Medal of Honor Recipient – Captain Steven L. Bennett U.S. Air Force
By Dan Samaria
Publisher/YC
November 11, 2009
Each week we at the Chronicle will be honoring one of these true heroes.
We will call it Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week.
We hope you will join with us to honor these true heroes. Who have given us the greatest sacrifice that one could give their life, to save their fellow soldiers?
We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com
This Week’s Hero: Captain Steven L. Bennett U.S. Air Force. 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Pacific Air Forces.
Place and date: Quang Tri, Republic of Vietnam, 29 June 1972.
Entered service at: Lafayette, La.
Born: 22 April 1946, Palestine, Tex.
Citation:
Capt. Bennett was the pilot of a light aircraft flying an artillery adjustment mission along a heavily defended segment of route structure. A large concentration of enemy troops was massing for an attack on a friendly unit.
Capt. Bennett requested tactical air support but was advised that none was available. He also requested artillery support but this too was denied due to the close proximity of friendly troops to the target.
Capt. Bennett was determined to aid the endangered unit and elected to strafe the hostile positions. After 4 such passes, the enemy force began to retreat. Capt. Bennett continued the attack, but, as he completed his fifth strafing pass, his aircraft was struck by a surface-to-air missile, which severely damaged the left engine and the left main landing gear.
As fire spread in the left engine, Capt. Bennett realized that recovery at a friendly airfield was impossible. He instructed his observer to prepare for an ejection, but was informed by the observer that his parachute had been shredded by the force of the impacting missile.
Although Capt. Bennett had a good parachute, he knew that if he ejected, the observer would have no chance of survival. With complete disregard for his own life, Capt. Bennett elected to ditch the aircraft into the Gulf of Tonkin, even though he realized that a pilot of this type aircraft had never survived a ditching.
The ensuing impact upon the water caused the aircraft to cartwheel and severely damaged the front cockpit, making escape for Capt. Bennett impossible. The observer successfully made his way out of the aircraft and was rescued.
Capt. Bennett’s unparalleled concern for his companion, extraordinary heroism and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force.
Source: US Military
Marine Corps Happy 234th Birthday!
By Stacey *Mamasid * D.
November 10, 2009
Semper Fi! Today is the Marine Corps Birthday 2009, a day we remember because my husband served as a proud Marine in Vietnam. Tomorrow is Veterans’ Day so it only seems appropriate to celebrate the USMC birthday today.
November 10 marks the 234th birthday of the Marine Corps. Thank you to the soldiers who served and the families who shared them. Also thank you to the soldiers currently serving and risking their lives everyday. For those who survived battle like my husband, welcome home.
Although my husband and some of his brothers were rendered disabled in the war, you can tell a Marine a mile away. The straight back, proud face and noble attitude is present in all of them to the end.
Ronald Reagan, at one of his few brighter moments, once said, “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But the Marines don’t have that problem.”
Will you celebrate the Marine Corps birthday 2009 with your favorite soldiers? If you don’t have “one of your own”, please take quiet time to appreciate these brave people who serve us everyday. Happy Birthday USMC!
Please take a few minutes to watch the Commandant of the Marine Corps., General James T. Conway, deliver the 234th Marine Corps birthday message, “Carrying On A Legacy of Valor”.
Source: Gather
Honoring our Veterans and Their Families Across America
By Paul Vallely
MG US Army (Ret)
November 10, 2009
The 11th of November is remembered as the day when the First World War officially ended, with the signing of the Armistice by the Germans – on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year 1918; certainly a whole lot of 11s to make this significant day difficult to forget.
Initially, the day was commemorated as Armistice Day, as proclaimed by the President of the United States Woodrow Wilson in 1919, a year after the historic day.
As other wars since the First World War came and went, it became apparent that there are other veterans that need to be remembered other than those who served in World War I that ended on Armistice Day.
It was a shoe store owner from Emporia, Kansas, Al King, who came up with the idea to expand the reach of Armistice Day to include all American veterans, regardless of which war they fought in. President Dwight Eisenhower signed this inclusion into a law on May 26, 1954, and on November 8 that same year, Armistice Day became known as Veterans Day.
On Veterans Day weekend, one might want to commemorate the sacrifices of our beloved American our beloved “Heroes” by taking time to enrich our knowledge on the lives that they lead and the challenges that they face. We love and cherish them so for their sacrifices and their service across the globe.
