I served under Capt. (Dr.) Fox at recruit training center Cape May in the 80’s. There was no one alive who could tell a story like Capt. Fox. He honored me by attending my going away dinner when I transferred. He was the last of the greatest generation.
I went through with Victor 123, I wonder if he was Cape Tracen Commander then. I was elected best shipmate of the company I may have personally saluted him.(Fall 1986) Very interesting history. Now that I think about it his name was Captain King.
I remember when he retired. I couldn't believe that a WW2 vet was still in uniform at the time. Now that we know more of his story, I see how it was possible. Certain specialties do get exemptions to continue serving. His service during WW2 is quite the story. It's not like he was flying a desk back in the States. I grew up around a lot of WW2 vets as an Army Brat. This guy is impressive.
I remember watching news of his retirement on TV and thinking that Billy-Bob Clinton had a talent for smearing honorable men with his slime in order to get photo ops.
A nation that does not remember its own history is a doomed nation. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us and without that vantage, we disappear.
Unfortunately, I believe we are failing miserably at teaching our history and heritage to our children. I believe this is not a simple omission, but a planned direction. This makes The History Guy and others SO VERY IMPORTANT in preserving our cultural and national heritage.
@@danielbeck9191 What is American culture ? Our national heritage is American.... What are you trying to say? When people say, "I believe..." what you're really saying is that you have no clue and every word after those you made up based on your feelings.
I served with CAPT Fox at the CG MPC. I was president at a disability review board and he was the doctor assigned to the board. I never knew his back story until today. Quite a remarkable man.
Excellent and fitting tribute. Few people know of the Uniformed U. S. Public Health Service. Dr. Fox does, indeed, represents a link across generations of service and commitment. Thank you THG Team.
Ya know, there was a time a couple of years ago that we sure missed a prime opportunity to have them be a part of the public facing response during some very dark times.
Yes indeed: the PHS doctors and nurses serve in the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and staffs hospitals on Native American reservations. They also deploy to assist in humanitarian operations and do medical research.
It breaks my heart when a WWII veteran passes away. What a truly great generation they are/were. I was raised by one, and I can only try to be as great. I fail every day.
@@DTavona I was in the 12th Cav. We worked close with the 7th. Custer's company really does have a curse. They ran into a regimental ambush and really got hurt bad. We moved over quickly to cut off the escape route. Too much fun (not really)
Met a navy chaplin who’d been a submarine officer in WW2. A combat veteran. Thirty years after WW2 ended! That was remarkable. Served in the war after war went to seminary. Later rejoined the navy. I’m guessing he retired in the 1980’s
I believe I met him when I was a young man my dad was medical Corp navy and it was very early in the 50's he introduced him as uncle Fox but growing up in the navy family I had a bunch of uncles.......grin
Great presentation! To those youngsters out there, talk with those veterans who served. Find out what it was like. The time that they are around to tell you what it was like is quickly ending. I asked my grandfather about WWI many times and he told me of its horror. If you aren’t willing to learn, you are doomed to repeat that horror.
Wow, and I had wondered a few days ago how many veterans of WWII, not to consider active duty military into the 21st century, (my parents generation) remain. Thank you for this honorable lesson.
I remembered when the last veterans of the Spanish-American War passed (I was in high school at that time) and that of WW1 (in 2011). We now, of course, are approaching to the last of the WW2 generation passing on, as evident to the last Flying Tiger, Doolittle Raider, and the last WW2 Medal of Honor recipient (CWO4 Hershel Williams, USMCR) passing within the last 4 years.
Very moving end to my evening. I was at Arlington cemetery Veterans day 1974 for President Fords address. This story gave me the same feeling. Recently watched the real PT 73 also started in the Aleutian islands. Thank you and good night.
My Dad served in ww2 on Leyte, & was wounded on Okinawa, i served 8 years in the Air Force, where my daughter currently is serving. 3 generations, the proudness overwelms me at times! None of this compares to Dr. Fox, their legacies inspire the generations serving proudly today! Thank you for sharing this Story!!
My father served in the Pacific but would never talk about his service. I can't imagine what he went through. He was quiet and stoic as a man should be. While he never showed much emotion he had a huge impact on my step family. My step-mom was still crying for him almost 30 years later when she passed at the age of 91. He was a good man.
