Todor Anguelov

Brianne Hoquist

Ashley Roldan

Corona

US History-Per.2

3-28-05

ESLR#1, 2, 5

CS#11.8

Scotty Cardwell: A True American Hero

The intrepid young soldier, feeling a sense of pride and duty to his country, fought for the expensive cost of liberty and freedom for America, in hopes of an enhanced future. Now at the thriving age of 82, nearly sixty-four years after his enlistment to the military, Scotty Cardwell recalled his past memories of war. He was born on April 19, 1923, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to an Irish and Scottish family. At an early age, Cardwell was exposed and enticed by war due to the fact that he had a family history of soldiers; his father, and great grandfather were in various wars; “[He] wanted the military life.” His father died due to gas poisoning from WWI when Scotty Cardwell was only thirteen years old, in which forced him to start earning a living on his own. Until November 12, 1941, he ran policy and horse bets for two Mafia families. With his assiduous vitality, Cardwell’s early life was spent in Philadelphia during the time of the most infamous gangster in the United States, Al Capone. Though he was feared throughout America, Al Capone was like a hero to Cardwell. However, the families that Cardwell worked for had two rules in their notorious business, “Don’t take my money, and don’t touch my sister.” Later, Cardwell attended the North East Manual Training High School in Philadelphia and studied steel production. However, his natural love and admiration for the service changed his life and future outcome.

Voluntarily, Cardwell joined the Army, instead of entering the steel industry. However, before entering the Army, he received technical training at the Shepard Field Boot Camp in Texas and Flight Engineer training in the B-24 Liberator Bomber at the Consolidated Aircraft Factory in San Diego. In boot camp, the daily routine began at 5 a.m.; beds were made, roll was called, and breakfast was served. Then, the soldiers seized their rifles and endured intense trainings and drills. After the morning instructions, soldiers ate their afternoon meal and headed to technical training. Once the day’s schooling was complete, dinner was served. Between the hours of seven and ten p.m., the men had free time to do what they pleased. Diligent and assiduous, Cardwell received basic training such as marching, rifle training, and military discipline. When WWII began, he was still in boot camp. With the completion of his training nearing, Cardwell was assigned to the 44^th Bomb Group (Heavy) “The Flying 8 Balls.” Throughout the war, he flew bombardment missions and taught novice flight engineers the novel expectations of war.

As brothers would stick together throughout hardships and struggles, so did Cardwell’s crew. He recalled that his crew was basically his family, since they were emotionally involved and had love for one another. Quickly after his assignment to the various bombing air groups, he traveled to England on the RMS Queen Mary in 1942, where he became a member of the fledging Mighty 8^th Air Force. Feeling at home, England was the place in which he liked the most, for the scenery was gorgeous and the people were affable. Living in England, he learned various new customs and ways. Open minded, Cardwell always looked for the good in foreign cultures. He started flying missions over occupied Europe and Germany after he settled at the Royal Air Force Shipdham AAF 115 Airfield. Furthermore, the 44^th was deployed twice to North Africa, where Cardwell was involved in a significant mission on Black Sunday, August 1, 1943 to the Ploesti Oil Complex to abolish Hitler’s imperative oil fields in Romania. Overall, the mission was a success because Cardwell and his airmen flew only fifty feet above the ground, in spite of the 57 bombers out of 177 lost over target, ditched in Mediterranean, or crash landed in the desert. As a result, German oil production was restrained for six months. Cardwell’s leaders said that “Practice, practice, practice” was the key to the Ploesti raid. However, although they constantly practiced and prepared for various situations and complications, the raid did not wholly go as planned. “You can practice as much as possible, however there will be interruptions no matter how much you plan,” stated Cardwell. The second mission from North Africa was to support the Anzio, an Italian invasion. Throughout his several tours, he flew bombing missions, diversionary missions, and supply missions.

Throughout Cardwell’s career in the military, his most traumatic experience was on his very first mission in Ruon, France. While in direct combat, Hillmer Lund, a close buddy to Cardwell who was only eighteen years old, died in his arms. Unfortunately, Lund was only the first of many to be killed in the 44^th Bomb Group.

Seeing the look on his mother’s face and the overwhelming feelings when he arrived back in the United States was one of his favorite memories. He returned to the U.S. on the SS Saturnia, a hospital ship. Thus, later he spent a month in the AAF Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. Preparing to go to the Pacific for the invasion of Japan, Cardwell entered the B-29 Flight Engineer training and was assigned to the 324^th Bomb Group. However, as they were about to take off, the war ended. Primarily assigned to B-29s, he eventually entered the B-36 training. However, the Korean War broke out and he was removed from B-36 training and was inevitably assigned to the third Bomb Group K-8, Kunsen, Korea, in which was a B-26 Unit. During the Korean War, he received a direct commission and during a second Korean tour, he was a squadron commander who supervised a task force that took over a Russian-designed MiG 15 fighter jet after its North Korean pilot defected to the other side. Furthermore, during his Vietnam tour, he stayed in the forest grounds to salvage crashed plane parts to repair other planes. The Vietnam War did not wholly entice and interest the young courageous soldier for it was poorly organized and governed.

In addition, his next assignments were with the newly formed Air Research and Development Command. During this tour, he participated with the “H” Bomb Development Support Group on several projects such as the “Ivy and Castle.” Then, he was engaged in a one year assignment with The Republic of China Air Force. After, he had a second Korean tour, in which led to the recovery of the second flyable MiG-15 that had defected from Wonsan Air Station, North Korea. Upon his arrival to the United States, he was assigned to the SAC and the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Minute Man for ten years.

All throughout his thirty-two years of commitment and service to his country, Cardwell received numerous medals and awards. Venerated, he was honored and decorated with two Distinguished Flying Crosses, four Air Medals, two Air Force Commendation Medals, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Medal, WWII Victory Medal, European African Middle East Campaign Medal with nine Battle Stars, American Campaign Medal with one battle star, Korean Campaign Medal with one battle star, Vietnam Campaign Medal with three battle stars, UN Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation. His prodigious commitment and continuous admiration for serving his country was exemplary.

Within his military career, astute and adventurous Cardwell pulled various clandestine coups on other soldiers and commanders. One of his most memorable moments was enlisting his friend to the 66^th quadrant surreptitiously. Cardwell, as well as some other soldiers, planned to enlist the best propeller specialist, Swede Larson without him even knowing it. Thus, they brought Larson downtown to get him drunk. Once over consumed with alcohol, they bet Larson that he could not write his name properly. Accepting the challenge drunk, Cardwell slipped the enlistment paper, and Larson obliviously signed it. In the morning, with a bad hangover, he discovered the wily stratagem of his friends. The look on Larson’s face upon the discovery of his enlistment was priceless.

“The only regret I have was not serving for 40 years” Cardwell stated profoundly. On May 31, 1973 at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, after thirty-two years of service, he retired as a Lt. Col. Regular AF. Serving in the numerous American victories and struggles gave him a lifelong experience in which he treasures forever. The military life was the only life for him recalled Cardwell. As a young teen, he felt the intuition and an incumbent to serve his country; his feelings were vindicated with growing military experience. Courageous and brave, Scotty Cardwell was a paramount soldier who greatly contributed to the victories of America. “War is nasty business” admitted Cardwell, however, “Everyone has a purpose in life.”