Your favourite national war heroes? [Archive]

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mustamato

12-28-2003, 04:16 AM

Well, here are atleast a couple from Finland that I like, to not get totally lost I just stick to world war 2.

http://guns.connect.fi/gow/haylumip.jpg
Simo Häyhä, the highest scoring sniper in history with accounted
542 kills. Will probably be unmatched as long as we live atleast.

http://www.sci.fi/~fta/juuti2s.jpg
Ilmari Juutilainen, fighter pilot with 94 victories. Makes him the
highest scoring non-german/austrian figher pilot in history.

http://turuntori.com/./tiedostot/251.jpg
Lauri Törni. Finnish LRRP platoon/company-leader during world war 2. A
later finnish president served under him. After the Finnish-Soviet armistice
the summer -44 he joined Waffen-SS. After the war he became a US
citizen and changed his name to Larry A Thorne. As a Green Beret he
went MIA under a mission in Vietnam in the 60´s.

http://www.skalman.nu/third-reich/bilder/fi-tankdestruction3.jpg
1944 the Red Army launched a major offensive on the finnish-russian front
(coordinated with the D-day) to be able to get rid of the finnish pain in the
ass and freeing resources for the rush to Berlin. 950 Soviet tanks were
destroyed before they were finally stopped and Finland and Soviet signed
an armistice. 16 of the tanks were destroyed by this man who was a
gunner on a german-supplied 75 mm anti-tank gun.

http://www.mosin-nagant.net/Finn-Maxim-One.jpg
Not to mention the ordinary grunts, collective heroes.

James

12-28-2003, 04:25 AM

My favorite is some guy from the 29th ID who went ashore on Omaha Beach, a Marine who went ashore at Tarawa, some poor Navy bastard who sweated Midway, or an airman who flew over Ploesti. And that's just World War Two. ;)

mustamato

12-28-2003, 05:03 AM

A couple more from the category "unknown finnish soldiers". These are all from the soviet offensive in the summer of -44.

A little background information on that offensive, it took mainly place on a small part in southeastern Finland between The Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga. To begin with the russians attacked with 270.000 soldiers, 660 tanks and were supported by 1660 field guns and 1500 aircrafts, so it was some pretty massive ****. More reserves were thrown in later, mainly in terms of material such as tanks, not more soldiers since Stalin didn´t want to sacrifice them on a sideshow as Finland when it was Berlin that he really wanted. To begin with the finns retreated, but gathered their forces for defence between two villages, Tali and Ihantala, where they met the russian. This was the place of the largest battle in Nordic history, 150.000 soldiers on the russian side and 50.000 on the finnish side. The battle ended with a tie after that the finns had lost about 8000 men and the russians 22.000. Armistice was signed soon after that. Finland lost a total of 85.000 soldiers during the war. The russian losses on the finnish-russian front has been estimated to atleast 250.000 soldiers.

http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Rintama/4406KannasPoteronPohjallaViipurinL%E4hell%E4.jpg
Soldier armed with finnish submachine gun Suomi KP31

http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Rintama/4406SturmRynn%E4kk%F6tykitEnsossa.jpg
German-supplied finnish StuG, with finnish modifications, insignia and camo.

http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Rintama/4407HaavoittuneenSitomista.jpg
Wounded soldier gets first aid.

http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Rintama/4406VihollisenTulikeskitys.jpg
Soldiers under artillery barrage is waiting for Ivan.

http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Rintama/4407KannasPST-tykkiTuhoaaVihollisenTankin.jpg
Anti-tank gun and burning russian tank

http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Rintama/4407Tali-Ihantala.jpg
Finns with german-supplied Panzerfausts and destroyed T-34

http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Rintama/4409ViipuriAselevonHetki.jpg
Ceasefire has come, russian officers and a finn exchange souvenirs :)

Armour recon

12-28-2003, 05:44 AM

THE MANNERHEIM CROSS AND KNIGHTS

http://www.mikkeli.fi/museot/englanti/images/pm_risti.jpg

Once the Winter War was over, Finland lacked a special decoration that could be awarded irrespective of military rank. At the proposal of the Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal Mannerheim, amendments and additions were made to the 1939 Cross and Medal of Liberty Act. The act passed on 16 December 1940 and its fourth section describe the spirit which the act was designed to give to the decoration.

"As a reward for exceptional bravery, the achievement of vitally important results in battle or military operations led with special distinction, a soldier of the Finnish Armed Forces regardless of his rank can be appointed a Knight of the Mannerheim Cross, First or Second Class."

Commander-in-Chief Mannerheim was actively involved in designing the decoration that would bear his name. Also involved were Lieutenant Colonel Ragnar Grönvall and Major Michael Gripenberg. The Mannerheim Cross was created without working drawings in collaboration with the management of Tillander Oy. The Mannerheim Cross, Cross of Liberty, First Class, comes fifth in the Finnish system of honours. It is worn round the neck on a similar ribbon to the Cross of Liberty, First Class, with swords, awarded for merits in war.

The Mannerheim Cross, Cross of Liberty, Second Class, comes ninth in the Finnish system of honours. It is worn without a ribbon on the left side of the breast.

The provisions relating to the Mannerheim Cross were supplemented by decrees during the war. A decree issued on 14.5.1943 prescribed that an honorary award of 50,000 markkas be attached to the decoration. In the latter part of the war a decree issued on 18.8.1943 made it possible to confer twice on the same person a Mannerheim Cross, Cross of Liberty, Second Class.

KNIGHTS OF THE MANNERHEIM CROSS, CROSS OF LIBERTY, FIRST CLASS

18 Field Marshal MANNERHEIM Carl Gustaf Emil 07.10.41
48 General of Infantry HEINRICHS Axel Erik 31.12.44

KNIGHTS OF THE MANNERHEIM CROSS, CROSS OF LIBERTY, SECOND CLASS

1 Colonel LAGUS Ernst Ruben 22.07.41
2 Major General TALVELA Paavo Juho 03.08.41
3 Colonel RAAPPANA Erkki Johannes 03.08.41
4 Private RÄTTÖ Vilho 03.08.41
5 Colonel SVENSSON Antero Johannes 16.08.41
6 Warrant Officer TUOMINEN Oiva Emil Kalervo 18.08.41
7 Lieutenant PÖSSI Juho 29.08.41
8 Corporal SORSA Valde Matias 01.09.41
9 Captain KIVELÄ Eero Olavi 08.09.41
10 Lieutenant REMES Olli 12.09.41
11 Colonel BLICK Aarne Leopold 14.09.41
12 Colonel PAJARI Aaro Olavi 14.09.41
13 Lance Corporal MANTERE Onni Olavi 16.09.41
14 Private PASANEN Emil 26.09.41
15 Corporal VEHVILÄINEN Veikko Kalevi 26.09.41
16 Second Lieutenant IISALO Keijo Pentti 01.10.41
17 Major General LAATIKAINEN Taavetti 03.10.41
18 Field Marshal MANNERHEIM Carl Gustaf Emil 07.10.41
19 Medical Colonel BROFELDT Simo Antero 07.10.41
20 Sergeant MALLILA Eino Ilmari 07.10.41
21 Colonel HEISKANEN Kaarlo Aleksanteri 07.10.41
22 Colonel VIHMA Einar August 12.10.41
23 Corporal SOKKA Antti Väinö 12.10.41
24 Lance Corporal SAVOLAINEN Tauno Toivo 12.10.41
25 Corporal KOSONEN Valdemar 16.10.41
26 Second Lieutenant VARSTALA Matti 16.10.41
27 Private HEINO Ahti 19.10.41
28 Second Lieutenant KORKKINEN Torsten Erik Einar 19.10.41
29 Lieutenant PENTTI Arvo Veikko 19.10.41
30 Lieutenant Colonel von ESSEN Hans Olof 22.10.41
31 Lieutenant MIKKONEN Soini Armas 22.10.41
32 Sergeant RÖNKÄ Oiva Vilho 22.10.41
33 Warrant Officer SALMINEN Viljo Fritjof 05.11.41
34 Corporal KORPI Paavo Armas 13.11.41
35 Captain VIIRI Tauno Johannes 13.11.41
36 Corporal VOUTILAINEN Aarre Alfred 19.11.41
37 Lance Corporal SAARELAINEN Veikko 19.11.41
38 Lance Corporal WENÄLÄINEN Eino Edvin 19.11.41
39 Corporal TAMMINEN Yrjö Alfons 19.11.41
40 Lieutenant RÄSÄNEN Albert 19.11.41
41 Private TÖRMÄLEHTO Taavi Armas 19.11.41
42 Sergeant LAINE Viljo Erik 19.11.41
43 Lance Corporal JANHUNEN Arvid Mikael 27.11.41
44 Sergeant Major SUOKAS Viljo Valtteri 13.12.41
45 Colonel VIIKLA Verner August 15.12.41
46 Major HÄKKINEN Toivo Nikodemus 14.01.42
47 Major HYNNINEN Jouko Untamo 14.01.42
48 General of Infantry HEINRICHS Axel Erik 05.02.42
49 Lieutenant HÄMÄLÄINEN Jorma 27.02.42
50 Lieutenant HONKANEN Ilmari Kalervo 27.02.42
51 Colonel AUTTI Pietari Aleksanteri 01.03.42
52 Lieutenant Colonel AHO Martti Johannes 01.03.42
53 Cornet HIRVI-KUNNAS Teppo Taneli 20.04.42
54 Lieutenant KAHLA Paavo Elias 26.04.42
55 Lieutenant WINQVIST Rolf Robert 26.04.42
56 Warrant Officer JUUTILAINEN Eino Ilmari 26.04.42
57 Sergeant Major MOILANEN Jooseppi 15.05.42
58 Lance Corporal MATILAINEN Mikko Olavi 15.05.42
59 Corporal KILPINEN Yrjö 15.05.42
60 Lieutenant Colonel NORDGREN John Valter Voldemar 15.05.42
61 Captain LAAKSO Osmo Tapio 19.05.42
62 Lance Corporal HARTIKAINEN Johannes 19.05.42
63 Captain VUORENSOLA Ahti Kalervo 19.05.42
64 Sergeant KOLPPANEN Jaakko Jalmari 19.05.42
65 Staff Sergeant KOUSA Sauli 05.07.42
66 Lieutenant Colonel KARI Kaarlo Kustaa 05.07.42
67 Major LUKKARI Aarne Reino Ilmari 05.07.42
68 Sergeant SKYTTÄ Lauri 05.07.42
69 Second Lieutenant NISSINEN Lauri Vilhelm 05.07.42
70 Medical Sergeant ISOSOMPPI Feeli Johannes 17.07.42
71 Lieutenant AHOLA Johan Aarne Einari 17.07.42
72 Lieutenant ALAKULPPI Olavi Eelis 17.07.42
73 Captain TOFFER Caj Edvard Ferdinand 21.07.42
74 Lieutenant KORPI Reino Kalervo 09.08.42
75 Lieutenant SEPPÄNEN Aaro 09.08.42
76 Second Lieutenant LEHTONEN Kaarlo Veikko Tapani 09.08.42
77 Sergeant Major LAUKKANEN Hugo 09.08.42
78 Lance Corporal SIMILÄ Johan Kustaa 09.08.42
79 Lieutenant PENTTILÄ Eino Valfrid 19.08.42
80 Lieutenant Colonel POLÓN Bernt Eino Edvard 23.08.42
81 Lieutenant KOLI Paavo Olavi 23.08.42
82 Sergeant Major KOJO Leo Johannes (24.08.42) 23.08.42
83 Sergeant LAITINEN Kaarlo Kullervo 23.08.42
84 Lieutenant KOKKO Lauri Albin 31.08.42
85 Second Lieutenant NUOTIO Paavo Konstantin 31.08.42
86 Second Lieutenant SIPPOLA Ahto Kullervo Kaj 31.08.42
87 Staff Sergeant MÖRÖ Arvo 31.08.42
88 Staff Sergeant SUORANTA Paavo Lauri Matias 31.08.42
89 Corporal OVASKA Toivo Johannes 31.08.42
90 Major MAUNULA Auvo Herman Toivo 08.09.42
91 Captain KEINONEN Yrjö Ilmari 08.09.42
92 Captain KARHUNEN Jorma 08.09.42
93 Lieutenant LINDBLAD Tor Robert 08.09.42
94 Second Lieutenant KORTE Toivo 08.09.42
95 Sergeant GERDT Kaiho Tuomas Albin 08.09.42
96 Colonel PUROMA Albert Aleksander 18.10.42
97 Colonel LAAKSONEN Sulo Eero 06.11.42
98 Captain KARU Veikko Johannes 06.11.42
99 Staff Sergeant VALLEBRO (Vorho) Antti 06.11.42
100 Sergeant MANNINEN Toivo Kaarlo 06.11.42
101 Corporal PAAJANEN Paavo 06.11.42
102 Corporal NORDIN Arvid Oskar 06.11.42
103 Major General WINELL Claes Bertel Napoleon 12.12.42
104 Commander ARHO Jouko Olavi Kaarlo (08.02.43) 08.03.43
105 Lieutenant Commander KIVILINNA Osmo Kullervo (08.02.43) 08.03.43
106 Captain EK Rolf Birger (08.02.43) 08.03.43
107 Lieutenant KORHONEN Niilo Juhani (08.02.43) 08.03.43
108 Warrant Officer OVASKAINEN Toimi (08.02.43) 08.03.43
109 Sergeant Major STORBACKA Harald (08.02.43) 08.03.43
110 Staff Sergeant SCHADEWITZ Einar 10.02.43
111 Lieutenant Commander PIRHONEN Jouko Kalevi Esaias 04.06.43
112 Lieutenant LESKINEN Veikko Kullervo 04.06.43
113 Sergeant Major MOISANDER Leevi Veli 04.06.43
114 Sergeant LIIKKANEN Arvi Anton 04.06.43
115 Lance Corporal LAISI Eino (04.03.43) 04.06.43
116 Lieutenant WIND Hans Henrik 31.07.43
117 Major PUUSTINEN Timo Johannes 01.08.43
118 Lieutenant NYKÄNEN Kaarlo Heikko 01.08.43
119 Sergeant Major MÄÄTTÄNEN Onni Henrik 01.08.43
120 Staff Sergeant PÖLLÄ Mikko 01.08.43
121 Sergeant TUOMELA Oiva Olavi 01.08.43
122 Warrant Officer OKSALA Unto Johannes 21.11.43
123 Sergeant HEINO Lauri Aleksanteri 21.11.43
124 Lance Corporal SANDROOS Sakari August 21.11.43
125 Private KORPI Erkki Matias 21.11.43
126 Lieutenant Colonel TURKKA Kauno Josef Vilhelm 16.01.44
127 Major LUUKKANEN Eino Antero 18.06.44
128 Lieutenant Colonel KUIRI Auno Johannes 19.06.44
129 Lieutenant Colonel MAGNUSSON Gustaf Erik 26.06.44
130 Major General MARTOLA Ilmari Armas-Eino 26.06.44
131 Lieutenant General OESCH Karl Lennart 26.06.44
132 Captain KVIKANT Carl-Birger Valdemar 26.06.44
133 Lieutenant AULANKO Olli Sakari 26.06.44
134 Corporal TUOMALA Kauko Hans Villiam 27.06.44
135 Major LEPPÄNEN Eero Kaarlo Olavi 27.06.44
136 Lieutenant KAUSTI Esko 01.07.44
137 Major KUVAJA Eino Hjalmar 04.07.44
138 Private SEPPÄNEN Eero 04.07.44
139 Lieutenant EKHOLM Gregorius 09.07.44
140 Lance Corporal KIIVERI Eino 09.07.44
141 Corporal KÄRPÄNEN Heikki 09.07.44
142 Warrant Officer LEHTOVAARA Urho Sakari 09.07.44
143 Major TOIVIO Veikko Eerikki 09.07.44
144 Lieutenant TÖRNI Lauri Allan 09.07.44
145 Lance Corporal VÄISÄNEN Ville 12.07.44
146 Second Lieutenant RIPATTI Eino Juhana 12.07.44
147 Staff Sergeant OINONEN Erkki Olavi 18.07.44
148 Staff Sergeant PUOLAMÄKI Asser Ensio 18.07.44
149 Lieutenant HONKANIEMI Toivo Nikolai 20.07.44
150 Staff Sergeant NURMI Martti August 23.07.44
151 Captain PARONEN Tauno Ilmari 22.08.44
152 Lieutenant Colonel MIETTINEN Martti Juho 02.10.44
153 Staff Sergeant VEIKKANEN Arvo Emanuel 02.10.44
154 Corporal KIRPPU Toivo 02.10.44
155 Lance Corporal ILOMÄKI Toivo Osmo 02.10.44
156 Major VALKONEN Pentti Pekka 07.10.44
157 Lieutenant Colonel HALSTI Wolfgang Hallstén 16.10.44
158 Lieutenant Colonel LOIMU Vilho Jalo Kalervo 16.10.44
159 Lieutenant General AIRO Aksel Fredrik 18.11.44
160 Major General TAPOLA Kustaa Anders 18.11.44
161 General of Infantry WALDEN Karl Rudolf 02.12.44
162 Colonel EHRNROOTH Adolf Erik 04.12.44
163 Colonel MARTTINEN Alpo Kullervo 04.12.44
164 Major AHOLA Arvo 21.12.44
165 Sergeant ANTTILA Allan Sylvester 21.12.44
166 Sergeant ANTTONEN Mikko Johannes 21.12.44
167 Sergeant HÄMÄLÄINEN Väinö Albin 21.12.44
168 Captain IISALO Tauno Veikko Ilmari 21.12.44
169 Sergeant Major KARJALAINEN Esa Ukko 21.12.44
170 Sergeant Major KATAJAINEN Nils Edvard 21.12.44
171 Lieutenant KOIVU Timo Joel 21.12.44
172 Lieutenant LAIHIALA Eino 21.12.44
173 Staff Sergeant LEHTIKANGAS Aapo Aulis 21.12.44
174 Staff Sergeant PIKKARAINEN Vilho Antero 21.12.44
175 Captain PUHAKKA Risto Olli Petter 21.12.44
176 Lance Corporal RYTÖNIEMI Jaakko Esko 21.12.44
177 Sergeant SALONEN Aarne Kaarle Valtteri 21.12.44
178 Private SIPILÄINEN Valter 21.12.44
179 Lance Corporal SUHONEN Tauno 21.12.44
180 Lance Corporal TANTTU Pauli Veikko 21.12.44
181 Corporal VYYRYLÄINEN Viljo Ilmari 21.12.44
182 Flying Officer ÄIJÖ Lauri Alfred 21.12.44
183 Lieutenant General SIILASVUO Hjalmar Fridolf 21.12.44
184 General of Artillery NENONEN Vilho Petter 08.01.45
185 Major HÄNNINEN Antti Vilho Valmis Voitto 10.02.45
186 Captain KIISKINEN Jouko Paavo Olli 10.02.45
187 Lieutenant KORHONEN Toivo Johannes 10.02.45
188 Lieutenant LINNAKKO Kaarlo Olavi 10.02.45
189 Lieutenant Commander KAJATSALO (Salo) Kaarlo Viljam 10.02.45
190 Captain VILANTI Kauko Johannes 10.02.45
191 Lieutenant Colonel LAAKSO Viljo Aukusti 07.05.45

TWICE APPOINTED KNIGHTS OF THE MANNERHEIM CROSS, CROSS OF LIBERTY, SECOND CLASS

12 Major General PAJARI Aaro Olavi 14.09.41 16.10.44
52 Colonel AHO Martti Johannes 01.03.42 16.10.44
56 Warrant Officer JUUTILAINEN Eino Ilmari 26.04.42 28.06.44
116 Captain WIND Hans Henrik 31.07.43 28.06.44

mustamato

12-28-2003, 05:49 AM

KNIGHTS OF THE MANNERHEIM CROSS, CROSS OF LIBERTY, SECOND CLASS

176 Lance Corporal RYTÖNIEMI Jaakko Esko 21.12.44

http://www.skalman.nu/third-reich/bilder/fi-tankdestruction3.jpg

"Wtf, I destroyed 16 tanks (14 T-34, 2 JS-2) and all I got was a lousy second class cross of liberty :( "

;)

Armour recon

12-28-2003, 05:56 AM

mustamato

12-28-2003, 06:03 AM

http://www.andreaslarka.net/ps531010/531010074.jpg

"This StuG with it's crew (commander Börje Brotell, gunner Olli Soimala, driver Sulo Kauppi and loader Armas Launikko) is the one that scored the most victories during the hard fighting in the summer of 1944. With 11 confirmed tank-kills this StuG now stands as a monument at the Finnish Armoured Brigades garrison area in Parola, Finland. This StuG is restored to almost war-time condition. The colours are authentic and the colour-scheme has been restored."

