American Valor Quarterly Issue 2 - Spring 2008 | Page 2
American Valor Quarterly
A Quarterly Publication of the American Veterans Center
www.americanveteranscenter.org
World War II Veterans Committee
National Vietnam Veterans Committee
www.wwiivets.com
www.vietnamvetscommittee.org
Spring 2008
Chapters
-In This Issue-
Special Feature
7
American Veterans Center’s Tenth Annual Awards
Each year on Veterans Day, the American Veterans
Center honors the U.S. military’s greatest heroes from
every generation, World War II through today. Here,
we share their stories, and print the award citations.
World War II Chronicles
Iwo Jima with
12 The Black Sands ofJames White Charles W. Tatum,
Donald Mates, and
A first-hand account of the most legendary - and brutal
- battle in the history of the U.S. Marine Corps.
18
WWII: The Japanese American Experience
In the battle against prejudice at home and America’s
enemies abroad, Japanese Americans proved to be
heroes on two fronts.
Korea: Remember our Heroes
ories
Valor
S t or ies of Valor
For the past decade, the American Veterans Center, with the World War II Veterans
Committee and the National Vietnam Veterans Committee, has brought together
America’s greatest military heroes, past
and present, for an annual Veterans Day High school students line up to shake
hands with veterans of the 442nd
conference. There, they meet with and
speak to an audience of hundreds of stu- Regimental Combat Team of World
War II at the 10th Annual Conference.
dents, fellow veterans, and citizens interested in hearing the stories of our most distinguished veterans.
In this issue, we share with you several of those stories recounted at the
Center’s 10th Annual Conference last Veterans Day weekend.
Ne Legacy
Valor
A N e w Leg acy of Valor
32
22 Valor at Chosin with
Captain Thomas J. Hudner, Jr.
The Battle of Tarin Kowt
An excerpt from Veterans Chronicles
Maj. Jason Amerine, leader of the Special Forces team that
linked up with Hamid Karzai early on in Operation Enduring
Freedom, recounts his incredible story.
37
Operation Phantom Fury: The Second Battle of Fallujah
with Col. Willy Buhl, SSgt. David Bellavia, and Sgt.
Jeremiah Workman
The fighting experienced by the Marines and soldiers in
Operation Phantom Fury was the toughest urban combat
since Hue City during the Tet Offensive, 40 years ago.
Here, the heroes of Fallujah recall the defining battle of
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The first Medal of Honor recipient of the Korean War
recalls his attempts to save the life of his fellow Naval
Aviator and friend.
24 Valor:
The VeTerans of VieTnam
We Were Soldiers: The Battle of Ia Drang with
Lt. General Hal Moore, Joseph Galloway, and the men
made famous by their acclaimed book
Against an overwhelming enemy force, the men of the 1st
Cavalry Division (Airmobile) are put to the ultimate test,
demonstrating the courage and honor that would become
commonplace among the U.S. servicemen in Vietnam.
this No
Coming this November!
The American Veterans Center’s
11th Annual Veterans Conference
Jimmy Doolittle’s B-25 launches from the USS Hornet for
his legendary raid on Tokyo in 1942. The 11th Annual
Conference is your opportunity to meet heroes like the
Doolittle Raiders, and many more!
In the coming pages, you will read the stories of some of America’s greatest
military heroes told at the American Veterans Center’s 10th Annual Conference. If
you missed seeing them live in 2007, don’t fret! You still have an opportunity, as
we invite you to join us for the upcoming 11th Annual Conference, to be held
from November 6-8, 2008 in Washington, DC. From the heroes of World War II,
Korea, and Vietnam to those serving us today, it will be a weekend none who
attend will soon forget!
To request information on attending the 11th Annual Conference, call
703-302-1012 ext. 203 or e-mail [email protected]