Today marks the 72nd anniversary of the Doolittle Raid. I wrote a story about Dean Hallmark, who piloted The Green Hornet, the sixth B-25 to take off from an aircraft carrier.
That story led to me befriending Adam Hallmark, one of the finest men I know, and his beautiful wife Jessica, some of his friends and a handful of the soldiers with whom Adam has served.
Adam gave me a print of Dean’s plane, which I hang proudly on my office wall:
That little profile taught me more about a particular tale of courage and atrocity. Because of it Lauren and I took the opportunity to visit Dean’s grave at Arlington.
I had the distinct honor and privilege to meet one of the Raiders, 98-year-old Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” Cole:
It all solidified my respect for what a group of 80 bold, audacious volunteers set out to do.
It is important that we remember, so that others may never forget, brave men live by the motto “Toujours Au Danger.”
