One more of the Doolittle Raiders has passed on.

[syscom3]

Lt. Col. Robert Hite dies at 95; one of WWII's Doolittle Raiders. I believe there is now only two left.

Lt. Col. Robert Hite dies at 95; one of WWII's Doolittle Raiders - LA Times

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

 

[GrauGeist]

...I believe there is now only two left.

That is correct.

Lt. Col. Richard Cole and Staff Sgt. David Thatcher are all that remain...

 

[Shinpachi]

They did their best job.
R.I.P. a brave airman

 

[pbehn]

RIP Mr Hite.

Its sad when anyone passes on but 95 is a good innings by any measure.

 

[Capt. Vick]

Agreed

 

[buffnut453]

Met Lt Col Hite a couple of times - a true gentleman! I wish him fair winds for his final flight.

 

[Koopernic]

So he was about 21-22 years old when he volunteered after receiving a request which would have sounded ominous (does anyone know?). As an older man I could fulfil such a request, happy that I've had my time on earth. An young man is in a different situation and has a life to loose he has hardly lived.

For a guy whose name is pronounced "Do Little" Doolittle did a lot.
Jimmy Doolittle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[buffnut453]

So he was about 21-22 years old when he volunteered after receiving a request which would have sounded ominous (does anyone know?). As an older man I could fulfil such a request, happy that I've had my time on earth. An young man is in a different situation and has a life to loose he has hardly lived.

Of course the flipside is also true...young men don't know what they might miss and feel themselves invulnerable (I still find it amazing that I reached the ripe old age of 25...now I'm pushing the half century!). There's an old saying that youth is wasted on the young...but the men of Lt Col Hite's generation offered their youth as a sacrifice for those of us who came later. May we be worthy of the gift they gave us.

 

[Koopernic]

double post

 

[Thorlifter]

RIP

 

[Gnomey]

 

[oldcrowcv63]

Thatcher still survives? Wonderful. Nothing made the events of the raid more real to me than his contribution to "30-seconds over Tokyo". to him well wishes and thanks for his valiant service.