FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: John R Fox ~ 04 November 2019

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

John R. Fox
Info from here.

           

John Robert Fox (May 18, 1915–December 26, 1944) was killed in action when he deliberately called for artillery fire on his own position, after his position was overrun, in order to defeat a German attack in the vicinity of Sommocolonia, northern Italy during World War II. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor in 1997, for willingly sacrificing his life.

Fox was born in Cincinnati, Ohio May 18, 1915, and attended Wilberforce University, participating in ROTC under Aaron R. Fisher and graduating with an commission of second lieutenant in 1940. He was 29 years old when he called artillery fire on his own position the day after Christmas in 1944, for which he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1982. More than fifty years after his death, Fox was awarded the Medal of Honor. He is buried in Colebrook Cemetery in Whitman, Massachusetts.

In the early 1990s it was determined that African-American soldiers were denied consideration for the Medal of Honor solely due to their race. After a review, seven African-American soldiers had their Medals upgraded in January, 1997, to the Medal of Honor; First Lieutenant Fox was one of the seven.

The 92nd Infantry Division (colored), known as the Buffalo Soldiers, was a segregated African American division that fought in World War II. First Lieutenant John R. Fox was of the 366th Infantry Regiment when he made the ultimate sacrifice in order to defeat the enemy and save the lives of his fellow soldiers. In December 1944, Fox was part of a small forward observer party that volunteered to stay behind in the Italian village of Sommocolonia, in the Serchio River Valley. American forces had been forced to withdraw from the village after it had been overrun by the enemy. From his position on the second floor of a house, Fox directed defensive artillery fire.

The enemy was in the streets and attacking in strength, greatly outnumbering the small group of American soldiers. Fox radioed in to have the artillery fire adjusted closer to his position, then radioed again to have the shelling moved even closer. The soldier receiving the message was stunned, for that would bring the deadly fire right on top of Fox’s position; there was no way he would survive. When Fox was told this, he replied, “Fire it.” This shelling delayed the enemy advance until other units could reorganize to repel the attack.

His action permitted U.S. forces, who had been forced to withdraw, to organize a counterattack and regain control of the village. After the units had retaken the village, they found Fox’s body along with the bodies of about one hundred enemy soldiers.

After the war the citizens of Sommocolonia, Italy, erected a monument to nine men who were killed during the artillery barrage - eight Italian soldiers, and Lieutenant Fox.

In 2005, the toy company Hasbro introduced a 12-inch action figure & commemorating Lt. John R. Fox as part of its G.I. Joe series.

For his "gallant and courageous actions, at the supreme sacrifice of his own life, Fox was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His widow, the former Arlene Marrow of Brockton, Massachusetts, received his medal from President Bill Clinton in a White House ceremony on January 13, 1997. On that day, Clinton also awarded the medal to six other previously neglected African American World War II veterans, including Vernon Baker, who was the only one living when awarded.

Citation:

For extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy in the vicinity of Sommocolonia, Italy on 26 December 1944, while serving as a member of Cannon Company, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92d Infantry Division. During the preceding few weeks, Lieutenant Fox served with the 598th Field Artillery Battalion as a forward observer. On Christmas night, enemy soldiers gradually infiltrated the town of Sommocolonia in civilian clothes, and by early morning the town was largely in hostile hands. Commencing with a heavy barrage of enemy artillery at 0400 hours on 26 December 1944, an organized attack by uniformed German units began. Being greatly outnumbered, most of the United States Infantry forces were forced to withdraw from the town, but Lieutenant Fox and some other members of his observer party voluntarily remained on the second floor of a house to direct defensive artillery fire. At 0800 hours, Lieutenant Fox reported that the Germans were in the streets and attacking in strength. He then called for defensive artillery fire to slow the enemy advance. As the Germans continued to press the attack towards the area that Lieutenant Fox occupied, he adjusted the artillery fire closer to his position. Finally he was warned that the next adjustment would bring the deadly artillery right on top of his position. After acknowledging the danger, Lieutenant Fox insisted that the last adjustment be fired as this was the only way to defeat the attacking soldiers. Later, when a counterattack retook the position from the Germans, Lieutenant Fox's body was found with the bodies of approximately 100 German soldiers. Lieutenant Fox's gallant and courageous actions, at the supreme sacrifice of his own life, contributed greatly to delaying the enemy advance until other infantry and artillery units could reorganize to repel the attack. His extraordinary valorous actions were in keeping with the most cherished traditions of military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