I don´t know how "tank kills" are counted, but I think that it is the gunner Soimala who should have the most credits for those.

Armour recon

12-28-2003, 07:30 AM

Here is also good info about the knight's and Mannerheim and Quartermaster-General A. F. Airo.

http://www.mikkeli.fi/museot/englanti/pm_toiminta.html

NcDeuce

12-28-2003, 10:29 AM

http://www.msc.navy.mil/GRAPHICS/Shughart.jpg
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS RANDALL D. SHUGHART

Citation: Sergeant First Class Shughart, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as a Sniper Team Member, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Sergeant First Class Shughart provided precision sniper fires from the lead helicopter during an assault on a building and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. While providing critical suppressive fires at the second crash site, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the site. Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader were inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Sergeant First Class Shughart pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Sergeant First Class Shughart used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers while traveling the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Sergeant First Class Shughart's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.

http://www.msc.navy.mil/GRAPHICS/Gordon.jpg
MASTER SERGEANT GARY IVAN GORDON

Citation: Master Sergeant Gordon, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as Sniper Team Leader, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Master Sergeant Gordon's sniper team provided precision fires from the lead helicopter during an assault and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. When Master Sergeant Gordon learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the second crash site, he and another sniper unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After his third request to be inserted, Master Sergeant Gordon received permission to perform his volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Master Sergeant Gordon was inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon and his fellow sniper, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Master Sergeant Gordon immediately pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Master Sergeant Gordon used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers until he depleted his ammunition. Master Sergeant Gordon then went back to the wreckage, recovering some of the crew's weapons and ammunition. Despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition, he provided some of it to the dazed pilot and then radioed for help. Master Sergeant Gordon continued to travel the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. After his team member was fatally wounded and his own rifle ammunition exhausted, Master Sergeant Gordon returned to the wreckage, recovering a rifle with the last five rounds of ammunition and gave it to the pilot with the words, "good luck." Then, armed only with his pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon continued to fight until he was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Master Sergeant Gordon's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon, his unit and the United States Army.

Vance

12-28-2003, 10:35 AM

Any soldier that ever fought in a war for my country is a hero in my eyes...

NcDeuce

12-28-2003, 11:16 AM

If I had to pick a warrior, I personally know, whose actions inspire me, it would have to be my PMS. He flew Cobras and eventually got into the U.S. Army 160th SOAR. While prep/training for Gothic Serpent in either Bragg or Campbell, his Little Bird helo clipped some trees and sent the bird straight down almost 100 feet. Both he and his co-pilot suffered broken vertabrae and other severe injuries. Thus, he missed out on the show in Somalia while his comrades fought and died. That has to kill him, I would be so pissed and sad at the same time.

AirZone

12-28-2003, 11:19 AM

Dalleer

12-28-2003, 01:52 PM

I'd say that Lauri Törni has to be one of the people in my "top three" category of war heroes, along with the other numerous Finnish soldiers.

...

12-28-2003, 03:01 PM

http://www.gnt.net/~jrube/images/chesty.jpg

NcDeuce

12-28-2003, 07:11 PM

FallenAngel

12-28-2003, 07:32 PM

http://www.gnt.net/~jrube/images/chesty.jpg

That Chesty Puller? Great Marine :)

I just have to name one American that I know no one else would: Benedict Arnold. He was a general under Washington who basically "won" the battle of Saratoga. If it wasn't for him, the entire continental army would have been routed and destroyed piecemeal and the revolutionary war would have come to an abrupt end. ;)

Deuterium

12-28-2003, 07:41 PM

http://turuntori.com/./tiedostot/251.jpg

Lauri Törni. Finnish LRRP platoon/company-leader during world war 2. A
later finnish president served under him. After the Finnish-Soviet armistice
the summer -44 he joined Waffen-SS. After the war he became a US
citizen and changed his name to Larry A Thorne. As a Green Beret he
went MIA under a mission in Vietnam in the 60´s.

He is still a fixture in 10th SFG(A) history and an honored member of the unit. Just last year his remains were found and burried in a ceremony attended by our unit. The highest team award in the unit is the annual Torni award given to the best team in 10th group. This guy was THE ultimate warrior.

mustamato

12-28-2003, 08:46 PM

He is still a fixture in 10th SFG(A) history and an honored member of the unit. Just last year his remains were found and burried in a ceremony attended by our unit. The highest team award in the unit is the annual Torni award given to the best team in 10th group. This guy was THE ultimate warrior.

http://www2.helsinginsanomat.fi/kuvat/uutiset/2003/06/16/20030616ie02i.jpg
The last picture of Larry Thorne was taken three days before he disappeared. The Finnish-American war hero is on the left in the picture with some American and South Vietnamese brothers in arms.

It is fascinating that he fought in three different countries as an officer. Not many has done something similar. Especially not considering that it was three in almost every aspect (language, culture and so forth) completely different countries.

Finland
03.09.1938 Conscript
01.03.1939 Reserve Corpral (alikersantti)
09.05.1940 Reserve 2nd Lietunentant (vänrikki)
05.03.1942 Reserve Lieutenant (luutnantti)
27.08.1944 Reserve Captain (kapteeni)

26.07.1940 VM2
24.08.1940 VM1
09.10.1941 VR3
23.05.1942 VR4
09.07.1944 Mannerheim-cross
Winter war memorial medal
Memorial medal of 1st Division
Border jaegers cross
The defence forces medal in bronze

Germany
18.5.1941 Untersturmführer (only a month)
15.4.1945 Hauptsturmführer (end of the war)

11.12.1943 Iron cross, second class

USA
28.01.1954 PVT-1
28.05.1954 PVT-2
20.12.1954 PFC
28.04.1955 CPL
17.11.1955 SGT
09.01.1957 1st LTN
30.11.1960 CPT
16.12.1965 MAJ (after he died)

The Legion of Merit
The Distinguished Flying Cross
The Bronze Star
The Purple Heart (2 of them)
The Army Commendation Medal

http://www.veteraanienperinto.fi/suomi/Kertomukset/sotilas/sotilas/jatkosota/mauno_koivisto/koivisto1.jpg

The most famous of Törnis soldiers is probably Mauno Koivisto who later became a president in Finland (1982-1994), this picture is probably from his time before he volunteered and was approved for service in Törnis elite unit as a private. Koivisto was armed with a submachine gun when he was grunt in the 35th Infantry regiment, but he got a ordinary bolt-action rifle when he joined Törnis unit at first. Later on he got a captured DP machinegun. He used a interesting mixture of rounds in the magazine, incendiary, tracer, armourpiercing and so forth. He is said to have been very lethal with this weapon and later on also advanced corpral. The round mixture together with a little damage on the butt of the weapon made it unique. He lost the weapon during fighting in -44. It was discovered during exacavations a couple of years ago and Koivisto recognized it immediately. :D

Seiyuuki

12-29-2003, 12:39 AM

There would be too many heroes to list.

UoUo

12-29-2003, 02:18 AM

Few heros...

http://images.google.co.il/images?q=tbn:NZdrPI_-49gC:www.idf.il/resources/content/images/pazan_gens/rabin.jpg

Ythak rabin...the man in my sig...

On November 4, 1995, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Yitzhak Rabin, was assassinated.

Yitzhak Rabin was born in Jerusalem, on March 1, 1922. He was raised by his parents, Nehemia Rabin and Rosa Cohen, who were active in the political party, Ahdut Ha'avoda, according to the values of the Labor movement. Nehemia was one of the first employees of Pinhas Rutenberg's Electricity Corporation and Rosa was the first woman in the "Hagana" leadership in Haifa.

Yitzhak Rabin studied at Beit Hinuch Leyaldei Ovdim (a school for workers' children) in Tel Aviv and the agricultural school Kedourie.
In the course of the Second World War he joined the Palmah and participated in the British invasion of Lebanon and Syria.
In the course of the War of Independence, Rabin commanded the Harel Brigade, which inter alia was in charge of keeping the way to Jerusalem open for supply convoys.

On January 13, 1949, he participated in the talks about the armistice agreement between Israel and Egypt in Rhodes.

On December 5, 1963 Rabin was appointed as Israel's seventh Chief of Staff, and in June 1967, commanded over the impressive military victory of the IDF in the Six Day War, which led to the reunification of Jerusalem under Jewish sovereignty, for the first time in 2000 years.

In February 1968 Rabin was appointed as Israel's Ambassador to Washington where he left a distinct mark on US-Israel relations.
After returning to Israel he was appointed Minister of Labor in the Government, which Golda Meir formed after the Yom Kippur War, and in June 1974 was appointed Prime Minister. As Prime Minister Rabin had to contend with a reality of political and party schisms and growing public criticism of the political and military leadership. At the same time his government made a major effort to strengthen the army and resolve some of the country's social and economic problems.
Yitzhak Rabin signed the Interim Agreement with Egypt in 1975, which involved the withdrawal of Israeli forces was part of the Sinai. He also presided over the Entebbe Operation, in the course of which over 100 hijacked Israeli and Jewish Air-France passengers were released by Israeli military forces in Uganda.

Rabin resigned the premiership in April 1977.

From June 1977 until the formation of the National Unity Government in 1984, Rabin served as a Labor MK and was member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee. He was also active in the UJA and Israel Bonds
. In 1984 Rabin was appointed Minister of Defense, in which capacity he served until March 1990. In 1985 he initiated the withdrawal of the IDF from most of Lebanon, leaving a security zone in the South.

After regaining the Labor Party leadership in February 1992, Rabin was appointed Prime Minister and Minister of Defense in July.
On September 13, 1993, he signed the Declaration of Principles with PLO chairman Yasir Arafat, which included mutual recognition between Israel and the Palestinians and Palestinian self-rule in Gaza and Jericho. A later agreement, signed in October 5, 1995, involved Israeli withdrawal from seven Palestinian towns in the West Bank and called for the holding of elections in the Palestinian authority.
An additional political achievement was the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan, signed on October 26, 1994.
For their efforts Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres and Yasir Arafat were granted the Nobel Prize for Peace in December 1994.
On November 4, 1995 Rabin was shot to death by a Jewish assassin, at the end of a mass demonstration in Kikar Malchei Yisrael in Tel Aviv in support of the peace process
[/code]
.

http://www.knesset.gov.il/rabin/images/gallery/oldcity.jpg

And ofcurse : Ariel Sharom

http://www.snunit.k12.il/campaign2001/gifs/sharon_rabin.jpg

The man that won the sout front in 1973 war

radon

12-29-2003, 05:38 AM

imo Rähinäremmi posting that list was not too informative

http://www.saunalahti.fi/vaino2/marokonA2+.jpg

but you forgot: Aarne "Marokon kauhu" Juutilainen 1904-1976
Aarne " Morrocos terror" Juutilainen

I remember he was the brother of that pilot in the first post.
In the french foreign legion in the 30s. Thats why the name. Just before the war he was training troops in Finland. Lead the company where the sniper simo häyhä was. He had also his bad sides, he was a drunk often and then not very peaceful. He had the habit to shoot in front of the feet of lower-ranking soldiers when they were not the same opinion with him. He also shot at the foot of an officer because of a personal dispute.

When the winter war stopped and there was a halt in the war, he tried to get to the foreign legion but was not let out of they country. Also during this time his name got a bad reputation because some bad behaving people had too often said they were the war hero. When the was ending 1944 he had to leave the army.

El'Potato

12-29-2003, 06:16 AM

mustamato

12-29-2003, 07:06 AM

What about that finnish soldier who completely on his own downed a whole soviet ski patrol on some 80 men with only a submachine gun?
Think he wasted around 12 magazines doing so, but anyway who was he?

http://guns.connect.fi/gow/rokka.jpg

I think you might be referring to this man, Viljam Pylkas (1912 - 1999). He is not that famous. But the writer Väinö Linna, writer of Tuntematon Soldier (Unknown Soldier) probably based the character Antti Rokka on Pylkas. There is a caption in the book (and in the movies) where Rokka kills a russian ski patrol that tries to outflank their unit. Linna had been a front-line soldier himself and based most of the characters on his fellow comrades, and most of the "action" in the book on what he had experienced.

There was an incident during the war when a russian ski patrol of atleast 82 soldiers tried to outflank Pylkas unit. He fired 17 magazines at them, with 40 rounds each (they had room for 50 but were not filled with more than 40 each due to feeding problems otherwise), which makes a total of 680 rounds. 82 of the russians were killed. Maybe some of them got away. That makes 8.3 rounds per killed russian. It should also be noted that he changed the barrel of the submachine gun due to overheating. Quickly changing the barrel in combat (like in a machine gun) was one of the features of the finnish KP31 submachine gun.

Loco

12-29-2003, 09:26 AM

It is fascinating that he fought in three different countries as an officer. Not many has done something similar. Especially not considering that it was three in almost every aspect (language, culture and so forth) completely different countries.

Enrique Lister, he isn´t exactly my war hero, but I think he was the only man in XX century who got such accomplishments: General in three armies.
A mason-worker and an inmigrant in America in his youth, began the Spanish Civil War commanding a group of popular militias, those militas were converted in the main strike force of the Republican Army: The 5ºRegiment, and the 11ªBrigade, fought in all the main battles of the war. He finished spanish war as a first-colonel, but commanded a Corp of Army. After the spanish war, he went to Soviet Union, where he was professor with other spanish officers in Frunze Military Academy, and when the german invassion, he fought like all his spanish camarades in the Red Army, was in Stalingrad battle, and with the polish(in the soviet side) and yugoslavians forces. He was officer in 4 armies, and general in 3 armies: Soviet Army, the Polish Army and Yugoslavian Army. In the below photo he´s the man in the center, with his units just after the battle or Brunete, 1937 Spain:
http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Imagenes/FotoEpr/Thumb_GCE_GR01_P250_DespuesBrunete11DsChifloYGregorioConLister.jpg

In this photo taken in the Frunze Academy he´s the 5º counting since the left in the above line, and at the left of Lister is Modesto, another brigade´s commander of spanish Republic, and the tallest of all is Tagüeña, who commanded a Corp of Army in the battle of Ebro at the age of 24 years old, and finished his life as an scientist, what he was, btw, when the war began, the others men are spanish proffesors too:
http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Imagenes/FotoEpr/PCE_MI28_P149_ProfesoresEspanolesFrunse.JPG

S'13

12-29-2003, 11:47 AM

Trumpeldor, Joseph (1880-1920)

Soldier and early pioneer-settler in Erez Israel whose life efforts to organize the military defense of the Jewish settlements in Erez Israel and whose heroic death in a battle at Tel Hai in the north of the country became an inspirational symbol to pioneering youth from all parts of the Diaspora.
Born in a small town in the northern Caucasus, Trumpeldor was strongly influenced in his youth by the model of collective communal life which he witnessed at a nearby farming commune established by followers of the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. In Trumpeldor's mind, the idea of collective living became merged with the Zionist ideal of settling Erez Israel, and he dreamed of establishing agricultural communes in Erez Israel which, if necessary, would be defended by armed force.

He was however, drafted into the Russian army and lost an arm while fighting in the Russo-Japanese war. In 1912 he went to Erez Israel and worked for a while at kevuzzat Deganyah, and participated in the defense of the Jewish settlements in the lower Galilee. When World War I broke out, he was deported to Egypt after he refused to join the Turkish army. In Alexandria, he called for the formation of a legion of volunteers drawn from the Erez Israel deportees to be at the disposal of the British and help liberate the country from the Turks.

The British allowed the formation of a Jewish brigade (the "Zion Mule Corps") of which Trumpeldor became the deputy commander and which participated in the Gallipoli campaign of 1915. Between 1915 and 1919 Trumpeldor traveled widely, spending much time in England and Russia, promoting the organization of Jewish regiments to fight the Turks and Jewish self-defense units to protect the settlements in Erez Israel.

In Russia, in particular, he was very active in the organization of the He-Halutz movement whose aim was the training of young Jews for settling in Erez Israel.

In 1919 he returned to Erez Israel and in January 1920 was called to the northern Galilee to help organize the defense of the settlements there which had come under increasingly fierce Arab attack. On March 1 he was mortally wounded while participating in the defense of the settlemenents at Tel Hai; his dying words were: Ein davar, tov lamut be'ad arzenu ("Never mind; it is good to die for our country").

Trumpeldor was buried near Tel Hai, and in 1934 a memorial was erected at his gravesite. Shortly after his death, a new settlement at the foot of Mount Gilboa was named Tel Yosef in his honor, and songs, poems and stories were written about him as a hero of the Jewish resettlement of Erez Israel. His lifestory served as an inspirational model to both the pioneering socialist youth movements and the right-wing youth groups. One of the largest and most successful of the latter was named in his honor: Betar, an abbreviation of Berit Trumpeldor.
http://www.saveisrael.com/images/trumpwhite.gif

Javehn

12-29-2003, 12:27 PM

actually , his last words weren't : It is good die for the country , they were just good old Russian swearing ...

duck

12-29-2003, 12:34 PM

S'13: The Beitar Jerusalem soccer team, does it originate from the group mentioned in the text?

S'13

12-29-2003, 12:47 PM

actually , his last words weren't : It is good die for the country , they were just good old Russian swearing ...

There are all kinds of version to the story, however I saw a documented witness account in which he claimed that Trumpeldor's final words were "tov lamut be'ad arzenu". I myself don't think it matters what Trumpeldor said, it's enough to see what he did...

S'13

12-29-2003, 01:25 PM

S'13: The Beitar Jerusalem soccer team, does it originate from the group mentioned in the text?

The Betar sports club is affiliated to the Betar movement.

NcDeuce

12-29-2003, 01:45 PM

Probably a nice read but it's all in bold.

XASA

12-29-2003, 03:36 PM

Audie Murphy

http://www.grunts.net/legends/audiemurphy.html

Chris1

12-29-2003, 05:24 PM

Col. H Jones
http://www.sama82.org.uk/garden/images/hjones-5.jpg

The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to approve the Posthumous award of the VICTORIA CROSS to the undermentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during the operations in the South Atlantic:

Lieutenant Colonel Herbert JONES O.B.E. (465788), The Parachute Regiment

On 28th May 1982 Lieutenant Colonel JONES was commanding 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment on operations on the Falkland Islands. The Battalion was ordered to attack enemy positions in and around the settlements of Darwin and Goose Green.

During the attack against an enemy who was well dug in with mutually supporting positions sited in depth, the Battalion was held up just South of Darwin by a particularly well-prepared and resilient enemy position of at least eleven trenches on an important ridge. A number of casualties were received. In order to read the battle fully and to ensure that the momentum of his attack was not lost, Colonel Jones took forward his reconnaissance party to the foot of a re-entrant which a section of his Battalion had just secured. Despite persistent, heavy and accurate fire the reconnaissance party gained the top of the re-entrant, at approximately the same height as the enemy positions. From here Colonel Jones encouraged the direction of his Battalion mortar fire, in an effort to neutralise the enemy positions. However, these had been well prepared and continued to pour effective fire onto the Battalion advance, which, by now held up for over an hour and under increasingly heavy artillery fire, was in danger of faltering.

In his effort to gain a good viewpoint, Colonel Jones was now at the very front of his Battalion. It was clear to him that desperate measures were needed in order to overcome the enemy position and rekindle the attack, and that unless these measures were taken promptly the Battalion would sustain increasing casualties and the attack perhaps even fail. It was time for personal leadership and action. Colonel Jones immediately seized a sub-machine gun, and, calling on those around him and with total disregard for his own safety, charged the nearest enemy position. This action exposed him to fire from a number of trenches. As he charged up a short slope at the enemy position he was seen to fall and roll backward downhill. He immediately picked himself up, and again charged the enemy trench, firing his sub-machine gun and seemingly oblivious to the intense fire directed at him. He was hit by fire from another trench which he outflanked, and fell dying only a few feet from the enemy he had assaulted. A short time later a company of the Battalion attacked the enemy who quickly surrendered. The devastating display of courage by Colonel Jones had completely undermined their will to fight further.

