My Cousin Don In Action!!!

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2008 9:47 pm

My cousin Don landing his F4F on Henderson Field Nov. 1942

2Lt D.C. Owen VMF-121 landing Henderson Nov. 1942

Robbie Stuart · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2008 9:55 pm

Jack thats great man! I know how much that means to you. Thank God for men like him.

Robbie

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:13 pm

Tom Mann gave me this photo when I met him years ago in Jax.
One of the few originals that didn't burn :!:

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:11 am

That is cool. I love the Wildcat. That is pic that you can be proud of man.

SPANNERmkV · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:58 pm

Was searching for an older post and came across this!

Without digging out my history books I am thinking life was still INTERESTING on Guadaru-Kanaru in Nov. of 42?

Thanks for posting!

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:01 pm

Yes I'd say has Don downed 2 Zeros over Guadalcanal in November.

Mgawa · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:05 pm

Is this only image of this plane? Do you have any details about this plane?

SPANNERmkV · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:26 pm

from those whackos at Wiki:

The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the Third and Fourth Battles of Savo Island, the Battle of the Solomons or, in Japanese sources, as the Third Battle of the Solomon Sea (µÚÈý´Î¥½¥í¥â¥óº£‘é, Third Battle of the Solomon Sea?), took place November 12 ¨C November 15, 1942, and was the decisive engagement in a series of naval battles between Allied (primarily United States) and Imperial Japanese forces during the months-long Guadalcanal campaign in the Solomon Islands. The action consisted of combined air and sea engagements over four days, most near Guadalcanal and all related to a Japanese effort to reinforce land forces on the island.

Keeping in mind that most naval battles around the Canal involved Henderson it must have been busy for Uncle Don!!!

I read in one history account that the USN lost more lives around the Islands than the USMC lost on the islands.
The Bee named carriers (Wasp and Hornet) certainly didn't fare too well.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:41 pm

He was one of the F4F pilots who straffed the Japanese battleship Hiei
on Nov 14. He was recommeded for the Navy Cross but received nothing.
He also received no awards for his servce on Guadalcanal which included
downing 2 1/2 Zeros. He received all his combat awards on his second tour with VMF-112.

Forgotten Field · **Posted:** Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:59 pm

Jack,
Is there anything more brave looking than a Wildcat on Henderson Field? Great photo, thanks for sharing it with us.

When I was down in FL helping a friend move, I ran into a guy who was wearing a 1st Marine Division patch on his hat. We talked for a while. He was at the Battle of the Tenaru River and burned his hands up changing .30 cal barrels. He remembered when the enemy lifted the fire, and they thought it was over so he was going to go to the aid station. And then they heard tanks. They had to manhandle a halftrack with a 75mm howitzer through the mud to get to shoot at the tanks. The infantry were right behind them, and as he was telling me about it, his eyes were looking off somewhere. He stopped all of a sudden and said, "I haven't thought about that for years, and I don't think I'm gonna say any more. That was one bad night."

I think we were pretty lucky that people like your uncle stood and fought. They were brave to the man.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Fri Jul 18, 2008 11:28 pm

I knew a fellow here in Salem who flew the 2nd SBD into Guadalcanal
of the Long Island has XO of VMSB-232 under Dick Mangrum. I'm not sure what impressed me more, Bruce stories of Guadalcanal or his being awarded the Navy Cross while flying a SB2U at Midway

Those guys were just amazing!!![/url]

muddyboots · **Posted:** Sat Jul 19, 2008 1:17 am

Just remember: for every one who came home with a story he didn't really want to tell, tehre was anoteh rwho didn't come home because he gave his life so that others COULD go home. They were all heroes, each and every one.

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My Cousin Don In Action!!!

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