|
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. |
|
|
|
|
BORN:
April 29, 1885 at Marshalltown, IA
Entered Service in the US
Navy from Iowa
Earned
The Medal of Honor During the Mexican Campaign For heroism on
April 21 - 22, 1914 at Vera Cruz, Mexico
DIED: April
25, 1973 at the age of 87
|
|
In the two-day
effort to capture Vera Cruz, Lieutenant Fletcher responded to
disaster aboard the Transport Esperanza and was successful in
taking aboard 350 refugees. Though his vessel was under enemy fire
and sustained more than 30 hits, his leadership resulted in
providing safe haven for these refugees, many of whom were rescued
after the hostilities began. Later, Lieu ant Fletcher was placed
in charge of a train to convey refugees from the interior to Vera
Cruz under a flag of truce. The mission was made more hazardous by
the belief that the train was mined. Lieutenant Fletcher
established friendly relations with the Mexican soldiers guarding
the train under the flag of truce, thus avoiding any conflicts
that may have endangered his mission or the lives of the refugees.
Later promoted to Admiral, Frank Jack Fletcher earned the DSM for
his part in the World War II battle of the Coral Sea, and at the
close of that war many of the meetings to arrange terms for the
surrender of Japanese naval bases in the Pacific were held aboard
his flagship, the USS Panamint.
|
|
