Category Archives: People

Posted on

World War II intelligence officer given congressional medal

Retired Captain Martin Gelb was part of the Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency. Now 98, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his for his actions during WWII on June 25, 2018.

He served in England, France and Germany on missions that included supporting U.S. and British operations during the D-Day invasion and assisting with the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp.

Retired Army Capt. Martin Gelb, 98, holds his Congressional Gold Medal given to him Monday, June 25, 2018, in Derry, New Hampshire. Gelb was honored for his World War II service with the Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency. (AP Photo/Holly Ramer)

Retired Army Capt. Martin Gelb, 98, holds his Congressional Gold Medal given to him Monday, June 25, 2018, in Derry, New Hampshire. Gelb was honored for his World War II service with the Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency. (AP Photo/Holly Ramer)

Courtesy of Army Times article

Posted on

Where’s Capt. Molly? Search on for Revolutionary hero’s grave

Revolutionary War hero Margaret “Captain Molly” Corbin was long thought to be buried beneath her granite monument at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. The Daughters of the American Revolution moved her remains there in 1926 from an unmarked grave nearby. But it’s now clear they removed the wrong remains.

This 1926 photo provided by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) shows a casket that was exhumed by the DAR on the estate of banker J.P. Morgan in Highland Falls, N.Y., with two women who were DAR researchers, right, and two Army officers to serve as pall bearers. The casket, which was reburied at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, was thought to contain the remains of Revolutionary War hero Margaret

This 1926 photo provided by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) shows a casket that was exhumed by the DAR on the estate of banker J.P. Morgan in Highland Falls, N.Y., with two women who were DAR researchers, right, and two Army officers to serve as pall bearers. The casket, which was reburied at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, was thought to contain the remains of Revolutionary War hero Margaret “Captain Molly” Corbin who stepped in to fire a cannon after her husband was killed in battle, but high-tech tests on the exhumed remains show they belonged to an unidentified male. (Daughters of the American Revolution via AP)

Link

Posted on

WWII pilot missing since 1944 laid to rest at Arlington

Second Lt. Robert R. Keown was piloting his P-38 aircraft to an airfield after a mission in 1944 when it crashed into a mountain in Papua New Guinea. World War II ended without Keown’s family knowing what had happened to him, and the military later declared him dead.

Decades later, a villager found human remains in a swampy area near the mountain. Another resident of the Pacific island snapped a photo of the rusted wreckage of a warplane years after that.

The photos led to the remains of Robert R. Keown located and returned to the U.S. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery June 15, 2018.

See the article in Air Force Times to learn more about Keown how he was found,

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/06/17/wwii-pilot-missing-since-1944-laid-to-rest-at-arlington/

Posted on

How the actions of one man influenced a generation: William E. Adams

Medal of Honor recipient Major William E. Adams

How the actions of one man influenced a generation

Have you ever come across something or someone who touched your life in a meaningful way? It might have been a phrase or a word. Perhaps it might be just the way a person lived their life. William E. Adams is one of these people. The way he lived and the actions he took influenced a generation of people.

(more…)

Posted on

Leadership through Character in a Crucible of Conflict

The Story of Rick Rescorla

Character in a Crucible of Conflict

Extreme events call for extreme measures. The root of extreme events is often conflict. Conflict is the crucible of character.

Tacking action during conflict while staying true to one’s self and humanity is leadership through character. It is about looking out for others during extreme events.

Some may be familiar with the name Rick Rescorla. Others may not have ever heard of him, or if they did, they might have forgotten the story.  Rick Rescorla demonstrated leadership through character throughout his life in remarkable ways when confronted with conflict.

(more…)

Posted on

The Truth about American Heritage

American Heritage

American heritage is remarkable and incredibly inspiring. The celebration of the traditions and beliefs that society considers essential to its history and culture keeps that heritage alive. America is a country formed by diversity centered around the idea of freedom and opportunity. We are not free unless we are all free. What people are willing to do to preserve that freedom for us is a source of inspiration. The life of Joseph C. Rodriguez represents a tradition of recognizing heroes and the belief in a multi-cultural society. His actions and background is a prime example of American heritage that still inspires today.

(more…)

Posted on

Secret to the self-discipline of journaling daily

The (short) history of the journals of John J. Pershing

The secret to the self-discipline of journaling daily

Personal, first-hand accounts of history’s biggest moments provide a texture to history that humanizes it. A perspective of a leader often helps us understand why decisions were made. It brings context and reveals exquisite details about what was going on in that person’s life as history unfolded. The notes also provide lessons for us in how we may lead our own lives. The self-discipline of John J. Pershing provides a terrific example of a journaling habit.

(more…)

Posted on

Selfless Service of Theodore W. Miller

Selfless Service of Theodore W. Miller

Have you ever walked by a memorial plaque and wonder about the story behind it? Why did people spend the time, money and effort to erect it? Or like most of us, you walked by without even noticing it. This story is about a memorial plaque with name Theodore Westwood Miller affixed to it. He was born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. He was the epitome of the “golden boy.” What he did next may surprise you.

(more…)

Posted on

How George Washington read to accomplish goals

How George Washington read to accomplish goals

Many people view George Washington as the American example of an accomplished military and political leader. Washington’s many accomplishments are well known. George Washington was mostly self-taught. He read to accomplish goals. John Adams said that a real revolution is in the minds of people. It is through the formation of George Washington’s mind that helped the American Revolution come to pass.

Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States by Howard Chandler Christy

(more…)

Posted on

How Love Heals All Wounds

The story of Connie Spinks Ross

How Love Heals All Wounds

Have you ever heard a story and thought about how that person got through their life with the extreme circumstances they faced? There are many fantastic stories out there, but sometimes one of them grabs your soul. Stories grab your soul when we connect with them in some way. For some people, a simple tug of a heart string is enough. For others, it is a connection with a family member, friend or personal experience. This story is about how love heals. It is about Connie Spinks Ross who was a typical American woman who went to war, faced a horrific event and survived it.

(more…)