Thereafter the momentum of the attack was rapidly regained, Darwin and Goose Green were liberated, and the Battalion released the local inhabitants unharmed and forced the surrender of some 1,200 of the enemy.

The achievements of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment at Darwin and Goose Green set the tone for the subsequent land victory on the Falklands. They achieved such a moral superiority over the enemy in this first battle that, despite the advantages of numbers and selection of battle-ground, they never thereafter doubted either the superior fighting qualities of the British troops, or their own inevitable defeat.

This was an action of the utmost gallantry by a Commanding Officer whose dashing leadership and courage throughout the battle were an inspiration to all about him.

MARINO

12-29-2003, 05:55 PM

http://www.msu.edu/user/colmeiro/ultimos.jpg
This guys were resisting 1 year against 1000 enemis with artillery 1898/1899 a year after spanish american war ends, in a small church, cause they didn't belive that Spain was defeated, when a Spanish politicien come to told them truth the left the church the were recieve has heores by thei enemys(Philippines and Americans)
The Spanish commander, Saturnino Martin Cerezo, thought that the
Filipino revolution against Spain had not ended even with the coming of the Americans in 1898. He and his men, were still resisting the siege of Filipino revolutionary troops under Luna Novicio in that isolated stone church in a likewise isolated town locked in a small valley between the impenetrable Sierra Madre mountain range and the vast Pacific Ocean somewhere in the mid-eastern side of Luzon near Nueva Ecija and La Isabela.
When Martin Cerezo at last learned that Spain had already lost her far-flung over-sea province to the República de Filipinas, he capitulated to the army of Presidente Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy.What was surely unexpected was the magnanimous decree of Presidente Aguinaldo declaring these Spanish soldiers not as enemies but as honored friends for which they were given military respect and safe-conduct to Manila and subsequently allowed to return to Spain in spite of the raging U.S. war of invasion against the already well-organized Unang República ng Filipinas, ----the first to be established in Asia and Oceania
Aguinaldo’s élan, as the Spanish-speaking gentleman that he was, proved to the world that the Filipinos of that time were not the g-stringed savages, prone to head-hunting, torture and robbery, that a later colonization tried to show in the pre-war II St. Louis exposition to the exasperation of one Manuel Luis Quézon from Baler’s small "Sector de Mestizos".
In short, Filipinos and Spaniards parted as friends and not as enemies. And this is what the Filipino-Spanish day of friendship is all about. A focus on the fact that Spain did not leave as the hated enemy that many history textbooks tend to subjectively teach the new generations of Filipinos to this day.
Emilio Aguinaldo’s government was still free from the new colonial influence in the present-day educational system and he was, therefore, free to think of the future friendship and cooperation that the Filipino people were to enjoy with a Spain that would eventually raise to prosperity and into a new role in a future World-order. But the bloody interruption in the life of the Unang República and the subsequent over-Americanization of education in English, succeeded in delaying for a century that futuristic vision of great Filipino statesmen and truly free policy-makers like Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, Felipe Agoncillo, Antonio Luna Novicio, Rianzares Bautista Lim, Pedro Paterno and so many others.

ST4

12-29-2003, 06:19 PM

I dont believe in heroes... but long story, so dont ask.

Anyone who serves in the US military, wheater it is from your Delta operator to your Navy ship cook, are all heroes. I have the greatest respect for all member of the US miltiary.

Here are seven who really impact me (the men are in no perticular order):

Major Richard Ira Bong
http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/Bong.jpg
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty in the Southwest Pacific area from 10 October to 15 November 1944. Though assigned to duty as gunnery instructor and neither required nor expected to perform combat duty, Maj. Bong voluntarily and at his own urgent request engaged in repeated combat missions, including unusually hazardous sorties over Balikpapan, Borneo, and in the Leyte area of the Philippines. His aggressiveness and daring resulted in his shooting down 8 enemy airplanes during this period.
America's "Ace of Aces" - List of 40 Japanese Plans Shot Down http://www.acepilots.com/usaaf_bong.html

Senior Airman Jason Cunningham
http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/Cunningham.jpg
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, U.S.C., awards the Air Force Cross to Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as a pararescueman near the village of Marzak in the Paktia Province of Afghanistan on 4 March 2002. On that proud day, Airman Cunningham was the primary Air Force Combat Search and Rescue medic assigned to a Quick Reaction Force tasked to recover two American servicemen evading capture in austere terrain occupied by massed Al Qaida and Taliban forces. Shortly before landing, his MH-47E helicopter received accurate rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire, severely disabling the aircraft and causing it to crash land. The assault force formed a hasty defense and immediately suffered three fatalities and five critical casualties. Despite effective enemy fire, and at great risk to his own life, Airman Cunningham remained in the burning fuselage of the aircraft in order to treat the wounded. As he moved his patients to a more secure location, mortar rounds began to impact within fifty feet of his position. Disregarding this extreme danger, he continued the movement and exposed himself to enemy fire on seven separate occasions. When the second casualty collection point was also compromised, in a display of uncommon valor and gallantry, Airman Cunningham braved an intense small arms and rocket-propelled grenade attack while repositioning the critically wounded to a third collection point. Even after he was mortally wounded and quickly deteriorating, he continued to direct patient movement and transferred care to another medic. In the end, his distinct efforts led to the successful delivery of ten gravely wounded Americans to life-saving medical treatment. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, and in the dedication of his service to his country, Senior Airman Cunningham reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Cunningham should of recieved the Medal of Honor in my opinion.

Master Sergeant Gary Gordon
http://www.msc.navy.mil/GRAPHICS/Gordon.jpg
Master Sergeant Gordon, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as Sniper Team Leader, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Master Sergeant Gordon's sniper team provided precision fires from the lead helicopter during an assault and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. When Master Sergeant Gordon learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the second crash site, he and another sniper unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After his third request to be inserted, Master Sergeant Gordon received permission to perform his volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Master Sergeant Gordon was inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon and his fellow sniper, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Master Sergeant Gordon immediately pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Master Sergeant Gordon used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers until he depleted his ammunition. Master Sergeant Gordon then went back to the wreckage, recovering some of the crew's weapons and ammunition. Despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition, he provided some of it to the dazed pilot and then radioed for help. Master Sergeant Gordon continued to travel the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. After his team member was fatally wounded and his own rifle ammunition exhausted, Master Sergeant Gordon returned to the wreckage, recovering a rifle with the last five rounds of ammunition and gave it to the pilot with the words, "good luck." Then, armed only with his pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon continued to fight until he was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Master Sergeant Gordon's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon, his unit and the United States Army.

Lieutenant Tom Norris
http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/Norris.jpg
Lt. Norris completed an unprecedented ground rescue of 2 downed pilots deep within heavily controlled enemy territory in Quang Tri Province. Lt. Norris, on the night of 10 April 1972, led a 5-man patrol through 2,000 meters of heavily controlled enemy territory, located 1 of the downed pilots at daybreak, and returned to the Forward Operating Base (FOB). On 11 April, after a devastating mortar and rocket attack on the small FOB, Lt. Norris led a 3-man team on 2 unsuccessful rescue attempts for the second pilot. On the afternoon of the 12th, a forward air controller located the pilot and notified Lt. Norris. Dressed in fishermen disguises and using a sampan, Lt. Norris and 1 Vietnamese traveled throughout that night and found the injured pilot at dawn. Covering the pilot with bamboo and vegetation, they began the return journey, successfully evading a North Vietnamese patrol. Approaching the FOB, they came under heavy machine gun fire. Lt. Norris called in an air strike which provided suppression fire and a smokescreen, allowing the rescue party to reach the FOB. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, undaunted courage, and selfless dedication in the face of extreme danger, Lt. Norris enhanced the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

1st Lieutenant Audie Murphy
http://www.angelfire.com/md2/Ldotvets/images/Audie1.jpg
2d Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by 6 tanks and waves of infantry. 2d Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to prepared positions in a woods, while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone. Behind him, to his right, 1 of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. 2d Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2d Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from 3 sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate 2d Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down by his fire. He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50. 2d Lt. Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction, and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy's objective.

Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart
http://www.msc.navy.mil/GRAPHICS/Shughart.jpg
Sergeant First Class Shughart, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as a Sniper Team Member, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Sergeant First Class Shughart provided precision sniper fires from the lead helicopter during an assault on a building and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. While providing critical suppressive fires at the second crash site, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the site. Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader were inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Sergeant First Class Shughart pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Sergeant First Class Shughart used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers while traveling the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Sergeant First Class Shughart's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.

Engineman Second Class Michael Thornton
http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/Thornton.jpg
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while participating in a daring operation against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam on October 31, 1972. Petty Officer Thornton, an assistant U.S. Navy advisor, along with a U.S. Navy lieutenant serving as senior advisor, accompanied a three-man Vietnamese Navy SEAL patrol on an intelligence gathering and prisoner capture operation against an enemy-occupied naval river base. Launched from a Vietnamese Navy junk in a rubber boat, the patrol reached land and was continuing on foot toward its objective when it suddenly came under heavy fire from a numerically superior force. The patrol called in naval gunfire support and then engaged the enemy in a fierce firefight, accounting for many enemy casualties before moving back to the waterline to prevent encirclement. Upon learning that the senior advisor had been hit by enemy fire and was believed to be dead, Petty Officer Thornton returned through a hail of fire to the lieutenant's last position, quickly disposed of two enemy soldiers about to overrun the position, and succeeded in removing the seriously wounded and unconscious senior naval advisor to the water's edge. He then inflated the lieutenant's life jacket and towed him seaward for approximately two hours until picked up by support craft. By his extraordinary courage and perseverance, Petty Officer Thornton was directly responsible for saving the life of his superior officer and enabling the safe extraction of all patrol members, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
The Lieutenant that Thronton went back for, rescued, and swam him out to sea, even though he was shot in the face, was LIEUTENANT TOM NORRIS

Thronton later became a SEAL Officer after his action in October 1973 that resulted in his Medal of Honor. He was the first enlisted SEAL to recieve the Medal of Honor.

16 OBr SpN

12-29-2003, 10:11 PM

http://www.rusglobus.net/rg_ru/abroad/GZL/Starinov1.jpg

Colonel Ilya Starinov.

The "father" of Soviet Spetsnaz.
Participated in Spanish Civil War, fighting against Franko's regime. He was a senior advisor to the commander of the Southern Front. His nickname was "Rudolfo". During that period of time, his unit had carried out more than 200 successful saboteur missions.
His unit blew up a train carrying the echelon of Moroccan cavalry. His most legendary operation in Spain took place in February, 1938, when he and his Spanish comrades blew up a train carrying Italian air force command, along with hundreds of soldiers and officers.

Later all his Spanish comrades joined us against nazi forces in WWII.

During WWII, Starinov had created a massive net of diversionary units, which executed thousands of sabotage missions against nazis.

In October, 1941, his unit blew up the building in which commanders of the German 68th Infantry Division were positioned in Khar'kov, Ukraine. They blew up a massive bomb which was buried in the basement of the building. Among the dead was General Georg Von Braun, the commander of the 68th Infantry Division.

Listing all of his achievements will take a very long time. Some people call "the saboteur of the century". He is indeed a legendary person.
We called him "grandpa". He died at the age of 101. Before he died, he wrote three books about demolision techniques, and guerilla warfare.

Interesting fact - during the Afghan war, when we raided an enemy base, we found hundreds of copies of his book "Notes of the Saboteur", translated into Dari, Arabic, and Pashtu.
Afghans were learning from it.

Regards,
16 OBr SpN

Flagg

12-29-2003, 10:32 PM

http://www.victoriacross.net/images/photo/p1246_upham_ch.jpg

I'm going with Charles Upham, why?

1.) Charles Upham: VICTORIA CROSS AND BAR

Acknowledged widely as the outstanding solider of the Second World War, Captain Charles Upham is the only combatant solider to receive the Victoria Cross and Bar (awarded to members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth for exceptional bravery). In Crete in May 1941 and the Western Desert in July 1942 Upham distinguished himself with displays of ‘nerveless competence’.

Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1908 Upham was educated at Christ’s College and Canterbury Agricultural College at Lincoln. Prior to the war he was a farm manager and then farm valuer before enlisting in the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (aged 30) in 1939, quietly citing his reason as a desire to fight for justice.

Courage and Resource
He was renowned for combining controlled courage with quick-thinking resourcefulness. While most medals for bravery are awarded for a single act, Upham’s first citation was for nine days of skill, leadership and evident heroism. In March 1941, he was a Second Lieutenant in the 20th NZ Battalion in Crete. His display of courage included destroying numerous enemy posts, rescuing a wounded man under fire and penetrating deep behind German lines, killing twenty-two German soldiers on the way to leading out an isolated platoon – all after being blown over by a mortar shell, painfully wounded in the shoulder by shrapnel and with a bullet in his foot.

The incident that typified Upham’s deeds was when two German soldiers trapped him alone on the fringes of an olive grove. Upham (on his way to warning other troops that they were being cut off) was watched by his platoon, a helpless distance away on the other side of the clearing, as he was fired on by the German soldiers. With any movement potentially fatal, he feigned dead and with calculated coolness waited for the enemy soldiers to approach. With one arm lame in a sling, he used the crook of a tree to support his rifle and shoot the first assailant, reload with one hand, and shoot the second who was so close as to fall against the barrel of Upham’s rifle.

Gallantry and Determination
Captain Upham's second citation was for his part in the July 1942 attack on Ruweisat Ridge, Egypt, where the New Zealand Division was stranded when promised armoured support never came through. As the Allied forces struggled to hold the line, Upham led his company on what was described as a savage attack on German and Italian strongpoints. Upham himself was responsible for destroying a German tank and several guns and vehicles with hand grenades and, though he was shot through the elbow with a machine gun bullet and had his arm shattered, he went on again to a forward position and brought back some of his men who had become isolated.
He was removed to the regimental aid post, but immediately after his wounds had been dressed he returned to his men. He consolidated and held his position and despite exhaustion, loss of blood and further injuries (as a result of artillery and mortar fire that decimated most of his company) he stayed with the only six remaining members until, now unable to move, he was eventually overrun by the superior weight of the enemy forces and captured.

Typifying his character and nickname ‘Pug’, he attempted to escape numerous times before being branded "dangerous" by the Germans and incarcerated in the infamous prison fortress Colditz.

Epitomising a certain strain of Kiwi modesty, Charles Upham was embarrassed by the accolades he received and attempted to avoid international media attention. When the people of Canterbury collected and offered him 10,000 pounds to purchase a farm in recognition of his gallantry, Upham refused and instead insisted the money be put towards an educational scholarship for children of returned soldiers.

At the conclusion of the war he returned to New Zealand to resume life as a sheep farmer in Hundalee, an isolated area north of Christchurch. It was rumoured that Charlie Upham never allowed a German-made car or machine onto the farm. He died in 1994.

When King George VI enquired to Major-General Kippenberger whether Upham deserved a Bar to the Cross, Kippenberger replied, "In my respectful opinion, sir, Upham has won the VC several times over." The Complete Australian and New Zealand Victoria Cross Reference affirms that "without doubt Upham remains one of the most courageous leaders of any modern conflict". Charles Upham was unassumingly a true edge warrior.

2.) My Recruit unit was 2 Platoon Upham

Down here he's revered as a true "hard bastard."

Ngati Tumatauenga

12-30-2003, 02:05 AM

Damn Flagg, you beat me too it. Have you read 'The mark of the lion'?.

ArmedPacifist

12-30-2003, 02:22 AM

I was always a fan of Hans Rudel. Great pilot.

Also my uncle. What he told me about Rwanada when I was younger was one of the deciding factors of me joining the army.
He is a Warrant Officer right now and still in the service. A true and dedicated soldier.

Flagg

12-30-2003, 02:24 AM

Funny you should mention it Ngati.....I just got an email saying it's waiting for me to pick up at the Christchurch library!

mustamato

12-30-2003, 02:41 PM

Whoaa. It´s really amazing to read about all those great men. Some of them have become quite famous because of Hollywood movies while others (such as the finnish heroes) are mainly known only in their respective country of origin.

So keep posting more heroes :)

___________________________________________

Here are my contributions to the list of even more war heroes.

http://www.sci.fi/~fta/wind-01l.jpg
http://www.sci.fi/~fta/wind-03b.jpg

Hans "Hasse" Wind. Finnish fighter pilot with 75 aerial victories, second only to Ilmari "Illu" Juutilainen with 94 victories. Wind has been called "the René Fonck of WW2". He was wounded in a dogfight 28th june 1944 when a 37 mm from a russian Airacobra hit his plane and was hospitalized for the rest of the war. He finished a total of 302 combat sorties. He left FAF service on 10 October 1945 as a captain. "Hasse" Wind died on 24 July 1995 in Tampere. He became the highest scoring pilot flying a Brewster Buffalo.

http://www.jimlaurier.com/details/hanswind.jpg

_____________________________________________

Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim

http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Henkilot/V%E4riMannerheim.jpg
As the military leader during the second world war

http://www.mannerheim.fi/valokuva/01/tlevy.jpg
As a true soldier even he had one :)

The best way to present this man if you have never heard of him before is simply to post his merit list.

-Born 1867 and at the age of 14 sent to Military Cadet School in Hamina but was expelled for disciplinary reasons (obviously wanted to leed, not follow)
- Joined the Russian Army in 1887, enrolled in the Nikolaevsky Cavalry School in St. Petersburg.
- Took part in the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-05 as a staff officer in Nezhinski Dragoon Regiment and was promoted to colonel.
- Travelled 14.000 km during 2 years on the horseback during a (military) scientifc excursion.
- Major General in 1911
- Fought in the first world war on the eastern front
- Lieutenant General in 1914 and awarded the Cross of St. Geroge
- Returned to Finland due to the russian revolution, just in time for the civil war.
- Leader of the victorius "white side" during the war (in contrast to Soviet Union where the communists won)
- Candidate during the presidential elections in Finland 1918, lost however
- Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces during the second world war
- Appointed "Marshal of Finland"
- President of Finland in 1944 when Finland broke with Germany and sued for peace with Soviet Union
- Resigned the presidency in 1946, died at the of 83 in 1951

http://www.mannerheim.fi/valokuva/01/11.jpg
General of the "white side" during the civil war.

http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Rintama/4206MannerheiminSyntym%E4p%E4iv%E4Hitler%26Mannerheim.jpg
Hitler during his surprise visit to Finland on Mannerheims 75th birthday. Hitlers only visit during the war to non-occupied country. Hitlers birthday present was the "Goldenes Grosskreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens". Hitler respected the older and noble Mannerheim, but Mannerheim had not much respect for this "corpral" as he used to call him. But politics is politics.

http://www.mannerheim.fi/valokuva/13/patsas.jpg
There are more than one statue of Mannerheim in Finland

http://www.mannerheim.fi/valokuva/01/vaakuna2.jpg
Mannerheim’s coat-of-arms was the coat-of-arms of
the Mannerheim family of barons.

Dennis G

12-30-2003, 05:59 PM

Carlos Hathcock

http://drs.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=Carlos+Hathcock/v=2/l=IVI/*-http://www.fulton-armory.com/hathcock.jpg

Rantanplan

12-30-2003, 06:33 PM

http://www.mercola.com/2000/oct/22/klunk.jpg

Nuff said.

MARINO

12-30-2003, 08:14 PM

Whoaa. It´s really amazing to read about all those great men. Some of them have become quite famous because of Hollywood movies while others (such as the finnish heroes) are mainly known only in their respective country of origin.
For Spanish herores, you hve an old movie, from 1940 after Spanish civil war , because after civil war spanish movies wwre very patriotic, nowadays is imposible to find a spanish patriotic or military movie, and if they exust they are a real ****.
So this movie is "Los Ultimos de Filipinas"="Lasts of Philippines"

ArmedPacifist

12-31-2003, 04:07 AM

http://www.mercola.com/2000/oct/22/klunk.jpg

Nuff said.

colonel Klink? :D

Smintjes

12-31-2003, 07:50 AM

http://www.livius.org/a/1/germania/ambiorix.jpg

Ambiorix: leader of the Eburones, a Belgian tribe. In the winter of 54/53 BCE, he destroyed of one of the legions of Julius Caesar, which resulted in the annihilation of his tribe.

