Everyday Patriot

Private First Class Ben Carterby was born on December 11, 1891,  in Ida, Oklahoma, which is part of the Choctaw Nation.  He attended Dwight Training School before he enlisted in the US Army in response to World War I.  Assigned to the 141st Infantry, Private First Class Ben Carterby became one of the Choctaw code talkers.  The unit was the first to use a Native American language to transmit messages. It is important to note that Native Americans were not given U.S. Citizenship until 1924 and fought this war regardless. Private First Class Ben Carterby returned to his native Oklahoma after the war, dying on February 6, 1953. See Also: Captain Charles Walter Vetch Corporal Peter Maytubby Corporal Tobias William Frazier Corporal Solomon Bond Louis Private First Class Ben Carterby Private First Class Joseph Oklahombi Private Joseph Harvey Davenport * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* **************************************** a.d....

Born on May 22,1925, in Danville, Virginia, Sergeant Lester Herman Scearce, growing up in an area hard hit by the depression, lied about his age and enlisted in the U.S. Airforce. Sergeant Lester Scearce was trained as a radio operator and gunner, and he was assigned to fly with the "Grey Geese" B-24 Liberators in the Pacific Theater. Flying on the plane "Dog Patch Express,"  his team participated in the first bombing runs on the Island of Nauru. Sergeant Lester Herman Scearce would remain with the B-24s in the Pacific throughout the war. Sergeant Lester Herman Scearce remained in the U.S. Airforce until his retirement in December of 1962. He embarked on a second career as County Magistrate until 2005 and died on March 26, 2015. *A thorough history of the B-24s can be found in "Finish Forty and Home: The Untold WWII Story of B-24s in the Pacific," written by Sergeant Scearce's son. Philip Scearce* * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot P...

Born circa 1920 in California, Captain Thor Elmer Hamrin originally dreamed of becoming an actor while attending South Pasadena High School.   Instead, after his 1938 graduation,  in response to World War II, Captain Thor Hamrin enlisted on November 6, 1941, in the U.S. Airforce. Assigned to the 431st Bomber Squadron, 11th Bomber group - also known as the "Grey Geese." Flying B-24J #42-73018 - I believe the plane was named "Captain and the Kid." However, I have also seen records of him as the captain of a plane named "JITA" (for Jab in the Ass) - Captain Thor E. Hamrin and his crew were last seen going down in flames approximately 12 miles off the coast of Truk, the Philippines on July 28, 1944.  He is remembered on the Tablet of the Missing, located at the Manila American Cemetry. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently liv...

Master Sergeant Raul Perez "Roy" Benavidez on August 5, 1935, in Lindenau, Texas. His parents died while he was young from tuberculosis (His father when he was two, his mother when he was seven). Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez and his younger brother were raised in El Campo, Texas, by his grandfather, uncle, and aunt. Dropping out of school early, Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez worked shining shoes as a farmhand and tire repairman to help support his family. Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez enlisted in the Texas Army National Guard in 1952, converting to active U.S. Army in 1955, completing Airborne and Special Forces (Green Beret) training at Fort Bragg. Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez deployed to the Vietnam War first in 1965 as an advisor to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. During that tour, he stepped on a landmine and was told he would never walk again. He spent a year in the hospital, training at night, in secret, until he walked out of the hospital and returned to ac...

Lieutenant Commander Laura M. Cobb was born on May 11, 1892, in Atchison, Kansas. he was raised in Mulvane, Kansas, graduating from Mulvane High School in 1910. She entered the nurse's training program at Wesley Hospital in Wichita, Kansas, graduating in 1918. Lieutenant  Commander Laura Cobb's first enlistment in the U.S. Navy occurred on July 5, 1918, in response to World War I. She worked in stateside hospitals until July 21, 1921, when she left the Navy, and worked as a civilian nurse until April 1924, when she rejoined the Navy. Lieutenant Commander Laura Cobb was stationed in Guam during the typhoon of November 1940 that damaged nearly every structure on the island. It is noted in her military file how hard she worked during the disaster. Transferred to the Philipines in February 1941 as the chief nurse of the Canacao Naval Hospital in Manila. When the Cavite Naval Yards was attacked during World War II, Lieutenant Commander Laura Cobb and 10 other nurses remained...

Colonel Hamilton Stuyvesant Fish III was born on December 7, 1888, in Garrison, New York. His education included private boarding schools from a wealthy family, including Chateau de Lancy's Swiss academy. Colonel Hamilton Fish graduated from St. Mark's Academy in 1906. Colonel Hamilton Stuyvesant Fish was a natural athlete, playing soccer and football. At 6'4", he was accepted onto the Harvard Football team during college. He was twice on the all-American team. After graduating from Harvard in 1909 with a degree in history and government, Colonel Hamilton Fish initially started Harvard Law School before leaving to work for an insurance company in New York City. He was elected as a New York State Assembly member from 1914 to 1916. Colonel Hamilton Stuyvesant Fish was also a member of the NY National Guard and, during World War I, commanded (as a captain) K Company of the 15th NY Infantry (the famous "Harlem Hellfighters") and mustered with them to the 36...

Sergeant William Henry Johnson was believed to have been born on July 15, 1892, in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He went north to New York City and worked as a redcap porter until WWI. On July 15, 1917, he enlisted into the New York National Guard, 15th Infantry Regiment, in response to World War I. Ultimately absorbed into the 369th Infantry Division, which came to be known as the "Harlem Hellfighters," General Pershing "loaned" them to France's 161st division. On May 14, 1918, while on guard duty at Outpost 20 in the Argonne Forest, Sergeant  William Henry Johnson came under attack by a raiding party of approximately 24 enemy soldiers. Sergeant Johnson earned the name "Black Death" that day by ultimately winning the confrontation using grenades, his rifle butt, a bolo knife, and his fists. He survived with more than 21 wounds. His story was told in a Saturday Evening Post article, "Young Black Joe." After his enlistment, he briefly j...

