"I wasn't going to go down without a fight. I took his best shots and I am still standing."

“…As Gelman approaches, Lozito does the last thing the knife-wielding maniac expected – he attacks. Without warning, this 260-pound wrecking ball of awesome beardage leaps up from his seat, driving his chest into the spree-killer’s chest Goldberg Spear style.

Both men crash to the floor of the Subway, and a battle for life and death immediately ensues. Lozito is pinning the guy to the turf, desperately trying to grab control of the knife, and Gelman is slashing wildly at anything he can reach. His face and head are sliced and bleeding badly, but Lozito never even considers anything other than pummeling this guy mercilessly about the head and neck.

Lozito looks his enemy in the eyes and unflinchingly tells him, “You’ve messed with the wrong guy. You’d better hope I die, because I’m coming to kill you.”

Joseph Lozito, the Subway Hero of New York, had single-handedly captured a man responsible for killing or wounding eight people in a 28-hour period, and had probably saved the lives of everyone on that subway car through his incredible determination, ridiculous bravery, and a seemingly-unflinching dedication to wrecking the asses of horrible murdering bastards.”

http://www.badassoftheweek.com/lozito.html

“When the ramp went down on that landing craft, that’s when the war began for me,” Miller said. “You’re not the same person after that.”

His next six weeks were spent in battle with “highly trained, well-disciplined and intensely motivated fighters who lived with indescribable personal fears, most inhumane conditions and grinding fatigue — and still got the job done with pride, alive or dead,” Miller wrote. “I wish I were articulate enough to do the job right of telling it how it was.”

The experience that’s foremost in Miller’s memory involved his friend, identified in the book as Gus. The two were ordered to go into the field and search for wounded Marines.

“We hunkered down, not quite kneeling,” Miller recalled. “We were shoulder-to-shoulder and we heard some gunfire.”

“I remember saying to him: `Gus, that was a close one.’ I looked over to him, and he slipped to the ground. I said I’d go over and get some help.”

But it was too late. “The bullet that killed him was 4 inches from my shoulder,” Miller said. “He died in my arms.”

http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2011/03/13/6259372-survivor-recalls-famous-wwii-battle-at-iwo-jima

“The first time Hewitt Youtz crash landed, he hit the ground belly up and skidded into a grape vineyard.

Certain the plane was going to explode, he jumped out and ran. Youtz felt like he ran 100 yards in 10 seconds, parachute between his legs, inflatable dingy on his back, dressed in layers that, although meant to keep him warm and safe, felt cumbersome when escaping a craft that might burst into flames: wool socks, high-top shoes, a flight suit, sheepskin pants and jacket, oxygen mask, life preserver, 45 shoulder holster gun.

He was dive bombing rail yards in Munich when the bombs on his P-38 wouldn’t come off. On the third pass, they released, but heavy flak shot out Youtz’s right engine.

He bent the throttle forward to keep up with the squadron, running on one engine.

“And it blew up over the coast of Yugoslavia and left me in a very, very quiet airplane,” Youtz said.”

http://trib.com/special-section/news/history-and-events/article_eb396408-8b37-5b23-bb17-a05ddcff778d.html

From: Joe Straus

Friends:

One hundred and seventy five years ago today, on March 2, 1836, Texas earned its hard-fought freedom from Mexico, becoming an independent nation. With a small band of patriots at his side, Colonel William Barret Travis fought off the Mexican army at the Alamo, buying enough time for General Sam Houston and his men to be victorious at San Jacinto, paving the way for independence. Travis and all of his men died at the Alamo, but not before he sent off one final letter detailing his predicament, and espousing the virtues of Texas’ independent spirit.

Last week in the Texas House of Representatives, we were honored to display the original letter from Travis. It was lent to us by the Texas State Library & Archives Commission. The Commission helps to tell the story of our unique state by protecting the treasures of Texas while making them accessible to researchers, students and everyday Texans.

Our Speaker Pro Tem, Representative Beverly Woolley (R-Houston) read the inspiring text of the Travis letter on the House floor, and I wanted to share an excerpt with you:

“The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken—I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls—I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch … If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country— Victory or Death.”

Col. Travis made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. As Texans, we pause each March 2 to honor Travis and those brave heroes who fought alongside him. The rallying cry of “Remember the Alamo” today, still calls to mind their bravery and independent spirit.

You can read the full text of the letter, and learn more about this important piece of Texas history online, and I encourage you to visit the Archives, as well. Texans are blessed with a unique and rich heritage, and I hope you will join me in learning more about our history and working to preserve it for future generations. With less than 90 days remaining in the 82nd Legislature, we will keep in mind that independent spirit and bravery that Col. Travis and his men embodied. We will never forget what is due to our state and our country.

Sincerely,

Speaker Joe Straus