Arlington National Cemetery

Very recently I had the privilage of visiting Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

I visited a number of the more prominent graves and I would like to share with you some of the images that I took and a few of their remarkable stories.

 

"the most hallowed ground"

 

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Memorial Amphitheater.

 

Captain David McCampbell (January 16, 1910 – June 30, 1996) was a leading US Naval Aviator and Medal of Honor recipient, and the US Navy’s all-time leading ACE with 34 aerial victories during WW2. The third-highest scoring US flying ace of WW2, he was the highest-scoring ace to survive the war.

For his service in command of Air Group 15, McCampbell received the Medal of Honour, the Navy Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Combat “V”, the Distinguished Flyuing Cross with two Gold Stars in lieu of the second and third awards, and the Air Medal.

Air Group 15 destroyed more enemy planes (315 airborne and 348 on the ground) and sank more enemy shipping than any other Air Group in the Pacific War.

On June 19, 1944, during the "Marianas Turkey Shoot," Commander McCampbell shot down five Japanese Judy Dive Bombers, to become an "ace in a day". Later that afternoon, during a second sortie, McCampbell downed another two Zekes over Guam. On October 24, 1944, he became the only American airman to achieve "ace in a day" status twice. McCampbell and his wingman attacked a Japanese force of 60 aircraft. McCampbell shot down nine, setting a U.S. single mission aerial combat record. During this same action, his wingman downed another six Japanese warplanes. When he landed his Grumman FGF Hellcat aboard USS Langley (Essex's flight deck wasn't clear), his six machine guns had two rounds remaining and his airplane had to be manually released from the arrestor wire due to complete fuel exhaustion. Commander McCampbell received the MOH for both actions, becoming the only Fast Carrier Task Force Pilot to be so honored.

 

John Basilone (November 4, 1916 – February 19, 1945) was a US Marine Gunnery Sergeant who received the nation's highest military award for valor, the Medal Of Honor, for heroism during the Battle Of Guadalcanal. He was the only Marine enlisted man to receive both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross in World War II.

Basilone was featured heavily in the TV Series “The Pacific”.

MOH CITATION:
For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy Japanese forces, above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in the Lunga Area, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 24 and 25 October 1942. While the enemy was hammering at the Marines' defensive positions, Sgt. BASILONE, in charge of 2 sections of heavy machine guns, fought valiantly to check the savage and determined assault. In a fierce frontal attack with the Japanese blasting his guns with grenades and mortar fire, one of Sgt. BASILONE'S sections, with its gun crews, was put out of action, leaving only 2 men able to carry on. Moving an extra gun into position, he placed it in action, then, under continual fire, repaired another and personally manned it, gallantly holding his line until replacements arrived. A little later, with ammunition critically low and the supply lines cut off, Sgt. BASILONE, at great risk of his life and in the face of continued enemy attack, battled his way through hostile lines with urgently needed shells for his gunners, thereby contributing in large measure to the virtual annihilation of a Japanese regiment. His great personal valor and courageous initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the US Naval Service.
Franklin D Roosevelt

 

Fleet Admiral William Frederick Halsey Jr., GBE (October 30, 1882 – August 16, 1959)—known as Bill Halsey or "Bull" Halsey—was an American fleet admiral in the US Navy. At the start of the Pacific War (1941–45) Halsey commanded the task force centered on the carrier USS Enterprise in a series of raids against Japanese-held targets. He was made commander, South Pacific Fleet and led the Allied forces over the course of the Battle for Guadalcanal (1942–43) and the Soloman Islands Chain (1942–45). In 1943 he was made commander of the Third Fleet, the post he held through the rest of the war.

 

Field Marshal Sir John Greer Dill, GCB, CMG, DSO (25 December 1881 – 4 November 1944) was a British commander in the First and Second World Wars.

From May 1940 to December 1941 he was the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, and subsequently in Washington, as Chief of the British Joint Staff Mission and then Senior British Representative on the Combined Chiefs of Staff, played a significant role during the Second World War in the formation of the "Special Relationship" between the United Kingdom and the United States.

