http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2008-05/lest-we-forget
USNI
U.S. NAVAL INSTITUTE
Lest We Forget
Issue: Proceedings Magazine - May 2008 Vol. 134/5/1,263
By Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired)
Joint Warfare at Guadalcanal
A month after their landing at Guadalcanal, with the outcome of that campaign far from decided, the Marines decided to push beyond their defensive perimeter and advance west across the Matanikau River to prevent the consolidation of Japanese forces then threatening to strike U.S. positions in overwhelming numbers. Several times the Marines tried to cross the river, and each time met great resistance.
On 27 September 1942, three companies of the 7th Marines were assigned to make a flanking attack by landing in a small cove west of Point Cruz. Ten personnel and tank landing craft (LCP, LCT) were dispatched from a base at Lunga Point with Coast Guard Signalman First Class Douglas Munro—just two weeks short of his 23rd birthday—in charge.
With the destroyer Monssen (DD-436) assigned to provide fire support, the Marines landed unopposed. Once the landing party was safely on the beach, the small craft returned to Lunga Point, leaving one LCP behind to evacuate the wounded, should that become necessary.
The 500 Marines pushed inland. As they reached a ridge about 500 yards from the beach, they were attacked by a large Japanese force. At the same moment, the Monssen was driven off by enemy bombers. The Marines began taking heavy casualties, and the single landing craft, manned by Navy Coxswain Samuel B. Roberts and Coast Guard Petty Officer Ray Evans, valiantly moved in under heavy fire to evacuate the wounded. While embarking the casualties, a machine gun burst parted the rudder cable and damaged the boat's controls. Roberts was able to jury-rig the rudder before he was mortally wounded; Evans then jammed the controls to full ahead and sped back to Lunga Point Base with the wounded Marines, running the damaged craft onto the beach at 20 knots on his arrival.
When he heard that the Marines back at the cove were in grave danger, Munro, who had led the boats in the original landing, assisted by Evans, who had just returned from the cove with the wounded Marines, volunteered to lead the boats back to rescue the others.
As the young Coast Guardsmen returned to the cove, the Japanese fired on them from three strong interlocking positions, causing a number of casualties. Despite the danger, Munro and Evans provided covering fire from an exposed position while the Marines made their way to the beach.
Despite murderous fire from the ridges, Munro then maneuvered his boat between the enemy and the Marines, shielding them as they made their escape.
With the Marines safely on board, the boats withdrew. But as they passed Point Cruz, they saw an LCT full of Marines grounded on the beach. Munro steered his craft in to assist, and soon had the stranded LCT free and heading to sea. Before they could get far from shore, however, a Japanese machine gun fired at the boats and hit Munro in the base of the skull. He died before reaching the operating base.
It was a day of extraordinary heroism in which a Navy Sailor and two Coast Guardsmen ensured that many Marines would live to ultimately prevail at Guadalcanal. Coast Guard Petty Officer Douglas Munro was awarded the Medal of Honor, the first ever awarded to a member of that service. Navy Petty Officer Samuel B. Roberts and Coast Guard Petty Officer Ray Evans each received the Navy Cross.
http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1988_537336
chron Houston Chronicle Archives
U.S. blasts 5 Iranian targets
Houston Chronicle News Services
MON 04/18/1988 HOUSTON CHRONICLE
MANAMA, Bahrain - The U.S. Navy today destroyed two offshore Iranian oil platforms, sank a defending Iranian patrol boat and bombed two Iranian frigates. Iran attacked oil facilities off Sharjah and fired on at least two U.S. vessels.
The U.S. attack on the Persian Gulf oil platforms came in retaliation for a mine explosion that tore a hole in a U.S. frigate last week, injuring 10 crewmen.
"We aim to deter further Iranian aggression - not provoke it," President Reagan said. "They must know that we will protect our ships, and if they threaten us, they'll pay a price."
One U.S. warship fired missiles at two approaching Iranian jet fighters, but the fighters reversed course; it was unclear whether they were hit, Carlucci said.
He said an Iranian patrol boat fired on the U.S. cruiser Wainwright, which took part in the attack on one of the platforms. The Wainwright was not hit.
http://www.orbital.com/SpaceLaunch/L1011/index.shtml
Orbital
L-1011 Launch & Research Platform
"Stargazer" L-1011 Carrier Aircraft
Airborne Launch and Research Platform
"Stargazer" is an L-1011 commercial transport aircraft modified to serve as the launch platform for Orbital’s air-launched Pegasus rocket as well as a platform for airborne research projects.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_L-1011_TriStar
Lockheed L-1011 TriStar
The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, commonly referred to as just L-1011 (pronounced "ell-ten-eleven") or TriStar, is a medium-to-long range, widebody passenger trijet airliner. It was the third widebody airliner to enter commercial operations
The design featured a twin-aisle interior with a maximum of 400 passengers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Princeton_(CG-59)
USS Princeton (CG-59)
USS Princeton (CG-59) is a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser serving in the United States Navy. Armed with naval guns and anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine missiles, plus other weapons, she is equipped for surface-to-air, surface-to-surface, and anti-submarine warfare. She also is the home of two Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters. This warship is named for the Revolutionary War victories over the British by George Washington in and around the town of Princeton, New Jersey.
