
On another matter, a few days ago I came across a most interesting Medal of Honor link whilst searching related matters. The internet link told the story, like many over past two months, about the bravery back in November of 2010 of US Marine hero Kyle Carpenter. He was serving in Afghanistan as a Corporal and was on the roof of a building when his unit came under heavy fire. A grenade landed between him and one other marine and immediate action was required. All the rest of the men were too far away and so Kyle dived on top of the grenade, saved his comrade.and myraculously was not killed. Wounded from head to foot, flap jacket destroyed, other metal gear melted, helmet riffled with shrapnel, yet Kyle still lived. He'd be in a comma for several weeks and would have to undergo over 40 operations over next few years.
Google his name to see the full story. And check out the video talking about his heroism, his receiving the Medal of Honor in June of this year at the White House and the process recipients go through once selected to receive this highest of highest of awards for bravery. It is a great video and is at... www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/09/15/heres-what-medal-honor-presentation-white-house-looks
June of course also marked the D Day anniversary and many a website tell the stories of the Allies, including the Canadians and Americans who landed at the various beaches that June day. The Canadians landed at Juno and not far away at Utah and Omaha Beaches the Americans landed. And one of the later Yanks was a soldier who just a few years earlier took out his American citizenship, and was a former Canadian from PEI. His name was Charles MacGillivary and hopefully you have read some of his many mentions in this space.

And finally, I have this wonderful picture to share, which just arrived in my email this week.
A granddaughter of the girl on the left told me today that the girl's father gathered up the family and moved from England to the Yukon where the father practiced as a doctor. They first lived in a tent and then moved into a family built log cabin. He doctored to the gold rush men and built another log cabin... it was apparently the first hospital in the area. One of the above girls used to head out to dances...on her own dog sled. The doctor was said to be the first white man to have passed through the Chilkoot Pass.
Hopefully you will by now recognize the image to the right. It is the little boy with the two girls, but now a grown man..and recipient of the Victoria Cross. It is Rowland Bourke covered often in this space. And his sister is Winifred, to the left in the above image and beside her, at the centre, is Mae. The image has been supplied most kindly by the granddaughter Judith and her son Jason Jones of Victoria BC.
See you next week,
Bart