More info: http://www.livius.org/am-ao/ambiorix/ambiorix.html

Falco

12-31-2003, 10:18 AM

Billy Bishop :D

GI_Rutger

12-31-2003, 07:50 PM

Jessica Lynch...The superwoman with the jammed gun!

radon

12-31-2003, 09:39 PM

http://www.livius.org/a/1/germania/ambiorix.jpg
damn that is not ambiorix but asterix woot

MARK.TIGGER

01-01-2004, 10:27 AM

anders Lassen VC
Capt Maury Stanley RNZA foo at battle of long tan S Vietnam

ChobbhamDog

01-01-2004, 12:51 PM

http://www.panzerfaust.com/knights/wittman1.jpg
Sorry but i´ll chose a kraut..
WWII he destroyed nearly 140 tanks and almost as many anti-tank pieces.

He IS the tankcomander No:1
[/list]

Durandal

01-01-2004, 04:56 PM

http://www.fentressco.com/sgtyork/york003-1919.gif

Sgt. Alvin C. York

I was going to say Randall Shughart and Gary Gordon are probably first on my list. They knew what was going to happen and the danger involved and they did it anyway.

So, I selected York...

The officers of the 82nd Division made this official report to General Headquarters: "The part which Corporal York individually played in the attack (the capture of the Decauville Railroad) is difficult to estimate. Practically unassisted he captured 132 Germans (three of whom were officers), took about thirty-five machine guns, and killed no less than twenty-five of the enemy, later found by others on the scene of York's extraordinary exploit. The story has been carefully checked in every possible detail from headquarters of this division and is entirely substantiated. Although York's statement tends to underestimate the desperate odds which he overcame, it has been decided to forward to higher authorities the account given in his own name. The success of this assault had a far-reaching effect in relieving the enemy pressure against American forces in the heart of the Argonne Forest."

mustamato

01-01-2004, 05:14 PM

http://www.fentressco.com/sgtyork/york003-1919.gif

The officers of the 82nd Division made this official report to General Headquarters: "The part which Corporal York individually played in the attack (the capture of the Decauville Railroad) is difficult to estimate. Practically unassisted he captured 132 Germans (three of whom were officers), took about thirty-five machine guns, and killed no less than twenty-five of the enemy, later found by others on the scene of York's extraordinary exploit. The story has been carefully checked in every possible detail from headquarters of this division and is entirely substantiated. Although York's statement tends to underestimate the desperate odds which he overcame, it has been decided to forward to higher authorities the account given in his own name. The success of this assault had a far-reaching effect in relieving the enemy pressure against American forces in the heart of the Argonne Forest."

That is pretty amazing. Maybe they thought it was a whole company or something assaulting them, has happened more than once that the enemy that surrendered got very surprised when they saw how few of the enemies there were :)

NcDeuce

01-08-2004, 12:30 AM

Senior Airman Jason Cunningham
http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/Cunningham.jpg

I agree!

By David Kelly, Times Staff Writer

Sobered after his first combat rescue mission in Afghanistan, Senior Airman Jason Cunningham wrote his wife a letter, preparing her for the worst.

He apologized for not always being the best husband and for the hardships she would face if he died.

"I could not leave this earth without saying goodbye to you. I will miss you and the girls immensely," wrote Cunningham, "Even though I wasn't always the best husband, you have always been the best wife. I want you to know I died a happy man, happy that I met you and happy that I have two wonderful girls."

In a shaky voice, his wife, Theresa, read that letter aloud Saturday during a memorial service for Cunningham at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Camarillo.

"Even in the face of danger, he was still thinking about us," she said. "I keep looking for a reason why. Why? We were really happy. We had two children. Was this his time? Was it his destiny? We don't know."

Cunningham was part of a quick-reaction force sent to rescue a group of soldiers pinned down by heavy machine-gun and rocket fire on a mountain slope. One helicopter had already been shot down when Cunningham's unit flew in aboard another.

"They went in under heavy machine-gun fire. The helicopter was hit by a rocket and crash-landed," Savino told the hushed church. "The pilot and co-pilot were wounded. Some of the Rangers on board had been shot."

Cunningham, a paramedic, opened his rucksack and began treating the wounded. But the flames and smoke from the burning MH-47 helicopter forced him and another rescuer to move the wounded soldiers outside. As they maneuvered over the rocky terrain, gunfire and mortar shells rained down from entrenched Al Qaeda and Taliban positions above.

"Jason said they had to get these guys out of there. He ran across a direct line of fire to move the wounded men to another location," Savino said.

He helped move the wounded three times to shield them from enemy fire.

"Jason was going back and forth treating his wounded comrades when he was shot," Savino said. "He was shot but he continued to treat 10 wounded patients. They owe him their lives. The only reason they came home was because of Jason Cunningham. It doesn't make it easier saying he died doing what he loved or that he was a hero, but that's what he was."

Another Californian, U.S. Navy SEAL Neil Roberts of Woodland, also died in the fight.

Before the battle of March 4 and 5, Cunningham had helped rescue eight crew members aboard a C-130 transport plane that had crashed in Afghanistan. He wrote his wife the letter she had earlier read after that experience.

"He'd seen the dangers of what happened there and he was afraid," she said.

A month before his deployment in Afghanistan, Cunningham and his wife saw the film "Black Hawk Down" about a fierce battle between U.S. Army Rangers and Somali gunmen in Mogadishu.

She asked him why it was necessary for 10 men to go back to save one or retrieve a dead comrade.

"He said, 'Wouldn't you want someone to come after me? Those Rangers and pilots can do their jobs because they know someone is coming after them,'" she recalled.

Makes you glad we have these brave men in our military.

Ratamacue

01-08-2004, 12:46 AM

Just to name one of the many lesser-known heroes of war:

Private Rodger W. Young, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division
http://www.wegrokit.com/rypic2.jpg
Born in Tiffin, Ohio on 28 April 1918; died 31 July 1943 on the island of New Georgia, Solomons, South Pacific, while single-handedly attacking and destroying an enemy machine-gun pillbox. His platoon had been pinned down by intense fire from this pillbox; Private Young was wounded in the first burst. He crawled toward the pillbox, was wounded a second time but continued to advance, firing his rifle as he did so. He closed on the pillbox, attacked and destroyed it with hand grenades, but in so doing was wounded a third time and killed.

His bold and gallant action in the face of overwhelming odds enabled his teammates to escape without loss; he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
For those of you familiar with the book or movie "Starship Troopers," one of the ships in it was named the Rodger Young.

11F5S

01-08-2004, 02:47 PM

Medal Of Honor Citation:

Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. Benavidez United States Army, who distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions on 2 May 1968 while assigned to Detachment B56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1stSpecial Forces, Republic of Vietnam.

On the morning of 2 May 1968, a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam to gather intelligence informationabout confirmed large-scale enemy activity. This area was controlled androutinely patrolled by the North Vietnamese Army. After a short period oftime on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance, and requestedemergency extraction. Three helicopters attempted extraction, but wereunable to land due to intense enemy small arms and anti-aircraft fire.

Sergeant Benavidez was at the Forward Operating Base in Loc Ninh monitoringthe operation by radio when these helicopters returned to off-load woundedcrewmembers and to assess aircraft damage. Sergeant Benavidez voluntarilyboarded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt.

Realizing that all the team members were either dead or wounded and unableto move to the pickup zone, he directed the aircraft to a nearby clearingwhere he jumped from the hovering helicopter, and ran approximately 75meters under withering small arms fire to the crippled team. Prior toreaching the team's position he was wounded in his right leg, face, andhead. Despite these painful injuries, he took charge, repositioning theteam members and directing their fire to facilitate the landing of anextraction aircraft, and the loading of wounded and dead team members. Hethen threw smoke canisters to direct the aircraft to the team's position.

Despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy fire, he carried anddragged half of the wounded team members to the awaiting aircraft. He thenprovided protective fire by running alongside the aircraft as it moved topick up the remaining team members. As the enemy's fire intensified, hehurried to recover the body and classified documents on the dead teamleader. When he reached the leader's body, Sergeant Benavidez was severelywounded by small arms fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in hisback. At nearly the same moment, the aircraft pilot was mortally wounded,and his helicopter crashed.

Although in extremely critical condition due tohis multiple wounds, Sergeant Benavidez secured the classified documentsand made his way back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out ofthe overturned aircraft, and gathered the stunned survivors into adefensive perimeter. Under increasing enemy automatic weapons and grenadefire, he moved around the perimeter distributing water and ammunition tohis weary men, reinstilling in them a will to live and fight.

Facing abuildup of enemy opposition with a beleaguered team, Sergeant Benavidezmustered his strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directedthe fire from supporting gunships to suppress the enemy's fire and sopermit another extraction attempt.

He was wounded again in his thigh bysmall arms fire while administering first aid to a wounded team member justbefore another extraction helicopter was able to land. His indomitablespirit kept him going as he began to ferry his comrades to the craft.

Onhis second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed from additional wounds tohis head and arms before killing his adversary. He then continued underdevastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter. Upon reaching theaircraft, he spotted and killed two enemy soldiers who were rushing thecraft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door gunner from firingupon them. With little strength remaining, he made one last trip to theperimeter to ensure that all classified material had been collected ordestroyed, and to bring in the remaining wounded.

Only then, in extremelyserious condition from numerous wounds and loss of blood, did he allowhimself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft.

Sergeant Benavidez'gallant choice to join voluntarily his comrades who were in criticalstraits, to expose himself constantly to withering enemy fire, and hisrefusal to be stopped despite numerous severe wounds, saved the lives of atleast eight men.

His fearless personal leadership, tenacious devotion toduty, and extremely valorous actions in the face of overwhelming odds werein keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflectthe utmost credit on him and the United States Army.

RIP Brother.

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/8061/tribute.html

Mr. Nielsen

01-08-2004, 03:20 PM

That is pretty amazing. Maybe they thought it was a whole company or something assaulting them, has happened more than once that the enemy that surrendered got very surprised when they saw how few of the enemies there were :)

Undoubtedly, though it likely would not have been so easy at the beginning of the war or at the eastfront.

Another example is the taking of the Greek city Saloniki in October 1944 by Anders Lassen.
The city was held by several thousand german troops, and he took it with less than 50 men.

Loco

01-08-2004, 04:35 PM

Note: This post was in the thread about the toughest military units of the last 3 centuries, so I changed it to this place because this is the right place:

A group of three woman who fought with coctails molotovs and dynamite against tanks and professional soldiers, they were civil women converted in soldiers in few days. I doubt any SForce of today have the spirit and bravery and, too, skill they showed.
Rosita Sánchez, in spite of her look, she fought succesfully against professional troops and caused losses to enemy:
http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Imagenes/FotoRep/Thumb_GCE_RF03_AGA55567_MilicianaExtremena_2.jpg
http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Imagenes/FotoRep/GCE_RF03_AGA55566_MilicianaExtremena.jpg
At the left of below photo, Rosario Sánchez "la dinamitera", she was condecorated for her bravery, and lost her right hand attacking tanks with dynamite, she was at the end of war sargent because of her merits. I think she still is alive:
http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Personajes/Heroes/Thumb_GCE_RF03_Col_RosarioSanchez_JuanitaDinamitera.jpg
And Julia Sanz, being condecorated because of bravery in combat, she was ascended to caporal. Both Rosario and Julia fought in the 14 battalion of Volunteers:
http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Personajes/Heroes/Thumb_GCE_SD_SD_GF08_JuliaSanzIngresaComoCaboCarabineros.jpg
In the rebel side there were war heroes, of course. My favourite militar of this side is José Varela Iglesias(1891-1951), who had and extraordinary career, beginning as a soldier when he was 18 in the corps of Infantería de Marina(Marines), and he was ascending the military rank to the top rank in spanish army. As if it wasn´t enough, he was honoured twice with the medal Laureada de San Fernando, the most important in Spain, in addition to the medal of the military merit, the second in importance. He got the most of his medals in Marroq, where he was wounded 6 times. The extraordinary of the case is that Laureada medal usually is granted most of the times post mortem, because the rewarded one died in the action in the one that gained it, so the exigence for winning this medals are extraordinary. He won the first medal in the assault to the cave of Ruman(Riff mountains), over the river Lucus, in 1920. From this hidden and high cave, the enemy was preventing any movement of the Spanish troops without risking his safety. After 2 failed assaults, the lieutenant Varela offered himself volunteer to assault the cave with 20 volunteers of his section of the Trops Regulares Indígenas. The assault was done with
pistol and bayonet. In the fight inside the cave the enemy had 30 dead men, and the section of Varela 17, but the route remained open. He won the second Laureada still being a lieutnant. He rejected all honours by the king, only accepted the military ones he deserved by ordinance. He fought the rest of Marroq campaign commanding berbers soldiers mainly. When he assisted the course of War School for being promoted to General, in 1934, he was the 1º of his class. When the civil war began, he was General de Brigada. Through the CWar, he was one of the more remarkable generals, and it´s the reason his name is well known today in Spain, but Varela would deserve being in the history of Spanish Army though it was only for what he obtained being an official young man, since he´s the only one who got 2 Laureadas.
http://www.barranque.com/guerracivil/varela.jpg

Loco

01-08-2004, 04:48 PM

I saw an old movie about Caporal York, played by Gary Cooper, in cable tv. As I remember, Caporal York was before war a country man very good hunting turkey, and he showed a great accuracy in a contest. About his exploit, the movie shows G.Cooper acting like a sniper or so.

FuturePara

01-08-2004, 05:44 PM

http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=Scott+Speicher/v=2/l=IVI/*-http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2002/US/03/16/speicher.pow/vert.speicher.jpg

Michael Scott Spiecher

If you're out there...we'll find you.

AFG

01-08-2004, 08:18 PM

Gen. Douglas MacArthur

runners up would have to be Carlos Hathcock II, and the two Delta snipers (Shughart and Gordon) that gave their lives during The Battle of the Black Sea (aka the Mog battle).

OldRecon

01-11-2004, 12:28 PM

Saw this pic in an entry above under this tread of a brave woman fighter on the republican side of the Spanish civil war:
http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Personajes/Heroes/Thumb_GCE_RF03_Col_RosarioSanchez_JuanitaDinamitera.jpg

Wonder, isn't the guy in the middle of the picture the communist army commander "El Campesino"?

She did not fight with the anarchist or the POUM then?

Loco

01-11-2004, 05:28 PM

Yes, he´s Valentín González El Campesino(The Peasant), a controverted man.
None of the three woman were in POUM raised militias. In the case of Rosita Sánchez, you can see the star(sure red) she has over her breast. POUM was a troskist party, lately persecuted by orthodox PC. El Campesino was member of PC(being in Soviet Union after CWar he break with PC, but that´s other story), so it would be unlikely he was peacefully beaside a POUM member in what was probably a propaganda photo. BTW, in republican side there were women in all kind of popular militias created both by socialist, comunist, troskists, anarchists.

[AFSOC]

01-11-2004, 10:19 PM

here's my favourites

http://www.martylyons.com/Images/CaptainCanuck0.JPG

http://www.auntie.com/dustcatchers/ross/captain-america01.jpg

:D

ArmedPacifist

01-11-2004, 10:37 PM

It was Johnny Canuck.

[AFSOC]

01-11-2004, 11:50 PM

Johnny Canuck and Captain Canuck are the same....

ArmedPacifist

01-12-2004, 01:23 AM

]Johnny Canuck and Captain Canuck are the same....

lies

DE6

01-12-2004, 01:39 AM

Major Paul Triquet, VC, CD

http://www.r22er.com/images/Triquet_Capt_Paul.jpg

Sole French-speaking VC recipient of WWII. His feats of arms at Casa Berardi stand among Canada's greatest.

For his citation, you're going to have to translate from French. Royal 22e Regiment is French-speaking and proud of it!

http://www.r22er.com/fr/recipiendaire/triquetfr.html

The "Vandoos" VC recipients also include :

Caporal Joseph Kaeble, VC, MM

http://www.r22er.com/fr/recipiendaire/keablefr.html

Lieutenant Jean Brillant, VC, MC

http://www.r22er.com/fr/recipiendaire/brillantfr.html

From Stateside:

A hero from one of the most "fertile" hero-breeding unit: MACV-SOG

Col. Robert L. Howard

http://members.cox.net/rlhtribute/images/uniform_rlh.jpg

One of America's most decorated soldier. Submitted three times for MOH, got it on the third. He couldn't care less about it, though.

His citation:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_living/vn_a_howard.html

To learn more about Howard, John Plaster's book "SOG" is highly recommended.

mustamato

01-12-2004, 07:40 AM

Just two more...

Harry Järv, a recon-soldier in the finnish army during the war, belonged to the swedish minority, he had a camera with him all the time and took a lot of pictures with it. Lost a leg when he stepped on a mine. Has written a lot of books and stuff after the war. Harry Järv will be portraied in the new upcoming finnish warmovie...

http://www.kkrva.se/images/kkrvaht/harry_jarv.gif
Harry Järv with his camera and trusty KP31 submachine gun

And some pictures he took with it

http://www.kkrva.se/images/kkrvaht/skidakare.gif
Recon patrol during the winter

http://www.kkrva.se/images/kkrvaht/ostman_skjuten.gif
Ragnar Östman was shot in the chest by a enemy sniper 7th march
1943, and is here taken care of by his comrades

http://www.kkrva.se/images/kkrvaht/skogen.gif
Already the 12th of june the first confrontation with the sniper (that
shot Ragnar Östman) and his two securing squads came. Allan Finholm
is first to charge, closely followed by Bertel Söderman, but the enemy
fled immediately and dissapeared before there even was a firefight.

http://www.veteraanienperinto.fi/suomi/Kertomukset/TietoP/ulkolaiset/jarv3.jpg
Karl Rosenlöf sneaking. By using extreme caution Järvs soldiers always
managed to sneak past the Red Army posts.

Orvar Nilsson, swedish volunteer in Finland during the war from the first beginning during the winter war until the armistice in 1944. Has after the war, just as Harry Järv been a writer and so forth...

http://www.smb.nu/images/pos/0304_frivillig_i_finland_1.gif
"With Finland for Sweden, join the swedish volunteer corps"-advertise,
over 8000 swedes were sent as volunteers to Finland during the Winter
War of 1939-40

http://www.smb.nu/images/pos/0304_frivillig_i_finland_3.gif
Orvar Nilsson as a Lieutenant at the Jandeba-front during the Continuation
War 1941-44

http://www.sotaveteraaniliitto.fi/lehdet/4_03/k-merk.jpg
Orvar Nilsson awarded the cross of liberty, second class.

fantassin

01-12-2004, 11:04 AM

I am surprised to see that MSG GORDON wears the French mountain qualification badge over his right pocket.

It's in the shape of a mountain bird called the "Choucas" in French that holds a blue star (the symbol of mountain recce units) in its claws.

I wonder where he got that one....even though many foreign line and special units come to France for mountain training.

Gauntlet

01-12-2004, 03:32 PM

The Finnish Alpine Ski Patrols are awsome!! Those fellas took out tank divisions from the Soviets, like 10 of them! In fact it was the Finns who inspired to US to create the 10th Mountain.

Gauntlet

01-12-2004, 04:58 PM

RealUltimatePower

01-15-2004, 12:40 PM

GARY COLEMAN!!!

mustamato

01-15-2004, 01:58 PM

Just two more...

Harry Järv will be portraied in the new upcoming finnish warmovie...

Cool. Can you show me where I can find out more about this movie. I'm a WWII buff and I think it'll be cool to see Finnish and Swedish soldiers because... well... How many movies out there are based on the Finnish invasion? It'll be interesting.

