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TAPS
Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night. |
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BORN:
December 04, 1912 at Coeur D'Alene, ID
Entered Service in the US
Marine Corps from Washington
Earned the Medal of Honor during World War II For heroism on
September 12, 1943 - January 03, 1944 at Solomon Islands,
Pacific Ocean
DIED: January
11, 1988 at the age of 75
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Major Boyington
was commanding officer of Marine Fighting Squadron 214 in action
against enemy Japanese forces in the Central Solomons September
1943 to January 1944. Consistently outnumbered throughout
successive hazardous flights over heavily defended hostile
territory, Major Boyington struck at the enemy with daring and
courageous persistence, leading his squadron into combat with
devastating results to Japanese shipping, shore installations, and
aerial forces. Resolute in his efforts to inflict crippling damage
on the enemy, Major Boyington led a formation of 24 fighters over
Kahili on October 17 and, persistently circling the airdrome where
60 hostile aircraft were grounded, boldly challenged the Japanese
to send up planes. Under his brilliant command, our fighters shot
down 20 enemy craft in the ensuing action without the loss of a
single ship. A superb airman and determined fighter against
overwhelming odds, Major Boyington personally destroyed 26 of the
many Japanese planes shot down by his squadron. He was later shot
down in action and held as a prisoner of war.
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