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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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