Previous and main finnish warmovies (there are more but nothing that comes up in my mind right now):

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048752/ (from 1955, classic, but old and too patriotic)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090215/ (newer version, recommended)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098437/ (Winter war, very recommended
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162625/ (too much Hollywood, but a good time-killer)

________________________________________________

About this upcoming warmovie. I don´t know that much about it. But I found some pictures from the making of the movie.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/index.php

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/keskik/ryssat.jpg
One of the russian squads

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/keskik/maxim_t-as_ryssat.jpg
Maxim

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/keskik/panzerfaust.jpg
Finn with Panzerfaust

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/keskik/raskrh1.jpg
Finnish heavy mortar, those are probably soldiers dressed up like
actors

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/keskik/kvkrh_t-as.jpg
... same thing here, but with 81 mm mortar instead, they
fired live rounds with them so these are definitively trained
professionals and not actors.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/keskik/kv-mies.jpg
Finnish rifleman

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/keskik/ryhmakuva_p-kangas.jpg
Part of a finnish platoon

fantassin

01-18-2004, 04:50 PM

This man was an outstanding officer.

Raoul Charles MAGRIN-VERNEREY, better known under the pseudonym MONCLAR, was an outstanding warrior, the true type of the Foreign Legion officer as shown in legends and popular literature. Born on February 7, 1892, in Budapest, he attended high school at the Lycée Victor Hugo in Besançon and at the Omans seminary. At fifteen and a half, he ran away from home and enlisted in the Foreign Legion. This first contact was short lived due to his very young age.

Entering Saint Cyr in 1912, he graduated in 1914 with the Montmirail class, was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant on August 5 of that same year, joined the 60th Infantry Regiment and ended the war with the rank of Captain. He was then “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur” with eleven citations, including seven in the order of the Army, had been wounded seven times and was 90 percent disabled from the service.

Assigned to the Middle-East, he assumed command of various posts or Syrian units. Two new citations were awarded to that uncommon officer who had demonstrated extreme bravery.

In 1931, he was again assigned to the Foreign Legion and did not leave it until October 1941. Within that time, he was assigned to the 2nd Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment in Morocco, then joined the 5th Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment in the Tonkin.

On May 13, 1940, in Bjervik, Norway, the 13th Half Brigade fought its first battle, relentlessly conquered four objectives, forced the enemy to run away, leaving behind numerous prisoners, automatic weapons, countless equipment and up to 10 twin-engine aircraft.

From May 28 to June 2, Lieutenant Colonel MAGRIN-VERNEREY and his legionnaires won in Narvik what was called the only French victory of 1939-1940. A victory which won them a citation to the order of the Free French Forces with the award of the “Croix de Guerre” with palm for liberating 60 allied prisoners, for capturing 590 German soldiers and for seizing eight guns as well as a large quantity of equipment.

He had just returned to France when Lieutenant Colonel MAGRIN-VERNERY, along with 500 of his men, joined the Free French Forces in England on June 21, 1940. Promoted to the rank of Colonel, he then adopted the name of MONCLAR (from the name of the village of Monclar in the department of Tarn et Garonne).

While participating in the operations led against the forces of the Axis in Africa, it is he who, as the commander of the Orient French Brigade in Eritrea, seized Massaoua, made 9 general officers, 440 officers and 14000 Italians prisoners.

Having been appointed Deputy Commanding General of the French troops in Algeria as of 1946, he was, in 1948, Inspector of the Foreign Legion units. During almost two years, he took numerous trips wherever the Foreign Legion units were stationed and fought, in Algeria, Morocco, Madagascar and Indochina.

In 1950, as Lieutenant General, on the eve of his retirement, he exchanged his stars for the stripes of a Lieutenant Colonel in order to be able to fight voluntarily as the commander of the French battalion made available to the United Nations in Korea.

Having reached the age limit, he returned to France in 1951 and, in 1952, succeeding General Kientz, he became Governor of the Invalides.

Lieutenant General MAGRIN-VERNEREY was the recipient of numerous medals including the “Médaille Militaire”, the “Grand Croix de la Légion d’Honneur”, the 1914-1918 and the 1939-1945 “Croix de Guerre”, the Legion of Merit with the rank of officer, the Silver Star, the Military Cross and other numerous foreign decorations. He was wounded seven times, was the recipient of 22 citations and 100 percent disabled.
[/b]

Uninen

01-24-2004, 06:19 AM

Did somebody already mention Lauri Törni aka Larry Thorne..

http://www.taskforceomegainc.org/t375p.jpg
Lauri Törni aka Larry Thorne.

War hero for Finnish Long range patrols in ww2, Hero for Waffen-ss in ww2 and hero for MACV-SOG of US in Nam.

(Went MIA in Nam.. :( )

Larry Alan Thorne was born Lauri Allan Torni in Viipuri, Finland. (Link..) (http://www.taskforceomegainc.org/t375.html)

As a young adult, he enlisted in the Finish Army where he obtained the rank of Captain. During the early years of World War II, he developed, trained and commanded the Finish ski troops. Under his strict and demanding leadership, the ski troops fought the Russians deep behind enemy lines for extended periods of time. During Finland's wars against the former Soviet Union, he was awarded every medal for bravery that Finland could bestow including the Knight of the Mannerheim Cross, which is the equivalent of the American Congressional Medal of Honor. After Finland fell to the communists, Capt. Torni joined the German SS in order to continue fighting the communists. After World War II, Lauri Torni made his way to the United States where he enlisted in the US Army under the Lodge Bill. After completing basic training, Larry Thorne was selected for the budding Special Forces program. He quickly rose through the ranks, and with the assistance of allies within the military, received a commission. In 1964, Larry Thorne served his first 6-month tour of duty in South Vietnam.

In February 1965, then Capt. Larry Thorne returned to Long Thanh, South Vietnam for his second tour of duty. While assigned to Headquarters, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam; Capt. Thorne was instrumental in establishing the standard operating procedures employed by the fledgling Studies and Observation Group, better known by its acronym "MACV-SOG."

:lol:

Uninen

01-24-2004, 06:21 AM

mustamato

01-24-2004, 10:39 AM

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/keskik/kvkrh_t-as.jpg
... same thing here, but with 81 mm mortar instead, they
fired live rounds with them so these are definitively trained
professionals and not actors.

:lol:

Did you also notice that the mortar is brand new..

With that black and white paint and all..

:lol:

Yep I noticed, a 81 KrH 71Y I guess. Didn´t you guys in KotRa have old
(ww2) soviet 82 mm fortress mortars? I very much doubt that there still
are 81 KrH 35 that are usable in finnish army stocks...

hedgehog

01-24-2004, 03:03 PM

Hans-Ulrich Rudel
(July, 1916 - 1982)

Hans Rudel is not the kind of "Panzer Ace" such as Wittmann or Barkmann, simply because he was "Stuka Ace" and destroyed enemy armored fighting vehicles from the air. During his career, as Stuka pilot he managed to destroy enormous number of enemy equipment, including 519 Soviet tanks. Hans-Ulrich Rudel was born in 1916 in Silesia.He was the son of a clergyman - minister. He was never good at school and received limited education. Rudel was a teenager when the NSDAP took charge and became indoctrinated at very early age.Since young age, Rudel showed interest in sports and did not do well in school. In 1936, he joined the Luftwaffe as an cadet officer as a way to continue and develop his sporting activities. After passing his flying training course and becoming a pilot, Hans Rudel applied for further training in the technique of the dive-bombing but was turned down. Instead, he received reconnaissance observer's training and flew long range reconnaissance missions during Polish Campaign in September of 1939 as a Lieutenant. On October 11th of 1939, Rudel was awarded Iron Cross 2nd Class.At the same, Rudel continued applying for Ju-87 Stuka (Sturzkampfflugzeug - dive bomber)training course and was finally admitted in May of 1940. After the completion of the course, Oberleutnant Rudel was posted to Stuka Training Wing near Stuttgart, where he spent the French Campaign. Afterwards, Rudel was transferred to 1st Staffel (1st Squadron) of Stukageschwader 2 (Dive-Bomber Group 2) and took part in the airborne invasion of Crete in May of 1941, although not in the battle zone. In preparations for the Operation Barbarossa, Rudel's Group was transferred to the Eastern Front and on June 23rd of 1941 at 3:00am flew his first combat dive-bombing mission. During next 18 hours, he flew total four combat missions. On July 18th of 1941, Rudel was awarded Iron Cross 1st Class.

On September 23rd of 1941,Rudel's Group (1st and 2nd Wing) attacked elements of the Soviet Baltic Fleet in Kronstadt harbor (Leningrad area). During the attack, Rudel sunk Soviet Battleship "Marat" with 1000kg bomb hitting its ammunition store and breaking the ship in half - "We've got her ... you must have hit her ammunition store...She is blowing up !" (Rudel's rear gunner Scharnovski over the intercom).On Christmas Day, December 24th of 1941, Rudel flew his 500th mission and on December 30th, was decorated with Deutsches Kreuz (German Cross) in Gold by General Freiherr Wolfram von Richthofen himself (who was Manfred von Richthofen's cousin).After that, Hans Rudel was sent to Graz to lecture and train new Stuka crews. On January 15th of 1942, he was awarded with Knights Cross and eventually returned to the Eastern Front on his own demand in June of 1942.In September of 1942, Rudel received the command of the 1st Staffel of the 1st Wing of Stukageschwader 2 (1StG2), while operating in the Stalingrad area. At that time, his squadron was often sent to attack Soviet tank units, when inadequacy of bombs against tanks was realized.

On February 10th of 1943, Hans Rudel flew his 1000th mission and became a national hero to the German public.Rudel was then posted to the new special "Panzerjagdkommando Weiss" unit formed at Briansk to test newly developed tank-busting version of Ju-87 D-3.Modified Stuka armed with two Rheinmetall-Borsig 37mm (BK) Flak 18 guns (each mounted in special canopy under each wing with 6 rounds of ammunition) was developed at the Luftwaffe's experimental station at Rechlin (near Neustrelitz, Germany). Prototypes were used at first against Soviet landing crafts in the Black Sea and in the space of three weeks, Rudel destroyed 70 such boats.In March of 1943, during a tank battle around Belgorod, Rudel knocked out his first tank with his new tank-busting Stuka - "... my rear gunner who said that the tank exploded like a bomb and he had seen bits of it crashing down behind us." (Hans-Ulrich Rudel).Later on, more Ju-87 D-3s were converted to tank-busters and were designated as Ju-87 G-1 (often nicknamed Panzerknacker - Tank Buster or Kanonenvogel - Cannon Bird) and started arriving on the Eastern Front in October of 1943.

On April 14th of 1943, Hans Rudel was awarded Oakleaves to his Knights Cross.Captain Hans Rudel's squadron of nine tank-busting Ju-87 G-1 was assigned to support of the 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf". On the first day of the Operation Citadel, during his first mission,Rudel knocked out four Soviet tanks and by the evening, his score grew to twelve. "We are all seized with a kind of passion for the chase from the glorious feeling of having saved much German bloodshed with every tank destroyed." - Hans Rudel.At the same time, because of Rudel's squadron'ssuccess, Panzerstaffels (Tank Destroyer Squadrons) were formed.Based on his experiences, Rudel developed new tactics for Panzerstaffels. He found that the best way to knock out tanks was to hit them in the back (T-34's rear mounted engine and its cooling system did not permit the installation of heavier armor plating) or the side. Interesting fact is that attacking the back of the tank meant that the plane had to come from the rear flying towards friendly territory - great advantage if the plane got damaged during the attack.

On October 25th of 1943, Hans Rudel was awarded Swords to his Knights Cross with Oakleaves.In early March of 1944, he flew his 1500th mission and was promoted to the rank of Major.In late March, during a mission, Rudel's squadron was attacked by a squadron of Soviet Lavochkin La-5 fighters. One Stuka was shot down and crash landed with its crew unharmed,Hans Rudel decided to land and rescue his comrades stuck in the enemy territory.He landed and rescued his friends but could not take off because of the soft ground.They were forced to escape on foot towards German lines being chased by the Russians.Rudel and his comrades reached the river Dniestr and swam 600m in the ice cold water and just before reaching the other side, Rudel's rear gunner drowned. Eventually, wounded Rudel was the only one who managed to escape and reached German lines. He then returned to his unit, where he was cheerfully welcomed by his comrades. On March 29th of 1944, for his bravery, Major Hans-Ulrich Rudel was awarded Diamonds to his Knights Cross with Oakleaves and Swords, the highest German military award.In November of 1944, while flying near Budapest, he was shot in the thigh but returned to service few days later with his leg in a plaster cast. On January 1st of 1945, Rudel was awarded the Knights Cross with Golden Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds, being the only recipient of this award specially created for him. In February of 1945, Rudel was seriously wounded and his right thigh was shattered by anti-aircraft fire near Lebus (near Frankfurt am der Oder). He managed to land in German held territory and was quickly taken to the field hospital, where his leg was amputated. Rudel was then taken to the hospital in Berlin, where he had an artificial limb fitted and then returned to his squadron. In the last days of the war, Colonel Rudel commanded the oldest and the best known close assault / support Stuka group - Schlachtgeschwader 2 Immelmann. He was still operating with his unit in last days of war on the Eastern Front. At the end of the war, Rudel wanted to fly a suicide attack with his squadron but hissuperior ordered him not to take off because "he might be needed later", which might have been the only reason why he didn't do so. He also volunteered to fly his Stuka into Berlin in May of 1945 to rescue Hitler from the Red Army. On May 8th of 1945, when Germany surrendered, Colonel Hans Rudel who was in Bohemia, flew his last mission in Ju-87 Stuka. He managed to contact American forces and arranged for himself and other planes to fly over to Kitzingen airfield (near Wurzburg) in the American zone, escaping the capture by the Soviets.Afterwards, Hans Rudel was interrogated first in England and then in France and eventually returned to hospital in Bavaria for convalesce. In 1946, Rudel left the Bavarian hospital and started working as a haulage contractor and in 1948, left for Argentina, where he worked for the State Airplane Worksand organized with other escaped Nazis a NSDAP party-like structure.

In 1951, Rudel published two booklets in Buenos Aires, "Wir Frontsoldaten zur Wiederaufrüstung" (We Frontline Soldiers and Our Opinion to Rearmament of Germany) and "Dolchstoß oder Legende" (Daggerthrust or Legend). In the first book, Rudel claims to speak for all frontline soldiers stating that they would fight again against the Bolsheviks and that Germany's "Lebensraum" (Living Space) is in the East.In his second book, Rudel condemns notonly all the soldiers who tried to kill Hitler as traitors, but also the staff officers of the Wehrmacht stating that both groups were directly responsible for the defeat. Rudel condemns soldiers because the turmoil caused by the assassination allowed the Allied forces to succeed with the Invasion of Europe, while he condemns the staff officers of the Wehrmacht because they could not see Hitler's genius in warfare and worked silently against him. Those two booklets were followed by some more of similar nature.Hans-Ulrich Rudel eventually returned to Germany in early 1950s and in 1953, published his war diary entitled "Trotzdem" (Nevertheless). There was a discussion in Germany if it should be allowed that his diary was published, because he was known as a Nazi, but in 1953, it was no longer that bad to be a Nazi. Most people wanted to forget, mostly their own part of the story, while some Nazis became politicians and businessmen and the Witschaftswunder (The rise of the industry and economy) made the Germans interested in other things. Rudel continued his sporting activities and became a candidate for the Deutsche Reichspartei (DRP) an ultraconservative party but was unsuccessful. The "Stuka Ace" died in Germany in 1982. In 1984, his diary was published again and two of the greatest Allied fighter pilots, Douglas Bader and Pierre Clostermann wrote a warm and praising foreword to this edition, surely being unaware of Rudel's political activities.

Junkers 87 R-1 Stuka of 2nd Staffel of Stukageschwader 3,
over Trapani, Sicily in 1941.

During his career, Rudel flew over 2530 (around 400 of his sorties were flown in a Focke-Wulf 190 fighter plane during whichhe was credit with 11 air victories) missions and destroyed around 150 various artillery pieces, 519 tanks, around 1000 various vehicles, 70 landing crafts, 2 Lavochkin La-3 fighters, Il-2 Stormovik and sunk Battleship "Marat", 2 Cruisers and a Destroyer. Rudel was responsible for such huge damages to the Red Army that Joseph Stalin himself put a price of 100.000 rubles on his head.He flew more than 600.000km and used more than 5.000.000 liters of fuel. Hans Rudel dropped over 1.000.000kg of bombs, fired over 1.000.000 of machine gun rounds, over 150.000 20mm rounds and over 5000 37mm rounds. Rudel thought that the Lend-Lease American tanks were easier to kill than the Soviet T-34s, but he hated their machine guns, because once he was shotdown by one. Rudel was an outstanding pilot with experience,who loved to fly and destroy.He hated to take homeleave or sickleave and even when he got his leg amputatedhe was not depressed since he couldstill do what he loved - fly and destroy.During his career, Hans Rudel showed remarkable power, toughness, fearlessness, unparalleled determination and arrogance but none of his photos show any impact of the hardship of war on his face. His personal bravery was beyond belief and his place in the annals of military history thoroughly deserved, although it is important to remember the words of an American Protocol-Officer, who absolutely correctly named Rudel "the typical Nazi Officer". Rudel's famous quotation was "Verloren ist nur, wer sich selbst aufgibt" ("Lost are only those, who abandon themselves").

Otto Carius
(May 27, 1922)

Otto Carius was born on May 27th of 1922 in Zweibrucken, Rheinland-Pfalz in Southwest Germany. Just as he graduated from school, World War II broke out and he volunteered for 104th Infantry Placement Battalion in May of 1940. Following training, he was assigned to the 21st Panzer Regiment and experienced his first battle as a loader on a Panzer 38(t) during the "Barbarossa" operation in June of 1941. After about a year of war experience on the Eastern Front, Carius was accepted in an Officer Candidate Course and following its completion, was assigned to the 502nd Heavy Tank Battalion in April of 1943. Equipped with the new Tiger tanks, he was assigned as a tank commander to the 2nd Company of 502nd Tank Battalion. That summer, the 2nd Company was deployed to the Russian Leningrad Front and took part in several operations in that area. During that time, 502nd Tank Battalion was ordered to reinforce the front along with 11th SS Freiwillige Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland" at Narva Bridgehead. During one of his engagements, Carius destroyed four Soviet SU-85s and successfully withdrew without losses. In June of 1944, the company was transferred to Dunaburg (Daugavpils in Latvia) to defend the city from a concentrated Russian offensive. In the July of 1944, Russians outflanked the German defensive lines via the motorways west of Minsk and Borissov to Witebsk (same route was used by Germans in 1941). By using tanks in vast numbers, Soviets intended to divide the German occupied territory into small salients and then take port city of Riga. Since Riga is situated at the mouth of Dvina River, Dunaburg was an important strategic point for both Germans and Russians.

On July 22 of 1944, 1st Lieutenant Otto Carius with his company of eight (early and mid production) Tigers advanced towards village of Malinava (northern suburb of Dunaburg) in order to halt the Russian advance. 1st Lieutenant Otto Carius and 1st Lieutenant Albert Kerscher (one of the most decorated commanders of sPzAbt 502) took a Kubelwagen in order to check if the village was already occupied by Russians. They discovered that village of Malinava was already occupied by the enemy. Carius recognized that the Russian tanks in the village were only advance troops waiting for the main force to arrive. He decided to recapture the village before the arrival of reinforcements. Carius returned to his company for briefing and explained his plan to take the village. He decided to attack the village using only two tanks because there was only one road leading to the village and rushing all of his Tigers would be dangerous. Six Tigers remained in the reserve while Carius and Kerscher's Tigers moved towards the village of Malinava. Speed was the essence of Carius' strategy and it was decisive to upset Russians and immobilize their tanks.

Left: Leutnant Otto Carius after receiving Oakleaves to his Knight's Cross.

When Carius' Tiger No.217 was about to enter the village, two T-34/85 tanks were observed rotating their turrets. At this moment, Kerscher's Tiger No.213 which followed Carius at about 150m, fired and knocked them out. Also for the first time, Otto Carius encountered Russian's latest JS-1 (or possibly JS-2) heavy tank. Its silhouette was somewhat similar to the German King Tiger and Carius was confused at first but after hesitating a bit, he fired and JS-1 burst into flames. Afterwards, Otto Carius recalls that the entire battle did not last more than 20 minutes. In such a short time, Carius and Kerscher's Tigers knocked out 17 Russian tanks including the new JS-1. Although the Russians were attacked by suprise, Carius' quick and accurate recognition of the situation and the excellent tactics used were the main factors in the outcome. Carius' achievement at Malinava is equally outstanding to Michael Wittmann's achievement at Villers-Bocage.

