Largest Honor Flight in History to Assemble at WWII Memorial on September 28, 2013

Ocean State Job Lot funds chartered planes from three airports for WWII veterans to visit nation’s capital in honor of their service.


NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (September 19, 2013): On September 28, 2013, nearly 600 World War II veterans, their guardians, active duty military personnel, medical personnel, and other guests from New England and New York will travel to Washington, D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial. It is the largest, single Honor Flight tour of its kind in the history of the Honor Flight program.

Thanks to Ocean State Job Lot’s Charitable Foundation and the generosity of its customers who made donations at the retailer’s 110 stores throughout the region, the daylong trip comes at no cost to the veterans or their families and enables elderly WWII veterans to visit their memorial, which was dedicated in 2004, for the first time.

“It’s our way of giving the recognition and respect that we think these veterans deserve,” states Marc Perlman, owner/partner of Ocean State Job Lot, a leading closeout retailer based in Rhode Island with stores in six New England states and New York. “This trip, with chartered airplanes leaving from three different airports, brings veterans from all military service branches together along with their guardians, and marks the largest group of its kind ever to assemble at the World War II Memorial.”

Known as “Operation: Gratitude 2013,” three Southwest Airlines charters will leave T.F. Green (Providence, R.I.), MacArthur (Islip, N.Y.) and Logan (Boston) airports, respectively, early on the morning of Saturday, September 28, 2013, arriving at BWI Airport in Baltimore. From there, the honorees will travel by bus to the Memorial and, if time, to other sites as well before enjoying a special dinner in their honor at the Airport Hilton in Baltimore.

Established in 2004, the Honor Flight Network is a nonprofit organization created solely to honor America’s veterans, transporting them to Washington D.C. at no cost to them to visit and reflect at their memorials. The program was conceived in Springfield, OH by Earl Morse, a physician assistant, private pilot and retired Air Force Captain who wanted to honor the veterans he had cared for. At that time, the World War II Memorial had just been completed in D.C., yet many veterans were in their 80s and lacked the physical, mental and financial resources to visit it on their own. The first Honor Flight tour was made in 2005. Thereafter, a network of participating programs called “hubs” formed across America in order to pool resources, experiences and alliances to get veterans to their memorial safely. Presently there are 127 hubs in 41 states. The three hubs participating in “Operation: Gratitude 2013” are Honor Flight New England, Honor Flight Rhode Island (supported by the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs) and Honor Flight Long Island.

“Of all the wars in recent memory, it was World War II that truly threatened our very existence as a nation, and as a culturally diverse, free society,” states Mr. Morse, founder of Honor Flight. “The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates 640 World War II veterans die each day. Our time to express our thanks to these brave men and women is running out. We thank Ocean State Job Lot for their generosity in keeping our group’s mission alive and bringing honor to their service.”

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Founded in 1977, Ocean State Job Lot is a growing, privately held retail chain with 110 stores in New England and New York, approximately 4,000 employees, and annual sales exceeding $540 million. Job Lot sells brand name, first quality merchandise at closeout prices. Shoppers find an ever-changing array of household goods, apparel, pet supplies, seasonal products (gardening, pool supply, outdoor), and kitchen pantry staples at a fraction of their typical price. The Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation has a long history of philanthropic leadership, placing emphasis on local food banks in communities where Job Lot operates stores. The Foundation also supports medical and educational institutions, disaster relief efforts, the performing arts, our military service men and women, and special needs and foster children. Ocean State Job Lot is headquartered at 375 Commerce Park Road in the Quonset Point Business Park, North Kingstown, RI 02852. Phone: (401) 295-2672; Web: http://www.osjl.com



ABOUT HONOR FLIGHT NETWORK:
Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America's veterans for all their sacrifices. The group transports our nation’s heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials. Top priority is given to the senior veterans – World War II survivors, along with those other veterans who may be terminally ill. Honor Flight, Inc. is headquartered at 300 E. Auburn Ave. in Springfield, OH 45505-4703. Phone: 937-521-2400; Web: http://www.honorflight.org

The final toast for Doolittle's Raiders

It's the cup of brandy no one wants to drink. 

On Tuesday, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, the surviving Doolittle Raiders gathered publicly for the last time. 

