The Dougout

Many years ago I read Gregory "Pappy" Boyington's autobiography Baa Baa Black Sheep which is about his wartime experiences. Boyington joined the Marine Corps in 1935. Due do personal problems and debt, he signed up with Clair Chennault's Flying Tigers. Boyington didn't get along with Chennault and after it was announced the Tigers would become part of the U.S. Army Air Force Boyington returned to the United States.

Having managed to get reinstated by the Marines with the rank of major, Boyington shipped out to the South Pacific. He eventually became the commanding officer of VMF-214. The squadron went into combat on September 14, 1943. Boyington was in constant combat until shot down over Rabaul on January 3, 1944.

The Japanese had occupied Rabaul in January 1942, thus beginning one of the longest campaigns in U.S. military history. Rabaul is on the island of New Britain northwest of the Solomons and north of New Guinea. It had the best natural harbor in the theater and numerous air bases. It would take the Allies over two years of hard fighting to finally neutralize and bypass Rabaul. The six month long campaign for Guadalcanal was just Task One of Operation Watchtower.

After being shot down, Boyington was captured and endured twenty-one months in a Japanese POW camp. As this link shows, he was very lucky to live through the experience. In reading the book I noted that Boyington was not bitter or harbored any hatred towards the Japanese. He credited a Japanese lady who smuggled food to him with saving his life.

Upon returning to the United States Boyington was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Truman (picture above):

Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Marine Squadron 214. Place and date: Central Solomons area, from 12 September 1943 to 3 January 1944. Entered service at: Washington. Born: 4 December 1912, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. Other Navy award: Navy Cross. Citation: For extraordinary heroism and valiant devotion to duty as commanding officer of Marine Fighting Squadron 214 in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Central Solomons area from 12 September 1943 to 3 January 1944. Consistently outnumbered throughout successive hazardous flights over heavily defended hostile territory, Maj. Boyington struck at the enemy with daring and courageous persistence, leading his squadron into combat with devastating results to Japanese shipping, shore installations, and aerial forces. Resolute in his efforts to inflict crippling damage on the enemy, Maj. Boyington led a formation of 24 fighters over Kahili on 17 October and, persistently circling the airdrome where 60 hostile aircraft were grounded, boldly challenged the Japanese to send up planes. Under his brilliant command, our fighters shot down 20 enemy craft in the ensuing action without the loss of a single ship. A superb airman and determined fighter against overwhelming odds, Maj. Boyington personally destroyed 26 of the many Japanese planes shot down by his squadron and, by his forceful leadership, developed the combat readiness in his command which was a distinctive factor in the Allied aerial achievements in this vitally strategic area.

Boyington became fascinated with aviation at an early age. He grew up in the Pacific northwest under difficult family circumstances. Nevertheless, Boyington worked his way through college, before joining the Marines, receiving a BS in aeronautical engineering from the University of Washington.

To the everlasting, utter disgrace of the University of Washington the student senate has voted against a memorial in honor of Gregory Boyington.

Jill Edwards, aka Miss April, stated "didn't believe a member of the U.S. Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person UW wanted to produce." [Emphasis added]

Ashley Miller added "that many monuments at UW already commemorate rich white men." On her webpage Miller bloviates "Educating Foster an inclusive environment by addressing and working to overcome institutionalized racism, homophobia, and sexism, which are often overlooked on campus. " Yup, we sure wouldn't want any racism at UW.

Karl Smith went on to stain the sheets by saying "the resolution should commend Colonel Boyington's service, not his killing of others."

While Boyington is not the sort of person UW will honor, according to student senator Adam Everett there is a monument to the Lincoln Brigade on campus. Some of the students have learned well to regurgitate the leftist drivel they hear daily on campus inside and outside the classroom.

Hat tip and thanks for the links: Strait Talk

Update, 2/14: Barbette Blog has more on this with many links to other commentators.