In November of 1943, Otto Carius destroyed 10 Soviet T-34/76 tanks at the distances as low as 50 meters.In August of 1944, Otto Carius was transferred to Paderbornto the newly created schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 512 and received the command of the 2nd company. sPzJagAbt 512 was equipped with powerful Jagdtigers, armed with 128mm Pak 44 L/55 gun. Carius commanded the 2nd company, which was training at Senne Camp near Paderborn and at Dollersheim near Vienna. On March 8th of 1945, without finishing its training, 2nd company was directed to the frontline near Siegburg. It then took part in the defence of the River Rhine and eventually surrendered to the US Army on April 15th of 1945. Interesting fact is that Otto Carius, only wore his Knight's Cross at the front, as it was a "pass" to get requests filled better. After the war, Otto Carius became an owner of a pharmacy called Tiger Apotheke.

Born: 27 May 1922 in Zweibrucken

Awards:
- Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class (EK II and EK I),
- Knights Cross (Ritterkreuz),
- Oakleaves to the Knights Cross (Eichenlaub),
- Wound Badge in Gold,
- Panzer Battle Badge in Silver (100),

Total victories (kills):
- 150-200 tanks,
* Majority of this score was tailed on the Eastern Front.

Ernst Barkmann
(August 25, 1919)

Ernst Barkmann was born in Kisdorf in Holstein on August 25th of 1919.He was a son of a local farmer. In 1935, Barkmann finished school and started to be involved in family business along with his father. On April 1st of 1936, Ernst Barkmann joined SS-Standarte Germania as a volunteer and after three months of training joined the III Battalion of the Standarte at Radolfszell. Barkmann took part in Polish Campaign of 1939 serving with 9th Kompanie of SS-Standarte Germania as a machine gunner and was wounded there. In Autumn of 1941, Barkmann was seriously wounded during fighting near Dnieprpetrowsk (Operation Barbarossa) and received the Iron Cross (Second Class). In late 1941, Barkmann was transferred to Holland as an instructor of European SS-Volunteers but in early 1942, he volunteered for service with division's Panzer Regiment. Ernst Barkmann returnedto the Eastern Front in winter of 1942 and was transferred to 2nd Kompanie of 2nd Panzer Regiment of 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich.Barkmann's unit was equipped with Panzer III (50mm gun) tanks which were outclassed by Soviet T-34 and other. In early 1943, 2nd Panzer Regiment took part in the Battle for Kharkov, where Barkmann won the Iron Cross (First Class). In mid 1943, Barkmann was transferred to 4th Kompanie which was equipped with new Panzer V Panther tanks.

In late 1943, Ernst Barkmann was promoted to the rank of SS-Unterscharfuhrer. In early 1944, the entire division was transferred to Bordeaux area in southern France for rest and refitting as a panzer division. Following the D-Day (June 6 of 1944), 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich was ordered to move northwards and was committed to battle.

In early July of 1944, Das Reich was moved to Saint Lo to halt the advance of the US Army's 9th and 30th Infantry Divisions and the 3rd Armored Division. On July 8th, Barkmann's Kompanie was a spearhead of Regiment's attack on the advancing American units. On this day, Ernst Barkmann knocked out his first Allied Sherman tank near St.Lo. On July 12th, he destroyed two more Shermans while disabling the third one. During that engagement Barkmann moved his camouflaged Panther to ambush position and awaited for more Allied armor, knocking out three Shermans. After that Ernst Barkmann's tank was hit by an anti-tank gun which caused fire. He decided to abandon his burning Panther and along with his crew he quickly put out the fire. After that engagement his Panther ended up in the workshop for repairs. After a day of rest, in morning of July 14th, Barkmann was ordered to recover four Panthers that had been cut off behind enemy lines. He succeeded in his task and added three more Shermans to his score. On the same day at noon, Ernst Barkmann was ordered by the Regimental Commander SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer Tychsen to recover wounded German soldiers from their American captors. Once again he succeeded and in the evening his own Panther was returned to him from the workshop. On July 26th, Barkmann's Panther suffered from engine problem and was sent to field workshop.When mechanics were working on it, field workshop was attacked by Allied fighter-bombers and Barkmann's Panther was hit in the engine compartment. By the dawn of July 27th, his Panther was repaired but he was cut off from the rest of the Kompanie and was on his way to rejoin it. On his way back, near the village of Le Lorey, Barkmann was stopped by the retreating German infantrymen who reported that Americans were closing in. Ernst Barkmann decided to send two of his men to verify that report. They soon returned with news of American column made up of some 15 Shermans and other vehicles approaching. Then Barkmann moved his tank up the road to the crossroad where he positioned his Panther in the surrounding oak trees, awaiting the enemy. When the American column approached, Ernst Barkmann opened fire, knocking out two leading tanks and then tanker truck.Two Shermans tried to go around burning wreckage that blocked the road and one of them was knocked out followed by the other one.In the response, Americans retreated and called up the tactical fighter support and Barkmann's Panther was damaged and some of the crew members were wounded. Using the element of suprise two Shermans attacked "wounded" Panther but were also knocked out.Barkmann and his crew repaired their Panther and knocked out single Sherman while leaving.His driver managed to moved their damaged Panther to the safety of nearby village of Neufbourg. During that brave engagement often called "Barkmann's Corner", Ernst Barkmann destroyed approximately nine Sherman tanks and many other various vehicles.

On July 28th, Barkmann reached Coutances and joined the rest of his Kompanie. During two day period, he destroyed fifteen Shermans and other vehicles. On July 30th, Americans surrounded Granville but Barkmann towing one more damaged Panther was able to break out. In order to destroy their disabled Panther their crew decided to set it on fire and soon by mistake both Panthers caught fire. Both crews were forced to make their way to the German lines 7 kilometers away on foot. Barkmann reached Avranches on August 5th, and was warmly welcome by his comrades who heard about his exploits. For his bravery and skills Ernst Barkmann was recommended for Knight's Cross and was accepted on August 27th and was awarded on September 5th.

SS-Oberscharfuhrer Barkmann continued his successful career and took part in the Ardennes Offensive in December of 1944, where on December 25th he was seriously wounded. During the Ardennes Offensive, Barkmann's Panther drove into the group of American tanks from the 2nd Armored Division. Quickly combat begun and outnumbered Barkmann managed to knock out few Sherman tanks. One Sherman rammed Barkmann's Panther but didn't cause much damage although both tanks got stuck and Panther's engine stall. After few minutes, Barkmann's mechanic managed to restart the engine and Panther retreated with blocked turret. Even with the damage, Barkmann knocked out Sherman that waspursuing him and retreated to safety although his Panther was beyond the point of repair.

In March of 1945, Barkmann was once again fighting with Soviets in the area of town of Stuhlweissenburg, where he knocked out four T-34s and brought the total score of the Das Reich Division for the war so far to 3000 enemy tanks destroyed. At the time Das Reich was exhausted by non-stop fighting and lack of replacement tanks. Barkmann's unit alone had only nine fully operational vehiclesfrom which three were soon lost to Soviet Josef Stalin tanks. The remaining six Panthers were ordered to link up with the remnants of the Panzer Regiment of the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler commanded by SS-Standartenfuhrer Jochen Peiper.By April of 1945, Barkmann saw action south of Vienna during the fighting in Austria. There his Panther was hit by a mistake by friendly soldiers and Barkmann along with his crew members was wounded. Later on his Panther was disabled in a huge bomb crater and was destroyed by its crew. Ernst Barkmann was able to reach British zone of operation where he was taken into captivity.

During his very successful career, Ernst Barkmann earned Knight's Cross for his bravery and skills along with the Panzer Assault Badge for 25 and 50 engagements with the enemy. He survived the war and lives in Kisdorf, Germany, where he was the long-time fire-chief and also major (burgomaster).

Michael Wittmann
(April 22, 1914 - August 8, 1944)

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"He was a fighter in every way, he lived and breathed action."
SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Josef "Sepp" Dietrich after Wittmann's death.

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SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann was the most successful and famous tank commander of World War II. Wittmann was born on April 22nd of 1914, in Vogelthal near Oberpfalz, in the Hight Palatinat. He was a son of a local farmer - Johann Wittmann.On February 1st of 1934, Wittmann joined Reichsarbeitdienst - RAD (The German Labour Corps) and served for six months, until July.On October 30th of 1934, he enlisted in Germany Army's 19th Infantry Regiment as a Private (for two years). Wittmann left the service on September 30th of 1936, as a Junior Non-Commissioned Officer - Unteroffizier. Shortly after, on April 5th of 1937, Michael Wittmann joined No.1 Sturm of 92nd Standarte of the elite Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. In late 1937, he received driver training on Sd.Kfz.222 (a four-wheeled light armored car) and then Sd.Kfz.232 (a six-wheeled heavy armored car) and proved to be an excellent driver. Wittmann, then joined the 17th Company which was the Panzer Scout Company of LSSAH. In the summer of 1938, his unit was reduced in status to a Panzer Scout Platoon. In September of 1939, SS-Unterscharführer Michael Wittmann commanded Sd.Kfz.232 of the reconnaissance elements of LSSAH and took part in the Polish Campaign.

In October of 1939, Michael Wittmann joined the 5th Panzerspähkompanie (the depot company of the Leibstandarte) based at Berlin (Lichterfelde), which was an assault gun "academy". In February of 1940, Wittmann was transferred to the newly formed SS-Sturm-Batterie (assault gun battery - Sturmartillerie) of LSSAH, equipped with Sturmgeschutz Ausf A assault guns.The reason for his transfer was that Wittmann held a rank below officer with three years of service and experience on an armored vehicle.At the same time, Wittmann became friends with Hannes Philipsen, Helmut Wendorff, Alfred Günther and other members of that unit. In late 1940, Michael Wittmann started his true panzer combat career in the Balkans (Yugoslavia and Greece). While in Greece, Wittmann was in command of the platoon of Sturmgeschutz III Ausf As (part of LSSAH SS-Sturm-Batterie) and fought there until mid 1941.

On June 11th of 1941, Wittmann along with LSSAH was transferred to the east, in preparations for the upcoming operation "Barbarossa", which started on June 22nd. LSSAH was ordered to advance into southern Russia. On July 12th of 1941, Michael Wittmann received an Iron Cross (Second Class) for destruction of Soviet tanks. Some time later, Wittmann was wounded in combat, but remained with his unit and received the Wound Badge. On September 8th of 1941, he received Iron Cross (First Class) followed after fighting in the Rostov area by the Panzer Assault Badge (for destroying six Soviet tanks in single engagement). Wittmann was also promoted to the rank of SS-Oberscharführer. Until June of 1942, Wittmann fought with his unit in Russia.On June 5th of 1942, because of his outstanding service Wittmann was accepted as a cadet for the officer training in the SS Junkerschule in Bad Tölz (Bavaria).On September 5th of 1942, Wittmann left Bad Tölz school as a Panzer instructor (SS-Panzerausbildungs und Ersatz-Abteilung).

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In Autumn of 1942, 1st Waffen-SS Motorized Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" was upgraded to the status of a Panzer-Grenadier Division. Also additional 13th Kompanie was equipped with PzKpfw VI Tiger. Training took place at Padeborn in Germany and then at Ploermel in France.In the end of January of 1943, "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" was transferred to the Eastern Front. The command of the 13th Kompanie was given to SS-Haupsturmfuhrer Heinz Kling.

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On December 21st of 1942, Wittmann was promoted to the rank of SS-Untersturmführer and on December 24th, he joined the 13th Kompanie of Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. Michael Wittmann was put in the command of Panzer III Ausf L/M platoon of Tiger company. The platoon was designated to protect the back line of the Tigers from enemy infantry and other obstacles. In the early spring of 1943, Michael Wittmann joined the Tiger company, and left his Panzer III support section. On July 5th of 1943, Wittmann started his combat career on Tiger during the Operation Citadel (Zitadelle). LSSAH was located in the southern sector of the bulge.On the first day of action, Wittmann destroyed two anti-tanks guns and thirteen T-34s, while saving Helmut Wendorff's platoon, which run into trouble. On July 7th and 8th, Wittmann destroyed two T-34s, two SU-122s and three T-60/70s. On July 12th, Wittmann destroyed eight Soviet tanks, three anti-tank guns and one gun battery. This operation finished on the 17th of July 1943, and included the battle of Kharkov and Kursk along with other engagements. During that time Wittmann's Tiger destroyed 30 Soviet tanks along with 28 guns. On July 29th of 1943, 13th company was used to form schwere SS Panzer Abteilungen 101, which was then attached to LSSAH. In August of 1943, LSSAH was transferred to Italy, for refitting and occupational duties.

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In October of 1943, 1st SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" was reorganized as 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler".

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In sSSPzAbt 101, Wittmann (Tiger #1331) served with other Tiger Aces like: Franz Staudegger (Tiger#1325), Helmut Wendorff (Tiger #1321) and Jürgen Brandt (Tiger #1334). The command of this unit was given to SS-Haupsturmfuhrer Heinz Kling (Tiger #1301). In October of 1943, after the start of Soviet Autumn Offensive, LSSAH was transferred back to the Eastern Front (Kiev area). Also in October, Wittmann changed his Tiger #1331 for the Tiger #S21 and got under his command Jürgen Brandt (Tiger #S24). On October 13th, Wittmann's Tiger destroyed twenty T-34s along with twenty three infantry and anti-tank guns.In December, Wittmann took part in numerous engagements and destroyed a number of Soviet tanks and guns.

On January 13th of 1944, Michael Wittmann received the Knight's Cross for his outstanding service to the Fatherland. "From July of 1943 to the beginning of January 1944 he has destroyed 56 enemy AFVs, including T 34s and super heavy SPs. On 8 and 9 January he and his platoon halted and destroyed breakthrough attempts of a Soviet tank Brigade, and in that battle he destroyed a further ten vehicles. On January 13, nineteen T 34s and three super-heavy SP guns. His total then stood at 88 tanks and SPs." - German radio annoucement, January 13th of 1944. On January 15/16th of 1944, SS-Rottenfuhrer Balthasar (Bobby) Woll received his Knight's Cross. Balthasar Woll was an excellent gunner, who was even able to fire accurately while on the move.

On January 20th, Wittmann was promoted to the rank of SS-Obersturmfuhrer.Two weeks later, on January 30th 1944, Wittmann received following telegram from Adolf Hitler himself: "In thankful appreciation of your heroic actions in the battle for the future of our people, I award you as the 380th soldier of the German Wehrmacht, the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Adolf Hitler.". On February 2nd of 1944, Wittmann received Oak Leafs to his Knights Cross from Führer's hands, in "Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze" (Wolfslair - Rastenburg in East Prussia).

Wittmann's Tiger S04 and his crew (left to right):
SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann,
SS-Rottenführer Bobby Woll,
SS-Panzerchütze Werner Irrgang,
SS-Panzerschütze Sepp Rössner and
SS-Sturmmann Eugen Schmidt.

The 88 white rings (kills) were painted for the occasion and the picture was taken by SS-Büschel (Propaganda Kompanie - PK). On the February 28th of 1944, Wittmann's unit, which was under the command ofSS-Hauptsturmführer Heinz Kling, counted five Iron Cross "Knights":SS-Untersturmführer Staudegger, SS-Untersturmführer Wendorf andSS-Hauptsturmführer Kling.SS-Obersturmführer Wittmann was the only one with Oak Leafs to his Knights Cross.During the period from February 29th to March 2nd of 1944, the larger part of the company was transferred to Mons in Belgium. At the time of the transfer, Wittmann received the command of 2nd Kompanie of sSSPzAbt 101 of LSSAH. After leaving Eastern Front, Michael Wittmann stated that the Soviet anti-tank guns were harder and were more prized targets than tanks. On March 1st, Michael Wittmann married Hildegard Burmester and his marriage witness was his gunner - Balthazar (Bobby) Woll.

SS-Obersturmführer Michael Wittmann and his Tiger.

At that time, Wittmann became a national hero and was seen everywhere. The propaganda made him into a hero of the entire German nation. In the April of 1944, Wittmann visited the Henschel und Sohn factory at Kassel and spoke to the employees thanking them for their great job on producing Tiger I. During his visit he discovered the production line of Late Type Tiger I Ausf E. In May of 1944, Wittmann re-joined the sSSPzAbt 101 of the LSSAH, which was stationed in the area of Lisieux in Normandy, France.

At the time, Bobby Woll (holder of Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class and Knight's Cross) received a command of a Tiger and took part in the Normandy battles, where he was wounded (during an air attack) and remained in a hospital until March of 1945. He returned to active service and took part in the final battles on the Western Front. Woll survived the war and became an electrician. He died in 1996.

LSSAH was a part of panzer reserve, which included 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend" and the Panzer Lehr Division. At that time the command of sSSPzAbt 101 was given to Heinz von Westernhagen (Tiger #007), while the 1st Kompanie was commanded by Hauptsturmfuhrer Mobius. On the June 6th of 1944 (D-Day), Wittmann got a new late production model Tiger I #205. From 6th to 12th June, sSSPzAbt 101 moved to the invasion front in Normandy. On their way, Wittmann's 2nd Kompanie was reduced to six Tigers by Allied air attacks. Wittmann's company along with the Panzer Lehr Division and the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend" was part of Heeresgruppe under the command of Erwin Rommel. On June 13th, the battle began near Bayeux area. At the time Wittmann's company was near Villiers-Bocage, at the south of Tilly-sur-Seulles (Caen area). On June 13th of 1944, Wittmann's company destroyed entire 4th County of London Yeomanry Regiment travelling on the road No.175 to Villers-Bocage, at the Hill No.213.

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"Wittmann in Villers Bocage"
On 13th June 1944, a week after D-day, following a drive from Beauvais under repeated air attack, 2nd Kompanie of sSSPzAbt 101 led by Michael Wittmann had 6 Tigers located in the area of Hill (Point) 213 ahove Villers Bocage. His orders were to stop the advance of the 22nd Armored Brigade of the British 7th Armored Division (the famous 'Desert Rats') from advancing through the township, outflanking the German line and gaining the road to Caen. Wittmann's company hidden behind a hedgerow spotted the enemy column, which passed him at a distance of 200 meters. At about 8:00am, Wittmann attacked the British column on the main road, while the rest of his company (4 Tigers as one brokedown) attacked the British forces around Hill 213. Soon after, Wittmann destroyed Sherman Firefly and Cromwell IV and headed south to attack the rest of the enemy transport column. After knocking out 8 half-tracks, 4 Bren Carriers and 2 6 pdr anti-tank guns, Wittmann reached the crossroad with the road to Tilly-sur-Seulles. At the crossroad, he destroyed 3 Stuart tanks from recon unit and reached the outskirts of the town of Villers-Bocage. While in town, Wittmann destroyed 4 Cromwell IV tanks and single half-track and turns into Rue Pasteur. Following up the street, he knocked out Cromwell IV and Sherman OP tank, reaching the main street of Villers-Bocage. At the end of Rue Pasteur, Wittmann's Tiger was hit by Sherman Firefly from B Squadron and he decided to turn back as being too far forward without any infantry support and in a build-up area. He turned in the direction of Caen to join the rest of his company. On his way back, Wittmann's Tiger was attacked by another Cromwell IV, which he destroyed as well. Back at the Tilly crossroad, British soldiers from 1st Rifle Brigade opened fire at Wittmann with their 6 pdr anti-tank gun, immobilizing his Tiger. Wittmann and his crew managed to escape on foot towards the Panzer Lehr positions 7km away near Orbois. The rest of his company at the Hill 213, destroyed the rest of the A Squadron of 4th County of London Yeomanry Regiment ("Sharpshooters") including 5 Cromwell IV and Sherman Firefly, while capturing 30 men. During this short engagement, Wittmann's company destroyed 4 Sherman Firefly, 20 Cromwell, 3 Stuart, 3 M4 Sherman OP, 14 half-tracks, 16 Bren Carriers and 2 6 pdr anti-tank guns. Wittmann's attack was followed by another one by Tigers of Hauptsturmfuehrer Rolf Moebius' 1st Kompanie of sSSPzAbt 101 and Panzerkampfwagen IV tanks from Panzer Lehr but was repulsed by anti-tank guns from 22nd Armored Brigade. Following day, British withdrew from the town leaving it to the Germans, who occupied it for next two months. The British drive on Villers Bocage and Caen was stopped cold by Wittmann's attack and following actions.

