This first strike by the United States against the Japanese home islands after Pearl Harbor did little damage.
Nevertheless, when the news of the raid was released, American morale soared. Reeling from the attack on Pearl Harbor and Japan's subsequent territorial gains, it was important for the American public to know that a successful military response had been undertaken
I'm married to a historian, a former Naval officer from a family of World War II Navy Veterans.
Next to the family photos in our home is more than one photo of General Jimmy Doolittle. A painting of Doolittle's take off from the USS Hornet on his way to bomb Japan hangs prominently. It's signed by the General.
Paul has exposed me to the story for over thirty years. A year ago today, I had one of my life's greatest experiences that has led me to learn all of the story.
Each year as many of the surviving Raiders as possible, and their families, gather at a reunion. In 2008, the reunion was held in Dallas. Paul and I were privileged to attend the luncheon on April 18, 2008 - the sixty-sixth anniversary of the raid.
In 2008, eleven Raiders were still with us; six were able to attend the reunion.
Two have since passed on - Major General Davy M. Jones and M/Sgt. Edwin W. Horton, Jr.
Attending in 2008 eight were (from
left to right):Col. William M. Bower, pilot of Crew No. 12
Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, co-pilot on Crew No. 1
Major Thomas C. Griffin, navigator on Crew No. 9
Lt. Col. Robert L. Hite, co-pilot on Crew No. 16
M/Sgt Edwin W. Horton, Jr. engineer/gunner on Crew No. 10
S/Sgt David J. Thatcher engineer/gunner on Crew No. 7
Speaking in the photo above is honorary Raider and Doolittle Raiders Historian Col. Carroll V. Glines.
Our luncheon companions were family members of Col. Bower and the son of Col. James H. Macia, Jr., Navigator of Crew No. 14, whose health kept him from attending.
Each memory of the day is very special and precious but there were three I hold closest.
Each Raider was escorted during his stay in Dallas by an active-duty Air Force Sergeant. The incredible affection of each of the younger men for "his" Raider was a joy to watch.
The Air Force ROTC members from the University of North Texas who presented the colors were free to return to campus after the luncheon. Many, if not all, stood at the back of the reception and just watched. Their joy at being in the company of these heroes was a very special moment.
Finally, the silver goblets.At each reunion a solemn, private ceremony in which the surviving Raiders perform a roll call, then toast their fellow Raiders who have passed on.
Specially-engraved silver goblets, one for each of the 80 Raiders, are used for this toast. The goblets of those who have died are inverted.
When only two Raiders remain alive, they will drink a final toast using the vintage 1896 (the year of Doolittle's birth) bottle of Hennessey Cognac which accompanies the goblets to each Raider reunion.
All of this joy also includes one regret. Sergeant Jacob DeShazer passed away just a few weeks before the reunion. His story is one of strength that is almost impossible to comprehend. I would have liked to shake his hand.
