tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post268259948614041882..comments2024-03-18T09:00:31.992-04:00Comments on Doctor Grumpy in the House: Memorial Day, 2010Grumpy, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09858110332436246760noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-16467127965254465172010-06-03T02:32:13.275-04:002010-06-03T02:32:13.275-04:00I remember learning about Torpedo 8when I was abou...I remember learning about Torpedo 8when I was about 7 when the movie "Midway" with Charlton Heston, Hal Holbrook, and Henry Fonda came out in the mid 70's. My Dad took me and honestly, it freaked me out. All the death and destruction - but I was fascinated by WW2 airplanes so I watched with wide eyes. I distinctly remember George Gay floating in the water after ditching. And of course Matt Garth (I guess he was a fictional character) dying in the crash in the final scene when he limps back to the carrier. <br />Man, the Devastator was a total piece of crap - along with those nearly worthless early war American Torpedos.ERPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15973334581468131595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-86009617519437984782010-06-01T09:32:46.053-04:002010-06-01T09:32:46.053-04:00Doc,
As a big history buff, I'm hoping you wi...Doc,<br /><br />As a big history buff, I'm hoping you will find the following of interest. <br /><br />Recent research has shown that the attack of Torpedo 8 did not have the effect of pulling all the Zeros down to sea level, thereby allowing the dive bombers free reign. The Navy promoted this story to overcome the foolishness of forcing brave men to fly garbage into combat. Truth is, the Japanese combat air patrol was poorly managed and lacked radar control. Read "Shattered Sword" by Parshall and Tully for an in depth explanation.<br /><br />The Marines of Marine Aircraft Group 22 also took terrible losses flying obsolete planes, the Buffalo fighter and Vindicator dive bomber. They also failed, despite their bravery, to contribute to victory. None of these aircraft types, the Buffalo, Vindicator, or Devastator, ever flew in combat again.<br /><br />That said, nothing can diminish the bravery of John Waldron and the men of Torpedo Squadron 8, or of the Marines of MAG -22. Every one of them deserves the MoH and our undying gratitude for their sacrifice.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17901531311414516936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-91647300747316550722010-06-01T06:39:33.973-04:002010-06-01T06:39:33.973-04:00Thank you for this post, Dr Grumpy. At my current ...Thank you for this post, Dr Grumpy. At my current job, I assist many deployed military personnel and veterans. I always thank them for their service to our nation. <br /><br />I wish my late father had told my sisters and me about his service as a cryptoanalyst during WW2 and the Korean War. He never talked about it. My late mother told me after I had read a biography of Alan Turing, the Briton who broke Enigma. <br /><br />Thanks to all who served and and all who now serve - Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard. We cannot pay you enough for what you do/have done, but we can thank you for you bravery and service.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-57872274963484156502010-06-01T00:02:21.522-04:002010-06-01T00:02:21.522-04:00Dr. Grumpy:
This is an awesome post. Thank you fo...Dr. Grumpy:<br />This is an awesome post. Thank you for it. I hope you had a good Memorial Day.<br /><br />The ObserverThe Observerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17696168395133075354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-86366898642883683702010-05-31T17:56:56.079-04:002010-05-31T17:56:56.079-04:00This is the first post I've read on your blog....This is the first post I've read on your blog. I will be reading you from now on. God bless America and the brave men and women who have defended her for all these many years. Thanks for posting this on Memorial Day.<br />Greg Smith MDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-55023762105289013022010-05-31T17:35:47.581-04:002010-05-31T17:35:47.581-04:00Mr. Gay was on the airshow circuit in the eighties...Mr. Gay was on the airshow circuit in the eighties, and my wife and I had the chance to meet him and briefly talk with him. He was a true gentleman, and the world is poorer because of his passing.<br />Thank you for relating this story, Dr. Grumpy.Donnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-73472787768029829112010-05-31T14:07:36.506-04:002010-05-31T14:07:36.506-04:00May we never forget the sacrifice these men, and s...May we never forget the sacrifice these men, and so many more like them, made for our freedom.Dalaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17775491711029994911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-43295483395580788382010-05-31T13:57:39.321-04:002010-05-31T13:57:39.321-04:00Linked on FB. Elegantly worded, thanks for posting...Linked on FB. Elegantly worded, thanks for posting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-39702907541762574362010-05-31T13:51:27.199-04:002010-05-31T13:51:27.199-04:00I carry "kindness coins" with me to than...I carry "kindness coins" with me to thank those who help me (like handing down things from top shelves etc). Every time I see a soldier I give them one & tell them thank you. Every time I see a vet tag I try to give them one personally so I can them thank you in person, if not, I place the coin where they'll see it.