Born on May 18, 1915, in Cincinnati, Ohio. First Lieutenant John Fox was an academic attending Wilburforce University and participated in the ROTC program at the school. After college, First Lieutenant John Fox enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1940 in anticipation of US involvement in World War II. He was assigned to the 92nd Infantry Division as a forward observer. On December 26, 1944, the Italian village he was at (Sommocolonia) was overrun by enemy soldiers. First Lieutenant John Fox earned a Medal of Honor for directing artillery fire on his position after being overrun. His actions allowed allied forces to retake the village. In addition to winning the Congressional Medal of Honor,  Hasbro toy company has made a GI Joe commemorative action figure in his honor. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the t...

Corporal Freddie Stowers was born on January 12, 1894, in Sandy Springs, South Carolina. He worked as a farmhand before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1917 in response to World War I. Corporal Freddie Stowers was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 371 Infantry Regiment, assigned to the French Army's 157th "Red Hand" division. During the assault on Cote 88, while being mowed down, his unit kept attacking.  Eventually, he and his team took the hill near Ardeuilet Montfauxelles. Unfortunately, Corporal Freddie Stowers was killed in this action, dying on September 28, 1918.  He is buried in Ardeuiel-et-Montfauxelles Ardennes France. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  an...

Sergeant Edward A. Carter was born on May 26, 1916, in Los Angeles, California. As the son of missionaries, he grew up in India and China and learned four languages English, Mandarin, Hindi, and German. Sergeant Edward Carter's first brush with combat was in 1932, at the age of 15, when he joined the Chinese Nationalist Army during the Shanghai Incident during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Sergeant Edward Carter's subsequent combat enlistment was with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade,  a group of American volunteers that supported the Spanish loyalists during the Spanish Civil war. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, and while assigned to the 56th Armored Infantry Battalion's 12th Armored Division during World War II, Sergeant Edward Carter earned a Congressional Medal of Honor when, after his tank was disabled, he, armed with a bazooka and having five wounds, still managed to kill six enemy soldiers and took two hostages. Sadly, Sergeant Edward Carder was denied re-enlis...

Born on May 15, 1866, Master Sergeant George Henry Wanton was raised in Paterson, New Jersey. Master Sergeant George Wanton joined the U.S. Navy in 1884 and served for four years before joining the U.S. Army in 1889. He was assigned to Troop M of the 10th Cavalry Regiment during the Battle of Tayacoba of the Spanish-American war. Master Sergeant George Wanton earned a Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions during the rescue of a landing party (with  Dennis Bell ,  William Thompkins , and Fritz Lee). Master Sergeant Wanton also attempted to retrieve the body of Captain Manuel Nunez, but the operation was considered too unsafe. In November of 1921, Master Sergeant George Wanton served as an honorary pallbearer for the Unknown Soldier and finished the rest of his career as quartermaster. Retiring from service in 1925. Master Sergeant George Henry Wanton died on November 27, 1940, and is buried at Arlington. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project he...

First Lieutenant Vernon Baker was born on December 17, 1919, in the rugged Cheyenne, Wyoming. In response to World War II, First Lieutenant Vernon Baker enlisted the U.S. Army on June 26, 1941, First Lieutenant Vernon Baker was assigned to the 92nd Infantry and deployed to Italy, where he earned a Congressional Medal of Honor for his action near Viareggio when he single-handedly eliminated three machine-gun nests, an outpost, and a dugout. First Lieutenant Vernon Baker remained in the Army as a career soldier, serving through the Korean War and retiring in 1968. He spent his retirement working for the Red Cross and hunting, with elk hunting being a favorite.  First Lieutenant Vernon Baker died July 13, 2010, in St. Maries, Idaho. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.taketheba...

On October 3, 1872, the world welcomed Sergeant William H. Thompkins into the world. Sergeant William H. Tompkins was born on October 3, 1872, in Paterson, New Jersey. From Paterson, New Jersey, Sergeant William Thompkins enlisted in the U.S. Army, becoming a career soldier. During the Spanish American War's Battle of Tayacoba, while aboard the USS Florida, Sergeant William Thompkins participated in the rescue of a landing party under fire. Sergeant William Thompkins spent the rest of his career stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco, CA,  dying on September 24, 1916. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online p...

Born October 10, 1872, in City Point, Virginia, Robert Penn was raised in an agricultural community and worked as a field hand before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. Fireman First Class Robert Penn served aboard the USS Iowa during the bombardment of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the blockage of Santiago de Cuba.  He was the only African-American sailor aboard the USS Iowa at the time. He earned a Congressional Medal of Honor when a boiler malfunctioned and blew out a manhole gasket.  Fireman First Class Robert Penn repaired the boiler by balancing on wood and coal buckets above the boiling water, saving his fellow sailors, and rescuing the USS Iowa.  After leaving the U.S. Navy, he moved to Las Animas, Colorado.  Fireman First Class Robert Penn died on June 8, 1912. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In additi...

Corporal Dennis Bell was an unlikely hero. Born on December 28, 1866, in the Washington D.C. area, Corporal Dennis Bell joined the U.S. Army Calvary and was assigned to the 10th Calvary Division. Stricken with malaria, Corporal Dennis Bell was confined to the USS Florida to recuperate. During the Battle of Taya Coba, Corporal Dennis Bell went ashore under fire to rescue others. He remained in the U.S. Army until 1906 and continued government service until his retirement.  Corporal Dennis  Bell was an active Mason and died September 28, 1953, at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital in Washington DC.  He is buried in Arlington Cemetery. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  an...