The extended Fourth of July weekend is drawing to a close but it's not yet too late to draw our attention to stories of heroic and sacrificial acts that have defined what it means to be an American.
Charlie at AnotherThink has one of those stories:
Elmer Charles Bigelow had the courage of his convictions. The 25-year-old from Hebron, Illinois, enlisted in the US Navy at the beginning of WWII, and after training was assigned to the USS Fletcher, a destroyer that was part of the US Pacific fleet. During fighting in the Philippines, the Fletcher was hit by a shell that exploded in one of its powder magazines, starting a fire and the possibility of an explosion that could have destroyed the ship.
Without thinking of himself, Bigelow grabbed two fire extinguishers, entered the burning magazine and
put out the flames. He was severely injured by the acrid smoke and succumbed to his injuries the next day, on February 15, 1945. The US Navy awarded Bigelow the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry" and for "his heroic spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death...." Bigelow's actions give us insights into his convictions. He freely enlisted in the Navy, demonstrating his patriotic support for the American fight against Japanese tyranny. In doing so, he set aside his personal ambitions and became a small part of a greater whole, a lowly sailor on a great fighting ship, following orders and doing his part as a member of a team to support the war plans of his superiors.
And as a member of that team, Elmer Bigelow took on himself a personal responsibility for its wellbeing. When his fellow sailors were threatened, he sacrificed himself in an individual act of valor that probably saved the lives of hundreds of his shipmates.
Bigelow's actions speak volumes about his character, and about the values and principles that guided his life and led him to a moment of selfless, courageous action when that need presented itself.
Charlie ends with a clarion call worth your time.
Finish with him.