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Bower, to Secretary of Defense, Jeremy Stone, to the Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs, Admiral Ben Ryan, right down to the Captain of the Barney. They were
all eager to pull off this surprise attack against the
Chinese at Wake Island on January 16thand observe its results. Those results
would be critical for the final execution order for the next anxious attack
two days later on January 18thby another completely submersible task force
against Indian forces at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
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January 13, 2011, 08:10, EDT
Today in America Set
CBN Studios, New York City
Thank you. We're back this morning recounting the amazing story of survival
of Marine Captain Billy
Simmons and the story of the commitment and faithfulness of his close friend,
Master Sergeant Leon
Campbell.
Captain Simmons, in our introduction before the break, we reviewed a special
compilation of the essentials of your service in the Australian area, the fall
back to Sidney, the defeat of U.S. and allied forces their and their fighting
withdrawal, the videos of the loss of your ship and your desperate effort to
get your aircraft off its deck climaxing in your crash into the ocean, and
then what we know of your life in
Australia culminating with your rescue.
Right now, I'd just like to ask you& how's your memory? How much has come back
to you?
The young Captain, who was becoming used to these interviews, this being his
third nationally televised one since returning stateside, and wearing his
dress uniform, considered the question. It was not an entirely easy one to
answer.
Well, I can say that a lot of my memory has come back in the last few weeks,
and I thank my parents, my friends, the doctors& and most of all I thank God
for that.
I am remembering more and more of my childhood, upbringing, my parents and
our home life. I
remember going off to college and joining the Marines and even meeting Leon
there& but that part is still not complete& there are, uh, like missing parts.
I remember a good deal of my boot camp training& I guess Marines NCOs leave an
indelible impression.
At this comment Leon chuckled a bit and the well known host of the show, Kathy
Curry, turned to him.
You've got that knowing laugh Sergeant Campbell, do you have something
specifically memorable
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about your boot camp training to add to the experience?
It is my understanding that the two of you went through that training
together.
Leon, also wearing his dress uniform with his rank, service ribbons and
awards, most notable amongst them being his Medal of Honor, turned towards
Kathy Curry and the camera and replied.
We did go through that training together.
I was just thinking back to our initial drill instructor at the San Diego
Marine Recruit Training Depot and the very indelible impression he left on us
as we got off that bus.
Turning to his friend Billy, he asked, Do you remember him, Billy, do you
remember the first words out of his mouth?
Billy didn't hesitate at all. His eyes lit up brightly and his smile broadened
perceptively.
You mean, Drill Instructor Sergeant Matthews?
How could I forget? Let's see& I believe he said something like this, I am
Drill Instructor Sergeant
Matthews. At all times, you will address me as
Sir
. If you have a request or a statement to make to me, you will formulate it
with the words
Drill Instructor Sergeant Matthews, Sir!
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Billy shook his head as he continued to smile, relishing the memory now.
Like I said Kathy, U.S. Marine NCOs have a way of leaving an indelible
impression& amnesia or no amnesia.
My memories of those Drill Instructors were among the first to come back
clearly once things started to return, and right after my memories of home
which had started to return there in the outback of
Australia& and yet, there is still a lot I can t remember.
A lot of my actual experiences during the war are not really back in focus
yet. There are brief ones, like some of the fighting in Australia,
particularly around Alice Springs.
I also remember being on the Tarawa and the orders for our departure from the
waters around Sidney.
But I can t remember, even with the help of those remarkable photographs and
videos, anything about my take-off or crash.
Now, the time in Australia, particularly after being taken in byNabalco's
people is a different matter. It is much clearer, right up to the time when
Leon and his squad contacted us.
Billy hesitated, the emotion on his face and in his voice clear to millions
who were watching and listening.
Nabalco was as good a leader, as good a man, as I have ever met& he sacrificed
his life for those he loved and for their freedom, even for those of us who
were not of his clan.
He took us in and made us a part of his clan.
Lance Corporal Thomas, who was lost saving us was made of the same metal. I
owe him my life, and I
shall not, I cannot, ever forget those sacrifices.
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& even as I cannot forget the dedication and commitment of my good friend
here, Leon Campbell. It's easy to see why a man like this was able to earn the
Congressional Medal of Honor.
Leon was chagrined to be made an issue of, or to be singled out in such a
manner. He replied quickly to deflect as much notice as he possibly could.
Billy& let me tell you, and you know it is true from your own experiences,
this medal is something I
wear only to remember others& like Lance Corporal Thomas.
You know what I mean. Other's died that I could get off that Island& I just
did what I had to do.
Asshe listened, Kathy Curry realized that she was genuinely growing to like
and revere these two young
Americans.
She herself had been significantly altered by the war.
As she thought on this, and her own experiences and changes, she couldn t help
but think to herself, & and who wouldn t like these two, she thought.
It's an all-American story. It resonates with people& even people like me,
because each of us have been touched so deeply by this conflict. Every one of
us personally know people who have been injured or killed. All of us have
heard the explosions, seen the fire and destruction right here in our own
towns and cities.
I find myself being more and more grateful that things are finally turning
around. I find myself much more emotionally attached to stories like this
because I have had to relearn what it means to actual people because of its
proximity to me.
How could those of us in my profession been so foolish about something so
intrinsic. How could have
I
been so foolish for all of those years, she asked herself.
Well, that's the way things were& and this is the way things are. I am much
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more emotionally and personally affected by the events that I cover now than I
ever would have dreamed possible then& not so professionally detached like I
and every other major media reporter, journalist, or anchor used to be.
& and a big part of that is because of the dedication, commitment, and
sacrifice so epitomized by these two young men& and really, epitomized by the
miracle that our country has become.
After all of the divisiveness of the late 80's, and during the 90's and early
2000's. After so many years of our foolish agendas& dear God it feels so good
to be human again.
Suddenly realizing that quite a few seconds of dead air time had passed as she
thought about these things to herself& and that her cheeks were moist with
tears, Kathy stammered a bit, rather unprofessionally perhaps, but not in the
least ashamedly.
Err& well Billy, Leon, excuse me. It's just that I& it's just that your
stories& I mean&
Leon quickly came to her rescue.
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