July 4th & 5th 2009

Having blown multi-hundreds and hundreds of pounds of explosives in my distant past, firecrackers and bottle rockets now hold little interest to me.

So rather than spending time lighting fuses and counting fingers I spent the time working around the home and doing some reading and thinking. There have been seemingly a rash of deaths amongst entertainers and celebrities. Some of those lives I think are worth looking at.

Ed McMahon for instance with his booming contagious laugh. We remember him from the late night television entertainment talk shows, but that was not all there was to this warrior. Source wikipedia* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_McMahon

Military service

"During World War II, McMahon was a fighter pilot in the United States Marine Corps serving as a flight instructor and test pilot. He was a decorated pilot (six Air Medals) and was discharged in 1946, remaining in the reserves.


After college, McMahon returned to active duty. He met his first girlfriend, Jenifer P Smith, on his first tour. He claims that she was the one to motivate him to become a better person. He was sent to Korea in February 1952. He flew unarmed OE-1 Bird Dogs on 85 tactical air control and artillery spotting missions. He remained in the Marine Corps Reserve, retiring with the rank of Colonel in 1966 and was then commissioned as a Brigadier General in the California Air National Guard.”

Now, that might not seem all that remarkable considering today’s big screen action stars but take a little closer look. Fighter pilot in the United States Marine Corps that tells me he was a type A personality, a hard charging take the fight to the enemy and destroy them type of man. The Marine pilots are experts at not only ‘dog fighting’ but close ground support a foot soldiers angel. They were known to fly so low to the ground that they often landed after the mission with brush snagged to the bottom of their aircraft. He was a flight instructor, this tells me that he was not only a ‘type A’ personality but was also VERY skilled at both flying and instructing. It tells me more than just that. Placing myself in his shoes for a moment…our nation is at war. A pilot with the skills and drive to take the fight to the enemy but forced to train others to take that fight to enemy. Ed was awarded six medals but knowing warriors I am pretty sure that the knowing that his instruction saved lives and helped to shorten the war was all the satisfaction that he desired.

“He was sent to Korea in February 1952. He flew unarmed OE-1 Bird Dogs on 85 tactical air control and artillery spotting missions.“
Like many other WW2 veterans Ed found himself on his way to Korea were he flew unarmed OE-1Bird Dogs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_L-19_Bird_Dog

These were little Cessna two and four seat prop airplanes. Ed flew 85 missions in his little bird. These planes flew low and slow to better observe the ground and to accomplish the missions. Spotting the enemy the aircraft would circle overhead and using radio call and adjust artillery fire onto the enemy. You can imagine that this did not please the enemy and they did what they could to discourage this behavior.

“He remained in the Marine Corps Reserve, retiring with the rank of Colonel in 1966 and was then commissioned as a Brigadier General in the California Air National Guard.”

Ed stayed in the Marine Corps not retiring until 1966 with the rank of Colonel after many years of loyal sacrificing service. He was then commissioned as a Brigadier General in the California Air National Guard continuing to give service to his country.
Ed has since passed as so many quiet warriors that have happened later became celebrities or not. They build their families and serve their communities and do not make a fuss over their sacrifices.

God bless them and those that are today serving our country.
 
 

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