Pick three favorite officers from history, and say why you picked them.

[Sikander]

In keeping with Sir Ralph's appreciation of junior officers -

Richard H. O'Kane - U.S. submarine officer who served on two of the most successful U.S. subs during the war Wahoo (as Executive Officer) and Tang (as Commanding Officer). On Tang he sank a Japanese ship every 11 days over 5 war patrols, an incredible record considering the distances travelled just to reach Japanese waters. His second patrol was spent "Lifeguarding" off of Truk where Tang picked up 22 downed fliers, winning a Presidential Unit Citation, but no kills. On his 4th patrol in Tang he sank a record 10 ships (U.S. Fleet Boats only carried 24 torpedoes).

Like Nelson, he often sailed right through an enemy convoy, firing torpedoes fore and aft and using enemy shipping to screen himself from enemy escorts. He sank 8 ships on his 5th and final patrol including a destroyer. He himself was sunk by his last torpedo on that patrol, which ran in a circle and struck the Tang. Only 9 crewmembers survived the sinking, and ended up in a Japanese prison camp where they were severely mistreated. O'Kane weighed only 88 lbs when he was released at the end of the war.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_O'Kane

http://www.fleetsubmarine.com/okane.html

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/rokane.htm

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by Zkribbler


The geniuses at Benchley Park Yeah -- I was going to add that Rommel would have been really scary if the Brits didn't know what he was going to do because the German's Ultra Code was broken.

I also liked that he was in on the plot to kill Hitler and overthrow the Nazis.

It's worth bearing in mind that Nazi Germany had a very conveniently placed American spy in Egypt too (damn, can't remember his name), and also 'Cicero' in Ankara, valet to the British ambassador to Turkey.

There was also an Italian spy who stole the American's 'Black' code from the American military attache's office in Rome as well, passing it to the Germans.

[Sikander]

Another Jr. Officer - Richard Ira Bong

America's top fighter Ace and the top stoner Ace for any nation in WW2.

He shot down 40 planes in the Pacific in WW2, the vast majority of them fighters in the early part of the war when Japanese pilots were excellent. Respect! He also flew the extremely cool P-38 Lightning, and was trained in aerial gunnery by (then) Captain Barry Goldwater. He was killed near the end of the war flying as a test pilot.

http://www.acepilots.com/usaaf_bong.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Bong

[Sikander]

Crikey! And one for the enlisted men - Sgt. Major Stanley Hollis

On June 6, 1944 in Normandy, France, Stanley Hollis went with his company commander to investigate two German pill-boxes which had been by-passed as the company moved inland from the beaches. He rushed forward to the first pill-box, taking all but five of the occupants prisoner and then dealt with the second, taking 26 prisoners. Then he cleared a neighbouring trench. Later that day, he led an attack on an enemy position which contained a field gun and Spandau machine guns. After withdawing he learned that two of his men had been left behind and told Major Lofthouse, his commanding officer, " I took them in. I will try to get them out." Taking a grenade from one of his men Hollis carefully observed the enemy's pattern of behaviour and threw it at the most opportune moment. Unfortunately, he had forgotten to prime the grenade but the enemy didn't know this and kept their heads down waiting for it to explode. By the time they realised their mistake Hollis was on top of them and had shot them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Elton_Hollis

(This event turned out to be very auspicious for me years later. The night after I read about the grenade incident I was approached by a man with a knife who was intent on robbing or killing me. I was thinking how much I wished I was carrying a gun, and then remembering Hollis' bluff I opened my jacket and pretended to pull one out with a look of murder in my eyes. My would-be assailant did not linger to ascertain the presence of the gun, and came close to getting run over by traffic as he sprinted away in panic.)

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by Sikander
Another Jr. Officer - Richard Ira Bong

...and the top stoner Ace for any nation in WW2.

The name's a dead giveaway.

I liked the Spanish crackshot, Captain A. Montillado.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by molly bloom



The name's a dead giveaway.

I liked the Spanish crackshot, Captain A. Montillado.

[Saras]

Originally posted by Sikander
(This event turned out to be very auspicious for me years later. The night after I read about the grenade incident I was approached by a man with a knife who was intent on robbing or killing me. I was thinking how much I wished I was carrying a gun, and then remembering Hollis' bluff I opened my jacket and pretended to pull one out with a look of murder in my eyes. My would-be assailant did not linger to ascertain the presence of the gun, and came close to getting run over by traffic as he sprinted away in panic.)

Da man!