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The Christy Collection

Military Stories and Articles

HM2 Bill Sheehan, U.S. Navy (1966-1970)

HM2 Bill Sheehan, U.S. Navy (1966-1970)

I wish to remember James F. Chase, Cpl, USMC. Jimmy Chase was my squad leader on 17 DEC 68. We were on patrol in Quang Nam Province. He was walking point, as he always did. He had me walk right behind the machine gunner, as he always did. We were about to step up on a rice paddy dike. We all stopped. He motioned to me, a sign language that I was familiar with, which meant stick next to the machine gunner. He wanted me protected above anyone else. I was their Doc, Navy Corpsman, honored to be with the Marines of C Company, 1/1. They called us Suicide Charlie. We were patrolling in Booby Trap Alley, where anything could happen. It did. A huge explosion. “Doc, Chase got hit.” I ran and found my squad leader on his back with multiple wounds and unresponsive. An emergency helo was called for right away as I worked on our Brother. We took on sniper fire as we loaded him on the Ch46. When we landed at Da Nang Naval Hospital, there were eight or more doctors, nurses and corpsmen surrounding him within seconds, but the wounds were too severe. I remember seeing him in the triage tent. I remember everything. I see him every day in my memory, which sometimes fails me, but not this image of my squad leader in 68. I still stay in touch with his sisters in Maine and I go to the Wall often to pay tribute to his sacrifice to our nation. He was an exemplary marine, a brother and a father, but mostly he was my friend. I remember him this Memorial Day. I remember him every day.

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Sgt David Adams, U.S. Marine (1986-1994)

Sgt David Adams, U.S. Marine (1986-1994)

I only knew him as Ted, a frail ninety-some-year-old senior citizen whom I had met while volunteering at a nursing home. Pleasant and humble, he mostly talked about his late twin brother, who had been a fighter pilot stationed in Pearl Harbor at the time of Japan’s attack in December 1944 and later flew combat missions throughout WWII. His war stories were detailed, and he told them with such heartfelt emotions and passion as if he had been there next to his twin brother. Sometimes he would tear up in the middle of a story and gaze at the ceiling before saying, “Enough for today young man, go enjoy your day!” His thoughts, memories, and emotions seemed so intertwined with his war-hero twin brother that one would think he had not had a life of his own. I contributed this psychological entanglement to the strong bond between twins and did not think much of it.

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Cpl William Thomas Perkins Jr., U.S.M.C. (1966-1967) – Vietnam War Combat Photographer

Cpl William Thomas Perkins Jr., U.S.M.C. (1966-1967) – Vietnam War Combat Photographer

The only Medal of Honor to be awarded to a combat photographer is now on display in the Medal of Honor Gallery in the "Price of Freedom" exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. William Perkins Jr’s Medal of Honor at the Smithsonian Marine Cpl. William Thomas Perkins Jr. died at the age of 20 on Oct. 12, 1967, when he flung himself on a grenade to preserve the lives of three other Marines during Operation Medina, a Marine search and destroy operation in Quang Tri...

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Bizarre Crimes in the US Military

Bizarre Crimes in the US Military

We all know that military personnel are held to a different standard than their non-military peers. The Uniform Code of Military Justice makes things that are socially scandalous in civilian life, like adultery, are actually a crime for military members. Other activities, like attending political events, protest rallies, or other events, are protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution for most Americans. The  Constitution won't protect military members who attend those events...

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First WW II Aircraft Crew to Reach 25 Missions

First WW II Aircraft Crew to Reach 25 Missions

1917, and 1918, the United States government issued Liberty Bonds to raise money for our involvement in World War I. By the summer of 1940 when it appeared the United States would be drawn into World War II, bonds again were being sold as a way to remove money from circulation as well as reduce inflation. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the bonds became known at War Bonds.