They once were among the most universally admired and revered men in the United States. There were 80 of the Raiders in April 1942, when they carried out one of the most courageous and heart-stirring military operations in this nation's history. The mere mention of their unit's name, in those years, would bring tears to the eyes of grateful Americans. 

Now only four survive. 

After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, with the United States reeling and wounded, something dramatic was needed to turn the war effort around. Even though there were no friendly airfields close enough to Japan for the United States to launch a retaliation, a daring plan was devised. Sixteen B-25s were modified so that they could take off from the deck of an aircraft carrier. 

This had never been tried before -- sending big, heavy bombers from a carrier.
The 16 five-man crews, under the command of Lt. Col. James Doolittle, who himself flew the lead plane off the USS Hornet, knew that they would not be able to return to the carrier. They would have to hit Japan and then hope to make it to China for a safe landing. 

But on the day of the raid, the Japanese navy caught sight of the carrier. The Raiders were told that they would have to take off from much farther out in the Pacific than they had counted on. They were told that because of this they would not have enough fuel to make it to safety.
And those men went anyway. 

They bombed Tokyo, and then flew as far as they could. Four planes crash-landed; 11 more crews bailed out, and three of the Raiders died. Eight more were captured; three were executed. Another died of starvation in a Japanese prison camp. One crew made it to Russia.
The Doolittle Raid sent a message from the United States to its enemies, and to the rest of the world: 

We will fight. And, no matter what it takes, we will win. 

Of the 80 Raiders, 62 survived the war. They were celebrated as national heroes, models of bravery. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer produced a motion picture based on the raid; "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," starring Spencer Tracy and Van Johnson, was a patriotic and emotional box-office hit, and the phrase became part of the national lexicon. In the movie-theater previews for the film, MGM proclaimed that it was presenting the story "with supreme pride." 

Beginning in 1946, the surviving Raiders have held a reunion each April, to commemorate the mission. The reunion is in a different city each year. In 1959, the city of Tucson, Arizona, as a gesture of respect and gratitude, presented the Doolittle Raiders with a set of 80 silver goblets. Each goblet was engraved with the name of a Raider. 

Every year, a wooden display case bearing all 80 goblets is transported to the reunion city. Each time a Raider passes away, his goblet is turned upside down in the case at the next reunion, as his old friends bear solemn witness. 

Also in the wooden case is a bottle of 1896 Hennessy very special cognac. The year is not happenstance: 1896 was when Jimmy Doolittle was born. 

There has always been a plan: When there are only two surviving Raiders, they would open the bottle, at last drink from it, and toast their comrades who preceded them in death. 

As 2013 began, there were five living Raiders; then, in February, Tom Griffin passed away at age 96. 

What a man he was. After bailing out of his plane over a mountainous Chinese forest after the Tokyo raid, he became ill with malaria, and almost died. When he recovered, he was sent to Europe to fly more combat missions. He was shot down, captured, and spent 22 months in a German prisoner of war camp. 

The selflessness of these men ... there was a passage in the Cincinnati Enquirer obituary for Mr. Griffin that, on the surface, had nothing to do with the war, but that captures the depth of his sense of duty and devotion: 

"When his wife became ill and needed to go into a nursing home, he visited her every day. He walked from his house to the nursing home, fed his wife and at the end of the day brought home her clothes. At night, he washed and ironed her clothes. Then he walked them up to her room the next morning. He did that for three years until her death in 2005." 

So now, out of the original 80, only four Raiders remain: Dick Cole (Doolittle's co-pilot on the Tokyo raid), Robert Hite, Edward Saylor and David Thatcher. All are in their 90s. They have decided that there are too few of them for the public reunions to continue. 

The events in Fort Walton Beach this week will mark the end. It has come full circle; Florida's nearby Eglin Field was where the Raiders trained in secrecy for the Tokyo mission. 

The town is planning to do all it can to honor the men: a six-day celebration of their valor, including luncheons, a dinner and a parade. 

Do the men ever wonder if those of us for whom they helped save the country have tended to it in a way that is worthy of their sacrifice? They don't talk about that, at least not around other people. But if you find yourself near Fort Walton Beach this week, and if you should encounter any of the Raiders, you might want to offer them a word of thanks. I can tell you from firsthand observation that they appreciate hearing that they are remembered. 

