Good morning Distinguished guests, Ms. Olivia Thompson, Essex Fells veterans, Neighbors and Friends, welcome to our Memorial Day Remembrance at Essex Fells Borough Hall. I am going to depart a bit from my usual comments, and I hope you ll bear with me. Recently, Essex Fells lost a very special, remarkable friend. Several years ago at our Memorial Day remembrance we honored, remembered, and paid tribute to Essex Fells own Lieutenant Robert H. Crum, Jr. who was killed on May 22, 1966 while leading his men on a dangerous reconnaissance mission in Vietnam. For his courageous actions that day, Lieutenant Crum posthumously received our nation s third highest honor for bravery in combat, the Silver Star. For our remembrance, I had invited Lieutenant Crum s widow, Olivia (who is with us here today), and his sister and family to join us, and they came from as far away as Houston, Texas. I also invited another guest, Sergeant David C. Dolby, who was Lt. Crum s machine gunner on that terrible and fateful day, and to whom Lieutenant Crum turned over command as he lay dying in Sergeant Dolby s arms. What happened next can only best described by directly quoting Sergeant Dolby s citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, when his platoon, while advancing tactically, suddenly came under intense fire from the enemy located on a ridge immediately to the front. Six members of the platoon were killed instantly and a number were wounded, including the platoon leader [Lieutenant Crum]. Sgt. Dolby's every move brought fire from the enemy. However, aware that the platoon leader was critically wounded, and that the platoon was in a precarious situation, Sgt. Dolby moved the wounded men to safety and deployed the remainder of the platoon to engage the enemy. Subsequently, his dying platoon leader ordered Sgt. Dolby to withdraw the forward elements to rejoin the platoon. Despite the continuing intense enemy fire and with utter disregard for his own safety, Sgt. Dolby positioned able-bodied men to cover the withdrawal of the forward elements, assisted the wounded to the new position, and he, alone, attacked enemy positions until his ammunition was expended. Replenishing his ammunition, he returned to the area of most intense action, single-handedly killed 3 enemy machine gunners and neutralized the enemy fire, thus enabling friendly elements on the flank to advance on the enemy redoubt. He defied the enemy fire to personally carry a seriously wounded soldier to safety where he could be treated and, returning to the forward area, he crawled through withering fire to within 50 meters of the enemy bunkers and threw smoke grenades to mark them for air strikes. Although repeatedly under fire at close range from enemy
snipers and automatic weapons, Sgt. Dolby directed artillery fire on the enemy and succeeded in silencing several enemy weapons. He remained in his exposed location until his comrades had displaced to more secure positions. His actions of unsurpassed valor during 4 hours of intense combat were a source of inspiration to his entire company, contributed significantly to the success of the overall assault on the enemy position, and were directly responsible for saving the lives of a number of his fellow soldiers. Sgt. Dolby's heroism was in the highest tradition of the U.S. Army. For those of us who were here, we will remember the Sergeant s telling of the events that day, and just how much he respected and admired his Lieutenant, that son of Essex Fells, Robert Crum. I will not even attempt to quote or paraphrase the Sergeant s words, but they were certainly both memorable and moving. Around Sergeant Dolby s neck, on a blue ribbon hung a medal the only medal that military protocol allows to be worn in such a fashion. For his actions that day, Sergeant Dolby received our nation s highest award for bravery in battle, the Medal of Honor. What many do not realize is that the Sergeant received the Medal when he was only 20 years old as a member of the 1 st Cavalry Division. After he received the Medal from President Lynden B. Johnson, the Sergeant could have stayed home as the White House and Department of the Army wanted and safely gone on a public relations tour. But not this soldier. He officially returned to Vietnam for active combat duty for four more tours: as a member of the 101 st Airborne; the 75 th Rangers; as an Advisor to the Royal Cambodian Army and the Vietnamese Rangers; and lastly as a Green Beret. I say officially only because in addition to the above, Sergeant Dolby lastly served in the Special Forces, and the final chapter on Sergeant Dolby s involvement in the Vietnam Conflict has not yet been declassified or written. At a small reception at my house the night before, and at the Crum remembrance on Memorial Day itself, I was able to introduce Sergeant Dolby to my family, friends, and some of you Vietnam Essex Fells veterans. For those of us who were fortunate to meet this remarkable hero and patriot, it was an incredibly moving and unforgettable experience. To know him is to know that Sergeant Dolby was truly an original and one of the greatest Americans you will ever meet. Over the last several years, the Sergeant and I became very close friends. We would regularly meet for lunch at Smith & Wollensky s in New York City several times a year with our good friend Jim DeSalvo and catch up on his travels and activities. I will never forget one occasion when one of the kitchen staff, an African American in his mid-60s, approached our table upon hearing the identity of my guest. As the Sergeant looked up, this gentleman stood at attention, and silently and with great respect threw him a salute. The Sergeant slowly rose, stood directly face to face with him, and with equal reverence returned the salute. The gentleman softly said, Sir, it s my honor to meet you and the Sergeant replied, the privilege is mine, Soldier. Where and when in Nam did you
