Canadian Medal of Honor.com

For all those who earned Medals of Honor, the Victoria Cross, the Congressional Gold Medal, and those who did not...

3/1/2015

Like so many times in the past, one of my most loyal followers sent me a link today that made me stop and think. And to do something never done before in this blog.

Most of the more than 300 blogs in this space have brought you stories of the heroes and recipients of the above medals and more. But so often what does not get much attention is those who fell between the cracks, yet nevertheless stood in danger's way so that you and I can enjoy the freedoms earned, not by a pen and paper, but from the ends of their rifles.

Today I want to share with you the video link given to me and ask you to please have a look at it and then pass it on to others. They will, be glad you did.
Here is the link... http://www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=1

Please come back after viewing, and I'll bet you will not have a dry eye when you do. The video was made back in 2006 by a 15 year old teen in the US. Recently a web site claimed it had by then been seen over 29,000,000 times.

TWENTY NINE MILLION..by a 15 yr old!

Now take a look at what an older fellow has done. He's a news anchor by the name of Tom Brokaw, and this short clip has been on this site before.. and will hopfully come again. Check this out. It was made just before the Olympics in Vancouver BC many years ago. Here it is.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrA4V6YF6SA

Now, listen to this very emotional song by Jack London at... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34n4AJu2mkg

And finally listen to Trace Adkins with a tear jerker song about Arlington National Cemetery, where you can visit thousands of veterans graves, and go back every day of the year to see a different Medal of Honor grave marker. A handful of these came from Canada. (Our Minister of Veterans Affairs was in the cemetery last month but the press releases say nothing of his visit to those graves.) The video is at... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGzuvmut3Hs

Today's blog is dedicated to those who have worn the uniforms of our two nations in the past, those that wear it today, and those who will wear it tomorrow. It is also dedicated to their families and friends back home who gave them that support they needed when they were out risking, and since 2001, almost 5,000 losing their lives so that we can sit back and do our thing.

Many of these were women. While doubtful to be noted in the Canadian press, and with millions of Americans living in Canada, they and you should know that today is the start of Womens' History Month in the US. In Canada we celebrate this in October.

It has been estimated that beteen 400 and 1,000 women fought disguised as men during the Civil War. One figure says it could be several thousand. Many of these came from Canada...one serving in 8 different regiments. In many years of researching the Canadian MOH recipients I do not recall ever finding a case of a man serving in so many army units. That, with exception of the one fellow who was a scoundrel and joined about 30 or more for bounties and then deserted till caught and being sent of to jail.

Watch this space mid week for today's normal blog.

Bart

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"Fall out, the Canadians!"

2/22/2015

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It must have seemed like an eternity from the very start till the hundreds of soldiers in formation heard that command. It all started with the men numbering about 1,800 to start with, arriving at an almost shut down old army base called Fort Harrison. (Named after the 9th president, who died in office just 39 days after becoming the president, shortest of all terms dating back to the days of Washington.)

The men would train hard at several locations, and then be put to the test in the Aleutians. But when they arrived intelligence was found sloppy. The enemy had vacated already. So off they went to Europe to tackle the jobs no one else could do. And they did it. Every battle they took on they won. The casualties were high. Some say in a 6 month period over 500 would become killed, injured, wounded of MIA. But for every man lost, the enemy lost 25. And over 35,000 of the enemy would be taken prisoner by this elite brigade of three regiments known as the First Special Services Force, aka the Devil's Brigade. These would be the very first soldiers to liberate Rome.

There wouild be many more battles, but then it was over... back to North America they would be eventually destined. And therein came the order for the American/Canadian brigade to be split up and sent off in different directions. The Canadians would take one step forward and break away from the formation, heading off to transports. Normally when men fall out of ranks, the remainder reform into a smaller, tighter formation. But when the Canadians left that day, the Americans refused to "close up" out of respect for their departing comrades. Comrades who were strangers just a few years earlier but now were best of friends. After going through hell and high water, they were all going on to their next asignments.

The internet often notes that when the Canadians left the formation, there were very few dry eyes with either country's heroes. In fact one veteran told me that while he was heading out on back of a truck, his Sergeant... an American... rushed along side to get a final goodbye, best wishes, handshake, another sharing of tears of joy and praying for the future of the departing officer. Many others were busy doing the same.

The Force, as they like to be known, ought to have been famous long before the 1960's popular movie came out. A few of its more memorial moments included when a fellow wearing a Canadian uniform in the movie, used his hand-to-hand combat training to teach some humility to an American bully. Another moving scene had the Canadians marching into camp for the first time as a unit, rather unlike the real way it happened, but nevertheless some Hollywood antics, coupled with a platoon of Canadians arriving with the pipes playing.

