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NOTE - After
19 years online, HomeOfHeroes.com may soon close it's doors.
Many of the HERO STORIES, history,
citations and other information detailed in this website are, at least for now,
available in PRINT or DIGITAL format from AMAZON.COM. The below comprise the nearly
4-dozen "Home Of Heroes" books currently available.
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Medal
of Honor Books |
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| This series of books contains the citations for ALL
Medals of Honor awarded to that branch of service, with brief biographical data and photos
of many of the recipients. Some of them also include citations for other awards, analysis
of awards, data tables and analysis and more. These are LARGE volumes, each 8 1/2" x
11" and more than 500 pages each. Click on a book to find it on Amazon.com where you
can find more details on what is contained in each book, as well as to get a free preview.
Each volume is $24.95. |
Heroes
in the War on Terrorism |
NAVY
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These books contain the citations for nearly all of the awards of the Silve
Star and higher to members of each branch of service in the War on Terrorism. Books
include photos of most recipients, some biographical data, analysis of awards by rank,
unit, date, and more.
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ENCYCLOPEDIA
of AMERICAN MILITARY HEROES |
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WINGS OF VALOR
 
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The Defining Generation
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AUTHOR PAGE
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The Brotherhood of Soldiers at War
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"Family Feud"
A Tale of Two Generals
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It has been said that
"If you have ONE child you are a PARENT...TWO (or more) and you are a REFEREE."
Sibling rivalries are common in any family, and the family of America's veterans is
no different. The term "Brotherhood" does not indicate that all is
peaceful and calm or that there is an absence of disagreement. Brothers have been
known to argue, feud, even fight each other. But brotherhood is a bond that is
greater than the "family feuds" that erupt from time to time, and sooner or
later brothers make up and get on with being brothers.
General George Armstrong
Custer was so envious of his younger brother's TWO Medals of Honor, earned during the
Civil War, that it caused some real tension. There are even reports that on at least
one occasion when the younger showed up at a social event wearing BOTH medals, the two
went outside and engaged in fisticuffs. But the sense of brotherhood between the two
was stronger than their sibling rivalry. Thomas Custer always loved the older
brother and the two served together through several campaigns in the West.
Eventually, the two brothers died together at the infamous Battle of the Little Big Horn.
Douglas MacArthur and
Jonathan Wainwright were as similar, yet individually different, as any two "flesh
and blood" brothers. Both were the sons of military families. MacArthur's
father Arthur was the hero who received the Medal of Honor during the Civil War.
Wainwright's father also was a career officer who had at one point even served under
Arthur MacArthur's command.
Douglas MacArthur
graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point at the head of his class in 1903.
Three years later Jonathan Wainwright graduated from the same school with its
highest honor, first captain of cadets. Both served in World War I, MacArthur
leading the 84th Infantry Brigade and earning the Distinguished Service Medal and SIX
Silver Stars. Wainwright saw less combat as a staff officer, though he became known
for his frequent visits to the troops on the front lines. Wainwright also received
the Distinguished Service Medal.
Both men were generals
in the US Army and serving in the Philippines when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December
7, 1941. The months that followed and the differences in personality between the two
would strain their brotherhood. Both would emerge historic figures, Douglas
MacArthur characterized by historian/author William Manchester as the "American
Caesar", Jonathan Wainwright remembered by his troops as "The Last of the
Fighting Generals".
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Mid-way in the opening of Manila Bay is the
tadpole-shaped, rocky island of Corregidor. Less than 2 square miles in size, the
island had been a fortress for many years. At the beginning of World War II it
garrisoned soldiers to man artillery that could support the defense of Bataan should it
ever be necessary to implement Orange No. 3. Initially, General MacArthur attempted
to have his American soldiers and Philippine Scouts meet and defeat the invading Japanese
as they landed on the island's northern beaches. Most of these were soldiers under
the command of General Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, at the age of 59 one of the oldest
active generals in the United States army.
General Wainwright's Philippine Scouts fought
courageously, but on December 22nd hope began to vanish. Japanese Lieutenant General
Masaharu Homma waded ashore at Lingayen Gulf, just north of the Bataan Peninsula
(indicated by the red starburst in the map above). Supported by 80 ships of the
Japanese navy and 43,000 fresh troops, the Philippine Scouts were doomed. General
MacArthur implemented Orange No. 3 and on December 26 he declared the Capitol of Manila to
be an open city and abandoned it to the Japanese. As the American and Philippine
forces began their withdrawal to Bataan, MacArthur set up his command post on the island
of Corregidor. MacArthur moved his tactical operations into the quarter-mile long
Malinta Tunnel. It was from there he began to direct the "delaying action"
that would keep the enemy at bay until supplies and reinforcements could arrive from the
United States. It was a wasted effort, for reinforcement of the valiant defenders
wasn't even a part of the military war plan.
