Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:
Coxswain Edward B. Young (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on August 5, 1864, on board the U.S.S. Calena. His citation reads:
On board the U.S.S. Calena during the attack on enemy forts at Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Securely lashed to the side of the Oneida which had suffered the loss of her steering apparatus and an explosion of her boiler from enemy fire, the Calena aided the stricken vessel past the enemy forts to safety. Despite heavy damage to his ship from raking enemy fire, Young performed his duties with skill and courage throughout the action.
Private Frank Albert Young (US Marine Corps) received his Medal of Honor for his actions from June 20 – July 16, 1900, at Pehng, China. His citation reads:
In the presence of the enemy during the battle of Pehng, China, 20 June to 16 July 1900. Throughout this period, Young distmguished himself by meritorious conduct.
Captain Gerald O. Young (US Air Force) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on November 9, 1967, at Khesanh. His citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Young distinguished himself while serving as a helicopter rescue crew commander. Capt. Young was flying escort for another helicopter attempting the night rescue of an Army ground reconnaissance team in imminent danger of death or capture. Previous attempts had resulted in the loss of 2 helicopters to hostile ground fire. The endangered team was positioned on the side of a steep slope which required unusual airmanship on the part of Capt. Young to effect pickup. Heavy automatic weapons fire from the surrounding enemy severely damaged 1 rescue helicopter, but it was able to extract 3 of the team. The commander of this aircraft recommended to Capt. Young that further rescue attempts be abandoned because it was not possible to suppress the concentrated fire from enemy automatic weapons. With full knowledge of the danger involved, and the fact that supporting helicopter gunships were low on fuel and ordnance, Capt. Young hovered under intense fire until the remaining survivors were aboard. As he maneuvered the aircraft for takeoff, the enemy appeared at point-blank range and raked the aircraft with automatic weapons fire. The aircraft crashed, inverted, and burst into a window of the burning aircraft. Disregarding serious burns, Capt. Young aided one of the wounded men and attempted to lead the hostile forces away from his position. Later, despite intense pain from his burns, he declined to accept rescue because he had observed hostile forces setting up automatic weapons positions to entrap any rescue aircraft. For more than 17 hours he evaded the enemy until rescue aircraft could be brought into the area. Through his extraordinary heroism, aggressiveness, and concern for his fellow man, Capt. Young reflected the highest credit upon himself, the U.S. Air Force, and the Armed Forces of his country.
Today’s Pic
I’ve often been asked, “What’s the one thing you’d do to fix politics in the United States?” Ok, I’ve never been asked that, but if someone did ask me, I’d tell them the one thing I’d do is make myself King of the country and do away with the system we have now. Of course I don’t mean that… but the one thing I really would do is change the layout of the congressional districts. As you can see from this link, the current districts are (for the most part) a joke. Maybe not in all states, but in a good many. My great state, for example, The only the areas in some of these districts have in common is they are filled with people from one party or the other. The district I am in is so filled with Republicans that, for most positions, the Republican Primary is the real election and there usually isn’t a primary for the Democrats (with the exception of President). Why is this a problem? Because the people who are elected from these districts have no reason to compromise or work at all with people in the “other” party. Why bother when the people electing you are all on the Right or all on the Left? This also, I think, drives down voter participation (and people willing to run for office). I could be wrong… but I think the country would be better off with some more liberal Republicans and Conservative Democrats. Or maybe a third party filled with moderates from the Left and the Right. I’m just sayin…
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