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On July 22nd, after his success at Villers-Bocage, Wittmann received the Swords for his Knight Cross with Oak Leafs after being recommended personally by the LSSAH's commander, SS-Obergruppenfuhrer und Panzergeneral der Waffen SS Josef "Sepp" Dietrich. The ceremony was on June 25th of 1944 and Adolf Hitler in person decorated Wittmann who then became the most decorated tanker ace of World War II.

At the same time he also received the rank of SS-Haupsturmfuhrer. Wittmann was offered a position of an instructor at a training schoolbut he refused and returned to Normandy on July 6th and participated in the Battle of Caen (3rd to 10th of July). During July of 1944, Wittmann fought near Caen area until August. At the time Wittmann got a new Tiger #007. In the beginning of August, Wittmann along with sSSPzAbt 101 was transferred to Cintheaux area. At the time Germans tried to recapture Caen which was completely destroyed by ongoing fighting. On August 8th of 1944, a new battle began near Cintheaux. It was Wittmann's final battle. At 12:55am (as reported by SS-Hauptscharführer Höflinger - Tiger #213 which was positioned in the same field at the rear, right of Wittmann's Tiger) in a field near the road to Caen-Cintheaux, at Gaumesnil, Wittmann's Tiger was destroyed and its entire crew killed. After fighting the remains of Wittmann and his crew were buried beside what was left of their Tiger, without any markings.

Until 1983, the destruction of Wittmann's Tiger was an mystery even for crews of sSSPzAbt 101. Many sources say that it was destroyed by the "Firefly Ambush", but different units claimed to ambush and destroy Wittmann's Tiger, including those of the either 1st Polish Armored Division, 4th Canadian Armored Division (Canadian Shermans supposedly surrounded and shot Wittmann's Tiger to pieces) or 33rd British Independent Armored Brigade. In the memoirs of a former member Mr.F.R of sSSPzAbt 101, official version at the time stated that Wittmann's Tiger was destroyed by an airplane bomb. Both presented a picture of Wittmann's Tiger without its turret with the gun barrel placed on the hull which in fact is the picture of SS-Untersturmführer Alfred Günther's Tiger from 3rd Kompanie of sSSPzAbt 101 of destroyed by an airplane bomb at Evrecy. Along with those two versions, some claims were made that units, which were not even present in the area at the time, were responsible for destroying Wittmann's Tiger. In 1945, Mr.Serge Varin found Tiger #007. Mr.Varin was interested in this tank because its turret was teared away from the hull. Mr.Varin examined Wittmann's Tiger and noticed that it was not penetrated by any shells fired at it during the fighting. The only damage to the hull was a big hole in the rear, near the engine deck.

Remains of Wittmann's Tiger No.007

After further examination Mr.Varin concluded that the impact came from the air. The rocket hit Tiger's rear deck (made of 25mm thick armor), penetrated the air intakes and exploded causing the explosion in the engine compartment and fighting compartment which ignited the stored ammunition. The second explosion instantly killed the entire crew and blew off the turret into the air. According to Varin, Wittmann's Tiger was destroyed by a rocket fired from a Royal Air Force Hawker "Typhoon" MkIB - attack aircraft. Typhoons were armed with HE (High-explosive) rockets and took heavy tow of German tanks during the Normandy battles (for example on August 8th of 1944, Typhoons destroyed 135 German tanks and among those Tiger #007).

Finally, it was proven that Wittmann's Tiger was destroyed by fire from tanks of "A" Squadron of Northamptonshire Yeomanry. British Firefly crew observed advancing Tigers and opened fire at when Tigers were some 800m away. According to original War Diary of "A" Squadron, at 12:20, 3 Tigers were moving towards the Squadron and were destroyed at 12:40, 12:47 and 12:52 without any losses. After the first Tiger was destroyed at 12:40, second one returned fire but was hit and blew up in a loud explosion. Following that, third Tiger was knocked out after receiving two hits. Wittmann's Tiger was destroyed as second at 12:47 by British Sherman VC "Firefly" commanded by Sergeant Gordon (gunner - Trooper Joe Ekins) from 3rd Platoon, "A" Squadron, 33rd Armored Brigade of 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry. British Sherman VC "Firefly" armed with 17 pounder gun was capable of penetrating Tiger's armor at range of 800m. The force of explosion blew off the turret, which landed upside down away from the hull. Wittmann did not know that British had Firefly in the area and felt confident in attacking their position with his Tigers, otherwise he would take different approach to the whole attack. After Wittmann failed to return from the battle, search for him by the members of the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend" and his battalion took place during the day and on the night of 8/9th.

Michael Wittmann and his crew was killed in action on August 8th of 1944, at Gaumesnil near Cintheaux and were buried in an unmarked grave. In March of 1983, the unmarked field grave of Tiger #007's crew was discovered during the construction of the road and was excavated. It was possible to identify the remains by Wittmann's dental records and Heinrich Reimers's (driver) identification tag. Wittmann and his crew was then officially buried in the German Military Cemetery of "De La Cambe" in Normandy, France. The cemetery is located on the National Road 13 (RN 13) between Isigny-sur-Mer and Bayeux. Michael Wittmann is buried in square 47, row 3, grave 120 of "De La Cambe". On August 8th of 1944, crew of Tiger #007 from 2nd Kompanie of schwere SS-Panzer Abteilungen 101 of LSSAH was as follows:

SS-Sturmmann Rudolf "Rudi" Hirschel (radioman) 24/1/3 - 44/8/8 (20 years old),
SS-Unterscharführer Henrich Reimers (driver) 24/5/11 - 44/8/8 (20 years old),
SS-Unterscharführer Karl Wagner (observer) 20/5/31 - 44/8/8 (24 years old),
SS-Sturmmann Günther Weber (loader) 24/12/21 - 44/8/8 (20 years old),
SS-Haupsturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann (commander) 14/4/22 - 44/8/8 (30 years old).

He ended up his career as a Commander of 2.Kompanie schwere SS-Panzer Abteilung 101 (part of 1st SS Panzer Division "LSSAH").SS-Haupsturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann was the most successful tanker ace of World War II. His friends said that Michael Wittmann was quiet man even during combat and that he had 6th sense, to know where and how to engage the enemy. Wittmann commanded excellent crews, who were able to fully cooperate withhim and anticipated his orders.

Wittmann was highly admired by his comrades and very highly thought of by his superiors. Michael Wittmann represents a real hero who fought to the bitter end for his Fatherland. Wittmann's personal bravery is unquestionable and his place in the annals of military history thoroughly deserved.

Tiger 007 crew's graves at De La Cambe.
Picture provided by Eric Peytavin.

Born: 22 April 1914 in Vogelthal/Oberplatz.

Combat Service:
- Poland (1939),
- Balkans (1940/41),
- Eastern Front (1941-1944),
- Normandy (1944).

Awards:
- Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class (EK II and EK I),
- Knights Cross (Ritterkreuz),
- Oakleaves to the Knights Cross (Eichenlaub),
- Swords to the Knights Cross (Schwerter).

Total victories (kills):
- 141 tanks,
- 132 antitank guns.
* Most of this score was tailed on the Eastern Front.

Died: Killed in action on August 8, 1944, around Cintheaux Gaumesnil near Caen, France.

Buried:De La Cambe, France - German Military Cemetery.

Dr.Franz Bäke
(February 28, 1898 - December 12, 1978)

Colonel Dr.Franz Bäke, who was a dentist, is the one of the most successful and highly decorated tank commanders of World War II. Dr.Bäke was born in Schwarzenfels on February 28th of 1898. On May 19th of 1915, Franz Bäke volunteered for Infantry Regiment Nr.3 and then became Vizefeldwebel (Lance-Corporal) and Cadet in Foot Artillery Regiment Nr.7.In January 1919, Bäke retired and began studying medicine and dentistry until 1922 and in 1923, became Doctor of Dentistry.On April 1st of 1937, Dr.Franz Bäke had his first reserve manoeuver with Aufkärungs-Abteilung 6 (reconnaissance battalion), followed by second reserve manoeuver on June 11th of 1937. On December 1st of 1937, Bäke became a Lieutenant in reserve and on August 1st of 1939, Zugführer (Platoon Leader) in the leichte Kolonne of Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 65 (anti-tank battalion).On November 1st of 1939, Bäke was promoted to the rank of Oberleutnant and on January 1st of 1940, became company commander of Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 65. On May 1st of 1940, Bäke was promoted to the rank of Hauptmann (Captain) and during the French Campaign of 1940, Dr.Bäke served with 6th Panzer Division's 65th Panzerabteilung. He commanded company of the 65th Panzerabteilung and captured an undamaged bridge over the Meuse at Arques.While fighting in France, Bäke was wounded twice, on May 17th and 19th of 1940, but stayed with his unit. On May 1st of 1941, Captain Bäke became the leader of the Panzerstaffel of 6th Panzer Division's Panzer Regiment 11 and August 1st of 1941, he was promoted to the rank of Major.On November 1st of 1941, staff adjudant of the same unit. On July 1st of 1942, Dr.Franz Bäke became the commander of the 2nd Abteilung (Battalion) of Panzer Regiment 11.On January 11th of 1943, Major Bäke was awarded Knights Cross (Ritterkreuz). On July 13th of 1943, Bäke was wounded but stayed with his unit. On July 14th of 1943, according to the special order Dr.Bäke was to lead the Panzer Regiment 11, eventhough he was too young for the position but best suited. The position was interim although if performed well there would be a promotion out of line for him. On August 1st of 1943, Bäke was awarded Oakleaves to the Knights Cross (Eichenlaub). On November 1st of 1943, Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-Colonel) Bäke became the commander of Panzer Regiment 11 in the 6th Panzer Division. In early 1944, Bäke received command of special unit made up of elements of sPzAbt.503, battalion of Panthers along with some Sturmartillerie and engineer unit. This unit was then named Panzer-Regiment Bäke and took part in number of desperate actions on the Eastern Front. One of those actions was five-day battle in January of 1944 at the "Balabonowka Pocket", where Panzer-Regiment Bäke was credit with destruction of 267 Soviet tanks, while losing one Tiger and four Panthers. Bäke's personal heroism was outstanding and well represented by his four "Individual Tank Destruction Badges", awarded for the single-handed destruction of four enemy tanks. On February 21st of 1944, Lieutenant-Colonel Bäke was awarded Swords to the Knights Cross (Schwerter). On May 1st of 1944, Dr.Bäke was promoted to the rank of Oberst (Colonel) and July 13th, he became the commander of Panzer Brigade 106 - Feldherrnhalle.On January 1st of 1945, Dr.Bäke changed to active duty from reserve and became career soldier. He did so since otherwise he would not be able to be promoted higher than Colonel (Oberst). On January 24th of 1945, Colonel Bäke took training course for division commander.On March 9th of 1945, according to the special order Dr.Bäke was to lead the 13th Panzer Division "Feldherrnhalle 2", eventhough he was too young for the position but best suited. The position was interim although if performed well there would be a promotion out of line for him. From April 20th of 1945 until the end of the war, Colonel Dr.Bäke acting as General-Major commanded understrength 13th Panzer Division "Feldherrnhalle 2". On May 8th of 1945, Dr.Bäke became prisoner of war and remained in captivity until his release in 1947. He died in an accident in Hagen on December 12th of 1978.

SS-Hauptscharführer Karl Körner
and
SS-Untersturmführer Karl Brommann

SS-Hauptscharführer Karl Körner and SS-Untersturmführer Karl Brommann are both Panzer aces who started and finished their careers on King Tigers. They both served in schwere SS Panzer Abteilung (103) 503, which became part of III SS Panzer Corps (Germanic). sSSPzAbt 503 originated from the 8th company of 3rd Waffen SS Panzergrenadier Division "Totenkopf", which was equipped with Tigers from July of 1943 to March of 1944. On October 17th of 1944, sSSPzAbt 503 received their King Tigers and on January 27th of 1945 was transferred to the Eastern Front. Following their arrival to the front, unit saw heavy combat in the Neu Stettin (Szczecinek) area, allowing the escape of refugees from East Prussia. During the night of February 17/18, sSSPzAbt 503 was loaded on train and moved to Danzig (Gdansk). During the combat in Gdansk (Oliwa and Wrzeszcz districts) and Sopot, SS-Untersturmführer Karl Brommann (commander of the 1st Company) destroyed 65 tanks and self-propelled guns along with 44 artillery pieces and 15 vehicles (including some T-34s from 1st Polish Tank Brigade "Heroes of the Westerplatte"). Following his outstanding score, Brommann was awarded with Knights Cross. After the war, Brommann became and remained until his retirement a dental laboratory technician at the university clinic in Germany. Following heavy losses the remnants of the unit were evacuated to Swinemunde (Swinoujscie) and took part in combat in Stettin (Szczecin) area. In the last days of the Third Reich, six King Tigers from sSSPzAbt 503 attached to 11th Waffen SS Panzergrenadier "Nordland" took part in the defense of Berlin.

In April of 1945, SS-Hauptscharführer Karl Körner (platoon commander from the 2nd Company) was supporting an infantry counterattack in the Bollersdorf area (east of Berlin), when he encountered two Soviet JS-II heavy tanks at a distance of 200m. He quickly destroyed the first one and second one trying to reverse in order to take a firing position drove into an anti-tank ditch and was abandomed by the crew. On the road from Bollersdorf to Strausberg, Körner observed additional 11 JS-II tanks and around 120 to 150 enemy tanks in the process of being refuelled and re-armed on the egde of the village. He then fired and destroyed all 11 JS-II tanks on the road and attacked the rest of the tanks and their suprised crews. Number of fuel and ammunition trucks exploded causing even more panic among the Russian tankers, while Körner fired all 39 rounds he had left and knocked out 39 enemy tanks before he withdrew. Following this action, sSSPzAbt 503 and other units were falling back to defend Berlin. On his way to Berlin, Karl Körner destroyed over 100 Soviet tanks and 26 anti-tank guns in total, achievement for which on April 29th, he was awarded the Knights Cross in the bunker of Reichs Chancellery. After the ceremony, Körner returned to his unit on the frontline at Charlottenburg district of Berlin. On May 2nd, last King Tiger from sSSPzAbt 503 was destroyed during an attempt to break out of the city on the Spandau Bridge.

Walter Nowotny
German Luftwaffe Ace, Fw 190 and Me 262 pilot
JG 54 and Kommando Nowotny

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Otto Kittel

One of the highest scoring German aces (an Austrian, actually) almost ended his flying career very early.

Flying a Bf 109 in July 19, 1941, he had shot down three Polikarpov I-153 biplanes (his first three kills), when he went down too. He ditched his Messerchmitt in the Gulf of Riga and clambered into his one-man survival raft. With no food or drink, he paddled southwards, towards land that he estimated to be about 40 miles away. A couple German fighters flew overhead, but didn't notice his Mauser pistol shots. Sunburn set in, waves splashed into his dinghy, and he became exausted from his paddling.

On his second night adrift, two Soviet destroyers passed close by, but didn't notice him either. He was somewhat heartened by the evidently-German artillery fire directed at the Russian warships. But by the second day, he became nearly suicidal, and even began writing a "farewell message." He fell asleep, and when he awoke on the third day, the currents had brought him close to shore. He paddled towards it, landed, and collapsed on the sandy beach. He awoke in a bed; two Latvian auxiliaries (collaborators?) had rescued him.

For many months, JG 54 remained at Krasnogvardeisk, as the northern front settled into a stalemate around besieged Leningrad.

Messerschmitt Bf 109
Nowotny achieved over 50 victories in this airplanes, from July 1941 through early 1943. He was appointed Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 54 on 25 October 1942.
Focke Wulf 190
In January and February of 1943, JG 54 transitioned to the Fw 190, a rugged aircraft that Nowotny and many othe experten would fly with great success. In August, Nowotny added 49 victories to his score and was promoted to Gruppenkommandeur of 1./JG 54. Heady stuff for a 22-year-old. But he hadn't yet been awarded the "Oak Leaves," and showed distinct signs of "throat-ache;" despite the fact that he had passed the 120-victory threshhold - no "Oak Leaves."
But he continued to excel in the air. On September 1, 1943 he downed ten Russian aircraft. On a morning bomber escort mission, he destroyed four attacking Soviet fighters. He noticed another group, and promptly got two of those. As the dogfight carried him 180 km over Russian lines, he closed in on a seventh victim, only to have his cannon jam. he closed in ever closer and finished it off with his machine guns. He made good his return by flying on the deck, right thru the flak thrown up from a large town. That afternoon, on another sortie, he got three more during an in-and-out duel in the clouds.

A few days later, he received his long-awaited Oak Leaves. "The Swords" followed three weeks later, awarded to him at a ceremony at Hitler's headquarters.

By September 14, his score stood at 203, just behind the Luftwaffe leader (Hans Phillipp?). At midday, on a clear, perfect day, Soviet bombers and their fighter escorts approached. Nowotny led his 4-plane Schwarm on a Freie Jagd (literally "free hunt," or in Allied aviation jargon, a "fighter sweep"). Soon, evryone in the ops room heard over the loudspeaker his radio call that he had achieved his 204th. He was then the top Luftwaffe experte. He kept flying and fighting and shooting down Soviet planes. Before the end of September, he had reached a total of 235. On afternoon, while patrolling south of Velikiye Luki, he shot down 3 of a group of 14 Airacobras. The next day, in the same area, a flight of 6 Airacobras fled as soon as they sighted the Fw 190's; perhaps they were survivors from the previous day's mission. Only two escaped.

Then he had a day ruined by jammed guns and an out-of-service aircraft. The following day, his aerial rampage continued: two P-40s, a P-39, and an LaGG-3. Nowotny was doing his part to reduce the American Lend-Lease equipment sent to Russia.

The Diamonds
On October 15, 1943, he destroyed a Curtiss P-40 - his 250th victory. He was the first pilot ever to achieve such a score. Back at his base, a wild celebration ensued. Nowotny took off to Vilna to celebrate in style. His wingman "Quax" Schnörrer stayed at the base and, with other pilots, got riotously drunk. Then General von Greim telephoned, to say that the Führer wanted to speak to Nowotny, to congratulate him personally. Understanding the situation, General Greim passed on the information that Nowotny was at the Ria Bar in Vilna, confident that Hitler's telephone operators wouldn't be able to get through to the partying Nowotny. But they did. Nowotny, stewed to the gills, surrounded by young lovelies in a noisy bar, managed to get through the conversation with the Führer. He had been awarded the "Diamonds," the Reich's highest military honor. The next day, von Greim, Schnörrer, and Nowotny flew to Hitler's HQ in East Prussia, for Nowotny to receive his "Diamonds."

But October, 1943 marked the end of Nowotny's famous schwarm (flgiht of four planes). Toni Döbele (96 victories) was killed. Lt. Karl "Quax" Schnörrer (35) was badly injured in a crash and hospitalized for a long time. Nowotny himself was made into a superhero by Goebbels propaganda machine and was withdrawn from the front.

Training Assignments
His career was temporarily halted because he was assigned command of the Schulegeschwader 101 (SJG 101). This was a training unit for new pilots, and was based in Palau. Even though it was an unpopular assignment for the veteran pilots, Nowotny once again brilliantly succeded, earning a reputation as a first class instructor.
Me 262 Jet
On September 26, 1944, he was appointed CO of Kommando Nowotny, the world's first jet fighter unit, based at Achmer and Hesepe
Kommando Nowotny became operational on the 3rd of October and claimed their first kill, a B-24, on October 7th. Nowotny began the practice of using prop-driven conventional fighters as cover against the roaming Allied fighters during the takeoffs and landings of the Me 262. The Me 262 was especially vulnerable as the turbojet's relatively low thrust resulted in slow acceleration. It took some time for the jet to get up to speed. But once there, no Allied aircraft could touch it.

