Noyes Family Genealogy: H. H. Humphrey- my Father WWII and the VFW
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. (May 27, 1911 – January 13, 1978) was the thirty-eighth Vice President of the United States, serving under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Americans for Democratic Action. He also served as mayor of Minneapolis, 65th Fighter Squadron “Fighting Cocks” From “Stars and Stripes” Mediterranean Edition, Rome, January 30. 1945:
WITH THE 57TH FIGHTER GROUP – Uncle Bud II came home today, the gift of Hal P. Monahan Sr. of Lake Placid, NY, in memory of his son who was killed fighting with the “Fighting Cocks” in December 1943.
Like his predecessor Uncle Bud is cocky, ill-tempered, fighting son-of-a-gun of a rooster and that’s the way the boys like him.
Like his predecessor Uncle Bud is cocky, ill-tempered, fighting son-of-a-gun of a rooster and that’s the way the boys like him.
When Col. Phil Cochran, former commander of the “Fighting Cock” Squadron asked Milt Caniff, creator of “Terry & The Pirates,” to design the original Uncle Bud, he said, “I don’t care what you come up with, Milt, just so long as he’s a fighting son of a gun.”
Caniff chose the rooster, and Uncle Bud the First came overseas with the squadron and followed it from the hectic days of the North African campaign until he was killed by a jeep last September. Lt. Col. Gilbert O. Wymond of Detroit, the squadron’s present commander, wrote to Caniff and asked him to assist in finding a replacement.
Caniff passed the plea along to the readers of his comic strip and from thousands of replies received, he chose that of Monahan Sr., who asked that he be allowed to sponsor the rooster in memory of his son.
Republic Aviation Corp., who’s P-47’s the “Fighting Cocks” fly in combat, obtained the rooster and at a midafternoon ceremony during the employees’ rest period, Monahan presented the bird to Captains Ray Donahue, Jr. of Pittsburgh, and James Eubanks of Bronte, Texas, two members of the squadron home on 30 day leave.
The fliers smuggled Uncle Bud II on board ship by hiding him under their coats. He shared their cabin and got his first taste of army chow- C rations and fruit, which the officers managed to scrounge.
Uncle Bud II has already proved himself a “Fighting Cock.” His first official act upon being uncrated was to rout a pet dog from the kitchen.
At the officers club, he was introduced to Uncle Bud I, formerly believed by members of the squadron to be the “meanest rooster alive”, mounted in a fighting pose in a glass cage.
The new arrival immediately lashed out at the intruder with his long spurs and had to be pulled away from the glass. Said one pilot, “He’s even meaner than Old Bud himself. He’ll do.”
April 18, 1943 Goose Shoot – “The Palm Sunday Massacre”
The story has been told, and retold, beginning on that fantastic April 18, 1943. Papers all across the U.S., as well as elsewhere, trumpeted the story of how the 57th downed at least 74 Axis planes (while losing not more than 6) and causing an estimated equal number to crash land to avoid being shot down. Even though great happenings were expected from the 57th, which had become known as “America’s Flying Circus”,
No comments:
Post a Comment