A most powerful series of scenes have the Force climbing a side of the mountain know as La Defensa, which most thought unscaleable. On top were well dug-in German troops that had cost many delays in Allied advances and many a death to boot. The Force climbed it at night, caught the enemy completely off guard and took the mountain in just 2 hours... but at very high costs. The top of the mountain is shown in the above movie filmage.

Ater the brigade returned to the United States plans moved along regarding a monument to the brigade's brave soldiers who never came home.

In the last blog I told you about the tragedy involving the USS Helena. Many sailors lives were lost when it was struck by three surface torpedoes in the Solomon Islands, shown here. The sinking occured in the Kula Gulf. About 450 Kms to the south east is a place called Point Cruz on the Island of Guadalcanal. It was here that Signalman First Class Douglas Munro, Vancouver Canada born, saved 500 marines lives about 14 months earlier. He was awarded a Medal of Honor, the only one in the US Coast Guard's history. Much has been written in this space about him in the past.

The last blog told of plans to raise funding for the replacement of the USS Helena, but when it was announced that another would not immediately be made, the funds were diverted to war bonds and ultimately to a fund to create a monument for the lost men of the Force.

In 1947 veterans and families and friends gathered at Helena Montana for their first ever annual reunion. They have met every year since, alternating between Canada and the United States. Sadly the numbers of actual veterans gets smaller and smaller as the years pass on.

During the several day reunion there was much talk about one of the veterans who lived in Helena. He was in the stone business and had actualy designed and had built a massive monument in tribute to those lost from the brigade. On the night before the monument was to be unveiled a decision was made, and somehow a selection made that the woman who would do the unveiling was to be be one of the mothers who lost a son in battle. This woman was May De Macedo, and her story is at the left.

The very unveiling would be by way of removing a large silk parachutte. How fitting!

An earlier report had Mrs De Macedo doing the unveiling herself, but a later report had the duties being shared with a Mrs Fitzpatrick. Most appropriate as now each woman would not only represent her lost son, but each would represent all the men for their own country as well.

The image to the left has Mrs De Macedo laying the first wreath after the unveiling. Mrs. Fitzpatrick is shown at her left. And to her right, stands then Colonel Walker. He was the commander of one of the regiments that formed 1/3rd of the entire brigade. Unfortunately he seems to have lost his head in the picture provided to me.

Many years later he would again almost lose his head. He was doing his taxes in a back room of his home. Somebody took a sot at him trying to kill him for his strong anti-communist leanings. Had he not suddenly jerked his head, he would have lost it. As his would-be killer was an expert shot. He proved it several months later in the same city of Dallas, at a shool book depository.

His name was Lee Harvey Oswald!

The above image shows the front of the monument and proudly features the Devil's Brigade's flag also called their colours.

The three pictures to the left show the other three sides.

Over the years many of the veterans have asked why their names were not also added to this monument. But more on this and some updates next Sunday.

Bart

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Press across Canada have reminded us of two important dates to reflect upon. But missed a third!

2/16/2015

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Over the days leading up to yesterday, Sunday 15 February, we were reminded of the debate of 50 years ago that ended with a new flag for Canada.

The debate was often rather less than pleasant but when all was said and done, over 1,000 proposals had been considered.The submission by Doctor George Stanley, who was the Dean of Arts at Kingston's most respected Royal Military College, was finally chosen by a vote of 163 to 78 in the Parliament of Canada.

That was 50 years ago, and on 15 February 1965 Canada's new Maple Leaf flag was flown over the Peace Tower for the first time.

Many lucky and VERY patient Canadians now claim ownership to one of these very flags flown over the Parliament Buildings. You can get one too... just write to your MP and ask for one... and wait a little while. Actually a lot! Peace Tower flags have a long list of waiting customers... the delay is about fourty eight years. Try to get one from the East and West blocks... the wait for these is much less. Only thirty four years according to one web site consulted.

Canada's official flag before the Maple Leaf was the Red Ensign from 1957 until 1965 and previously, a slightly diffrent version, shown at far left, from 1921 until 1957.

With the announcements of the 50th anniversary in the days past, some have made mention of the fact that the federal government has not made much of a big deal about the matter. They apparently only spent $50,000 on some promotion material and a rather sparce glass display case measuring only about ten feet long and stuck in a hallway at the Canadian Museum of History located across the river from the Peace Tower. Seeing this display will cost you over ten bucks and add in another 7 or 8 for parking to see what is reported to be about about 5 minutes worth of viewing old photo's etc. Funding to the tune of about $200,000 was forwarded to other agencies and the Lt Governors' offices across the country as well. But that said, the total spent for such an important occassion is rather unimpressive when you consider some of the other spending on our behalf.

