Friday, October 19, 2012
Honoring Some Special Veterans
Last Saturday I was honored to attend a luncheon in Burlington held by the Middlesex Deputy Sheriffs’ Association recognizing our “Tin Can Sailors” at the American Legion. “Tin Can Sailors” are sailors serving on destroyers and destroyer escorts and are often credited with turning the tide of the war in October 1944. Never before had these ships taken on an enemy’s main surface fleet, and the bravery they demonstrated on October 25, 1944 deserves nothing less than our highest commendations when they single handedly took on Japan’s main fleet forcing their retreat.
Since then “Tin Can Sailors” and the ships they serve on have been used in key strategic situations in wars and in times of peace. Saturday’s luncheon offered me an opportunity to say thank you to those who served on those ships.
If you would like to learn more about “Tin Can Sailors” I recommend the book Tales from a Tin Can: The USS Dale from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by Michael Keith Olson. Posted below are some photos taken during Saturday’s luncheon.