The men have decided that after this final public reunion they will wait until a later date -- some time this year -- to get together once more, informally and in absolute privacy. That is when they will open the bottle of brandy. The years are flowing by too swiftly now; they are not going to wait until there are only two of them. 

They will fill the four remaining upturned goblets. 

And raise them in a toast to those who are gone.

For additional information on the annual reunion, you can visit http://www.doolittlereunion.com/


My thanks to good friend Doug B for sharing this

World War II - B17 Survival Story

Subject: WWII - B17 Survival Story

 

Navigator - Harry C. Nuessle

Bombardier - Ralph Burbridge

Engineer - Joe C. James

Radio Operator - Paul A. Galloway

Ball Turret Gunner - Elton Conda

Waist Gunner - Michael Zuk

Tail Gunner - Sam T. Sarpolus

Ground Crew Chief - Hank Hyland 

B-17 in 1943

A mid-air collision on February 1, 1943, between a B-17 and a German fighter over the Tunis dock area, became the subject of one of the most famous photographs of World War II. An enemy fighter attacking a 97th Bomb Group formation went out of control, probably with a wounded pilot then continued its crashing descent into the rear of the fuselage of a Fortress named "All American", piloted by Lt. Kendrick R. Bragg, of the 414th Bomb Squadron. When it struck, the fighter broke apart, but left some pieces in the B-17. The left horizontal stabilizer of the Fortress and left elevator were completely torn away. The two right engines were out and one on the left had a serious oil pump leak. The vertical fin and the rudder had been damaged, the fuselage had been cut almost completely through connected only at two small parts of the frame and the radios, electrical and oxygen systems were damaged. There was also a hole in the top that was over 16 feet long and 4 feet wide at its widest and the split in the fuselage went all the way to the top gunners turret. 

 

Although the tail actually bounced and swayed in the wind and twisted when the plane turned and all the control cables were severed, except one single elevator cable still worked, and the aircraft still flew - miraculously! The tail gunner was trapped because there was no floor connecting the tail to the rest of the plane. The waist and tail gunners used parts of the German fighter and their own parachute harnesses in an attempt to keep the tail from ripping off and the two sides of the fuselage from splitting apart. While the crew was trying to keep the bomber from coming apart, the pilot continued on his bomb run and released his bombs over the target.

When the bomb bay doors were opened, the wind turbulence was so great that it blew one of the waist gunners into the broken tail section. It took several minutes and four crew members to pass him ropes from parachutes and haul him back into the forward part of the plane. When they tried to do the same for the tail gunner, the tail began flapping so hard that it began to break off. The weight of the gunner was adding some stability to the tail section, so he went back to his position.

The turn back toward England had to be very slow to keep the tail from twisting off. They actually covered almost 70 miles to make the turn home. The bomber was so badly damaged that it was losing altitude and speed and was soon alone in the sky. For a brief time, two more Me-109 German fighters attacked the All American. Despite the extensive damage, all of the machine gunners were able to respond to these attacks and soon drove off the fighters. The two waist gunners stood up with their heads sticking out through the hole in the top of the fuselage to aim and fire their machine guns. The tail gunner had to shoot in short bursts because the recoil was actually causing the plane to turn.

Allied P-51 fighters intercepted the All American as it crossed over the Channel and took one of the pictures shown. They also radioed to the base describing that the empennage was waving like a fish tail and that the plane would not make it and to send out boats to rescue the crew when they bailed out. The fighters stayed with the Fortress taking hand signals from Lt. Bragg and relaying them to the base. Lt. Bragg signaled that 5 parachutes and the spare had been "used" so five of the crew could not bail out. He made the decision that if they could not bail out safely, then he would stay with the plane and land it.

Two and a half hours after being hit, the aircraft made its final turn to line up with the runway while it was still over 40 miles away. It descended into an emergency landing and a normal roll-out on its landing gear.

When the ambulance pulled alongside, it was waved off because not a single member of the crew had been injured. No one could believe that the aircraft could still fly in such a condition. The Fortress sat placidly until the crew all exited through the door in the fuselage and the tail gunner had climbed down a ladder, at which time the entire rear section of the aircraft collapsed onto the ground. The rugged old bird had done its job. 