Take the celebration of our first dominion's Prime Minister's birthday. Sir John would roll over in his grave if he learned that bill came to about 4 million. Almost 1/2 million is flying towards New Brunswick for a plan to retell the stories of our Victoria Cross recipeints. To that I have no objection. But it is only limited to those from the two world wars. What about the rest I say? More on this in a later blog.

The federal government also spent over 5 million to remind us of the great contributions to Canada that were made back in the days of the War of 1812. In that war some 35,000 Americans fought against about 70,000 Canadians, Brit's and our native allies. The Americans were said to have lost about 21,000 to death, disease, or wounding while our side lost some 9,000 to similar causes.

That said, when serious research is done, anyone would realize the very important roles that Canada played during the American Civil War. Some 50,000 went off to engage with their northern, and southern allies and thousands gave their lives. Quite possibly as many men came home with Medals of Honor as did Victoria Crosses.

Yet to this day I am led to believe that this country has yet to spend any serious dollars on memorials to recognize these tens of thousands. Others are now trying to bring light to this issue and more will appear in this space soon about those efforts. You have read more in the past two years on this very site on these men than in all the press coverage in the country has in the past 24 months and more.

And one of these men knew something about flags. Military ones that is!

His name was John Harties Brown and he was born in New Brunswick.

John went off to fight in the US Civil War in a northern unit, in fact three. He rose with promotions to the rank of Captain. Like almost one third of all Medal of Honor recipients in the Civil War, he was awarded his medal for capturing an enemy's regimental flag.

These flags were the point of highest pride in the units. They had the utmost of respect and were used as a rallying point and indicator of where the men were supposed to be in the midst of smoke and horror of the battlefiled. The colours, being on a nine foot poll took both hands to operate. And so the man had no personal weapon. He was also a moving target for the enemy who had considerable interest in killing him, and thus screwing up the directions the enemy was getting, and devistating their morale. Many a flag would have been full of bullet holes by war's end, and in many cases the very flag bearer would be replaced upwards of a dozen times with each earlier carrier being killed, wounded or captured.

Use the search engine at this site to pull up the story of this hero. And therein you can read of the request I made to the then serving Canadian Ambassador to the United States, Frank McKenna, also from New Brunswick. I asked him to visit Arlington were about two dozen Canadians are buried and to lay a wreath and plant the flag on behalf of Canada. He did so and above he and then serving Admiral Mack are seen saluting one of the MOH men from Canada. His name was John Harties Brown.

And his Medal of Honor was approved by Abraham Lincoln himself on February 15 1865. That was 150 years ago yesterday.

Now... onto another topic... the First Special Services Force, AKA the Devil's Brigade. In mid July of 2013 I had the incredible priviledge of interviewing Mr. Richard Hilton, a veteran of the Brigade, also simply called... The Force. At the time Richard was a young 97 years of age. A few Sundays past, he turned 99. And on the following day, I again had the priviledge of chatting with this hero. It was day one of his 100 year, and a first for me. he is the oldest living member of the Force of more than 4,000 men when you include replacements over the term of the unit's service.

You can read the four blogs written about Mr. Hilton at... http://www.canadianmedalofhonor.com/wednesday-and-friday-blogs/wed-seen-more-combat-than-the-rest-had-seen-pay-days ...
and at... http://www.canadianmedalofhonor.com/wednesday-and-friday-blogs/part-2-of-wed-seen-more-combat-than-the-rest-had-seen-pay-days. The remaining two appear at... http://www.canadianmedalofhonor.com/wednesday-and-friday-blogs/part-3-wed-seen-more-combat-than-the-rest-had-seen-pay-days and finally at ... http://www.canadianmedalofhonor.com/wednesday-and-friday-blogs/part-4-wed-seen-more-combat-than-the-rest-had-seen-pay-days A search at the site will also produce other blogs mentioniong the Force.

We of course spoke of the recent news coverage of the United States awarded the CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL to the Force for its incredible accomplishments in WWll. In a short existence of about 2 1/2 years the Brigade consisting of three Regiments never lost a single battle they took on. Atter days of allied attempts to take the Germans off an Italian hill called la Defensa, the brigade moved in and took it in two hours. After many more successes they became the first allied troops to move into Rome.

The recent news coverage told of the Presentation of the Congerssional Gold Medal on February 3 to the Force as a whole unit. Individual replicas were presented to the 14 Canadian and 29 American veterans that were able to make it to the ceremony in Washington DC. Many family members and 100's of the public witnessed the event and other activites of the day.