 

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[The Mayor]

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November 4

No Longer Afraid

Bible in a Year:

• Jeremiah 32–33
• Hebrews 1

They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid. Zephaniah 3:13

When the Ethiopian police found her a week after her abduction, three black-maned lions surrounded her, guarding her as though she were their own. Seven men had kidnapped the twelve-year-old girl, carried her into the woods and beaten her. Miraculously, however, a small pride of lions heard the girl’s cries, came running and chased off the attackers. “[The lions] stood guard until we found her and then they just left her like a gift and went back into the forest,” police Sergeant Wondimu told one reporter.

There are days when violence and evil, like that inflicted on this young girl, overpower us, leaving us without hope and terrified. In ancient times, the people of Judah experienced this. They were overrun by ferocious armies and unable to imagine any possibility of escape. Fear consumed them. However, God always renewed His unrelenting presence with His people: “The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm” (Zephaniah 3:15). Even when our catastrophes result from our own rebellion, God still comes to our rescue. “The Lord your God is with you,” we hear, “the Mighty Warrior who saves” (v. 17).

Whatever troubles overtake us, whatever evils, Jesus—the Lion of Judah—is with us (Revelation 5:5). No matter how alone we feel, our strong Savior is with us. No matter what fears ravage us, our God assures us that He is by our side.

By: Winn Collier

Reflect & Pray

What is your greatest fear right now? How does God’s promise to be with you encourage you?

Mighty Warrior God, I need You. I need a Mighty Warrior to stand with me and overwhelm my fears. I’m choosing to trust You.

[SkyDancer]

~ Good Evening ~

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~ Good Evening ~

~ Welcome To My World ~

I’m Down There Somewhere

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((((HUGS)))))

[PROCON]

Thanks for honoring tonight's Hero, Kathy!

Lt. Fox's bravery is one of the most incredible stories I have ever heard, an extraordinary display of self-sacrifice and love for his fellow soldier.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Did you get some rest so you are ready to take on the new week?

Did you remember all your clocks? I only have my watch left to fix. I need to find the directions. LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: John R Fox ~

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[Blood of Tyrants]

Very interesting because only a few black Americans were KIA in WWII.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Janey…((HUGS))...enjoy the game.

[luvie]

Saluting
John Robert Fox
May 18, 1915–December 26, 1944
Hero...World War II

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...did you and Penny get to hike today?

We had heavy, wet, fog this morning, and it’s getting colder.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...he was indeed an amazing hero.

Were you and son able to go shooting this weekend? Good football results?

[PROCON]

Hey Kathy, no range time this weekend and my college football teams had good and bad news yesterday.

Our frigid late October has turned into a warmer early November so more range time is coming up soon.

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

I hope you’ve had a relaxing weekend. The weather up there today looked perfect for holing up indoors. Dreary, to say the least.
Did you get more food for the quackers? Can’t let your lil feathered buddies down. :-)

[radu]

Howdy, PRO.

His story IS incredible, isn’t it? A heavy decision to make and he didn’t hesitate.

I hope you had a good weekend.

[radu]

Interesting also because most black Americans served in segregated units and were barred from serving in combat.
Maybe this young hero was one who was pulled out to drive in the Red Ball Express and showed enough valor to be allowed to serve in combat afterwards.

He served well and it’s a shame it took so long to award him the Medal of Honor. He was a true hero.

[PROCON]

Hey radu!

Ugh, good weekend other than going back onto standard time really messed my quality sleep time up.

I went to bed too early last night and also got up this morning too early, bleech, I'm trying to stay up later tonight but we'll see how it goes.

[radu]

Howdy, LUV.

Did the extra hour of sleep keep you from bonking the back of the pew with your head this morning? :-)

I hope you and da kittehs got supper before your modding stint this evening.

[radu]

Got up too early, huh? That stinks. I hope you can stay up late enough tonight to be able to get back on schedule.

I crashed and burned early last night and slept a loooong time. First long sleep I’ve had in weeks and I almost feel human again. I did say almost. LOL