Dill served in Washington until his death from Apalastic Anaemia in November 1944. His funeral arrangements reflected the great professional and personal respect and affection that he had earned. A memorial service was held in Washington National Cathedral and the route of the cortege was lined by some thousands of troops, following which he was interred in Arlington, where a simple service was conducted at the graveside. A witness recorded that "I have never seen so many men so visibly shaken by sadness. Marshall's face was truly stricken ...". He was sorely missed by the American Joint Chiefs of Staff, who sent a fulsome message of condolence to their British colleagues

 

James Harold "Jimmy" Doolittle (December 14, 1896 – September 27, 1993) was an American aviation pioneer. Doolittle served as a commissioned officer in the US Airforce during the Second World War and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor and leadership as commander of the Doolittle Raid whist a Lt Colonel.


Citation:
For conspicuous leadership above the call of duty, involving personal valor and intrepidity at an extreme hazard to life. With the apparent certainty of being forced to land in enemy territory or to perish at sea, Gen. Doolittle personally led a squadron of Army bombers, manned by volunteer crews, in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland.

Army Distinguished Service medal
Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General James Harold Doolittle (ASN: 0-271855), United States Army Air Forces, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commander of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force since its organization. Under his guidance and direction, this Force has developed a high degree of efficiency and accuracy and brought about, in great measure, a critical reduction in the supplies and reinforcements needed by the enemy. General Doolittle's energy, good judgment, exceptional qualities of leadership and wholehearted cooperation were primary factors in the ultimate success of air operations during the Tunisian Campaign.

Distinguished Flying Cross
1st Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) James Harold Doolittle (ASN: 0-271855), U.S. Army Air Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. On 4–5 September 1922, Lieutenant Doolittle accomplished a one-stop flight from Pablo Beach, Florida, to San Diego, California, in 22 hours and 30 minutes elapsed time, an extraordinary achievement with the equipment available at that time. By his skill, endurance, and resourcefulness he demonstrated the possibility of moving Air Corps units to any portion of the United States in less than 24 hours, thus reflecting great credit on himself and to the Army of the United States.

2nd Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Service) James Harold Doolittle (ASN: 0-271855), U.S. Army Air Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. During March 1924, at McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, Lieutenant Doolittle, piloting a Fokker PW-7 pursuit airplane, performed a series of acceleration tests requiring skill, initiative, endurance, and courage of the highest type. In these tests a recording accelerometer was mounted in the airplane and the accelerations taken for the following maneuvers. Loops at various air speeds; single and multiple barrel rolls; power spirals; tail spins; power on and power off; half loop, half roll, and Immelmann turn; inverted flight; pulling out of dive at various air speeds; flying the airplane on a level course with considerable angle of bank; and flying in bumpy air. In these tests the airplane was put through the most extreme maneuvers possible in order that the flight loads imposed upon the wings of the airplane under extreme conditions of air combat might be ascertained. These tests were put through with that fine combination of fearlessness and skill which constitutes the essence of distinguished flying. Through them scientific data of great and permanent importance to the Air Corps were obtained.

3rd Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Distinguished Flying Cross to Colonel (Air Corps) James Harold Doolittle (ASN: 0-271855), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Pilot of a B-25 Bomber and Commanding Officer of the 1st Special Aviation Project (Doolittle Raider Force), while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on 18 April 1942. Colonel Doolittle with 79 other officers and enlisted men volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on himself and the military service.

Silver Star
Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1948, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major General (Air Corps) James Harold Doolittle (ASN: 0-271855), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action. Since 19 February 1943, when he took command of the Allied Strategic Air Force (Northwest Africa), General Doolittle, by his untiring energy, initiative and personal example has inspired the units under him to renewed successful efforts against the enemy. On 5 April 1943, the strategic air force was responsible for the destruction of forty eight enemy planes in the air and approximately 100 on the ground. This extraordinary achievement under the leadership of General Doolittle reflects great credit to himself and the armed forces of the United States

 

More to follow...................

 

Thank you for posting. I managed to get to Arlington on my 3rd to the city and it was well worth it. Especially as there is nothing quite like it in the UK. Try to include the Vietnam memorial and Marine Corp as well. The presence of Dill is particularly interesting. He toured my fathers RASC unit in London earlier in the war but I have no idea if my father had been present. The page from the 902 Coy RASC detailing the inspection on the 24th October 1941 is attached is attached.

 

Thanks CK. Look forward to seeing some more.