In the next blog I will bring some news of the event and more, but today I want to briefly touch on an event that current news seems to have not mentioned at all. And it goes back to 1947 and the first ever gathering of the Devil's Brigade veterans after the war.

During the raid on Pearl Harbor On 7 December 1941 many ships were lost or damaged. The above USS Helena was damaged but repairs put her back in operation. Back in the fighting war off the Solomon Islands some 18 months later the Helena had worse luck. It was struck not once, but three times at the Kula Gulf, in the Solomon Islands and sank within 25 minutes. Over 160 men from her 900 man crew were killed during the sinking or later rescue attempts.

Within days the news came to the men of the Force who had trained at Helena Montana. At the time they were en-route to the Aleutian Islands of Alaska to help drive the Japanese off the islands. Hearing of the sinking the men tossed the hat among themselves and raised $5,000 in a start up fund to rebuild the warship. A committee was setup for this purpose in Helena Montana, the Force's training grounds. But later in the war the government decided the ship would not be rebuilt.

So, what to do with the funds collected. Then a project was hatched to build a monument to the men of Helena, the rest of the United States and Canada who were paying the ultimate price for their service with their lives in Europe.

I will tell you all about this next Sunday.

Bart

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New info arriving and blog delayed till Monday... again. Sorry folks.

2/15/2015

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Important dates for Victoria Cross aficionados!

2/9/2015

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Not long ago I found an interesting note on the internet with regards to the earliest days of the Victoria Cross. It told the reader that it was on 29 January, some 159 years ago, in the year 1856, that HRH Queen Victoria actually signed the bills that created the Victoria Cross. Some of this history has appeared in this space over the last two years.

But something that had eluded me all along was the actual date that a proposal was tabled in the British House of Commons for such a medal's creation. Internet sites abound with the information that the move was started by a former naval Captain named Thomas Scobell who, in 1854, was an honourable member of that House. He proposed the issue of a new medal and gave considerable justification for same.

ALL references that I could find simply said that he did this in December of 1854. No dates or further details were given.

But yesterday that all changed for me. Using the fabulous tool... www.newspapers.com I did detailed research and discovered that the member stood in that House on December 20. Better yet, I found a newspaper article giving his very words. Since this is great history, below I am now sharing it with you.

In January of 1855 The British Secretary of War wrote to HRH Prince Albert, the Queen's consort and asked what was happening about an earlier conversation with the two regarding a new medal for war heroes. A few months later Captain Scobell again rose in the House to ask what was happening with his proposal for a medal. One that he called a Medal of Merit.

Among the earliest proposals came the suggestion to call a new medal the Military Order of Victoria, but HRH Prince Albert, taking out his pencil apparently drew a line through this, his replaced words then reading... Victoria Cross.

On 29 January 1856, just 12 days... and 159 years ago, HRH Queen Victoria signed the bill that created the famous Victoria Cross, the highest of all awards for bravery in the British Empire. An award that has now been awarded only three times in its history...twice to the same individual, and 1357 times in total.

Thanks to ... www.newspapers.com ... I now bring you that legislation...

On 19 May 1856 HRH Queen Victoria stepped ashore at a special built dock at the site of a massive hospital building complex being built on her orders. It was to be called Netley and was created to treat the war wounded from the horribly bloody Crimean War.

The crowds gathered were horrified to see what was to come next!

During a cannon Royal Salute the Queen, Prince Albert and others, one of the guns pematurely fired. It killed two sailors and injured several others. Regardless, the ceremony to place a time capsul continued. Below a 2 ton Welsh granite stone was placed a time capsul concealed under the building's plans. Here, within a copper cask were placed several coins of the realm, and a silver Crimean Medal complete with 4 campign bars. And below these was a very special medal.

It was the fist ever Victoria Cross!

And unlike all others, it had no name enscribed on the reverse. It is not included in the numbers of VC's most know exist and was never added to the official lists or duly noted in the London Gazette. The medal, since refferred to as the Netley Victoria Cross was recovered in the 1960's when most of the building was demolished and is now preserved at the Army Medical Services Museum near Aldershot, England.

Prior to being donated there, Hancocks' the only maker of the VC since its very beginning, has authenticated it as being the first one ever. It has been directed to not ever reveal what was later enscribed on its reverse that authenticated its originality. This being to thwart any attempts to make a duplicate.

On 26 June 1857 The Royal family and most military and civilian dignitaries, politicians and thousands in the military gathered at Hyde Park for the first ever presentation of Victoria Crosses to many of the heroes of the Crimean War and before.

