This is Jocco Podcast number 69 with echo Charles and me, Jocco Willink. Good evening, echo. Good evening.

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor posthumously to Captain Henry T. L. Rod, United States Marine Corps.

For service as set forth in the following citation.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while attached to Marine fighting squadron 211,

during action against the Japanese land, surface, and airy units at Wake Island, from 8 to 23 December 1941.

Engaging vastly superior forces of enemy bombers and warships on 9 and 12 December, Captain L. Rod shot down two of a flight of 22 hostile planes,

and executing repeated bombing and strafing runs at extremely low altitude and close range, succeeded in inflicting deadly damage upon a large Japanese vessel,

thereby sinking the first major warship to be destroyed by small caliber bombs delivered from a fighter-type aircraft.

When his plane was disabled by hostile fire and no other ships were operative, Captain L. Rod assumed command of one flank of the line,

set up in defiance of the enemy landing and conducting a brilliant defense, enabled his men to hold their positions and repulse determined enemy attacks,

repeatedly proceeding through intense hostile fuselage to provide covering fire for unarmed ammunition carriers.

Capturing an automatic weapon during one enemy rushing force, he gave his own firearm to one of his men and fought on vigorously against the Japanese.

Responsible in a large measure of the strength of his sector's gallons resistance, on 23 December, Captain L. Rod led his men with bold agressiveness until he fell mortally wounded.

His superb skill as a pilot, daring leadership, an unswarving devotion to duty distinguished him among the defenders of Wake Island, and his valiant conduct reflects the highest credit upon himself, and the United States Naval Service.

He gallantly gave his life for his country.

He signed Harry S. Truman.

And that is the Medal of Honor citation for Henry Townidge L. Rod, the first aviator in World War II to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

And the first man to sink a warship from a fighter plane during the Battle of Wake Island, and if you don't know anything about the Battle of Wake Island, it began simultaneously with the attack on Pearl Harbor when that started.

And it ended on 23 December 1941 when American forces were forced to surrender.

And that was with around 500 American servicemen, and they had a handful of coastal artillery pieces and a handful of anti-aircraft guns, and they had 12 aircraft.

And what they were facing was 2500 Japanese infantry, supported by three light cruisers, eight destroyers, two patrol boats, two troop transports, two aircraft carriers with all their planes and two heavy cruisers.

So they were completely outnumbered, and completely and utterly outgunned.

...