Unit Citations...

As one whose well-intentioned, but poorly executed military career ended with no more ribbons on his chest than those awarded his assigned unit, I am nevertheless grateful to have been chosen for duty with a command such as the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing, cited for accomplishments by its own as well as foreign governments for meritorious and outstanding achievements...Notable performance resulting from accrued efforts by a team cannot necessarily be accredited to one individual over another, but are recognized by awards for service as a unit by the military...

Military units are classified by branch of service, and are further sub-classed by chain of command...As an example, the 49th TFW, at the time of my service, was under the command of USAFE, and later 17th Air Force as part of the Tactical Air Command, USAF, DoD...Within the 49th I was first assigned to the 9th TFS, and later for the remainder of my service the 349th MMS...

Citations are awarded to military units on the basis of outstanding or meritorious achievement within their assigned duties...Naval units assigned to sea duty are most recognizable by ship name, and in battle these units are subject to quick dissolution when sunk...Even in that case, they may be cited for service occurring prior to going under...

One such example was the USS Laffey (DD-459) which slipped under the waves defiant to the end while defending a transport convoy at the Battle of Guadalcanal against an overwhelming JIN force...Later recognized with a Presidential Unit Citation, the officers and crew of the destroyer took on two battleships and two Japanese destroyers in a merciless battle, at one point charging head-on at the flagship of the enemy fleet, the battleship Hiel, with only its deck guns left as armament...

The destroyer's attack stunned the Japanese crew and killed the Japanese fleet commander's chief of staff, seriously hampering the wounded commander's ability to direct the battle...The Laffey then turned to re-engage and was hit at close range from one of the Hiel's 14-inch guns and a torpedo from one of the Japanese destroyers...The Laffey also earned three battle stars and was awarded the WWII Victory Medal after the war ended...

The Laffey's service was further honored when a second destroyer was christened USS Laffey (DD-724) in 1943, and served with distinction in both Atlantic and Pacific campaigns through the end of WWII, earning the nickname of "The Ship That Would Not Die"...After escorting a convoy to England, the newly commissioned Laffey was ordered to join the Normandy invasion force where it joined other combatants at Utah Beach, and after replenishment at Plymouth, it served screening and bombardment roles at Cherbourg...

Having accomplished its assignments during Operation Overlord, the Laffey steamed home for refitting and replenishment, following which it joined the Pacific Fleet...Screening and patrol duties there and a support mission in the battle of Iwo Jima led to intense battle at the invasion of Okinawa where it fought off numerous bombing, strafing and kamikaze attacks, earning it its nickname...

The Laffey participated in further battles during the Korean War, and served during the Cold war until it was decommissioned and stricken in 1975, the last of the Sumner class destroyers to serve...Even today, the Ship That Would Not Die continues to uphold its proud history as a museum ship in South Carolina, having been declared a National Historic Landmark...

For its gallant service, the second of the Laffeys earned a Presidential Unit Citation with five WWII battle stars, a Korean Presidential Unit Citation with two battle stars and a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its Cold War service, together with three Battle Efficiency Ribbons earned during its 32 years at sea...Both ships served their namesake well, being named in tribute of Medal of Honor recipient, Seaman Bartlett Laffey, who served his nation with distinction 80 years prior to WWII...

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