I will be joining Wayne Newton and John Dawson in Phoenix this week to celebrate and honor our Veterans. My wife, Muffin, daughter Dana and I celebrate our SON, Scott, on this day whom we lost in Special Forces in April 2004.
I would like to tell you a little bit about my son, who I am very proud, love and miss to very much. Which I title:
A True American Hero
Private First Class Scott Paul Vallely was an Infantryman assigned to Company D, Support Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he was attending the Special Forces Preparation Course.
On March 13, 1975, Scott came into the world on an unusually snowy day at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland, California . He grew up and graduated from high school in Lafayette, California. Scott was an outstanding athlete in many sports, and ultimately received a football scholarship to Colorado State University. After college, he began a career in the media field, then made the decision to join the United States Army and to serve his country.
He entered the Army in October 2003 and completed Infantry Advance Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 2004. He was then assigned to 1st Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Airborne) where he attended the Basic Airborne Course.
His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Parachutist Badge and the Rifle Marksmanship Badge.
Not only was Scott a loving grandson, son and brother, but a true friend to everyone he met. He is at peace and we thank God for watching over him and all of us.
PSALM 91
We live within the shadow of the Almighty, sheltered by the God who is above all gods.
This I declare, that he alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him. For he rescues you from every trap and protects you from the fatal plague. He will shield you with his wings! They will shelter you. His faithful promises are your armor. Now you don’t need to be afraid of the dark any more, nor fear the dangers of the day; nor dread the plagues of darkness, nor disasters in the morning.
Though a thousand fall at my side, though ten thousand are dying around me, the evil will not touch me. I will see how the wicked are punished, but I will not share it. For Jehovah is my refuge! I choose the God above all gods to shelter me. How then can evil overtake me or any plague come near? For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will steady you with their hands to keep you from stumbling against the rocks on the trail. You can safely meet a lion or step on poisonous snakes, yes, even trample them beneath your feet!
For the Lord says, “Because he loves me, I will rescue him; I will make him great because he trusts in my name. When he calls on me, I will answer; I will be with him in trouble and rescue him and honor him. I will satisfy him with a full life and give him my salvation.”
God be with them ALL. Rest easy………
Published by Stand Up America
Source: Soldiers Memorial Fund
Marine Corps Happy 234th Birthday! Message
KENNETH WILLIAM KELLEY | Sexual Predator | Miami,Florida
November 7, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Sexual Predator
Date Of Photo: 10/21/2009
KENNETH WILLIAM KELLEY
DOB:
09/08/1978
Reported Address:
7851 Dunham Blvd Apt 6 Miami,Florida
Milot DMetayer | Sexual Predator | Miami,Florida
November 7, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Sexual Predator
Date Of Photo: 05/01/2009
Milot DMetayer
DOB:
05/22/1934
Reported Address:
Shabithan Mussun Marable | Sexual Predator | Miami,Florida
November 7, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Sexual Predator
Date Of Photo: 11/02/2009
Shabithan Mussun Marable
DOB:
05/28/1972
Reported Address:
2030 NW 134TH ST Miami,Florida
Adolphus Julius Rooks | Sexual Predator | Opa Locka,Florida
November 7, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Sexual Predator
Date Of Photo: 10/30/2009
Adolphus Julius Rooks
DOB:
11/17/1955
Reported Address:
2130 Rutland St Opa Locka,Florida
Sergio Velazquez | Sexual Predator | Miami,Florida
November 7, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Sexual Predator
Date Of Photo: 10/22/2009
Sergio Velazquez
DOB:
10/17/1962
Reported Address:
660 NE 78th St Apt 203 Miami,Florida
STEVEN TYLER ABEL
November 7, 2009 by Kim
Filed under Missing Kids
| Case Type: Endangered Runaway | |
| DOB: Apr 16, 1993 | Sex: Male |
| Missing Date: Sep 4, 2009 | Race: Am. Ind. |
| Age Now: 16 | Height: 5’8″ (173 cm) |
| Missing City: COWETA | Weight: 140 lbs (64 kg) |
| Missing State : OK | Hair Color: Brown |
| Missing Country: United States | Eye Color: Brown |
| Case Number: NCMC1131887 | |
| Circumstances: Steven was last seen on September 14, 2009. He may use the alias first name Tyler. | |