Memorial Day

Below are the stark details of the death of an American hero few have probably read about. I chose Lt Luke to write about because I live in Arizona and he was one of only two aviators who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic efforts in WWI. When you read this you might think that shooting down a few balloons is no big deal. It was a huge feat in WWI. Tethered balloons were used as mobile observation platforms to direct enemy artillery fire.

Each time a balloon was destroyed hundreds, maybe thousands of lives could be saved because accurate artillery fire could not be directed on the advancing allied forces. Balloons were prime targets during WWI, even more important than chasing enemy aircraft. Many aircraft were dispatched the day before to destroy one balloon alone. The one balloon that Lt Luke finally destroyed before being shot down. Of the five aircraft (maybe seven) dispatched the day before to destroy the balloon, none were able to get the job done. Lt Luke learned that the balloons were most vulnerable during the short time they were being deployed to the observation site or taken back to their hangers.

He used this knowledge to reek havoc on the enemy, often as a lone attacker. The affidavit below gives the particulars on his death.

I challenge others to go to http://memorialdayproject.exposuremanager.com/ and submit stories and photos of American heros. It would be great to get photos of the sacrifices Americans have made from every state and territory.

It's time to restore the meaning of Memorial Day.

Murvaux Affidavit

"The undersigned, living in Murvaux, Department of the Meuse, certify to have seen on the 29th of September, 1918, toward evening an American aviator followed by an escadrille of Germans in the direction of Liny, descend suddenly and vertically toward the earth, then straighten out close to the ground and fly in the direction of Briers Farm, where he found a German captive balloon which he burned. Then he flew toward Milly where he found another balloon which he also burned in spite of incessant fire directed toward his machine. There he apparantly was wounded by a shot from rapid fire cannon. From there he came back over Murvaux and still with his guns he killed six German soldiers and wounded as many more. Following this he landed and got out of his machine, undoubtedly to quench his thirst at the stream. He had gone 50 yeards when seeing the Germans come toward him still had the strength to draw his revolver to defend himself. A moment after he fell dead following a serious wound he received in the chest. 

Signatures of the following inhabitants:

Perton
René Colon
Auguste Cuny
Henry Gustave
Eugene Coline
Odile Patouche
Richard Victor

Valentine Garre
Gustave Carre
Leon Henry
Cortine Delbart
Gabriel Didier
Camille Phillips
Voliner Nicholas

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