USS Tripoli LPH-10 in 1985 when the Sailor jumped overboard. It was quite the excitement, with everyone running to get counted in the proper areas and running back up to the deck to see what was happening. I remember a Sea Knight helicopter throwing flares down in the water to mark this guy for the boat that was going out there to get him. It looked like he was at least a quarter mile or more away as our ship and others with us started to circle around. They didn't seem to be in too much of a hurry to get this guy, (they probably figured out pretty quick who he was) because we watched a good while before they even picked him up. Must have been good at treading water. They marched him right in front of us after they got him out of the water, and he looked like a drenched rat. Heard that he also would be charged for interfering with a military exercise.
Thanks for the newsletter every week. Always look forward to it.
Cpl. Clay 0351