WT: President Trump spoke by phone with the last surviving member of the famed “Doolittle Raiders” to thank the 101-year-old veteran for his service as the nation marks Independence Day.
The White House said Mr. Trump “offered his best wishes and support” to retired Lt. Col. Dick Cole, a World War II veteran who was recently injured.
“The president congratulated Lt. Col. Cole on his courage, thanked him for his service, and wished him a full recovery in advance of his upcoming 102nd birthday,” the White House said of the Sunday phone call.
Mr. Cole was co-pilot of the lead B-25 bomber piloted by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle during the surprise raid on Tokyo on April 18, 1942, which was a response to Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. Their attack inflicted some damage but, more important, stunned the Japanese people and raised morale in the U.S. more here
These are the stories I read about as a child and the men whom I looked up to for role models. God Bless these amazing and selfless individuals who offered up the lives to the altar of freedom. Thank you sir!
Knowing the odds, that raid took incredible courage for all those men. Truly hero’s and a perfect example of why our enemies feared facing americans in battle.
In other news, obama has been thanking his social warriors for their service; Ayers, Dohrn, Wright, Meeks, Khaladi, etc.
Not to be out-done, obama has been thanking his social warriors for their service; Ayers, Dohrn, Wright, Meeks, Khaladi, etc.
Sorry, I was experimenting.
Incredible courage. Fly a one-way mission over the enemy’s capital and, if you survive their entire Air Force and defenses, hope to ditch on fumes over godknowswhere China.
May God make us worthy.
Happy Independence Day to all.
What a difference an election makes. No more Ocorpsman. God speed, President Donald J. Trump.
The Tokyo raid was heroic, and the story is fascinating and inspirational. I highly recommend 30 Seconds Over Tokyo by Ted Lawson, one of the participants.
The film is pretty good, the book is much better.
I’m glad Lt.Col. Cole made it through the obummer years to see REAL hope, for our country.
Last fall I heard the Lt. Col. address the crowd at the first annual CAF airshow and their new home in Dallas. He was a sharp as a tack and spoke of the war years as if it were only yesterday.
I was tooling around snapping the old war birds with my trusty Speed Graphic and still kick myself for not standing in line to shake this man’s hand.
My dad was on the Enterprise and told me that they all new something big was coming as they continued to sail north and at one point was snowing. Must have been amazing to be a part of history unfolding.
Yeah, well, President Dress Flats hugged Bowe Bergdahl’s parents at the White Hut. So there.
I was fortunate enough to meet Col. Robin Olds in 2004 before his passing. Another true hero WWII and Vietnam. They are almost gone now.
Thanks Colonel.
No safe spaces on THAT ‘lil trip.
At 26 years of age.
Met another hero who flew in the right seat fire bombing Tokyo. Multiple raids from Tinian to Tokyo and back. Met him by chance at a skin surgery center and thrilled to have had the experience and listen to his stories while we waited for biopsy results in between cutting on us.
He also is sharp as a tack and in his nineties. His wife was with and he suggested that she prefers he tone down his rhetoric, but refuses to do so. Tough old bird who was definitely not politically correct in that he was very proud that they killed multiples more than the atomic bombs did.
An honor to meet him and start an e-mail relationship.
Brigadier General Tibbits rode our submarine for a day, it was
great to talk to him. He thought what WE were doing was crazy.