 Great war story!

Thanks to my Aunt Vivian for sending this along.

Honor Flight

Honor Flight is still performing its mission. You can help other WWII veterans visit their war memorial in Washington, DC.

Why WWII veterans?
We are loosing over 1,000 a day. Time is short. More recent veterans will have their time to come but the WWII vets need to be addressed now





A virtual honor flight is being held today, more info can be found here
http://www.sarahhillstories.blogspot.com/2012/08/virtual-honor-flights-for-wwii-veterans.html

Iwo Jima - Reunion of Honor

Iwo Jima Survivor Veterans recently made a trip back to Iwo Jima for the Reunion of Honor held this March 2012.

Gary Sinise Makes A Moving Tribute

Academy Award Nominee Gary Sinise Makes a Moving Spoken Word Performance, honoring one of our brave servicemen from WWII

Newsreel - 1945

A newsreel clip showing the Japanese surrender in 1945.

Rare Color Film Action In The Pacific

Some rare color film showing aircraft and fighter pilot action in the WW II Pacific Theater.



This was sent along by Jerry's sister-in-law, Vivian.
Thanks

VA Home - Jerry's Story

This was recorded at the VA Home in Bristol, RI when Jerry gave his talk on his experiences in the Pacific Theater during World War II.



As the talk was at the VA Home, the periodic announcements could not be turned off. With a little luck, after a while, you won't hear them and be able to listen to Jerry.

The video shown at the end of his prepared remarks will be made available for viewing here shortly.

Special treat Thursday

Jerry will give a talk on Thursday at the VA Home in Bristol remembering World War II in the Pacific. We found this photo of Jerry from that time (1944-1945). In those days, Jerry was lean to say the least. He does not recall exactly where this photo was taken other than "somewhere in the Pacific".

With some preparation and a little luck, Jerry's talk with be broadcast on his new UStream channel as well as recorded for review on demand.

Jerry's sister Martina is currently living at the VA Home and was key to helping organize this event. The archives turned up this photo of Martina posing with her mother and father; Mary and John Sherlock. The photo location was identified as outside the Sherlock home on Coyle Ave in Pawtucket, RI.

Put a place on your calendar to come back here on Thursday, March 25th at 1:30 PM to view the live broadcast of Jerry's talk. If you can't make it at that time, we'll be recording it and have it available for viewing after Thursday.

D + 26

My brother-in-law Frank submitted this as a comment but it deserves the full light of a post:

D Plus 26.
The Marines have repulsed heavy Japanese counter attacks on March 8, 9, 10 and 11.

Check out this site
http://www.historyanimated.com/Iwo.html

The Marines have pushed the Japanese into the Northern Corner of Iwo. It is called Cushman's Pocket after the Marine Officer in charge of eliminating resistance. This assault will continue through to March 24.

Six Medals of Honor are awarded in this area alone during the fighting.

While waiting for The PACIFIC on Sunday (broadcast on HBO), Jerry described pushing forward and remembers going up by the airfields. Jerry believed his unit came across a fourth airfield that was under construction.

Gunfights are pretty rough right now in A-Stan with the Marines. They only last a few hours. The Marines of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Divisions have been in combat for 26 days. No showers, no toilets and a helmet for their pillow.

The Sherlock Grandchildren should count themselves lucky. Jerry is a simple man who participated in one of the hardest campaigns of World War Two. Very few people understand what these guys went through, where Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue.

So if you are a Sherlock Grandchildren, take a moment to read up on Saipan, Tinian and Iwo.

We are all very lucky. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have you.
 

Semper Fi Marines!

Joyal Brunch

First Sunday of the month and the Joyal Brunch was held at the Wright's Farm in Harrisville, RI. Long known for it's family style chicken dinners, the restaurant was in full operation on Sunday.

We arrived just as it opened and we seated quickly. As we left, the waiting area was full with more arriving. They are quite efficient so I don't believe the wait was long. The food and value is well worth the wait!

A change since the last time we were there. The paper cup ice cream dessert has now been replaced by a chicken logo'd slice of vanilla and chocolate ice cream. Cute idea!


