Not being able to bring you blogs as planned each Sunday frustrates me. But life happens and sometimes I get pulled in far too many directions at the same time. The past weekend was one of these. I appreciate your waiting...
Today I want to bring you some news from way down in Texas.
One of the goals of this blog is to bring you stories about memorials, markers, bridges, streets, buildings, armouries and whatever else that honors Medal of Honor men, and the one lady. But also on these very memorials are found the name or names of recipients from Canada or with a connection to Canada.
So lets travel south from Austin about 300 miles to a place called McAllen. And here we will find The Veterans War Memorial of Texas. It consists of several plaques and here is one of them that honours about 75 War heroes.
Today I want to bring you some news from way down in Texas.
One of the goals of this blog is to bring you stories about memorials, markers, bridges, streets, buildings, armouries and whatever else that honors Medal of Honor men, and the one lady. But also on these very memorials are found the name or names of recipients from Canada or with a connection to Canada.
So lets travel south from Austin about 300 miles to a place called McAllen. And here we will find The Veterans War Memorial of Texas. It consists of several plaques and here is one of them that honours about 75 War heroes.
Unreadable as the image is, the memorial also notes that over 1/2 of the MOH recipients were killed in action and their medals were awarded posthumously.
In the column of names on the right famous Audie Murphy is listed. And right above the famous soldier and actor is the name of Jonh C Morgan. A name less well known. His heroism payed a major role in the movie Twelve O'Clock High and can be read about at this blog site.
He tried to enlist with the American services and they, for some strange reason, thought he ought not to be accepted. Apparently he had broken his neck. So he did what thousands of other airmen did. Some even with good necks. They came north, joined the RCAF took flight training and went off to war.
John's incredible story should be searched here and on the net. You won't believe it. Nor can anyone believe that the recruiter in Canada, forgot to ask if he had broken his neck before enlisting him. Seems to me it would have been one of the first questions I'd ask. Dah!
I am surprised though, that a name missed is that of New Brunswick born sailor George F Phillips who earned a medal for incredible bravery during the Spanish American War. He and 8 others were all Medal of Honor men whom became the ONLY POW's of the war. That story is also told elsewhere in this space.
In the column of names on the right famous Audie Murphy is listed. And right above the famous soldier and actor is the name of Jonh C Morgan. A name less well known. His heroism payed a major role in the movie Twelve O'Clock High and can be read about at this blog site.
He tried to enlist with the American services and they, for some strange reason, thought he ought not to be accepted. Apparently he had broken his neck. So he did what thousands of other airmen did. Some even with good necks. They came north, joined the RCAF took flight training and went off to war.
John's incredible story should be searched here and on the net. You won't believe it. Nor can anyone believe that the recruiter in Canada, forgot to ask if he had broken his neck before enlisting him. Seems to me it would have been one of the first questions I'd ask. Dah!
I am surprised though, that a name missed is that of New Brunswick born sailor George F Phillips who earned a medal for incredible bravery during the Spanish American War. He and 8 others were all Medal of Honor men whom became the ONLY POW's of the war. That story is also told elsewhere in this space.
His medal is only one of two on public display in Canada that I know of. There are several others but they are safely tucked away across the country. Past blogs told of the difficulties I went through to get this image and put it on public display... where it belongs.
Not long ago at the Texas state capital, where another memorial to the MOH men of the state resides, a plea was sent out to help the state. Of all its recipients, the memorial is short the pictures of just 6 men. The story is on the net for you to read.
As are several great images of the memorial as it stands today.
Not long ago at the Texas state capital, where another memorial to the MOH men of the state resides, a plea was sent out to help the state. Of all its recipients, the memorial is short the pictures of just 6 men. The story is on the net for you to read.
As are several great images of the memorial as it stands today.
The memorial starts with a cover plaque talking about the medal and the important role Texans played in the medal's over all story going back to the days of the UNCIVIL War.
Next comes quite a few different panels listing each of the brave men and what they did to receive the highest of military distinction in the nation.
Next comes quite a few different panels listing each of the brave men and what they did to receive the highest of military distinction in the nation.
The display has been made so that it can be broken down, and thus moveable so that it can be taken out to the people across the state and elsewhere. Here we see some school children reading about these heroes, take pictures and posing themselves. hehe.
Here is a panel of 18 men. At the bottom right corner we can see our man George Phillips, was not forgotten this time. An enlargement of his details is also above.
I have several more items of news updating to bring in the weeks to come about both the MOH and the Victoria Cross.
Some fabulous news, once verified will be detailed in this space as well. We might have found an image of our friend Joseph Noil. And as exciting, we are on the trail of yet another MOH man from Canada, thus clearly bringing the numbers to well over double that when this work was started over 16 years ago.
So please stay tuned,
Back in a few days..
Bart
I have several more items of news updating to bring in the weeks to come about both the MOH and the Victoria Cross.
Some fabulous news, once verified will be detailed in this space as well. We might have found an image of our friend Joseph Noil. And as exciting, we are on the trail of yet another MOH man from Canada, thus clearly bringing the numbers to well over double that when this work was started over 16 years ago.
So please stay tuned,
Back in a few days..
Bart
RSS Feed