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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:
November 01, 1913 at Washington, DC
Entered Service in the US
Navy from Maryland
Earned the Medal of Honor during World War II For heroism on
September 16, 1944 at Wasile Bay, Halmahera Island, Moluccas,
Netherlands Indies
DIED: January
07, 1968 at the age of 54
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Lieutenant
Preston was commander of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 33,
effecting the rescue of a Navy pilot shot down in Wasile Bay,
less than 200 yards from a strongly defended Japanese dock and
supply area. Volunteering for a perilous mission unsuccessfully
attempted by the pilot's squadron mates and a PBY plane, he led
PT-489 and PT-363 through 60 miles of restricted, heavily mined
waters. Twice turned back while running the gauntlet of fire
from powerful coastal defense guns guarding at the entrance to
the bay, he was again turned back by furious fire in the
immediate area of the downed airman. Aided by an aircraft
smokescreen, he succeeded in reaching his objective and, under
vicious fire, took the pilot aboard and cleared the area,
sinking a small hostile cargo vessel with 40-mm fire during
retirement. When covering aircraft were forced to leave because
of insufficient fuel, he raced PT boats 489 and 363 at high
speed for 20 minutes through shell-splashed water and across
minefields to safety. Under continuous fire for 2l/2 hours,
Lieutenant Preston successfully achieved a mission considered
suicidal, and brought his boats through without personnel
casualties and with but superficial damage from shrapnel.
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