War Plan
"ABC-1"
Ten months before the attack at Pearl Harbor,
British and American military tacticians had established a war plan known as
"ABC-1". The agreement between the two nations specified that, in the
event that there would be hostilities on two fronts involving both the Germans and the
Japanese, both Allied powers would concentrate most of their military resources on
defending Europe. Of course, the brave men fighting hunger, disease and starvation
in the dense jungles of the Philippines were not aware of ABC-1. For this reason
they believed President Roosevelt when he gave his year-end speech promising "the
entire resources of the United States" would be committed to defending the Philippine
Islands.
Two days later the Japanese took control of
Manila. Meanwhile, more than 80,000 American and Filipino soldiers had withdrawn to
the 500 square mile Bataan peninsula to maintain the delaying defense called for in Orange
No. 3. Across the island the Philippine Scouts, many of whom were not aware of
Orange No. 1, continued to battle the enemy. It was a brave effort, many of them
fighting with outdated World War I British Enfield rifles. Ammunition began to run
out, food was in short supply, and disease depleted their ranks. But they, along
with their brothers at Bataan stubbornly held out, anxiously awaiting the resources of the
United States that had been promised by the President. Amazingly the soldiers
stopped the Japanese advance at the Abucay line, and held it for 12 days. Then, on
February 8th, General Homma received an infusion of fresh troops from Tokyo. For the
Americans and Filipinos there were no fresh troops, no resupply. When Singapore fell
on February 15, 1942 it was becoming apparent to the Philippine defenders that the United
States would be sending no reinforcements. They were expendable.
Meanwhile, General MacArthur had received word
from Washington that he should hold out against the Japanese as long as possible, then
capitulation was permissible. MacArthur was livid. He had no intention of
surrendering to the Japanese, had resolved himself to die in the defense of the
Philippines. On February 22, General MacArthur said goodbye to Philippine President
Manuel Quezon. As the popular President reluctantly boarded the submarine Swordfish
to be evacuated to Australia, he removed his signet ring and placed it on MacArthur's
finger. "When they find your body," he told his old friend, "I want
them to know that you fought for my country." Remaining on the island with the
General was his wife and 3-year old son. In the hold of the Swordfish were their
personal effects with instructions for them to be held until claimed by the
MacArthur's legal heirs.
Even as the Swordfish slipped out of
Manila Bay to preserve the Philippine Presidency, President Roosevelt was pondering the
impact on the National morale should the most decorated hero of World War One be killed or
captured by the Japanese. The following day the Commander In Chief ordered General
MacArthur to escape to the southern island of Mindanao, then from there to find asylum in
Australia. As a United States Army officer, it was an order he could not refuse.
As a patriot who loved the Philippine Islands, it was also an order that went
against everything in which he believed. Finally the 62-year old, 4-star general
decided to resign. He would leave Corregidor, but not as a retreating general going
to Australia. Instead, as a civilian, he would make the brief boat ride from
"The Rock" to Bataan and enlist as a volunteer in its defense.
In the days that followed, MacArthur's chief
of staff, Major General Richard K. Sutherland convinced the General that the President was
right. He argued that there were rumors that a Philippine relief force was being
established in Australia, and that the President had ordered MacArthur to Australia to
build and lead that force back to the Islands to defeat the Japanese. The concept
was reinforced by a telegram from Washington urging the General that "The situation
in Australia indicates desirability of your early arrival there." MacArthur
responded that he would, reluctantly, depart Corregidor on March 15th.
Meanwhile, the Japanese suspected that an
attempt would be made to evacuate the Philippine commander from the area, and they too
realized the propaganda potential for his death or capture. They increased their
patrols in the South China Sea, virtually unopposed for the US Pacific Fleet was still
rebuilding from the devastation at Pearl Harbor. A full Japanese destroyer division
was dispatched towards Manila Bay to prevent any evacuation of the general. The time
table had to be accelerated, and the only craft available to transport MacArthur and his
family from Corregidor were four aging PT boats under the leadership of Lieutenant John
Bulkeley. (Lieutenant Bulkeley would later receive the Medal of Honor for his heroic
defense of the Philippines from December 7, 1941 to April 10, 1942.) Bulkeley and
his PT boats would break out of Luzon as the sun went down on March 11th, taking with them
General MacArthur. The Naval officers at Corregidor who were aware of the plan
believed the General had about 1 chance in 5 of getting out successfully, and alive.
