Episode 156: In the Navy; JFK, Part III

 

After graduating form Harvard, JFK isn't sure of his next steps. He knows that he needs to find a way to serve - the world is at war and everyone is sure the US will soon join the fight.

With the help of his father, he follows his brother's footsteps and joins the navy, but soon both Kennedy boys realize their dad is likely pulling strings to keep them out of harms way... and having raised children taught to fight for what they want, both eventually go behind their father's back and get into the fight.

Episode 155: Harvard, London, and a World at War; JFK, Part II

 

JFK's collegiate path was never in doubt - his application essay (which I read in full on the podcast) is evidence of that - but after he begins university, his father's new senior position in the US government gives Jack a front row seat to the collapse of peace in Europe and leaves his struggling with how and why it happened.

Fortunately for him, that gives him a great idea for his senior thesis, which becomes a best selling book, but also leaves his grappling which what his role will be when the United States inevitably enters World War II.

Episode 154: Brookline to Hyannis Port - Growing Up Kennedy; JFK, Part I

 

Jack Kennedy - Age 10

More than four years ago - way back in Episode 13 - I shared the story of President John F. Kennedy's funeral as part of the series on the establishment of Arlington as a cemetery. At that time I said that I would probably share the story of how Kennedy became eligible for burial at Arlington (specifically his military service, not his election as president), and that time has finally come.

Jack Kennedy (left) age 2 and Joe, Jr age 4

But before we get to his time in the Navy, I am going to talk a little about his childhood, which was not as idyllic as it may have seemed from the outside (just wait until you hear younger brother Bobby's recollection about what Joe, Jr. like to do to poor Jack when they were young).

JFK - age 8 (second from left) and his siblings at Hyannis Port, MA

Episode 153: A Soldier of Three Armies

 

US Army Major Larry Thorne is the only known SS officer buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was also an officer in the Finish army that fought the Russians several times during World War II and he was one the early US Army Special Forces (Green Berets) officers.

In his Finnish Uniform

Thorne's story is a truly remarkable tale about a man who went to great lengths to try to keep his county out of the Soviet Union's sphere of influence, and when that failed, he looked for other ways to continue the fight against communism. He also stepped on multiple land mines at a time he should have really been watching where he placed his feet.

Major Larry Alan Thorne is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 60, Grave 8136.

Episode 152: The Legend of Johnny Shiloh

 

There are many legends from the Civil War surrounding drummer boys on the battlefield. Arguably, the most famous of these is about Johnny Shiloh, who gave the ultimate sacrifice on the Shiloh battlefield in Tennessee. The problem with this legend is that it is probably based on a boy named John Clem, who not only didn't in battle, he wasn't even at Shiloh. He did make a name for himself at Chickamauga, though.

Through a series of fortunate events, Clem not only survived the war, but was able to continue his service and become an officer after the war.

Clem ended up service in the Army for more than fifty years, and when all was said and done, he attained the rank of major general.

When he died at age 85, he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 2, Grave 993 and despite his senior rank, he chose to highlight his exploits are a drummer boy on a civil war battlefield.

While John Clem was the youngest sergeant in US Army history, bugler John Cook hold the distinction as the youngest soldier to earn the medal of honor for actions on the battlefield, by single-handedly manning a cannon at Antietam after its crew was all killed or wounded. At least, single-handedly until a general rode by, hopped off his horse, and helped man the gun.

Unlike Clem, after the war, Cook returned to civilian life but was awarded the medal of honor 30 years later. His military service and his medal qualified Cook for burial at Arlington and when he passed away at age 67, he was interred in Section 17, Grave 18613.

Episode 151: A Tale of Two Soldiers, Part III

This week, we conclude this tale of two soldiers - of Brigadier General Smith and Lieutenant Colonel Waller - with a court martial, but surprisingly it isn't for war crimes conducted by Smith... at least not initially.

Army Brigadier General Jacob Hurd Smith died on March 1, 1918 at age 78. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 3, Grave 1924.

Marine Corps Major General Littleton Waller Tazwell "Tony" Waller died on July 13, 1926 at age 69. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 4, Grave 3311.

Episode 150: A Tale of Two Soldiers, Part II

 

When US Army Brigadier General Jacob Smith issued an order that authorized the genocide of Filipinos during the Philippine Insurrection, only one of his subordinates stepped in and tried to stop it - Marine Corps Major Littleton "Tony" Waller, but a massacre of a US Infantry Company at the hands of Moro rebels made stopping the deaths of innocent women and children much more difficult.