Stories sought of local soldiers
Major General Andrew J. Evans
(Courtesy photo)
SSgt. Bill Hunt (no shirt) is pictured loading a Jeep in 1966 as he works with indigenous soldiers during his third tour in Vietnam.
George Dong, right, is pictured at a ceremony presenting the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Chinese American veterans of World War II. "There were four living veterans receiving this award," said Dong's daughter, Delia Freney, who also received a medal posthumously for her mother's brother, Harold Sam. "My dad wore a tuxedo as he proudly walked to center stage to receive his medal. The medals received were bronze duplicates and the actual Gold Medal was on display. It will be in the Smithsonian Museum next year."
The stories of service are as varied as they are memorable.
• In the Evans family, three members of the family — Major Gen. A.J. Evans, Col. Philip Brooks, and Col. Richard G. Evans — served a combined 95 years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force.
Major General A.J. Evans entered Army Air Corps in 1942 after graduation from West Point, flying fighters in Europe for duration of World War II, notching eight “kills” and becoming an ace.
Col. Philip Brooks entered Army Air Corps after his oldest brother was killed in the Pacific in World War II. Brooks, who flew P-51s out of Great Britain, was in a dogfight with the first German jet ever spotted. At one point, he was the only member of his squadron to return from a bombing mission over France.
After graduation from the Citadel, Richard G. Evans entered the Air Force and served in Vietnam. He would go on to fly 150 combat missions over Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam in the F-4 fighter.
• George Dong, 95, was one of only a handful of Chinese American soldiers to receive the Congressional Gold Medal for his service.
Dong served in the 411th Field Artillery in the European Theater, stationed in England and Germany. He was one of the approximately 20,000 Chinese Americans who served. Later, he served stateside with the Army National Guard during the Korean War.
• Alexander Russell served three tours in Vietnam during his 20 years in the U.S. Army. He would retire having earned two Purple Heart awards, the first during his first tour in 1964 when during one flight, a round would come through the floor of the helicopter and strike him in the wrist. He still has that fragment.
• Cpl. Elden Koon joined the U.S. Marine Corps at 16 years of age and served in Korea. Koon was wounded twice and awarded two Purple Heart medals.
• Victor Charles Underwood served in the Army from 1958 through 1978, including in the Special Forces from 1962 to 1978. For his actions he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart.
• Sgt. James C. Hagler served with the 56th Special Operations Wing, NKP, 1974-75, Delta Squad, Knife 13. He would later write poems and short stories capturing his service and those who fought.
• SF1 Madoc Kenyon Irish was killed in action on April 16, 1945, aboard the USS Laffey DD-724. The Laffey was attacked by 22 kamikaze aircraft and six bombers, and is famous in U.S. Navy lore as the ship that would not sink. Thirty-two sailors, including Irish, were killed in the attack.
• Herbert F. Johnson earned the Bronze Star for surviving the infamous Bataan Death March in 1941. He also survived four years of Japanese prison camp.
• William (Bill) Hunt was a local kid who graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1953, entering the U.S. Army as a paratrooper. After re-enlisting, he would become a “Green Beret” radio operator in 1961. He spent three tours of duty in Vietnam 1962, 1964 and his final tour in 1966. On his third tour in the Republic of Vietnam 1966, he was declared missing in action.
• Ray Calhoun was a young Marine in South Vietnam in April 1967. He and his platoon has been charged with leading an assault on Hill 881 South. Forty-two years later, Calhoun would be presented the Silver Star — the nation's third-highest award for combat bravery during a 2009 ceremony at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego.
To honor our veterans, we are asking for the public's help in honoring these men and women by sharing their photos, stories and service of themselves or family members who earned the Purple Heart, Silver Star, the Distinguished Service Cross and Congressional Medal of Honor to name a few.
We wanted to put stories to the names and faces, to capture them before they were lost.
In addition, we are gathering information on local service and military groups, veterans services and resources available to veterans and their families.
Our goal is to pay special tribute to our servicemen and servicewomen, paying special honor to those who have earned this country's highest honors.
The publication will include photos of our veterans — all are invited to send a service photo of those who served in their family, as well as information on the branch of service, years of service and location of service.
There will be overviews of each branch of the military, contacts of those involved.
Please send your photos and information by Oct. 22 to news@bonnercountydailybee.com.
