Valor Tales

Born in 1926 in East Los Angeles, Guy Gabaldon had an unconventional upbringing. Being of Mexican descent and one of seven children, he helped his family make ends meet by shining shoes in Skid Row. Joining a multi-ethnic street gang called the “Moe Gang” he was “adopted” by the Nakano family at age 12. Living with these Japanese-Americans, he attended language classes with the other children in the family daily, learning Japanese and about the culture. At the start of World War II, the Nakanos (with Gabaldon) were sent to a Japanese internment camp in Wyoming. From there, Gabaldon went to Alaska to work in a cannery. On his 17th birthday in 1943 he joined the US Marine Corps. Gabaldon (Right), During the War Receiving his basic training at Camp Pendleton, he went to San Diego for the Marine Corps Japanese language training. He was then assigned to Headquarters and Service Company (HSC), 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division (2nd MARDIV). June 15th, 1944 saw Gabaldon...

AMERICAN AWARDS - A Brief History America, fiercely against many European military traditions, did not have a formal system for any awards or decorations for decades after its forming. In fact, they were so anti-European, that the US Navy didn’t have the rank of admiral until the Civil War (nearly 100 years after the country’s founding) because it was too Imperial. There were two Revolutionary War-era awards however. Both were awarded in exceptionally small numbers (three awards each) and neither were awarded beyond the end of the war. The oldest, and first, American award was the Fidelity Medallion. It was awarded to the soldiers who captured British Major John Andre. Andre was famously the British point of contact for Benedict Arnold (a disaffected American general who turned traitor and gave Britain intelligence in exchange for a British generalcy). Only three men of the New York Militia received the award and it was never bestowed again. Often referred to (incorrectly) as A...

In US Navy history, women were largely restricted to the Nurse Corps until World War II. There was a short period of women working in a variety of roles in the Navy during WWI, but all were discharged after the war. So from the beginning of the US Navy until 1942, women were only permitted to serve in the Navy as nurses. One such woman is my subject today. Ann Bernatitus, who retired as a captain from the US Navy in 1959, is a story worth telling. Bernatitus was commissioned as an ensign into the Nurse Corps in 1936 after graduating college in 1934 and completing a post-graduate program in operating room nursing in 1935. Her first postings were to naval hospitals in Massachusetts and Maryland. In 1940, as the world was succumbing to war, Bernatitus was assigned to USS Chaumont, a transport ship in the Pacifc. The ship's typical duties saw her moving men and materiel from Hawaii to Manila. In July, 1940, on one of these trips, now Lieutenant (J.G.) Bernatitus was re...

The military is one of those rare places where two men from radically different backgrounds and stations in life can have their paths cross in the most amazing of ways. Today's story is one such as this. The morning of Dec 7th, 1941 is a day that, as FDR said, will "live in infamy." Of the many heroic men and women on duty and off on that fateful morning involved in the unprovoked Japanese attack, two found themselves coming together in the midst of the battle in an unexpected way. Captain Mervyn Sharp Bennion Captain Mervyn Bennion, 54 years old, of the battleship USS West Virginia, which was moored at Pearl, had been educated at Annapolis. Graduating third in his class of 1910, he was known as a fountain of knowledge to his fellow midshipmen, and was well regarded by staff and students alike. A child of Mormon pioneers in the Utah territory, he grew up working ranches and his father's store in the small town of Vernon. Bennion became a gunnery ...

American military history is filled with some very interesting characters. From the boisterous and bombastic personality of a Teddy Roosevelt to the quiet dignity of Bill Crawford, American military heroes come in all colors, creeds, and backgrounds. Last week's discussion of some brave medical officers continues. Today, I'll discuss two who have a rightly earned place in American military history. Leonard Wood Many of us have been to Fort Leonard Wood, colloquially known as "Fort Lost-in-the-Woods" for it's, shall we say, ample and scenic forests and little else (though there is some good caves for spelunking). As with many military bases, we don't give much thought to the namesake for such places. At first glance, Leonard Wood, having been a major general and Chief of Staff of the United States Army, would seem a fitting person to name any facility after. Dig a little deeper and you'll see a much more incredible story of a man who truly deserves...

We all know of the valor displayed under fire my many members of the Medical Corps such as Desmond Doss or Edward Byers. This week though, I'd like to highlight the valor of the least admired in the medical profession; dentists. One does not usually think of dentists as being at the forefront of military combat, but this week I'll highlight three that were and showed what a dentist can be made of. Three dentists have received Medals of Honor for valor on the battlefield. When these men ask if you've been flossing, you'd better have been flossing. Alexander Gordon Lyle Our first dental corps Medal of Honor recipient survived his encounter with the enemy. Alexander Gordon Lyle was awarded his Medal for service during World War I, but continued to serve through the Second World War, retiring as a vice admiral after 33 years of service. A native of Gloucester, MA, Lyle attended Baltimore College, graduating in 1912 with a degree in dentistry. He joined...