Of the 111 men to be so awarded that day, many could not make the trip due to far away assignments, health or other reasons. But 62 heroes did arrive and played a major role in the pomp and ceremony of the day as they were marched before HRH Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and the other dignitaries to receive their Victoria Crosses.

Among those on parade that day was Toronto born Lt Alexender Dunn, who was the 17th man that day, and in history, to receive the VC.

Despite fewer popular numbers, there are over 100 heroes from Canada, or with connections to Canada, that would eventually be awarded the VC. Some of them you have hopefully read about in these blogs. If not, please use this site's search engine and start reading.

See you next Sunday.

Bart

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The Millett ... Payne connection!

2/1/2015

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Last Sunday I brought to your attention a new series of stamps produced in Australia in honour of five recipients of the Victoria Cross. One of these soldiers was Australian Army Chief Warrant Officer Keith Payne, a Victoria Cross recipient for bravery in Vietnam in the mid 1960's. This was the 2nd time Payne was honoured with a Australian stamp for his heroism.

In that column I also told a little more, as much has been said in this space in the past, about US Colonel Lewis Millett. He was the colourful hero that served in the US National Guard, deserted and joined the Canadian Army whilst still enlisted with the US forces, went off to join the WW ll efforts in England and after the Pearl Harbour bombings, rejoined the US troops. He went on to earn many medels for bravery including the Distinguisehd Service Cross and the Medal of Honor.

While I was in California in December 2009 doing MOH research, I was invited by the Millett family to meet with them and also had the priviledge extended to attend the funeral of the late Colonel Millett. Whilst there I was very excited to have a most brief chat with another US Colonel... Tom Henry, who served with Millett in Vietnam. In fact he was the commander of an elite highly specialized and trained unit that had attachments from other countries...incuding 22 soldiers from Australia. One of these was Keith Payne.

Also with boots on the ground in Vietnam was Lewis Millett. By that time Lewis had already fought in WW ll, earned a Silver Star for bravery, made Cpl, then Sgt, then 2nd Lt, been court marshelled from deserting the US forces to join Canadian forces, charged, convicted and sentenced, fought in North Africa and Italy and came away with at least seven campaign ribbons.

At war's end he'd return to college, rejoined the National Guard and then the regular forces and sent of to Japan on staff of General MacArthur. Then came Korean, many battles and heroism and by the time that came to an end he was wearing a chest full of medals including the Distinguished Service Cross and the Medal of Honor for conducting three bayonet charges, the likes of which some historians claim, not having been seen since the famous battles of the Civil War (of which 50,000 Canadians fought and many shed their blood, and in plenty of cases, their lives.)

Lewis then returned to the reserves for awhile, then served in Greece and then back to the States where he ended up with the 101 Airborne where he put together some very tough training programs on recce duties. When on routine manouveres he took some of his specially trained men on a job... to capture the fake enemy HQ... It was actually the Division Headquarters. That got the attention of General Westmoreland, who asked Millett to put together some formal training programs on these tactics. This soon resulted in his being sent off to Vietnam to continue giving this training... and thus the meeting up with the likes of Colonel Tom Henry and Chief Warrant Officer Keith Payne.

Now let's jump forward to the mid 1990's

In 1996 Colonel's Millett and Henry had received a formal invitation, no doubt based on their military connections in Vietnam with the Australians many years earlier. They were asked to attend the celebrations honouring the 75th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force. The celebration would take place throughout the country with special activities on the country's Norfolk Island. The event would be a lead up to a later event commemorating the national holiday known as ANZAC Days. (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps)

A coalition of French, Australian, Indian, New Zealand, UK and Newfoundland troops, consisting of 5 Full Divisions of military, about 1/2 million troops invaded the Gallipoli Peninsula of Turkey. It was hopen this would be secured and allowing for naval use to help the cause of capturing what, today is known as Istanbul. The invasion came up against only 315,000 of the enemy but well fortified and a battle of anticipated days or weeks lasted 8 months before the coalition had to evacuate. When all was said and done almost 1/2 million lost their lives, were wounded, captured or declared MIA. The ANZAC celebrations annually are in memory of those who fought or died in miltary actions, and in particular the horrific costs back at Gallipolli in May of 1915

Colonel Henry is shown at far left, above. At the extreme right in that picture is Colonel Millett. To Lewis' right is CWO Keith Payne and wife. The other man remains a mystery so far. Colonel Henry is also show reading a citation at far right. He is not then on march but in front of a special parade of the miltary.

