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Is She A He?

3/28/2021

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Jacob Parrott was only 17 back in 1862 when he and 20 other volunteers were tasked to go into enemy territory during the US Civil War and capture a train.

The group, becoming known as Andrews Raiders, were given the job to cut telegraph lines,  destroy rail track behind them and proceed through enemy territory in Georgia to friendly territory. They were also to burn important bridges en-route.

Success would mean a possibly quick end to the war. But they were captured and tortured before final release, as told in earlier blogs in this space.

He and five others would make their way to DC and tell of their horrible ordeals. The six, Parrott being the first, would  be the first of most in the group and, over the years 3,500 plus to receive the Medal of Honor over its  158 year history.

The six would be personally  presented with actual medals by the Secretary of War and then led up the street to meet  and have a brief chat with Abraham Lincoln.

That day was 25 March 1863.

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This is an army type of the CW era Medals of Honor, is held at West Point and said to be Parrott's actual medal. It might be a possible duplicate.

Several years ago I made contact with family who claim they had the original and sent along this wonderful image of it's reverse. It is shown with Jacob probably in his early 20's.


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Over the years several, but not all  of the US states have celebrated Andrews Raiders and the Medal on what was termed Medal of Honor Day.

Finally, in 1991 President Herbert W Bush signed a proclamation setting the date in stone as one to remember, celebrate  give honor to all those who have bestowed with the medal since its inception in 1863. 

Here  is his proclamation of 30 years ago....

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A few days back... on the 24th a US TV station carried a story on its website with regards to this important event. In highlighting the accomplishments of the Medal of Honor men of its state, that being Michigan.

It noted that it had 110 recipients with connection to the state, and then listed each with brief details about their citations. This was a wonderful action on their part to highlight those brave soles. It however missed # 111.

That hero was Canadian sailor James Stoddard from Ontario. He had enlisted with the US Navy for one year and was assigned  to serve on the USS Marmora. (shown below)

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Within 6 months of enlisted, Stoddard found himself serving on the  the 207 ton stern wheeler assigned to  drive the Confederates back from taking over Yazoo City, Mississippi.  In order to do so he and a handful of other sailors  had to fasten their  riffled howitzer onto a field carriage and  bring it into action against a far greater enemy force. They had succeeded in driving them off but not until their gun was silenced and they had to resort to hand to hand combat.

When all was said and done the enemy retreated. Stoddard and two others where later awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroism. In addition he was promoted from the rank of Seaman to that of Acting Master's Mate.

His story should have appeared in the above mentioned media story, but it was missing.

But the military and government still remembered him!

In the mid 1940's James Stoddard's heroism was remembered and in so doing the ship USS Stoddard was launched. (image below)  The vessel with a crew of over 300, would serve in WW11 and Vietnam and in both wars would itself be awarded three battle stars for its incredible performance in those wars.

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This story continues on Sunday April 4th.

Please join me then.
Bart

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I'm Back!

3/20/2021

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Over the past 8 years I have been honoured and privileged to share with you some of Canada's unique history. More to the point, incredibly important stories that have, for so long been forgotten, or worse yet, never known.

Close to 550 blogs in this space told you part of the history of Canadians, or those with connections to Canada that wore the uniform of the United States and went on to earn the Medal of Honor. This being the highest medal the President can award to the brave soldiers and sailors, airman and marines, and coast guard men and women for their service. Duties that in the earliest days often did not need to be in the face of the enemy, but later requiring more strict scrutiny and mostly bravery in the face of the enemy.

Over this stretch of some  92 months I also shared with you many stories of Victoria Cross recipients and ventured off into other stories of military importance to one of or both Canada and the US. In addition many a story appeared in this space regarding women's history, often with connections to those in uniform.

While these blogs cover more weeks since, than there are days in the year, the research  began before 2000.

It has taken its toll on me and culminating with  a partial rest and missed blogs for the past three months.

But I am now back to continue doing my part in filling this void in our shared heritage.

While very much on my mind, Black History Month both in Canada and the US got no coverage in this space last month. Sadly some of the Black History stories appearing here previously, apparently got NO COVERAGE what so-ever by the Canadian press in this year. ( But more on that in the next 2 blogs.)

Professional historians (of which I am not,) will recall that a few days ago, but many a year long gone, some 60 conspirators chose to kill their leader. He was a general, but history has us recalling him as being the Emperor of Rome.

It was on the 15th of March that the plan was set in motion and Emperor Julius Caesar was stabbed to death. He had been warned earlier of being careful as harm would come to him by the 15th. And indeed it was. This was back in 44 B.C.

Rather than taking care, he was slaughtered by his enemies... fellow politicians if you will.

History's famous line to...Beware of the Ides of March, could have come yet again, but this time in North  America. Just change the date to read January 6th. And reverse the offender and victim roles.


Thankfully that mission failed!

On a more positive note, the 17th of this month marked the death of Ireland's Saint Patrick. A fitting note in this space, as the Irish have been often mentioned in past blogs. While there are some 3,550 US Medal of Honor recipients (not including the illegal purge numbers of over 1,000,) over 250 of these went to Irish heroes. While recipients came from about 50 countries, the Irish  receives the highest foreign born numbers. Of about 700 of these foreign born men, Canada's numbers at about 120, were the 3rd highest of all of these countries.

On another March date, well documented in past blogs, the 25th marks Medal of Honor Day in the United States.


A few weeks earlier, on the 8th, men and women around the world should have given some serious thought to what has become International Women's Day.

Sadly, the following day a US TV host made incredibly derogatory remarks about women in the Forces. He of course probably knew nothing about the women who DIED on the grounds at Gettysburg, the women that took to the guns when their husbands were killed during the Revolutionary War, and were no doubt killed in every war the Americans fought in probably since.


His remarks zeroed  in on pregnant soldiers who continued to serve their country, many in the face of the enemy I suspect. And some probably lost their lives in this service.

I guess they couldn't afford fake doctor reports about foot spurs.

It is unknown if his diatribe was against all female members, those being pregnant of those soon to be mothers in actual combat missions.  Regardless, his remark was that it makes 'a mockery of the US military'.


And we should assume his insight was based on his profound BOOTS ON THE GROUND experience.

 OOOOPS!

It appears that he has never served in the military.


All this of course happening in March. Women's History Month in the United States.

I will continue with these thoughts on Sunday the 28th.
Please join me then.

Bart













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    Author;
    Bart Armstrong, C.D.,
    Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers 

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