Dan Carlin: War Remains

[Speaker to Animals]

Yeah, it says he hit Viet Kong positions in South Vietnam.

Still got a Distinguished Flying Cross at the end of WW2. Brigadier General in the USAF Reserves.

[Smitty-48]

It was one heck of an Arc Light mind you, 30 B-52s in the stream, against three targets.

[Speaker to Animals]

WW2 and Vietnam veteran, technically. That's impressive.

[Speaker to Animals]

Stewart piloted these death traps over Germany and Occupied Europe — braving flak bursts and fighter attacks — more than 20 times.

And even though aircrews were suffering the highest casualty rates of all American combat units, Stewart found a loophole that allowed him to fly more missions than Air Force regulations allowed.

By the time the war in Europe was over, James Stewart had been promoted from private to colonel.



His leadership and courage under fire earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross. His devotion to his men earned their lifelong admiration. And no pilot wore his cap any better.

Dude was like, fuck only twenty sorties. I got this.

[Smitty-48]

He reportedly suffered from PTSD from the Second World War, so flying any combat mission after is impressive considering.

[Speaker to Animals]

Figuring out how to fly more than twenty sorties was impressive. That's just heroic when you consider the fatality rate. Most of them didn't actually make it to twenty.

[Smitty-48]

When he arrived at the 453rd Bombardment Group in 44', the CO had just been killed on the previous mission.

Stewart volunteered to lead the Group over a target deep inside Germany, in order to foster the morale.

[Fife]

I may skip some reading tonight and throw in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

Jimmy was a bad ass, and the Duke knew it. Bet dat.

[Smitty-48]

I was never into the whole theater of the mind thing.

For theatrical First World War, I think Gallipoli has it covered.

[C-Mag]

WW2 and Vietnam veteran, technically. That's impressive.

Lots of sports and entertainment big names were there for their country. Stewart did it as good as any of them.