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Service Reflections of SSG Eastman Jerry, U.S. Army (1974-1986)

Service Reflections of SSG Eastman Jerry, U.S. Army (1974-1986)

I had always wanted to be in the military ever since I was a child. I was sure I wanted to join the US Marines and studied them while growing up. However, that was not to be the case, as my cousin, who is nine years older than I and was one of my primary babysitters growing up, went into the Marine Corps, became a sniper, and was in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive in 1968. Upon his return, he basically threatened me that if I even got close to a marine recruiter or office, he would personally “kick my butt.”

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MSG Gary Gordon (1978–1993) and SFC Randy Shughart (1976–1993), U.S. Army

MSG Gary Gordon (1978–1993) and SFC Randy Shughart (1976–1993), U.S. Army

The story of Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart is one of the most extraordinary acts of bravery and self-sacrifice in modern military history. Both were soldiers; U.S. Army Delta Force members who gave their lives trying to protect their fallen comrades in the face of overwhelming odds. It came in 1993, during the Battle of Mogadishu, famously depicted on the screen in the 2001 film, "Black Hawk Down."  Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart Faced Chaos American forces in Somalia were looking to...

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War of 1812 – The United States Navy in America’s First Overseas Conflict

War of 1812 – The United States Navy in America’s First Overseas Conflict

The Barbary Pirates were corsairs from the North African states of Morocco, Tunis, Algiers, and Tripoli who raided European commerce unchecked for nearly three centuries. Not only did they capture ships, cargo, and weapons from their victims, but they also enslaved their Christian captives. Despite all the naval might projected by Europe's powerful military elite, it was the fledgling United States that ultimately dealt with the pirates. The Barbary Wars became America's first overseas war and...

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Distinguished Military Unit: 3rd Bn, 1st Marines (Fallujah) by A3C Michael Bell

Distinguished Military Unit: 3rd Bn, 1st Marines (Fallujah) by A3C Michael Bell

"In this case, we were in an extremely violent political campaign over ideas, and we were trying to treat the problem of Fallujah like a conventional war… But that was the order: Attack."James Mattis, General, USMC (Ret), SecDef (2017-19) The 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (3/1) is an infantry unit in the United States Marine Corps. Nicknamed the "Thundering Third," the Battalion consists of approximately 1,200 Marines and Sailors. It falls under the command of the 1st Marine Regiment and 1st...

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Last In, First Out A Desert Storm Diary by Ed “Tuna” Fisher

Last In, First Out A Desert Storm Diary by Ed “Tuna” Fisher

These days, Ed Fisher (callsign: “Tuna”) is twice-retired and living with his wife on Washington State’s Whidbey Island. His second career was as a lecturer at the Naval Postgraduate School, from which he retired in 2021. His first career was much more exciting. As Lt. Col. Fisher, he was a U.S. Air Force Wild Weasel Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO), who performed this duty during Operation Desert Storm. “Last In, First Out” is his diary from his days fighting combat missions there.

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The Boys on Cherry Street by Ron Boehm

The Boys on Cherry Street by Ron Boehm

Tens of thousands of books have been written on the Vietnam War. Thousands more are in the process of being written, and thousands more are being considered by other veterans. Such books inevitably deal with heroic actions and stories of courage and sacrifice. Boehm brilliant book also includes stories about heroes and their courage, but he wrote the book to be a different kind of book on Vietnam. He was highly successful.

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JOC Frith Arthur, U.S. Navy (1970-1991)

JOC Frith Arthur, U.S. Navy (1970-1991)

Where Was Your Favorite Place Visited, Either Through Deployment or R&R, From Your Time in the Service? Can You Recall Any Memories of This Place You Found Particularly Impressive or Enjoyable?:

December 2002 and my wife, JO1 Teresa Frith, is assigned to Naval Media Center Detachment Keflavik, Iceland. It was known as AFRTS Keflavik when I was stationed there from 1974-1976. I am now a dependent and retired journalist chief petty officer working at A.T. Mahan Elementary School. It s Christmas Eve. Teresa and I are on Armed Forces Radio-Keflavik in Studio-A doing our weekly two-hour oldies show, Yesterday Once More . The base C.O., Captain Dean Kiyohara, joins us with “Santa” (a.k.a. Command Master Chief James Newton) taking phone calls during the first hour.

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