Courage, submitted David Excel, Chapter President
submitted by: SUP Pioneer Stories Cedar City Chapter June Newsletter
On April 18, 1942, sixteen B-25B Mitchell bombers were launched from the U.S. Naval aircraft carrier Hornet, loitering in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Each plane had a crew of 5 airmen, each plane being fully loaded with conventional bombs. The squadron was led by Lieutenant
Colonel Jimmy Doolittle. Their mission was a raid on the Japanese capital of Tokyo and other nearby areas on the island of Honshu.
This was a one-way flight, as the planes only carried fuel to fly to Japan and then continue on to China, where the plan was to land and be rescued. The Doolittle squadron had no fighter escorts, and the outcome of their mission was certainly in question.
I often think of the courage and patriotism of these airmen. And they were not alone! All across the world, airmen, soldiers, marines, and seamen went to battle, day in and day out, knowing they might not come home to their families.
Hardly a day passes that I do not think of my father who was a flight engineer on a B-24 flying over Germany in that same war. That crew did 49 bombing runs, double the standard, because of aircraft attrition. Fully one-half of those crews were lost over Europe!
I am not downplaying the courage of those we call “heroes” today. Our society elevates those in sports, entertainment, and politics to hero status. Many people attain great levels of education and ability, and we certainly are benefactors of their achievements.
But courage is a very special characteristic most don’t adequately understand. It is defined by elements of danger, fear, and difficulty. It is the moral strength and faith to withstand those elements and persevere through them.
I believe those pioneers whom we study, and honor, were men and women of substantial courage. Certainly, they faced danger, fear, and difficulty. Because of them, we stand in comfortable circumstances and on hallowed lands. When we talk of courage, we must include the pioneers who came to Iron County and the surrounding areas.
In the grand scheme of things, Colonel Doolittle’s raid didn’t do much damage. However, the psychological impact on the enemy war effort was profound. For the first time in WWII, Japanese leaders sensed their vulnerability and their subsequent defeat at the Battle of Midway was a turning point in the war.
I suppose most of our pioneer ancestors could never have imagined what our society looks like today. They would humbly proclaim they had little to do with what we’ve become. But we know better; we know we stand on their shoulders and bask in their courage.
David Excell
Chapter President