In 1969 Keith Payne was awarded the Victoria Cross. At the time he was aslo recommended for the US Medal of Honor. But MOH rules required any nominee of the award to be actually in service of the United States. If America wanted to award a military medal to service members from other countries, the highest they could award is the Distinguished Service Cross. So the Payne MOH nomination was dropped down one rank, if you will, to that of the DSC.

But there was another flaw to be dealt with. Politics of the day in Australia had concerns about America and thus, the officials would not allow an Australian to be awarded any American medal.

Now lets jump forward to the 1996 celebrations in Australia, a country now under a different government. One that allowed US medals to be worn by Aussie troops. And thus, the citation about to be read in front of the parade in 1996, and being read above by Colonel Henry.

In a wonderful telephone call of a few days ago Tom Henry told me that there was quite a scramble to sort some stuff out when he and Lewis Millett arrived in Australia for the events above noted. They had learned that a government was then in place that thought differently, and that they believed the Payne nomination still stood. Contacting the US military officials stationed in Australia they asked what plans were in place to finally get the DSC to Payne. They were told it would be mailed.

Both Millett and Henry were livid. Surely any military man or woman knows that when such a high medal is awarded it is not done so, via the post office. A method that went out of style soon after the turn of the 20th century! The need to get a medal to Australia would take some time but then the military attache, Millett and Henry put their heads together and came up with a plan. One that CWO Payne would know nothing about till it happened.

You will recall that I mentioned above that Lewis Millett had been awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Korea. And weeks before that he was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Walla... there was a DSC in Australia. On Millett's chest!

Well, actually in his pocket on the day of the parade. When CWO Payne was called out in front of the troops, so was Colonel Millett..his friend and former companion of wars past. As Colonel Henry read the citation awarding the Distinguished Service Cross to Payne, who had tears running down his face from pride and no doubt incredible surprise, out came Millett's DSC from his pocket and as you see above, Millett then pinned it on Payne's chest.

And there folks is one of many connections between Colonel Lewis Millett, Colonel Tom Henry and Chief Warrant Officer Keith Payne.

Thanks ever so much to the Millett family and Mr. and Mrs Henry for sharing these details, and pictures with me and you for reading this story of these brave heroes.

See you next week.

Bart

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Stamps of Approval... in fact many of them!

1/28/2015

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The last several columns have brought you a portion of the story of the Gaujot brothers who were the only brothers in the history of the Medal of Honor, dating back to Civil War days, who earned their medals in different wars. Several other sets of brothers also earned the medal, but each would earn his medal in the same war as his kin. While this story is not yet been fully told in this space, I am taking a break for a few blogs to tell of a few recent news announcements with regards to both the Medal of Honor and the Victoria Cross. After these I will return to the Gaujot heroes.

Regular followers of this space are aware of my almost daily habbit of using the GOOGLE "News" search filter to see what is happening in the VC and MOH worlds. Several stories have been discovered that need mentioning here in the days to come.

In past blogs I have brought you the story of the Canada Post release of the October 2004 sheet of Victoria Cross stamps. The occassion of the release was in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the famous October, 1854 Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War. It was here that Toronto born Lt. (later Colonel) Alexander Dunn was awarded with the Victoria Cross. This was later pinned on his chest by HRH Queen Victoria at London, during the first ever presentation of about 60 Victoria Crosses. Dunn being on the first parade, was the first ever Canadian recipient. His VC was the ONLY VC awarded to an officer in that famous charge.

The image on the left is that of an actual Victoria Cross awarded to a Canadian, and held by our National War Museum at Ottawa. A museum highly recommended to be visited by all. The image to the right on that sheet of VC stamps is a depiction of the new Canadian version of the VC, which has replaced tthe English version... "For Valour" with the Latin... Pro Valore." It also bears the approval via signature of HRH Queen Elizabeth ll, and was unveiled in May of 2008.

Past blogs have also told of the sheet of stamps, above at right, honouring Nova Scotia born William Hall and released during Black History Month, back in February 2010. This son of a slave went on to become the first man of colour, not only from Canada, but in the entire world... to be awarded the Victoria Cross, for his heroism in 1857 during the Indian Rebellion. He was the recipient of Canada's third VC, and was the first Canadian naval man to be so awarded.

Having written about these men in the past, I was very interested to learn in days past that the post office in Australia has issued five new stamps effective about a week ago, in honour of five of that country's Victoria Cross recipients. The issue is part of the Legends program and is released in preparation of the 100th anniversary coming up of the ANZAC landings in Gallipoli, Turkey in WW l.

