Chamber Life: Stories from the life and times of Fort Walton Beach Chamber members…
By Kelly Murphy-Redd
Toasting fallen comrades is a military tradition going back thousands of years to the Vikings, Roman Legions and King Arthur’s Roundtable.
At the Doolittle Raider’s annual reunion in 1959, the city of Tucson, Arizona, presented the Raiders with sterling silver goblets, each bearing the name of one of the 80 men who flew on the mission. The names were engraved twice so they could be read right side up and upside down. After white-gloved cadets filled the goblets with cognac, the Raiders would call roll, toast the Raiders who had died since their last reunion, and then turn the goblets of those who had died upside down.
On April 18, 2022, the last goblet was turned upside down in the final toasting ceremony held at Northwest Florida State College. The last surviving member of the Doolittle Raiders, Col. Richard “Dick” Cole, passed away in 2019. He was 103 years old.
Rich Cole, the son of Col. Richard Cole spoke at the gathering of ODA 595 (Operational Detachment Alpha), known to most of us as the Horse Soldiers of Afghanistan. The event, held in Fort Walton Beach last year, was hosted by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce and members of the community.
There are connections between the Doolittle Raiders and ODA 595.
The United States was attacked on our soil twice in our history. On December 7, 1941,
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. On September 11, 2001, Islamic terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Our military devised daring and dangerous responses to these attacks. Our military heroes knew the missions could be their last. They knew going in, they might not come home. During his speech, Rich Cole cited other similarities. The missions were first responses, “crazy ideas,” successful, books and movies were made about them, and the chance of survival was low.
On April 18, 1942, the Doolittle Raiders, trained at Eglin AFB, flew B-25s off the aircraft carrier the Hornet to bomb Japan. Planning to take off 400 to 600 miles from the target, they were forced to take off 820 miles from Tokyo when a Japanese vessel spotted the carrier and alerted the Japanese military by radio transmission. If it was impossible to make it to the China coast after the mission, the Raiders were to ditch their planes in the sea and make it to shore in rubber boats. Fourteen tons of bombs were dropped on the Japanese mainland hitting virtually all of the targets. No planes were lost to antiaircraft fire.
Corp. Leland Faktor, Sgt. William Dieter, and Corp. Donald Fitzmaurice died during bailouts or crash landings. Four of the raiders were prisoners of the Japanese until the end of the war. Lieut. Robert J. Meder, died of dysentery in 1943. Lieut. Dean Hallmark, Lieut. William Farrow, and Sgt. Harold Spatz were executed in October 1942.
ODA 595 was the first Special Forces group inserted into Afghanistan to topple the Taliban, who were providing a safe haven for Osama bin Laden. The mission was called Task Force Dagger. Having to use horses, not tanks or trucks, they had a crash course on horseback riding as soon as they arrived. The horses were not trained, saddles were made of cows’ pelvic bones, and they had to jerry-rig the short stirrups with parachute cords. ODA 595 first headed to Uzbekistan on Oct. 5, 2001, then crossed into Afghanistan on Oct. 19 in an MH-47 Chinook helicopter. They worked with Afghan allies they didn’t know if they could trust and trained and fought alongside the Northern Alliance.
Able to travel day or night, the horses allowed them to get around and behind the enemy, cutting them off from reinforcements or retreat. A critical function of the Special Forces team was to call in air strikes on the Taliban. The horses allowed them to find the enemy’s position in the primitive and rugged terrain. This is how they became known as The Horse Soldiers of Afghanistan.
On Nov. 10, ODA 595 and militia allies liberated the city of Mazar-e-Sharif from the Taliban. Weeks later, the Taliban surrendered in other areas of Afghanistan.
At the ODA 595 event in October of 2022, the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce presented the 12 Horse Soldiers of Afghanistan with sterling silver canteen cups, each bearing their names. The “humble” canteen cup was the choice of the men of ODA 595.
Rich Cole eloquently describes the importance of reunions, toasting fallen comrades, and keeping the tradition alive. Much more than sharing a common bond, it’s a celebration. More than that, it reaffirms the military oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and our way of life. There is no expiration date on this oath. It lasts until the day you die.
The Doolittle Raiders, ODA 595 and all our military heroes show the nation it is an honor to serve your country and do the right thing. They are willing to lay down their lives for us. These two teams of men are famous but there are so many names not known or celebrated. It is important to remember.
None of these warriors consider themselves heroes. They were just doing their jobs.
On October 21, 2023, ODA 595 will return to Fort Walton Beach for a reunion and continue the tradition of toasting fallen comrades with the silver canteen cups. The cups were crafted by Bohlin Company in Dallas, TX. Since 1920 they have fashioned silver saddles for the likes of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, the Lone Ranger, and the Tournament of Roses Parade.
Will Summers of ODA 595 says, “These masterfully crafted works of art represent the gratitude of our nation for all who serve. I believe these cups reflect America’s love for her service members. It is a beautiful, timeless love intended to endure for generations to come.”
Dawn Summers, wife of Will Summers, said it made her smile to see these men, who live very quiet, simple lives, up on stage getting an opportunity to tangibly feel the thankfulness of a grateful community.
Rich Cole feels it is a sacred responsibility to remember, celebrate, and honor those who have served. He also says our community supports and embraces the military more than most other communities in the country.
It is an honor for the rest of us to live among the real superheroes in this world and to take the opportunity to show them our gratitude.
For tickets and more information about October 21, 2023 banquet: www.fwbchamber.org.
