Former Oklahoma governor, corpsman honored for service in WWII
By Michael McNutt
Capitol Bureau
Two Oklahomans — one a well-known politician and the other a quiet businessman — were honored for fighting on Iwo Jima in one of World War II's bloodiest battles.
Henry Bellmon, who served two terms as governor of Oklahoma and two terms as a U.S. senator, and Ted Anderson of Tulsa, who was in the electronics business until retiring, each received a large, 10-by-19-foot American flag Tuesday that had been flown over the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va.
"We are here to honor real heroes,” said Norman Lamb, state secretary of veterans affairs.
Heroism honored
Bellmon was a tank platoon leader who was awarded a Silver Star for his performance on Iwo Jima. Anderson was a Navy corpsman who suffered serious head injuries and didn't receive medical attention until he brought wounded Marines to a field hospital on the 7-square-mile island.
"I don't think we deserve all the plugs you've given us, but we'll take them anyway,” Bellmon said.
Anderson, 83, said: "I'm really thankful to the Lord for his care for me after 22 days or better on that island. I went from one end to the other.”
The flag presentation was coordinated by the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial Flag Detail, which was co-founded by Oklahoma City attorney Robert Manchester. The nonprofit organization works to ensure that an appropriate flag is always flying over the memorial.
"What would the world be like today if we hadn't fought World War II and won it?” Bellmon asked the approximately 100 who attended the state Capitol ceremony. "I don't think any of us can fathom what a disaster that would have been for the human race.”
Americans should be aware "that bad things do happen sometimes unless we stand up and take our responsibilities and do the unpleasant work that has to be done,” he said.
Seeing flag brought hope
Bellmon, who after the ceremony gave Gov. Brad Henry a Marine coin, said he remembered vividly the first time he saw the flag flying from Mount Suribachi.
"We had been on the island for several days and things weren't going too well,” he said. "You just felt like every day would be your last and you had no choice but to go up and do what you could.”
Bellmon, 86, said after the ceremony that seeing the flag flying from Mount Suribachi, the 550-foot volcanic cone that dominated the island, gave him hope.
Historians described the U.S. forces' attack on the Japanese defense as "throwing human flesh against reinforced concrete.”
Lamb said the battle for the island, about 700 miles south of Tokyo, "was 36 days of hell on Earth.” American forces invaded shortly before 2 a.m. Feb. 19, 1945; the battle ended March 26.
When fighting stopped, Americans suffered more than 25,800 casualties; more than 6,800 were killed. The Japanese force of 21,000 was virtually wiped out — only 300 were taken prisoner.
Veterans recall combat
Every Marine, everywhere on the island was always in range of Japanese guns.
Two primary targets were the corpsmen, or medics, and the tanks.
"I carried my gun, I didn't want them to know I was a corpsman,” Anderson said.
"I didn't take any red cross on my helmet. We followed the guys wherever they went and whenever anybody was hurt, we would take care of them.”
Bellmon's tank was struck as it tried to get off the beach, but Bellmon, then a lieutenant, continued to direct his tank platoon in the attack.
Bellmon had two other tanks shot out from underneath him, the second blast killing much of his crew.
He got another one and continued to fight.
Again this video is all about the former govener, but I just had to inclued it because there is a shot of Mr. Anderson receiving his flag. For some reason the camera man (and the guy editing the video) seemed to have really enjoyed showing none other than our very own Ken Miller. They show a shot of the the people seated and he is there in the center, and then the press pool and there he is again!
Capitol Bureau
Two Oklahomans — one a well-known politician and the other a quiet businessman — were honored for fighting on Iwo Jima in one of World War II's bloodiest battles.
Henry Bellmon, who served two terms as governor of Oklahoma and two terms as a U.S. senator, and Ted Anderson of Tulsa, who was in the electronics business until retiring, each received a large, 10-by-19-foot American flag Tuesday that had been flown over the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va.
"We are here to honor real heroes,” said Norman Lamb, state secretary of veterans affairs.
Heroism honored
Bellmon was a tank platoon leader who was awarded a Silver Star for his performance on Iwo Jima. Anderson was a Navy corpsman who suffered serious head injuries and didn't receive medical attention until he brought wounded Marines to a field hospital on the 7-square-mile island.
"I don't think we deserve all the plugs you've given us, but we'll take them anyway,” Bellmon said.
Anderson, 83, said: "I'm really thankful to the Lord for his care for me after 22 days or better on that island. I went from one end to the other.”
The flag presentation was coordinated by the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial Flag Detail, which was co-founded by Oklahoma City attorney Robert Manchester. The nonprofit organization works to ensure that an appropriate flag is always flying over the memorial.
"What would the world be like today if we hadn't fought World War II and won it?” Bellmon asked the approximately 100 who attended the state Capitol ceremony. "I don't think any of us can fathom what a disaster that would have been for the human race.”
Americans should be aware "that bad things do happen sometimes unless we stand up and take our responsibilities and do the unpleasant work that has to be done,” he said.
Seeing flag brought hope
Bellmon, who after the ceremony gave Gov. Brad Henry a Marine coin, said he remembered vividly the first time he saw the flag flying from Mount Suribachi.
"We had been on the island for several days and things weren't going too well,” he said. "You just felt like every day would be your last and you had no choice but to go up and do what you could.”
Bellmon, 86, said after the ceremony that seeing the flag flying from Mount Suribachi, the 550-foot volcanic cone that dominated the island, gave him hope.
Historians described the U.S. forces' attack on the Japanese defense as "throwing human flesh against reinforced concrete.”
Lamb said the battle for the island, about 700 miles south of Tokyo, "was 36 days of hell on Earth.” American forces invaded shortly before 2 a.m. Feb. 19, 1945; the battle ended March 26.
When fighting stopped, Americans suffered more than 25,800 casualties; more than 6,800 were killed. The Japanese force of 21,000 was virtually wiped out — only 300 were taken prisoner.
Veterans recall combat
Every Marine, everywhere on the island was always in range of Japanese guns.
Two primary targets were the corpsmen, or medics, and the tanks.
"I carried my gun, I didn't want them to know I was a corpsman,” Anderson said.
"I didn't take any red cross on my helmet. We followed the guys wherever they went and whenever anybody was hurt, we would take care of them.”
Bellmon's tank was struck as it tried to get off the beach, but Bellmon, then a lieutenant, continued to direct his tank platoon in the attack.
Bellmon had two other tanks shot out from underneath him, the second blast killing much of his crew.
He got another one and continued to fight.
Again this video is all about the former govener, but I just had to inclued it because there is a shot of Mr. Anderson receiving his flag. For some reason the camera man (and the guy editing the video) seemed to have really enjoyed showing none other than our very own Ken Miller. They show a shot of the the people seated and he is there in the center, and then the press pool and there he is again!
3 comments:
Cool! Thanks for posting honey.
Thanks for the post! I cried when I saw Grandpa, and laughed when I saw Dad. Silly photographic man.
Thanks so much for posting this Brandon! It was great to see!
~Jennifer R~
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