My World War II veteran parents died not that long ago. Both served in the US Navy. Mom in 2017 and Dad in 2019. Miss them both but take comfort in knowing they are together again, lying in the Georgia Military Cemetary near Woodstock. Tom Brokaw got it right, theirs was "The greatest generation."
Watched from Old Harbour Jamaica. I remember the news of Dr. Earl R. Fox retirement as the last WW2 vet. in active service. Don't remember what station mentioned it at the time the very day he retired but it stuck in my memmory ever since. Glad you covered it, The news didn't even mentioned his name but now I know about him. Thank you History Guy.
Strong Salute! They paid for our freedom with our dearest blood. They went to a place no human should ever be. They performed tasks no human should experience. They pushed the human soul and body beyond incomprehensible limits. They made us who we are today, and we must remember them. MacArthur said "an old soldier never dies, they just fade away". Salute and shed light, let's make this world a much better place for all of us.
Thank you for this exceptional tribute to an exceptional man Captian Earl R Fox, the man died on his first birthday and his last birthday 93 years later, and what an incredible 93 years.
Thank you so much for all these amazing stories about the Coast Guard. You're a true friend to the service. I had not heard about Dr. Fox before, but I served at several of the same commands several years after his retirement. Knowing there is only a five year gap between my (still active) service and the last WW2 veteran is truly incredible.
Capt. Fox (57 years service), Adm. Hopper (43 years), and Adm. Rickover (64 years)...164 years of service in just three influential officers....YIKES! And that drone shot over Arlington....wow.
Admiral Rickover was even more unique in that he qualified for the WW1 victory medal, and was still on active duty in the 80’s. He was almost certainly the last WW1 veteran on active duty.
I recall the case of CW4 Michael Novosel Sr (previously a LTC in the US Air Force), who by the time of his retirement in 1985 was the last WWII military aviator to remain in active duty (also awarded the MOH). In the Vietnam War both father and son Michael Novosel Jr served in combat roles (even in one time the father rescued his son, and a week later the son returned the favour after he was shot down). Another case was the case of MSG Richard Hitchens who in September of 2013 retired from the Delaware Army National Guard and had been in the force for 42 years and had served in the same war as both Novosels did. But this one I've definitely no idea about at all. Thanks for sharing this video Sir, it's definitely history that deserves to be remembered.
@@bryandevries7210 It was a pity he didn't kept his rank of LTC in the USAF, but the man still chose to rejoin the armed forces and serve in the Vietnam War, that time alongside his son (and one of strange instances where both met in combat and survived their respective tours of duty). Also, Michael J. Novosel Jr iirc is still alive living in Florida with his wife. His son must've been proud to hear a Fort was named in honour of his father.
Excellent video. Fun fact, the P.T. boats were made almost entirely of wood, and manufactured in New Orleans by the historic Andrew Higgins. He also made the landing crafts that stormed the beaches of Normandy, and many other places. He also manufactured a LOT of other wooden-hulled boats.
An noted astrologer who was a customer of mine, told me those born in 1919, including my father, were unique extra hard and hearty workers. And this quality ras across all astrology signs. It was certainly true for my dad who also lived to 93.
This episode brought me to tears. I live near St. Pete and have known a lot of WWII vets. I also served in the Navy. I have watched a lot of your videos because I really like them. I believe this is one of your best. Thanks.
Great post for a great man of God. He well knew the words of Christ: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Jn.15:13.
Mine too and I didn't either til much older. Uncle Bill finally talked about what happened to him as a Marine, what he saw, on Iwo Jima after our baby sister (disrespectful, deadhead, pothead leftist) who was 55 at that time disrespected the military at Christmas dinner. My Marine Uncle Bill calmly said, 'Now hold on there, youngster,' and finally explained what he saw and went through - a miracle he survived - at 20 on Iwo Jima. All of us had tears running down our faces, even our sad angry abusive dad, and Uncle Bill too. He had never spoken of the war before. It changed ME but not baby sister. My son, only child, at 18 then went on to be chosen by his Alameda Chief as his only recruit over 30 other young men and women in 2008, the first to serve since his Great (literally) Uncle Bill. SEMPER PARATUS. GOD BLESS YOU.
