1941: Although the United States has not yet entered the war, U.S. Naval vessels are serving as convoy escorts. When a German U-boat “wolfpack” attacks an Allied convoy near Iceland, the American destroyer USS Reuben James places itself between an incoming torpedo and an ammunition ship. The torpedo detonates the destroyer’s magazine, blowing the Reuben James in half. 115 sailors perish in the first sinking of a U.S. warship in World War II.
USS Reuben James
1943: Lt. Hugh D. O’Neill, flying at night in a specially modified F4U Corsair, shoots down a Japanese Betty bomber over Vella Lavella, scoring the first kill for the radar-equipped night fighters.
1966: While on a patrol mission of the Mekong Delta, two patrol boats of the “Brown Water Navy” are fired upon by Vietnamese sampans. When Petty Officer First Class James E. Williams gives chase, he discovers a hornet’s nest of enemy activity in the isolated section of the delta. During a three-hour battle with enemy boats and fortifications, Williams and his crew, supported by helicopter gunships, destroy 65 vessels and kill hundreds of the enemy force. For his role in the engagement, the Navy’s most-decorated enlisted sailor (having already received two Silver Stars and three Bronze Stars – all for valor – in addition to the Navy Cross) is awarded the Medal of Honor.
James E. Williams, Medal of Honor Recipient
1968: Five days before the elections, Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson ends Operation “Rolling Thunder”, the bombing campaign against North Vietnam. Over three-and-a-half years, 864,000 tons of bombs fell on the Communist nation – more tonnage dropped than either the Korean War or the Pacific Theater of World War II. Over 900 U.S. planes are shot down during Rolling Thunder, with over 1,000 aircrew killed, wounded or captured. But despite the damage inflicted by the Americans, the resilient North Vietnamese show they can take what Washington can dish out.
1971: Saigon begins releasing the first of around 3,000 Viet Cong prisoners of war. American POWs won’t be released until Feb. 12, 1973.
1972: Two Navy SEAL advisors and their South Vietnamese naval commando counterparts on a reconnaissance mission are mistakenly inserted amongst thousands of North Vietnamese soldiers. As the team maneuvers back to the sea to escape, they are compromised. Lt. Thomas Norris receives a massive facial wound, and a Vietnamese frogman tells Petty Officer Michael E. Thornton that Norris is dead. Instead of leaving his supposedly fallen officer behind (Norris was alive but unconscious), Thornton fought and ran through a harrowing field of fire to rescue Norris, then swam out to sea for four hours before being rescued while holding two incapacitated teammates – even though Thornton himself had been wounded multiple times. Thornton will be awarded the Medal of Honor for his incredible lifesaving feat.
Retired US Navy Lt. Michael E. Thornton, Medal of Honor Recipient
(R) Lt. Thomas R. Norris, Medal of Honor Recipient
1976: (Featured Image) The Air Force’s E-3A Sentry airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) aircraft makes its first flight.
