A Veterans Day tribute can involve honoring veterans through an expression of gratitude and
greater acknowledgment of their service. We held a National Day of Prayer for Veterans and their families at Independence Hall with such notables as former Congressman Ed Royce, Ambassador at Large Dr. Clyde Rivers, former Vice-Presidential Candidate on the American Independent Party, Native American leaders, Veterans and many of their families. It was aired live on Christian radio and live streamed. Appointed by Chief Tall Eagle, at this event we honored 27 veterans with the Native American Warrior Medal of Valor and two medals posthumously. There were many fine speeches and when it came to my time, the first thing I started was to remind people, “That from the beginning of the Revolutionary War to the War of 1812, to the Spanish American War, to World War I, to WWII, in Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq War and many others, pastors did not provide our freedom…veterans provided our freedom.” It has been said, “Never have so few given so much.”
Then my focus was on the amazing gallantry of the AVG – American Volunteer Group or as theChinese named them, “The Flying Tigers.”
I had the great pleasure and fortune to interview many of the last surviving Flying Tigers. Fighter Pilots like George “Byron” Cosgrove a Huntington Beach, California resident and his family. George, like most WWII vets, was slow to talk about the war, but once he got into it his stories put you right in the middle of the dog fight with the japs.
George would tell you that the Japs Zeros were fast and, in some cases, faster than Chinese and American Aircraft. The Japs had a tactic to come from under the planes in a so-called blind spot and shoot planes down. The Tigers got wise to this and mounted a gunner under side and were able to blast Jap pilots in their tactic right through the cockpit and drive them out of the sky.
Also interviewed both American and Chinese Ground Crew Members and the one who impressed me most was “Hump Pilot,” Frank Merklein whose words struck me the most. Frank passed at 93 but one of his wishes before his passing was to go back to Beijing China for the 70th Anniversary of defeating the Japanese War Machine where the Chinese were honoring WWII soldiers and pilots with a commemorative medal. Frank had a very accomplished professional career in satellite entertainment and Cable television management. Frank Merklein was appointed President of Global Entertainment Media, Inc., in January 2014. In this capacity, Frank will lead team of talented engineers to develop a prototype, set-top product that will be marketed by the Company. Frank Merklein’s career spans five decades in Cable TV, Motion Pictures & Television. He has built television stations for NBC and others in 12 countries, including Iran, Pakistan, Jordan, Brazil. Mr. Merklein’s career includes positions as Manager of International Development with Time/Life, Manager of Operations of United Artists CATV Systems, Vice President of 20th Century Fox Studio in the Satellite and Cable Sales Division, Vice President of Cable Operations for United Satellite and Vice President of DuRance Satellite Network. He began his professional career as camera, video and technical director for advertising with RCA/NBC. Mr. Merklein attended Queens College, took pilot training at several colleges and completed training in the US Air Corps. He then served as a Pilot and Airways Communication Specialist in China and India with the14th Air Force, attachment Flying Tigers. After the war, he completed his technical education at RCA Institute, receiving a Certificate for Telecommunications and an FCC license.
Frank served in the 14th Air Force. This was the faction of the Army Air Corp that was led by Gen. Claire Chennault in 1939. Frank told me about some of the harrowing flights carrying the much needed supplies to keep the Tigers flying over the Himalayas without instruments and through some of the harshest weather. For Frank it was just doing the job for the Team. Frank viewed the Flying Tigers not as Americans or Chinese but as partners fighting a common enemy. Hump Pilot Frank Merklein’s reflection celebrates valor, unity, and enduring friendship between nations.
Much like Marco Polo, Frank love China but never got to go back to China where many Chinese saw him as the blond-haired man they ever saw.
Frank demonstrated that he was a truly humble man. Frank told me he did not want the medal for himself. He wanted to receive the medal and be taken to the Flying Tiger Memorial and place the medal over the Memorial for all his fellow “Tigers and the guys to did not make it back home and his Chinese crew who often sacrificed even more.”
For me that kind of heart is what provides our freedom.
