Military Monday - A gallant last cause

America has always had a fascination with noble lost causes. General Warren at Bunker Hill. General Lee at Gettysburg. General Custer at the Little Big Horn. The -96 to present Atlanta Braves. And speaking of the Braves, let's talk about Hammering Hank for a minute. And not the undisputed Home Run king.

Captain Henry Elrod, USMC, was a Marine fighter pilot. And more than that he was a warrior. He recieved the Medal for his actions concerning the defense of Wake Island in early December of 1941.

A most dashing fellow

Wake Island was the first objective the Imperial Japanese Navy assaulted that had any sort of coordinated defense. A small Marine detachment, the Navy forward basing dudes, some Army commo guys, a half strength Marine fighter squadron, and a couple of PanAm guys blunted the Japanese war machine for nearly a month.

A fucking coward of a desking driving ring knocker couldn't even summons the moral courage to risk a relief operation. William Pye should have never worn stars. As the naval actions around Guadalcanal would soon bear out.

I truly belief Frank Fletcher could have snuck in under cover of darkness and evacuated the garrison. I often subject my long suffering wife to this rant. Generally with an epilogue of I would have rigged the airstrip with time delay munitions.

The defense of Wake Island was lionized in the American media. In my opinion, it warranted every gallon of ink spilled describing it. A short battalion of Marines, a handful of airplanes, and a whole bunch of guts fought off attack after attack. Courageous PBY crews snuck in and out to fly out the wounded and vital pieces of intelligence concerning the Japanese order of battle.

The Wake detachment was ably led and had good morale. They never believed they were going to be defeated. Which I believe is part and parcel of their mystique in American history. They inflicted losses far greater than the preponderance of forces would indicate.

They were brave men. While not necessarily regulars, these were men who joined the military prior to Pearl Harbor. Armed with '03 Springfield rifles, -1918 BARs, -1911A1s, and a smattering of -1928 Thompsons they held the line against a large, professional foe. And did so with skill and valor.

In the dark days after Pearl Harbor, the United States could take great pride in every day Wake held against the Rising Sun.