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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:
January 16, 1910 at Bessemer, AL
Entered Service in the US
Navy from West Palm Beach, FL
Earned the Medal of Honor during World War II For heroism on June
19 & October 24 & 25, 1944 at Philippine Sea &
Leyte Gulf
DIED: June
30, 1996 at the age of 86
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Commander
McCampbell was C.O. of Air Group 15, during combat against enemy
Japanese aerial forces in the first and second battles of the
Philippine Sea. An inspiring leader, fighting boldly in the face
of terrific odds, he led his fighter planes against a force of
80 Japanese carrier-based aircraft bearing down on our fleet.
Striking fiercely in valiant defense of our surface force, he
personally destroyed seven hostile planes during this single
engagement in which the outnumbering attack force was utterly
routed and virtually annihilated. During a major fleet
engagement with the enemy on October 24, Commander McCampbell,
assisted by but one other Allied plane, intercepted and daringly
attacked a formation of 60 hostile land-based craft approaching
our forces. Fighting desperately but with superb skill against
such overwhelming airpower, he shot down nine Japanese planes
and, completely disorganizing the enemy group, forced the
remainder to abandon the attack before a single aircraft could
reach the fleet.
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