<br /><br />I'm a Navy brat & grandNavy brat. My husband has an uncle who went off to be a pilot in WWII. Unfortunately he died during training and was never able to make it overseas.<br /><br />We remember.Kat's Katshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05519016601947528061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-20552725346671026472010-05-31T13:48:46.838-04:002010-05-31T13:48:46.838-04:00Thank you so much for this blog entry. We must ne...Thank you so much for this blog entry. We must never forget their sacrifices.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-42536322382243833782010-05-31T13:44:18.511-04:002010-05-31T13:44:18.511-04:00Amazing story. Goes to show that a lot of militar...Amazing story. Goes to show that a lot of military losses that seem pointless are really critical after all.Moosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10397412122635951126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-12231561007349019352010-05-31T13:27:54.121-04:002010-05-31T13:27:54.121-04:00Thank you for this, Ibee. It's so important w...Thank you for this, Ibee. It's so important we all remember what this day is truly for.Homebodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18404857431304954919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-84359089368155040082010-05-31T12:47:57.561-04:002010-05-31T12:47:57.561-04:00I've always been thankful that both grandfathe...I've always been thankful that both grandfathers and one great grandfather made it safely home after serving in WWII (and in my great grandfather's case WWI as well)!StudentDochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830536301077719899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-14935975076417757972010-05-31T12:42:35.087-04:002010-05-31T12:42:35.087-04:00Error ~ the movie I was thinking of is "Midwa...Error ~ the movie I was thinking of is "Midway" ~bobbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14353836074794786357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-73598707420108403562010-05-31T12:24:37.905-04:002010-05-31T12:24:37.905-04:00Indeed...much gratitude to those who gave their li...Indeed...much gratitude to those who gave their lives and those who continue to fight for our freedom.J-Quell'nhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01878522077562588401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-28154228873578701992010-05-31T11:21:48.225-04:002010-05-31T11:21:48.225-04:00A beautiful, though sad, story ~ thanks for sharin...A beautiful, though sad, story ~ thanks for sharing it.<br /><br />George Gay is also remembered in the film "The Best Years of our Life".bobbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14353836074794786357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-27822754541183518572010-05-31T11:17:20.426-04:002010-05-31T11:17:20.426-04:00Thanks for posting these fantastic stories Dr Grum...Thanks for posting these fantastic stories Dr Grumpy. The sense of duty and commitment is just amazing and inspiring. <br /><br />I too stop and thank veterans for their service--they soooo appreciate it. Passed a gentleman on a scooter in Kmart on Memorial Day 1994, stopped him, put out my hand and said those same words "Thank you for your service." He welled up, stammered a bit, pulled out his wallet and showed me a photo of the fighter plane he was in over the Pacific--he just beamed! Thanks for the great reminder to stop, be brave, and make a connection that will hold onto your heart.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-37576074227401464372010-05-31T09:57:49.323-04:002010-05-31T09:57:49.323-04:00Amen.Amen.Cherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14756045431717118627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-43919713791172474452010-05-31T09:57:49.324-04:002010-05-31T09:57:49.324-04:00Awesome remembrance. My husband watches a lot of t...Awesome remembrance. My husband watches a lot of the war documentaries and there was a series about the Pacific battles. I vaguely remember the episode that included a mention of these gentlemen.remclavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12799221905200583612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-65987152007448230052010-05-31T09:57:49.325-04:002010-05-31T09:57:49.325-04:00God bless our military, every one of them willing ...God bless our military, every one of them willing to give their lives so we may live in freedom.<br /><br />My Great Uncle Kenny has a marker in Sicily but his body was never found. He died in February 1944 while he was guiding a mule packed with ammunition.<br /><br />Teach your children to approach those who identify themselves as vets, shake their hand and say "thank you for your service." I've seen vets cry when my son has done this, and one Vietnam vet said it was the first time anyone thanked him.Rescuedoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12771908533583513392noreply@blogger.com