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[porthole]

A Real American Hero - not some sports knucklehead


Two-time Navy Cross Recipient Dies
June 30, 2009
Stars and Stripes

Marine Corps Capt. Kenneth Reusser and his wingman were flying a mission in the Pacific region during World War II when they came upon a Japanese surveillance plane.

The cold air had frozen the fighters’ guns, so Reusser tipped his F4U-4 Corsair toward the aircraft, allowing his wingman to rake his propeller across the plane’s tail. The move downed the enemy plane and would have been a heroic highlight of any military career. But it was just a start for Reusser.

Known as one of the most decorated Marine Corps aviators ever, he died June 20 of natural causes at age 89 in Oregon.

Reusser was awarded 59 medals during his career, including two Navy Crosses, four Purple Hearts and two Legions of Merit. He retired from the service a colonel, The Associated Press and Oregon media reported.

He was shot down five times during 259 combat missions in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam — at least once in each conflict.

In 1950, Reusser led an attack on a North Korean factory. Despite heavy anti-aircraft fire, he dipped down to window level of the facility and saw that it was being used to repair enemy tanks, according to the citation for his second Navy Cross.

He flew to his aircraft carrier to re-arm with rockets and napalm and then returned to destroy the facility, again braving the anti-aircraft fire.

Reusser’s plane had been damaged and his heavy ordnance was gone, but before returning from the mission, he flew low and pumped his machine guns into a North Korean oil tanker, the citation said.

The tanker exploded, knocking his plane momentarily out of control, but he managed to right it and return to the carrier.

In Vietnam, Reusser flew helicopters and was leading a rescue mission when his Huey was shot down. He was badly wounded and needed skin grafts over 35 percent of his burned body, the AP reported.

Reusser lived in the Portland suburb of Milwaukie. He was born Jan. 27, 1920, the son of a minister, and raced motorcycles to help pay for college and earn a pilot’s license before WWII.

After retiring from the Marine Corps, he worked for Lockheed Aircraft and the Piasecki Helicopter Corp. and was active in veterans groups.

[Ironhorse]

Great Story!

It reminds me of the soldier who served with the 442 Regimental Combat Team. This was the unit made up of Americans of Japanese descent some of whom were held in relocation camps. Anyway this one soldier had his Silver Star and Distinguised Service Cross upgraded to a Congressional Medal Of Honor. He was an island boy living "Da Good Life" in Hawaii (my home state) when he got a call from the White House inviting him to the Rose Garden for the decoration ceremony. His response was "That was so long ago, just put it in the mail and send it to me. It's too far to travel from Hawaii". The White House Office of Protocol told him that he HAD to attend as he was being decorated personally by then President Clinton. So he went, was decorated and then returned to Hawaii. Upon return he was surrounded by TV cameras wanting his story. All he could say was that he served his country and did what was asked of him. He could NOT understand what the big deal was.

Still brings tears to my eyes when I think of it.

Mark