November 8, 1944
Adolph Galland, Luftwaffe General of Fighters, visited Achmer for an inspection. Nowotny was going to give Galland his pilots' flight reports. A flight of B-17 bombers was reported, so the unit took off, about six jets in the first wave, then another. The Fw-190Ds were waiting on the runway cover their return of the jets. Galland was in the operations shack, monitoring the pilots' radio transmissions. Several bombers were called out as shot down, and Nowotny radioed that he was approaching. The flight leader on the ground, Hans Dortenmann, requested permission to take off to assist, but Nowotny said no, to wait. The defensive anti-aircraft battery opened fire on a few P-51 Mustangs that approached the field, but they were chased away. The jets were coming in.
One Me-262 had been shot down, and Nowotny reported an engine failure before making a garbled transmission referring to “burning”. Galland watched Nowi's approach, heard the sound of a jet engine, and saw his Me 262 A-1a (W.Nr. 110 400) “White 8” dive vertically out of the clouds and crash at Epe, 2.5 kilometres east of Hesepe. The explosions rocked the air, and only a column of black smoke rose from behind the trees. The wreckage was Nowotny's plane. After sifting through it, the only salvageable things found were his left hand and pieces of his Diamonds decoration.

The unit was disbanded shortly after Nowotny's death. It had claimed 22 aircraft with a loss of 26 Me 262s, eight of which were due to accidents and mechanical failures.

Top Fighter Pilot
Who was the most successful fighter pilot? Who was the number 1, number one ace? The ace of aces?
The highest scoring ace of all time was the great German Luftwaffe experte Erich Hartmann with 352 aerial kills. Flying Bf 109s (Me-109s) against the overmatched Soviet MiGs and Yaks for almost three years, he accumulated his unrivalled score. Hartmann claimed, that of all his accomplishments, he was proudest of the fact that he never lost a wingman. He is also reputed to have said. "Get close .. when he fills the entire windscreen ... then you can't possibly miss."

Hartmann was born in 1922, in Weissach, Wurttemberg. At age 19 (1941), he joined the Luftwaffe and was posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) on the Eastern Front in October, 1942. He scored his first kill in November, and only achieved his second three months later. In the first half of 1943, he worked out some of the tactics which would prove so successful later on. If he was attacked from behind, he would send his wingman down low and out in front. Then he would get behind the enemy and fire a short, quick accurate burst, waiting "until the enemy aircraft filled the windscreen." He would normally content himself with one victory; he was willing to wait for another day. His natural talents began to tell: excellent eyesight, lightning reflexes, an aggressive spirit, and an ability to stay cool while in combat.

Kursk
As JG 52 retreated along with German ground forces in 1943, Hartmann's score began to mount. The great Kursk offensive, Operation Zitadelle, began on July 5. The Luftwaffe planned to screen the Wehrmacht's panzers from the Soviet Il-2 Sturmoviks, armored tank-busting aircraft, armed with twin 37mm cannon. Hartmann's Staffel 7 of JG 52 moved up to Ugrim, only 14 kilometers behind the front. As the Panther and Tiger tanks moved up, Junkers Ju.52 transports flew in supplies. On the morning of the 5th, four of Staffel 7's pilots did not return, apparently their compasses misled them, due to extraordinary iron ore deposits in the area. Hartmann was promoted to Staffelkapitan on the spot. The offensive ground forward slowly on the 6th and 7th; obviously the Russians had dug in and prepared defensive lines in depth.

July 7, 1943
On the morning of July 7, 1943, sun rose over Ugrim in the northern Ukraine about 3AM. Staffel 7's Me.109 G10's lay scattered around, in the deep grass of the Ugrim airfield. Hartmann's personal plane, decorated with a large Roman numeral 'I' and the name Usch in a red heart. (Usch Paetch was his fiancee, whom he wrote to daily.) In the comfortable summer weather, the pilots slept in tents. On waking, Hartmann dressed in a gray shirt, blue-gray trousers, and gray shoes. He washed up and shaved in a small stream and ate breakfast, two eggs, cooked by a couple of Russian girls. He and the other three pilots in his Schwarm were assigned to cover an F.W.189 on a dawn reconnaissance mission.

Erich joked with his crew chief, 'Bimel' Merten, and strapped himself into the cockpit. At 3:04, the recon plane started and Hartmann set Messerschmitt's flaps and checked the fuel while Merten cranked the starter. The DB 605's twelve cylinders coughed, belched smoke, and then caught smoothly. His three comrades followed him to the take-off spot. He gunned the engine while stomping on the brakes. When he released them, his 109 shot forward and quickly reached 160 km/hour. He gently pulled back on the stick and was airborne; the other three followed him closely. They all banked left as they went through post-take-off routines: retract landing gear, close radiator flaps, ease back on the throttle, and check gauges, guns,

Uninen

01-24-2004, 09:24 PM

Yep I noticed, a 81 KrH 71Y I guess. Didn´t you guys in KotRa have old
(ww2) soviet 82 mm fortress mortars? I very much doubt that there still
are 81 KrH 35 that are usable in finnish army stocks...

no..

They had brand new patria mortars as i remember that..

Btw,

How did you know that im from there..

Or did i already mention it here?

rofl

mustamato

01-24-2004, 09:53 PM

NcDeuce

01-24-2004, 10:03 PM

http://members.cox.net/rlhtribute/images/uniform_rlh.jpg

Hell yeah, he is decorated! Crossed Arrows signifying the BEST branch in the U.S. Army...Pathfinder, Airborne, Damnnnnnnn

"sniper" tom

02-14-2004, 03:41 PM

they aren't national heroes for me but i consider them as heroes
Carlos Hathcock
http://home.swipnet.se/longrange/carlos%20hactcock.htm[img]
and Chuck Mawhinney !
don't hava a picture of Chuck Mawhinney ,
i found a picture on a site but i can't "steal" te picture of the site
http://home.swipnet.se/longrange/
then you must go to miscellaneous and then on to sniper legends

now i really hope you can see the picture of Carlos Hathcock !
althoug its already posted ! just so i know how it works !
and sorry for te realy bad enghlish

JMooch

02-14-2004, 05:55 PM

Maj Dick Meadows

Col Bull Simons

Gen. Al Grey

If you don't know who they are, look'em up.
Meadows was one of the best operators to ever wear a uniform.
Simons led the Son Tay Mission (which Meadows led the assault element of) and Gen Grey is bar none the best Marine officer I ever knew or knew about. He knows how to motivate Marines and win battles.
Semper,
Mooch

Sayeret

02-14-2004, 07:58 PM

http://www.jr.co.il/pictures/israel/people/jril0245.jpg

Eli Cohen was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on December 26, 1928 [sic 1924]. His parents, Syrian Jews from the thriving town of Aleppo. Eli Cohen, at 29, offered his services to the Israeli Intelligence Services but was rebuked twice. One day in 1960 Israeli Intelligence approached him about working for them again.
Eli Cohen was first sent to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to establish his cover as a Syrian emigre. He soon established himself in the social and cultural life of the Syrian community of Buenos Aires and was known as a wealthy businessman who was generous, tipped well, and loved the night life. He soon became accepted, well-liked and respected, and made contacts with politicians, diplomats and military officials working out of the Syrian Embassy.
Eli carefully cultivated contacts with the Ba'ath leadership, which included the Syrian military attache in Argentina, General Amin al-Hafaz. He continued his social life, spending a lot of time in cafes listening to political gossip. He also held parties at his home, for high-placed Syrian ministers, businessmen, and others, who used Eli's apartment "for assignations with various women, including Defense Ministry secretaries, airline hostesses, and Syrian singing stars."
With time he was taken even more into the confidence of the highest echelons of power. He became a confidante of George Saif, high up in the Ministry of Information.
One day Cohen was sitting in Saif's office reading a classified document while the Syrian was on the phone. One of the ministry's directors entered the room unannounced.

'How is it that you dare allow a stranger to read a classified document?' he angrily asked Saif.

Saif calmly replied, 'There's nothing to worry about. He's a trusted friend.'"

When the Ba'ath took power in 1963, Eli was firmly entrenched in Syrian high society. Meanwhile, every few days he transmitted important information to his Israeli handlers via a radio transmitter he had hidden in his room.

He remembered and passed on to Israeli Intelligence the "positioning of every Syrian gun, trench, and machine-gun nest in each Golan Heights fortification; tank traps, designed to impede any Israeli attack, were also identified and memorized for future targeting." One of the more famous aspects of his spying regarded a trip he took to the Golan Heights. As the Syrian Army officer explained to Eli the fortifications the Syrian Army had built, Eli suggested that the Syrians plant trees there to deceive the Israelis into thinking it was unfortified, as well as to provide shade and beauty for the soldiers stationed there. The Syrian officer readily agreed - and Eli immediately passed the information onto Israel. Based on the eucalyptus trees, Israel knew exactly where the Syrian fortifications were.

Eli's friendship with Amin al-Hafez proved very valuable. After Hafez became Prime Minister, Eli was even considered to be named the Syrian Deputy Minister of Defense

One day in January 1961, Syrian intelligence broke into his home in the middle of a transmission. The leading figure in the break-in was the head of Syrian Intelligence, Colonel Ahmed Su'edani - Eli's nemesis.

Eli was caught in the act and there was nothing he could do. He was tortured, but he wouldn't give away any incriminating information about Israel. His captors later remarked on his noble bearing and his courage despite the horrific Syrian interrogation methods.

He then underwent a show trial, like the Operation Susannah spies had in Egypt 12 years before., Like them, his verdict was predetermined.

World leaders, wealthy individuals, the Israeli government, the Pope, and others all intervened on his behalf. To no avail. He was hanged on May 18, 1965. He wrote a last letter to his wife before he mounted the scaffold to a seething crowd. The execution was broadcast on Syrian television. After his execution, a white parchment filled with anti-Zionist writing was put on his body and he was left hanging for six hours.

http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/biography/Eli_Cohen.html

IDFM203

02-15-2004, 11:35 AM

Great choice there sayeret :D

He was one of the best spies in the last Century, period (anywhere)!!

Truly an amazing story.

Besides a lot of books on it (for believe me that little article that you brought down is way too brief to go over what he accomplished)

There is also a movie that was made in the 80’s on him (I belive this is a British film on him).

http://www.tvshowbiz.com/media/hcTIS2sm.jpg
http://www.tvshowbiz.com/media/hcTIS3sm.jpg

For more info on this film click Here (http://www.tvshowbiz.com/pages/spy.html) or Here (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093248/#comment)

P.S. Great signature you have :D

Shalom :D

Maine Finn

02-19-2004, 10:39 PM

THE MANNERHEIM CROSS AND KNIGHTS

http://www.mikkeli.fi/museot/englanti/images/pm_risti.jpg

KNIGHTS OF THE MANNERHEIM CROSS, CROSS OF LIBERTY, SECOND CLASS

31 Lieutenant MIKKONEN Soini Armas 22.10.41

Mikkonen is my grandmother's maiden name. Cool.

ArmedPacifist

02-19-2004, 10:40 PM

Okay I'm going to take more heat for this but....

Fidel Castro.

Fought a guerilla war with 11 men, and he would later take over Cuba.

DaDaddy(Fin)(UK)

03-11-2007, 10:36 PM

Okay I'm going to take more heat for this but....

Fidel Castro.

Fought a guerilla war with 11 men, and he would later take over Cuba.

:)

Tr.

tecumseh

03-13-2007, 10:34 PM

Royal

03-14-2007, 05:31 PM

oldsoak

03-15-2007, 10:37 AM

For New Zealand, a guy called Archibald Baxter.

A christian farmer, he refused to fight in WW1 during the draft and was arrested. He was shipped to Europe, sent to the western front, and repeatedly beaten, tortured, starved and even crucified on a pole in the snow. All by the British Army. He was shackled to a shed that was regularly shelled by the germans. He was always told all he had to do was join the army, pick up a gun, and it would end. He refused, saying it was against his christian beliefs to kill another man who had done him no wrong. His torture continued until he was shell-shocked, near death and had to be hospitalised.

He just survived, and returned to NZ where he fathered my country's greatest poet James K Baxter.

I'm not christian, nor a pacifist, but his bravery was worth remembering.

British army ? Are we sure of this ? IIRC, NZ division arrived in the western front in 1916, where they kept their identity albeit serving under overall British command. Unless the NZ expeditionary force washed their hands of him, its unlikely he would end up serving in the British army. For discipline etc, the kiwis would have had their own disciplinary proceedings.
Incidentally, the term "whingeing pom" comes from the military around this time. ANZACs had their own, relaxed approach to military behaviour, which aroused the ire of British officers from co-located units who then complained - and got a reputation for whingeing.
The military service act 1916 allowed for conscientious objectors. Certainly the Quakers formed the Friends ambulance division in WW1, and no-one doubted their personal bravery or commitement to non-violence.

tecumseh

03-15-2007, 02:24 PM

Much of his mistreatment happened at large ‘punishment compunds’ like at Ouderoum and ‘Mud Farm’, which I assume covered a corp or army-sized force. He also notes in his autobiography that the sergeant who saved him from No. 1 Field Punishment (by shouting “I’ve never seen such a damned thing in all my life. I didn’t think men could do such a thing to their own. I’ll make it known everywhere. Take him off at once.”) was a New Zealander, and one of the more brutal soldiers was Belgian. That implies to me the camps were not mainly kiwis.

Certainly Baxter never blames any nationality in particular. A few people were very awful to him (particularly “middle management”!), most people were very nice to him (particularly the grunts...slipping him food from their own meager rations), and nationality was irrelevant.

I just mention the British Army because that’s the Army he was “serving” in while being mistreated.

hauptman

03-17-2007, 12:06 PM

Does a General count too?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Prinz-Eugen-von-Savoyen1.jpg

François-Eugène, Prince of Savoy-Carignan (October 18, 1663 – April 24, 1736), known as Principe Eugenio di Savoia in Italian and Prinz Eugen von Savoyen in German, was arguably the greatest general to serve the Habsburgs.

Eugène, Prince of Savoy (known in Austria as Prinz Eugen), b. Paris (France), Oct. 18, 1663, d. Vienna, April 21, 1736, army commander and statesman. Great nephew of Cardinal Mazarin. After being rejected by the French military, he entered the Imperial Army in 1683 and fought in the liberation of Vienna (Turkish Sieges of Vienna), as well as the campaigns in Hungary until 1689; until 1693 fought against the French in Italy; in 1697 became high commander of the imperial army in the Turkish Wars and defeated them at Zenta. From 1700 fought in Italy in the War of the Spanish Succession, and with the Duke of Marlborough (J. Churchill) emerged victorious near Höchstädt in Bavaria in 1704, liberated Turin in 1706, defeated the French (again with Marlborough) in 1708 at Oudenaarde and in 1709 at Malplaquet, but in 1712 was unsuccessful.

From 1703 was President of the Court Council of War; had the ramparts around Vienna built (Linienwall) and in 1714 negotiated the Peace of Rastatt. 1707-1716 Governor of Milan, 1716-1724 General Governor of the Austrian Netherlands, then Vicar General in the Habsburg territories in Italy. In a second war against the Turks, E. had a victory at Petrovaradin in 1716 and at Belgrade on Aug. 16, 1717. After this glorious career, he was later reluctant to fight. 1734/35 as Imperial high commander in the War of Polish Succession against France, he had little success.

E. was considered an important advisor to Emperors Leopold I, Joseph I and Karl VI (great power of the Baroque age), as well as being one of the most important building patrons of the Baroque period. His winter palace in Himmelpfortgasse in Vienna (now the Ministry of Finance) was built by J. B. Fischer von Erlach and J. L. von Hildebrandt, Belvedere Palace and Schloßhof Palace in Marchfeld were built by J. L. von Hildebrandt. Prince E. was a great lover of books ("Eugeniana" in the Grand Hall of the Austrian National Library) and collector; he kept a menagerie in Belvedere Palace. He did not marry. His gravestone is in St. Stephen's Cathedral, and a monument to him stands on Heldenplatz (A. D. von Fernkorn, 1865). Other monuments can be found in Budapest and Torino, apotheosis by B. Permoser in the Lower Belvedere; numerous paintings, busts, and other works document E.'s accomplishments.

Even as he faced a world of foes before him, he had a world of enemies at his back, nourished by the "hereditary curse" of Austria: slothful souls and thoughtless minds, low intrigue, envy, jealousy, foolishness, and dishonesty. He served three emperors: Leopold I, Joseph I, and Charles VI. Toward the end of his life, Eugene observed that, whereas the first had been a father to him and the second a brother, the third (who was perhaps least worthy of so great a servant) had been a master.

Niels

03-17-2007, 01:15 PM

Michiel de Ruyter.

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/922/522pxbol2cmichielderuytll8.jpg
Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter (24 March (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_24) 1607 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1607) – 29 April (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_29) 1676 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1676)) was one of the most famous admirals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiral) in Dutch history (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Netherlands). De Ruyter is most famous for his role in the Anglo-Dutch Wars (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Dutch_Wars) of the 17th century. He fought the English (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England) and French (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France) in these wars and scored several major victories, the best known probably being the Raid on the Medway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raid_on_the_Medway). The pious De Ruyter was very much loved by his sailors and soldiers; from them his most significant nickname derived: Bestevaêr (older Dutch for 'grandfather'.) He is honoured by a statue in his birthplace Vlissingen, where he stands looking over the sea.More. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michiel_de_Ruyter)

Raid on the Medway
The Raid on the Medway, sometimes called the Battle of Medway or the Battle of Chatham, was a successful Dutch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Republic) attack on the largest English (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England) naval ships, laid up in the dockyards of their main naval base Chatham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatham%2C_Kent), that took place in June (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June) 1667 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1667) during the Second Anglo-Dutch War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Anglo-Dutch_War). The Dutch, under nominal command of Lieutenant-Admiral Michiel de Ruyter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michiel_de_Ruyter), bombarded and captured Sheerness (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheerness), went up the River Thames (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thames) to Gravesend (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravesend%2C_Kent), then up the River Medway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Medway) to Chatham, where they burnt three capital ships and ten lesser naval vessels and towed away the Unity (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMS_Unity&action=edit) and the Royal Charles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Royal_Charles_%281655%29), pride and normal flagship (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagship) of the English fleet. It is generally considered the largest Dutch naval victory in history and the worst English naval defeat. The raid led to a quick end to the war and a favourable peace for the Dutch.More. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raid_on_the_Medway)

Bandeirante

03-17-2007, 02:07 PM

Bis

Pedro Teixeira

Conquistador do Amazonas, 1637-1638
Conqueror of more or less 4 millions square Kms to Brazil !

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e372/Babitonga/aPedroTeixeira.gif

Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Duke of Caxias (1803-1880)

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e372/Babitonga/Caxias1.gif

Caxias fought at the following campaigns :

Independência, Bahia - 1823
Cisplatina, Uruguai - 1825
Balaiada, Maranhão - 1841
Revolução de 1842, São Paulo, Minas Gerais - 1842
Farroupilha, Rio Grande do Sul - 1843-1845
Uruguai - 1851
Argentina - 1852
Paraguai - 1866-1869

Caxias, as Commander-in-Chief of the Brazilian Army, led a charge in Itororó Battle (6 dec 1868) against the enemies, being courageously exposed under enemy fire with 65 years old ! His steady action led the Brazilians to victory in an almost lost battle.

Caxias - Sword of Brazilian Unity

Labud

03-17-2007, 03:30 PM

Milos Obilic (Милош Обилић)

He was a Serbian knight who, at the Battle of Kosovo between the ruined Serbian Empire and the Ottoman Empire, assassinated the Ottoman Sultan Murad I. He is a major figure in Serbian epic poetry, and is a legendary, as well as a historical persona.He was member of Order of the Dragon , one of the most powerfull knight orders in medevial Europe.
According to the most popular version of the legend, on June 15, 1389 (Julian calendar) (June 28, Gregorian calendar), during the first Battle of Kosovo, Miloš made his way into the Ottoman camp pretending that he wanted to surrender, and at an opportune moment forced his way into the Sultan's tent and stabbed him. Another legend tells about the treason of Vuk Branković (but in real he wasn't traitor), Serbian feudal lord and son in law of the Serbian prince Lazar, who betrayed Miloš because of earlier disagreements. Miloš wanted to clear his name of false accusations made by Vuk Branković, and prove his loyalty to prince Lazar. According to some (Turkish) sources, the sultan Murad I was killed after the battle, when the Serbian soldier, who pretended to be dead, killed the sultan when he got close to him. Some other sources said that Milos was commander of special knight unit which reached the Turkish camp and killed Sultan Murat with all of his guards.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/21/Milos_Obilic_Hilandar.jpg/300px-Milos_Obilic_Hilandar.jpg