First Class Photographer  Jim Doyle

Age:  89

Residence: Lakewood,  Colorado

Branch of Service: US  Navy

Station: USS  Lexington

Biography: While the USS Lexington  aircraft carrier was taking Marines to Midway Island, Jim was left with a small  number of Navy planes and fellow Naval Air Pilots on the Naval Air Station on  Ford Island. Jim’s MOS was as an aerial photographer, so when the bombing and  strafing started on the morning of December 7, he grabbed his camera and began  taking pictures of the horrifying scenes around him. During the attack he  remembers seeing a Japanese plane crash. When a group of sailors went to recover  the pilot’s body, they discovered that he was not yet dead when he pulled out a  pistol and shot himself. As the attack wound down, Jim and some of his fellow  pilots jumped into their remaining eight Navy planes and tried following the  withdrawing Japanese forces. Unfortunately, they were unable to find the force.  They met greater misfortune when they returned and the Americans, understandably  trigger happy, started firing on their own planes. Jim landed safely while some  of his comrades did not. Jim went on to fly missions in the war while assigned  to the USS Lexington, participating in the Battle of the Coral Sea. On a photo  mission at Guadalcanal, Jim’s plane was shot down and he was medically  discharged in 1943.

Join Mile Hi Radio, All Gave Some, host and me on Tuesday, 21 Feb at 1pm Mountain Standard Time.  We will be discussing Operation Hero Trek!  Hope you can make it!

http://www.milehiradio.com/shows.cfm?id=45323CF5-E268-D29C-9CD96C87465963C1

Thanks,

Forrest a.k.a. Mike

During Josh’s  first deployment to Iraq,  he often was the pointman for his squad (2nd Squad) during patrols and was able to identify multiple IED’s that were laid out which prevented the patrol from being struck. During his second deployment, he earned a purple heart when the truck he was riding in was struck by a IED, approx 350lbs of explosive, it burned to the ground. Josh was able to exit the vehicle and provide covering fire against a follow-on small arms attack, while other squad members were evacuated more severely wounded Marines. Josh returned to Iraq for a voluntary 3rd deployment as part of a Personal Security Detail for  the Regimental Combat Team command staff. He left active duty in 2008 and shortly thereafter joined the private security venture and has spent a significant amount of time in Afghanistan, primaily Kabul, protecting Embassy staff members and escorting them around to meetings. He met his now wife Andrea, just before leaving active duty. During active duty, he used to visit his family and friends in La Habra as many weekends as he could. He had the nickname, Big Wave Dave, for his hair that he like to style up in the front.

SGT Kinney, Cody

Age 24

Hometown – Lafayette, Colorado

Parents – Doug & Kathy Kinney

Sister - Cammey

Cody’s first deployment was with 41 Fires BDE to Al Kut Iraq, 

where he served on a Brigade PSD. Their main mission was securing 

their Colonel while he helped professionalize the Iraqi government 

and security forces. Cody won division soldier of the quarter there. 

He is currently active and has served in the Army for 5 years.

When on leave Cody loves to ski, hunt & fish – anything outdoors.  

Cody would like to thank everyone for all of their support.

SFCS John  Tait

Age:  91

Residence: Concord,  California

Branch of Service: US  Navy

Station: USS St.  Louis

Biography: While 3^rd Class  Ship-Fitter John Tait performed a number of duties throughout his naval career,  he was serving as a potable water manager and repairman aboard the USS St. Louis  on the morning of December 7. The USS St. Louis was moored alongside the USS  Honolulu which John was crossing to hook up a water hose when another sailor  came running so fast he nearly knocked John over. The sailor said to get back  aboard—that a bomb had exploded. As the Japanese planes began to swarm the  harbor, the USS St Louis got under way. As the ship made its way out of the  harbor, John prepared himself to rush to wherever he was needed to fight fires  or repair damage. While the channel at Pearl is rated at approximately 5 knots,  the St. Louis rushed to escape and get to open waters at 25 knots. Waiting for  the St. Louis at the mouth of the harbor was a Japanese 2-man sub that fired two  torpedoes at the ship. The torpedoes exploded when they hit the reef in front of  the St. Louis, giving her the name “Lucky Lou.” The St. Louis did not sustain  any major damage on the 7^th.