On the family update front:
Albert is scheduled for a triple by-pass on Friday March 12th. Your prayers will be welcomed.

Jerry is scheduled to talk about his experiences in the Pacific Theater during WWII at the VA Home in Bristol, RI on the March 25th. With a little luck , the talk will be broadcast via the internet and available here both live and then in a recorded version.

Remember Iwo Jima

On this day 65 years ago, the assault on Iwo Jima started. The battle lasted 35 days. Some of the fiercest fighting in the Pacific Theater took place before it ended.

Jerry was part of the 1st Joint Assault Signal Company, 4th Marine Division that went ashore in the Blue 1 sector. He was also one of the lucky ones who walked off the island.

He has told us many times, "The real heroes did not come back".

On this day and for the next 35, let's remember all who served in the Pacific Theater, in particular those who served on Iwo Jima.

If you would like to know more about Iwo Jima, the book by James Bradley "Flag of our Fathers" is well worth the reading time. There are two movies by directed by Clint Eastwood, one based upon the book and one from the Japanese point of view that deliver a credible rendition of the battle. Jerry said, "it was very much like that." Flag of our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima

Jerry talked about Tinian and the recovery on Hawaii before going to Iwo Jima in this audio

Jerry clarifies his statements about life in the foxhole in this audio

Jerry talks about the 1st Joint Assault Signal Company

Medal showcase

Helen Geoffroy, sister-in-law on the Joyal side of the family, had Jerry's medals and ribbons put into this special case. Here Jerry holds the case:

Here is a closer photo of the full case:

Here is a closeup showing more details:

The photo is one of the few with Jerry in his US Marine Corp uniform from World War II. Who is he holding? Niece Paula Brousseau.

I'll get the descriptions of his medals and ribbons for another posting. I'll also take some more pictures on a day with better natural lighting. I was having some fun avoiding getting too much reflection in the glass covering the medals. 

World War II Museum in Natick, MA

In today's Boston Globe, there is an article on a WWII museum in Natick:

World War II ended 64 years ago, but it comes to life every time Kenneth Rendell turns on the lights inside a squat, nondescript building in Natick. Amid the glitz of nearby shopping centers, the exterior is purposely plain to protect the anonymity of the place and its treasure - an evocative and jaw-dropping collection of more than 6,000 wartime artifacts Rendell has gathered over four decades.

You can read the rest of the article here.


The museum website to schedule a visit can be found here.


Sounds like a place to take Jerry sometime!

Kilroy was here

Yes, one of the most famous soldiers of World War II was not to be kept out of the monument in Washington, DC. It was not listed on the architectural drawing but some how, it appeared.

More to come but Jerry had a wonderful couple of days visiting the World War II Memorial, the Marine Corp Memorial (The Iwo Jima Statue) and then



It was both an honor and a pleasure for his three sons and one grandson to accompany him on this weekend. We also were treated to a windshield tour of the Marine Corp Base at Quantico by Dan Stanton (US Air Force Colonel Ret.)

Stay tuned for some stories and more pictures.

Riding the wave

It appears that we are riding the wave. Ken Burns has the new PBS program on WWII coming out next week.

US News & World Report has the cover story on "Voices of World War II".

Susan Kitchens, from whom I find some guidance on family oral history, writes here. She was quoted and reference in the magazine article.

Jerry's Story: Joint Assault Signal Company

Jerry talks about his work on Saipan and Tinian as part of the Joint Assault Signal Company, a group also made famous in the movie "The Whisperers".

Time: approx. 6 minutes

Audio file -> https://jerry-sherlocks-story.captivate.fm/episode/gs-002-jerry-recalls-the-joint-assault-signal-company

Jerry's Story: Foxhole clarifications

Jerry provides some background clarifications on the foxholes and vegetation found on the islands.

Time: approx. 2 minutes

Audio file -> https://jerry-sherlocks-story.captivate.fm/episode/gs-003-jerry-recalls-some-foxhole-clarifications

Jerry's Story: US Marine Health Records

Jerry talks about his health records and how he grew during his time in the US Marines.

Time: about 6 minutes

Audio file -> https://jerry-sherlocks-story.captivate.fm/episode/gs-007-jerry-recalls-trying-to-get-his-marine-health-records