 

That is a good idea Owen... I will do and collate all of the images together.

Here is a "special one" for Bamboo43!! Did you know that this was his final resting place?

Major General Orde Charles Wingate DSO & Two Bars (26 February 1903 – 24 March 1944) was a British Army officer known for creating special military units in Palestine in the 1930s, and in Abyssinia, Sudan and Burma during WW2. He is most famous of course for his creation of the Chindits.

 

This man needs no introduction, he is simply one of the most highly decorated US servicemen in history and certainly one of the most famous.

Medal Of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Legion of Merit, Two Silver Stars, Two Bronze Stars and 3 Purple Hearts.

At the age of 19, Murphy received the MOH after single-handedly holding off an entire company of German soldiers for an hour at the Colmar Pocket in France in January 1945, then leading a successful counterattack while wounded and out of ammunition.

 

Matt Louis Urban (August 25, 1919 – March 4, 1995) was a highly decorated combat soldier who served with distinction as an officer in the Med & European Theatres . He scouted, led charges upfront, and performed heroically in combat on several occasions despite being wounded. He retired after World War II as a Lt Colonel.

Urban received over a dozen individual decorations for combat from the US Army, including seven Purple Hearts. In 1980, he received the Medal of Honour and four other individual decorations for combat belatedly for his actions in France and Belgiumin 1944.

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty: Lieutenant Colonel (then Captain) Matt Urban, 112-22-2414, United States Army, distinguished himself by a series of bold, heroic actions, exemplified by singularly outstanding combat leadership, personal bravery, and tenacious devotion to duty, during the period 14 June to 3 September 1944 while assigned to the 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. On 14 June, Captain Urban's company, attacking at Renouf, France, encountered heavy enemy small arms and tank fire. The enemy tanks were unmercifully raking his unit's positions and inflicting heavy casualties. Captain Urban, realizing that his company was in imminent danger of being decimated, armed himself with a bazooka. He worked his way with an ammo carrier through hedgerows, under a continuing barrage of fire, to a point near the tanks. He brazenly exposed himself to the enemy fire and, firing the bazooka, destroyed both tanks. Responding to Captain Urban's action, his company moved forward and routed the enemy. Later that same day, still in the attack near Orglandes, Captain Urban was wounded in the leg by direct fire from a 37mm tank-gun. He refused evacuation and continued to lead his company until they moved into defensive positions for the night. At 0500 hours the next day, Captain Urban, though badly wounded, directed his company in another attack. One hour later he was again wounded. Suffering from two wounds, one serious, he was evacuated to England.
In mid-July, while recovering from his wounds, he learned of his unit's severe losses in the hedgerows of Normandy. Realizing his unit's need for battle-tested leaders, he voluntarily left the hospital and hitchhiked his way back to his unit hear St. Lo, France. Arriving at the 2d Battalion Command Post at 1130 hours, 25 July, he found that his unit had jumped-off at 1100 hours in the first attack of "Operation Cobra". Still limping from his leg wound, Captain Urban made his way forward to retake command of his company. He found his company held up by strong enemy opposition. Two supporting tanks had been destroyed and another, intact but with no tank commander or gunner, was not moving. He located a lieutenant in charge of the support tanks and directed a plan of attack to eliminate the enemy strong-point. The lieutenant and a sergeant were immediately killed by the heavy enemy fire when they tried to mount the tank. Captain Urban, though physically hampered by his leg wound and knowing quick action had to be taken, dashed through the scathing fire and mounted the tank. With enemy bullets ricocheting from the tank, Captain Urban ordered the tank forward and, completely exposed to the enemy fire, manned the machine gun and placed devastating fire on the enemy. His action, in the face of enemy fire, galvanized the battalion into action and they attacked and destroyed the enemy position. On 2 August, Captain Urban was wounded in the chest by shell fragments and, disregarding the recommendation of the Battalion Surgeon, again refused evacuation. On 6 August, Captain Urban became the commander of the 2d Battalion. On 15 August, he was again wounded but remained with his unit.
On 3 September, the 2d Battalion was given the mission of establishing a crossing-point on the Meuse River near Heer, Belgium. The enemy planned to stop the advance of the allied Army by concentrating heavy forces at the Meuse. The 2d Battalion, attacking toward the crossing-point, encountered fierce enemy artillery, small arms and mortar fire which stopped the attack. Captain Urban quickly moved from his command post to the lead position of the battalion. Reorganizing the attacking elements, he personally led a charge toward the enemy's strong-point. As the charge moved across the open terrain, Captain Urban was seriously wounded in the neck. Although unable to talk above a whisper from the paralyzing neck wound, and in danger of losing his life, he refused to be evacuated until the enemy was routed and his battalion had secured the crossing-point on the Meuse River. Captain Urban's personal leadership, limitless bravery, and repeated extraordinary exposure to enemy fire served as an inspiration to his entire battalion. His valorous and intrepid actions reflect the utmost credit on him and uphold the noble traditions of the United States Army.

