I recently returned from Bouchercon in Nashville. This month I am honoring five of my favorite military heroes, partly because one of my favorites is from Tennessee.
Those who follow my writing know that I struggle with the superhero image that permeates thriller books and movies. At Bouchercon, an editor and I discussed a story about a ten year-old boy who endangers his life to protect his mother, who is then accused of murder, and hides, surviving on his own for months. Her comment about this powerful character was to “write another book where the boy grows up and becomes a new Jack Reacher.” I love Lee Childs’ books, but if faced with a crisis, I don’t believe someone is going to come charging in on a white horse to save me.
AUDIE MURPHY was born into poverty in Texas. His plan of escape was to join the military. He was so scrawny that the armed forces didn’t want him until he finally talked his way into the infantry. Murphy, whose commitment to those around him turned him into a fighting fury became America’s most decorated combat soldier of World War II. He was always afraid, but his commitment led to promotions, finally retiring with the rank of Major at the end of the war. He led by example and paid an emotional price for the rest of his life.
WOODY WILLIAMS, born into poverty in West Virginia, joined the Marines because he liked the uniform. He was small and had to fight to get in. He was trained in demolition and flame thrower technology but had little training in their use. At the battle of Iwo Jima, Woody watched as American tanks and troops were destroyed by concrete Japanese positions. For hours, supported by four riflemen, he destroyed bunker after bunker. A squad of enemy soldiers tried to bayonet him. He killed the entire squad. He died in 2022, the last surviving World War II medal of honor winner.
ALVIN YORK, uneducated, raised on a farm in Tennessee. He was very religious and the thought of killing another man troubled him deeply. He learned to shoot by hunting game for the family table. Forced into World War I, he found himself in France. One day in 1918 he and seven others found themselves trapped behind enemy lines. With his buddies pinned down, Alvin systematically killed dozens of Germans and freeing his men. The eight of them continued the fight capturing 132 enemy soldiers. He devoted his later life to educating others.
EDDIE RICKENBACKER was the son of poor Swiss immigrants. A grade school dropout, he somehow overcame the requirement of a college degree to begin pilot training. He became the top scoring American pilot in World War I, taking down 26 enemy planes, and commander of his air squadron. At home he founded a car company and Eastern Airlines. In World War II, he survived three weeks on a raft in the Pacific with a handful of others, a remarkable story of survival.
HIROSHI MIYAMURA, emerged from fear of Japanese Americans in New Mexico to join the famous 442 Regimental Combat Team of World War II. He was a machine gunner in the Korean War, facing thousands of attacking Chinese soldiers. Over several hours he fought from position to position, each time allowing his squad members to retreat. He killed over 50 Chinese soldiers before he ran out of ammunition and was captured. He was held as a POW for 28 months under brutal conditions. After the war, Hiroshi returned to New Mexico and ran a gas station but remained devoted to veteran causes. His granddaughter is an Air Force officer.