We lost a hero
We lost a hero
Robert passed away yesterday at the age of 95 in Nashville, Tennessee. He leaves behind just two surviving members of the Doolittle Raiders, who will be honored with the Congressional Gold Medal on April 15, 2015.
Robert was rated as a pilot and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps on May 29, 1941. He volunteered for the Doolittle Raider's mission in February 1942.
Their mission was to strike targets in Japan to boost American morale just five months after the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Robert co-piloted the last B-25 of the 16 aircraft to lift off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet. He and his crew had to bail out of their aircraft over China where he was captured and imprisoned by the Japanese for 40 months.
Robert was liberated in 1945 and in 1951 he returned to active duty with the U.S. Air Force, serving in the Korean War. He retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve in 1969.
We honor his service.
/bows head in silence
ReplyDeleteRIP Robert Hite.
ReplyDeleteR.I.P. Robert!, Thank You for your Service !
ReplyDeleteI recently listened to the First Heros by Craig Nelson about the Doolittle raid and its aftermath while driving all over the south east on business. I really enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who would like to know more about the raid itself.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless and thank you, Robert Hite.
RIP Robert..
ReplyDelete