JIMMY CARTER

 

Gregory "Pappy" Boyington (December 4, 1912 – January 11, 1988) was a highly decorated American combat Pilot who was a Marine Corps Fighter Ace. He received both the Medal Of Honor and the Navy Cross.

Boyington was initially a P-40 Warhawk combat pilot with the legendary "Flying Tigers" (1st American Volunteer Group) in the Republic of China Airforce in China and in Burma, at the end of 1941 and part of 1942,

In September 1942, he rejoined the Marine Corps (had been an aviator before the war). In early 1943, he deployed to the South Pacific and began flying combat missions as a Marine F4U Corsair fighter pilot. In September 1943, he took command of fighter squadron VMF-214 ("Black Sheep"). In January 1944, Boyington, outnumbered by Japanese Zero's, was shot down into the Pacific after downing one of the enemy planes. He was captured by a Japanese Sub crew and was held as a POW for more than a year and a half. He was released shortly after the Surrender, and a few days before the official surrender documents were signed

 

Omar Nelson "Brad" Bradley (February 12, 1893 – April 8, 1981) was a field commander in North Africa and Europe during WW2, and a General Of The Army. From the Normandy Landings through the end of the war in Europe, Bradley had command of all U.S. ground forces invading Germany from the west; he ultimately commanded forty-three divisions and 1.3 million men, the largest body of American soldiers ever to serve under a U.S. field commander. Famously he was Patton's Boss.

After the war, Bradley headed the Veterans Administration and became Chief of Staff of the United States Army. In 1949, he was appointed the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and the following year oversaw the policy-making for the Korean War, before retiring from active service in 1953.

 

Visited the Arlington Cemetery in January of 2014 with my army son who is stationed in northern Virginia. We took photographs of the statue of Field Marshall Sir John Greer Dill. Words can not describe the Vietnam War Memorial and is a must see for anyone visiting DC. Also visited the National Museum of the Marine Corp at Quantico and turned a corner to find a mannequin behind a glass case. For a moment there, I thought it was my Dad but seriously it was a mannequin drum major of the Marine Corp Band dressed like a British Guardsman. One of the guides told me that the marine band copied the uniforms of the British Guards Regiments. I took some photos and sent them on to my sister-in-law in England to let her know that I found my Father. Well, she was not amused but my Dad would have been.

 

Hi CK,

Yes I did know that the 'boss' was at Arlington.

From my website pages:

It is well known that General Orde Wingate's official memorial is to be found in the Arlington National Cemetery in the USA. It was here that the unidentified remains of all the casualties were taken and buried after the war was over. By the agreed Allied policy that the majority of those killed in terms of nationality would determine the location of the grave, those lost aboard the Mitchell Bomber were removed from the original gravesite and re-interred at Arlington. This caused a great deal of controversy and consternation at the time, not least amongst the Wingate family themselves.

More info here:

http://www.chinditslongcloth1943.com/memorials-and-cemeteries.html

Cheers.

 

Ira Hamilton Hayes (January 12, 1923 – January 24, 1955) was a Pima American Indian and a US Marine,. who was one of the six flag raisers immortalized in the iconic photograph of the flag raising on Iwo Jima.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on August 26, 1942, and after recruit training, volunteered to become a Paramarine. He fought in the Bougainville and Iwo Jima campaigns in the Pacific Theatre..
On February 23, 1945, he helped to raise an American flag over Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, an event photographed by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press. Hayes and the other five flag-raisers became national heroes as a result.