serve? For ten minutes, these two old soldiers went aside and spoke of Vietnam, of tours of duty, of battles and bravery, and of fallen, but never forgotten, comrades. As they parted, there were tears in their eyes. Sadly and unexpectedly, Sergeant Dolby passed away last Fall. Thankfully, this warrior, who had experienced all of the horrible atrocities of war, passed away peacefully. When I received the news from Jim DeSalvo, I was so terribly saddened, for at our last time together, the Sergeant told me he wanted to return to Essex Fells today, this Memorial Day almost 45 years to the day that he performed the duties that earned him the Medal of Honor - and reunite with our town s veterans and people. He loved our little town, and he would often say the nicest thing to me that Essex Fells has to be a very special and wonderful place to have produced one of the finest soldiers and bravest men he ever knew, Lieutenant Crum. And so, Essex Fells lost a very special friend. Jill and I were privileged and honored to be invited to Sergeant Dolby s private funeral service at our nation s highest place of honor, Arlington National Cemetery, last December. I have had the honor of attending two funerals at this most hallowed ground each of personal friends each Medal of Honor recipients Major General James H. Doolittle and Sergeant David Charles Dolby. For Jill and me, it was an honor not only to be present to pay our personal respects to this American warrior, but also to be present there to represent the Borough of Essex Fells. The service was held at the Fort Meyers Chapel adjacent to the cemetery, and was attended by many distinguished personnel of the United States Army and high ranking Army officers, including several soldiers who fought with Lieutenant Crum and Sergeant Dolby on that terrible day. In attendance were two other soldiers, around whose neck was adorned that special medal: Medal of Honor Recipient, Colonel Walter Joseph Marm, Jr. and First Lieutenant Brian Thacker, both of the United States Army. Lieutenant Crum and Sergeant Dolby s commanding officer on May 22, 1966, Colonel John P. Lawton, himself a member of the United States Ranger Hall of Fame, gave a wonderful eulogy, speaking about the very core and nature of Sergeant Dolby s character, referring to him as one of the bravest and greatest warriors this country has ever known. Of the three readings given during the service, two were made by the Medal of Honor recipients. At the express request of Sergeant Dolby s family, the third reading was given by the Mayor of a very small, special town in New Jersey. It was an honor of a lifetime for me, perhaps the highest honor ever, to be to be included in the service for my friend and hero, Sergeant David C. Dolby, and in the very presence of those two, well actually three, Medal of Honor recipients.
As we laid Sergeant Dolby to rest alongside his beloved wife Xuan and next to the grave of his father, I could not help but think about the blessings that have been bestowed upon me to serve as your Mayor to have met such a remarkable person as Sergeant Dolby, Olivia Thompson, and the Crum family and for that - I want you all to know - I am extremely grateful to you and all the residents of Essex Fells. It is a privilege and honor for me to serve as your Mayor something that I appreciate every day and one that I want you to know that I respect and revere tremendously. Over the last several years, at this service, I wear, near my heart, the pin of the 1 st Cavalry Division. I wear this pin, not because I served in the Division, but because Sergeant Dolby, as a Medal of Honor recipient, nominated me to be an honorary member of his Division. I have worn it proudly at each Memorial Day since receiving it from him. With the Sergeant s passing, I remove it today in his memory and honor, and shall never wear it again. Rest in peace Soldier. You have earned it, and the deep respect and sincere thanks of a grateful nation and a very special little town. President John F. Kennedy stated, A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers. One more thing and it s more of an observation one that I hope you ll all think about today. Those of you who know me know that I am a historian of the Second World War and deeply respect those who fought it, the group of folks that Tom Brokaw called the greatest generation. However, please consider this: we are witnessing the next greatest generation the young men and women who, today, serve in our armed forces. They are all volunteers, the best and the brightest ever, and choose to willingly serve our country and protect and promote our liberty and freedom. When we hear stories about the Navy Seals Team 6 taking out bin Laden, or the snipers who were able to eliminate Somali pirates with a single shot while lying prone on a pitching aircraft carrier deck shooting into an open doorway of another, smaller pitching vessel, or the courageous actions and commitment demonstrated by Essex Fells sons Richard and Jack Kilcoyne and Michael Phillips (Bronze Star) please consider that we are witnessing the next greatest generation. I honestly believe this to be true. On this Memorial Day, we remember the men who made the supreme sacrifice for our country. I have a letter here, an old one, but one which is considered to be one of the most beautiful letters ever composed and one which I believe best speaks to the very core of what Memorial Day means to our nation. It was written to a Mrs. Bixby in Boston and states: Dear Madam: I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjunct General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should
attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they had died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom. Yours very sincerely and respectfully, Abraham Lincoln Like Mrs. Bixby, Essex Fells lost five sons on the field of battle: David James Stanley United States Maritime Service Lost at Sea Second World War June 1, 1943 Nathaniel Austin Hanau, Jr. United States Army Air Corps Died in Action Second World War June 1, 1944 Commander John Kremer, Jr. United States Naval Reserve Died in Action Second World War December 30, 1944 Second Lieutenant Robert H. Crum, Jr. United States Army Died in Action Republic of Vietnam May 22, 1966 First Lieutenant William Brent Bell Ranger 75 th Infantry - Airborne Died in Action Republic of Vietnam March 27, 1969 Each of these men died gloriously and is laid upon the altar of freedom. They made the supreme sacrifice for us, for our Borough, and for our country. Lastly, dear Lord, please bless and remember the Essex Fells residents who have served our county and have passed on, especially Robert W. Schmitt, who honorably served our County in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956. Bless and watch over our sons of Essex Fells, and all our brave soldiers, airmen, sailors, marines, coastguardsmen, and all the men and women in our armed forces, who at this very hour are in harm s way, with your strength and protection. Please keep them from harm as they serve their fellow
countrymen and innocent people throughout the world in the cause of peace, liberty, and freedom. May angles be with them and watch over them as they perform their duties overseas and at home. May there be peace on earth, but never appeasement in our goals to serve thy will. God Bless these United States, God Bless Essex Fells, and God Bless you all.