Holding the image of their VC stamps are, left to right... Ben Roberts-Smith VC, Daniel Keighran VC, Keith Payne VC, Mr. Doug Baird and Mark Donaldson VC. Mr. Baird accepted the honour on behalf of his late son Cameron who was awarded the VC posthumously after being killed in action in Afghanistan in 2013. With exception of Mr. Payne, the remainder all also earned VC's for heroism in Afghanistan. Payne's came from bravery in Vietnam back in 1969. Each will receive a 24 ct. gold likeness of their Victoria Cross stamp. They stand in front of Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance.

The post office's Legends Awards, not only recognized the heroes of Australia, but also acts as a fund raising tool by the selling of various products. A portion of the money is donated to needy service members and families affected by war.

Chief Warrant Officer Payne, VC, shown at above right, was also honoured with an Australian stamp released back in 2000 and as shown below, at far right.

CWO Payne is of interest to me because of a Canadian connection... with a twist, if you will. And that twist involves US Colonel Lewis Millett, a Medal of Honor recipient for bravery in Korea. Regular readers of this space will remember that many years before he became famous Lewis served in the National Guard. When he learned that the US President was not going to send troops off to join in the war effort in the early days of WW ll, Lewis deserted. He then hitchhiked to Canada..not once but twice, and on the 2nd attempt enlisted with the Canadian Army.

After basic training in New Brunswick he was sent to the Ottawa area for secret training in a new invention then known as... Radio Detection And Ranging. Today we simply call this... radar. Then off to England he was sent, served with the Canadain troops there and when the US entered the war he switched over to the US forces again and went of to Africa and many acts of heroism there and in Vietnam and Korea resulting in many heroism medals including the Medal of Honor, and the Distinguished Service Cross.

Here is a picture of Colonel Millett many years after retirement, wearing a chest full of medals and the medal of Honor around his neck. A few years back I had the priviledge of meeting one of his sons and a daughter-in-law in California. It was unfortunately at a sad occassion. The funeral of Lewis at Riverside Narional Cemetery. While there, among many stories was one of their favorites. It was that whilst the US did not allow the wearing of foreign medals, Lewis, being the fellow he was, made up his own rules. Under his chest of ribbons, fastened by velcro were two of his favorite ribbons. Those issued for his 1941/2 service with the Canadian Army. The middle picture is an image of Canadian Volunteer Service Medal complete with clasp for overseas service. At the right is the British Commonwealth's 1939-45 War Medal. It would be the ribbons from these two that would be secreted below a very large gouping of US ribbons or miniatures.

The family had another favorite story about their hero father. It was that Lewis often made it well known, that the talents he needed to conduct the bayonet charges in Korea, were not learned during US...but Canadian basic training. This same talent was dircetly put to the test in battles that ultimatley resulted in his being awarded first the Distinguished Service Cross and within weeks the Medal of Honor.

Yet another was Lewis's fond bragging often that he was the only Coolnel in US history to be charged and convicted of desertion and then go on to earn the Medal of Honor.

On Sunday I will tell you how this all comes together.

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Awaiting some info on a special column. This should appear by Wednesday night. cheers!

1/25/2015

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Part three of the story of the incredible hero brothers Tony and Julien Gaujot, the only set of 7 (or possibly 8) sets of brothers earning the Medal of Honor, who did so in DIFFERENT wars!

1/19/2015

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The first and second articles about the brothers told of the US birth and a move with parents to the Belleville Ontario area in their youth where their father was in great demand for his minning expertise. A sister was born while the family was in Ontario. In recent days it has been learned that there were in fact 5 brothers, possibly all US born, and of which two of course were the medal recipients. Also just learned and being investigated is that there was a 2nd sister ...possibly also Canadian born. The second blog told a little about Antoine (Tony's) entering the military, having soon being charged with and later acquitted for the murder of a Private in his regiment. He then served during the Philippine Insurrection where his bravery resulted in his being nominated for commissioning and also for the receiving of the Medal of Honor. An award that would take about a dozen years to be approved and awarded.

The two blogs left off with the story of service resulting in the medal in the Philippines during the Battle of Payne, aka the Battle of San Mateo, in December of 1899. Anthony would also be at the front during fighting in the islands at Montalban, Angono de Bay, San Iisdro and at Palanan.

Sick and wounded reports for his unit, the 27th Infantry, would later show that Tony suffered from malaria fever for days in May, Aug, Sept and October of 1900. That same year began with the mid January nomination for the Medal of Honor. But four months later things went bad for Tony.

While detail seems quite scarce so far, information briefly reveals that in May of 1900 Tony was, for a second time, charged with murder and court marshalled under the terms of Section 62 of the Articles of War. This was the same section he originally faced at trial and received a later acquittal for, some 18 months earlier. It seems that this time there was some eliment of guilt determined, yet the punishment was only limited to loss of one month's pay.

