Everyday Patriot

Staff Sergeant Clifford Chester Sims was born on June 18, 1942, in Port St. Joe, Florida.  Orphaned early, he lived on his own for a time before being adopted by the Sims.  Despite his early challenges, he graduated from George Washington High School in 1961, and shortly after, Staff Sergeant Clifford Sims enlisted in the U.S. Army. Assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, for Airborne training, Staff Sergeant Clifford Sims remained in the U.S. until his 1965 deployment during the Dominican Republic Expedition with the 82nd Airborne. Staff Sergeant Clifford Sims was then assigned to the 501st Infantry of the 101st Airborne and deployed to Vietnam for the Vietnam War. On February 21, 1968, Staff Sergeant Sims earned a Congressional Medal of Honor.  While moving through the area of Hue, Vietnam, his team came upon a small structure.  Staff Sergeant Sims, checking to ensure the structure was unmanned, activated a tripwire and the explosive within the bui...

Admiral John Sidney "Slew" McCain Sr was born on August 9, 1884, in Carroll County, Mississippi. and hadn't planned on being a sailor. He had attended the University of Mississippi for a couple of years and even joined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity before deciding to enter the Military Academy. He had planned to go to West Point, but Admiral John McCain chose to enter Annapolis after using U.S. Navy test preparation materials. Graduating in 1906, he took part in the Great White Fleet's world tour, which took place from 1907 until 1909, returning to the U.S as a member of the USS Connecticut's crew. After that, Admiral John McCain was assigned to the Asiatic Squadron in San Diego. Admiral Slew McCain served as the Executive Office of the USS Colorado, patrolling the Pacific coast of Mexico from 1914 to 1915 before joining the crew of the USS San Diego in September to provide convoy protection in the Atlantic during World War I. He was also briefly assigned...

Sergeant Major Charles John Hayes was born on December 23, 1878, in St. Mary's, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1897, deploying to Cuba during the Spanish American War. He returned stateside until deploying again to Nicaragua and then Mexico for the Occupation of Vera Cruz. Sergeant Major Charles Hayes then deployed to France during World War I and participated in both the Aisne Marne Campaign and the St Mihiel Campaign. His final deployment was to Haiti in 1920. He retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1930 and continued to serve the community through participation in the Elks Lodge and Moose Club. Sergeant Major Charles Hayes was also an active member of the American Legion. He died on January 5, 1938, and rests at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Wellsville, New York. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Vir...