Bravo! And thank you for this one! This is just another reminder of the question that keeps coming to my mind. Where is Hollywood? There are almost certainly countless stories out there that have been documented in the citations for awards like the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Navy Cross, the Congressional Medal of Honor, etc. to make many fine movies. And by doing so, remind Americans of a few of the reason this is such a great country. And they wouldn't tied to one story line (combat). "Unbroken" proved that. We need to be reminding generations of Americans of those "few good men" that protect us all.
This makes me feel like a little cry baby. I’m 55 walking around like I’m old and ready to die. Jesus. I need to find a better me! Thank you for the video. ❤
My grandfather who served in the pacific war in a pt boat . He never talked about it. But I have seen pictures of him leaning over the boat ,to help refueling a airplane , while hauling ass. That left me awestruck. Good bless you grandpa Don.
I was at the beautiful Normandy cemetery above Omaha Beach last summer. VERY striking and these men are most assuredly resting in peace…not to mention on official U.S. soil as deeded by the French.
There are 9,387 headstones of which 9,238 are Latin Crosses and 149 Stars of David. The crosses are all made of white Lasa marble and are precisely lined up in perfect symmetry and never be disturbed. All of the headstones face West, that is towards home to America.
"I don't think the President was recognizing Earl Fox, I represent all of the people of WW2 who were able to be here today... I have felt a weight on me to expend every effort, to make it honorable for them." That got me. Men, we must be honorable in all things.
Fitting that an extraordinary man would represent and be the last of an extraordinary generation of WWII veterans to wear the uniform. A fitting and moving tribute to a man who will now be remembered by many who had never known of him before.
If not a single veteran of WW2 or eyewitness of these war battles or daily life is alive, we are fortunate enough to have documented! A bell jar should be placed over the WW2 and WW2 items and stories and kept for posterity.
Sometimes, at the VA hospital I go to, one of those WW2 Veterans will show up. They are given the deference and respect they deserve, by all the rest of us, they go to the head of the line! Strangely, the staff at the VA don't seem to share that deference, but they are mostly young and, or foreign.
I served on the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy from 1985 to 1988. Our Coomand Master Chief when I went aboard was a sailor who started his career as a paratrooper in WW2. He was amazing.
He was probably the last person on active duty wearing the WW1 victory medal, even though he just barely qualified for it and never saw combat in that war. Still, it’s crazy that somebody serving in the 1980’s was technically a WW1 veteran.
My father was a US Merchant Marine before, during and after World War II. He was getting shot at in Aug. 1941 taking supplies to the allies in the Pacific. He was in the Pacific when America entered the war. He was an Ordinary Seamen. By April he had gotten his Able-bodied Seamen papers. His ship got sunk in May 1942. Just before his 21st birthday. Broke his foot and some ribs when his ship got hit by a torpedo. By Jan. 1943, he was a Third Mate. Be became a Captain at the age of 24, in 1945. Then the war ended a few months later. It was not until 1988 that the US Merchant Marines of World War II were designated veterans. All the promises that were made to keep them going to sea, only a few were ever fulfilled. The Army didn't want them to have those "promises." A lot of men, and women died on those Merchant Ships. And not just Americans. There is a Netflix series called Warrior Sailors. I watched it. Sadly my father passed away in 2011. Had it been made back then, it would have been very very hard for him to watch it.
I served on a submarines for 22 years and retired in 2000 my time in the military was but a blip on Captain Fox’s. Life time as a WW2 veteran still serving after at that time. We had a Master Chief in Groton CT at the Submarine Base in the early 1980’s who has a WW2 Submarine Combat patrol pin he was the only person I met who had one from WW2. You should do a Story on Groton CT Submarine base just a ferry ride away from Orient Point NY. Most people on Long Island don’t even know it’s there. Lots of History
If only our generation had a "backbone" comparable to Fox's generation, our country might be in a much better place. God bless your Dr. Fox. You and your brothers in arms will not be forgotten. Yours truly was the greatest generation.
It’s so hard to believe that less than one percent of WW2 servicemen survive today. When I was young they were everywhere. Most wouldn’t talk much about their experiences. I miss the influence they had on society. I think they tempered some of our less noble tendencies in only a way people who’ve witnessed hell can.
There were giants in the earth! RIP, Dr. Fox, a grateful nation will never forget you and the 16 million Americans who defeated the Axis Powers. Your best work yet, HG!
Thank you for bringing this short biography of Captain Fox's WWII and post World War II service to life. Exceptional story, and one I had never heard of before. Andy McKane, Molokai, Hawaii.