And a few weeks later he was actually promoted to Sergeant!

In February of 1901 Tony's services came to an end and he was released as no longer needed at the Islands. The rest of his unit were also released from further duty three months later. The trail of Tony seems elusive for the next decade. It is believed that he was summoned to the White House, possibly in February 1911 for a formal ceremony in which President Taft probably pinned the Medal of Honor on his chest.

The next we here from Tony, he is fighting on US soil as a civilian. It was in Kanawha County of West Virginia in a 15 month battle, literally, and known as the "Paint Creek and Cabin Creek War."

It all started in the days leading up to April of 1912 when the major state wide occupation of coal mining pitted (pardon the pun) the owners against the miners in many of the 96 mines employing over 7,500 miners.

Paint and Cabin Creek form two of the 3 sides of a triangle and are located about 30 miles south of Charleston W Va., and some 670 miles to the south west of Washington DC. (Shown on the maps to the left.)

Here, non unionized workers went on strike for higher wages. Union men in the same state and profession were getting 2.5 cents more per ton of coal brought to the surface. The equalization of wages would have meant a cost to the mine owners of about 15 cents per worker per day.

But money almost seems to have been the least of the miners' concerns! Demands for better working conditions resulted in many of the louder voices being silenced by being blacklisted from future mine working. The men were not allowed to congregate to discuss their issues. Even in the towns..really owned by the politics and money of the mine operators, and thus the policing etc poorly disguised, resulted in ordanances disallowing men to gather in groups of three or more, and thus stiffening their rights of free speech, and lots more caused disenchantment with working conditions. Men were bullied, forced to buy their tools and supplies from company stores at the mines and in the towns, and even for some time the mines created their own form of money for wages, exchangeable of course only at their stores. Stores with supplies overpriced to boot. Those failing to buy at the stores were fired. The companies even brought in scab workers and beatings or muggings were daily events.

While violence was not the rule of the day in the earlist days of the strike it soon escalated to the point that both sides became armed... and heavily, not only with pistols and rifles capeable of being used by snipers but even with Colt machine guns brought in by the owners. This of course by way of over 300 armed guards hired by the well known strikebreaking men hired and trained as goons under the name of the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency. One that braged that it had illiminated unionization in many parts of the state and others, were men soon became too afraid to organize.

The mines' private armies, aka the detective agency, hired former military men who were well versed on stopping insurgents..no matter the cost. These men would actually operate mini forts around some of the mines complete with high towers topped with big search lights to detect anyone approaching. Apparenetly nine Colt machine guns, capeable of firing off over 300 rounds per minute, were brought in by the detectives and regularly used to sweep the grounds outside of the mines. Whenever armed workers were suspected hiding in the brush waiting to let off a few rounds, the Colts would open up on them.

And into all of this we find Tony Gaujot. He was employed by Baldwin-Felts and in fact was one of the three ring leaders and known to have repeatedly operated one on the Colts. Some details can be found on the net about him and the strikle including the cute comment that he"had wounded more than one milk cow with his MG. "

The private armies even operated a "train," probably several vehicles hitched togehter.. that would drive through the small tent cities set up to house workers. During the strike another way of abusing them was to force them to abandon the tents, their temporary homes, homes owned by the mine operators. Men would fire their rifles and machine guns into the tents from vehicles like this, known as the "Bull Moose Special."

This and other violence caused the Governor of the State to declare marshall law, then cancel it twice. Ultimately he had to send in about 1,200 state troopers to halt things after almost a year and a half of violence... and about 50 deaths..from both sides. In the process thousands of weapons from both sides were also seized. After well over a year of violence both sides settled on more fair treatment all around.

We next here from Tony after he again rejoins the army during the Great War, but more on that next week.

Bart

For all those who earned Medals of Honor, the Victoria Cross, the Congressional Gold Medal, and those who did not...

"Fall out, the Canadians!"

Press across Canada have reminded us of two important dates to reflect upon. But missed a third!

New info arriving and blog delayed till Monday... again. Sorry folks.

Important dates for Victoria Cross aficionados!

The Millett ... Payne connection!

Stamps of Approval... in fact many of them!

Awaiting some info on a special column. This should appear by Wednesday night. cheers!

Part three of the story of the incredible hero brothers Tony and Julien Gaujot, the only set of 7 (or possibly 8) sets of brothers earning the Medal of Honor, who did so in DIFFERENT wars!

Due to 8 hours of no power, today's blog will now appear on Monday night.

Author;

Bart Armstrong

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