An American Hero: Eugene Trowbridge

By V A Nelson

August 20 of 1942. Nineteen brave pilots of U.S. Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-223 fly into the jaws of Hell. These few aviators will play a major role in the fierce struggle to hold out against the Empire of Japan. Guadalcanal is strategically too important for either country to give it up. The mortgage payment for this real estate will be in blood and much more. This story is about a double-ace.

• Language: English
• Publisher: V A Nelson
• Release date: May 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463371756

V A Nelson

V. A. Nelson was born in Graceville, Minnesota. He graduated from Edina (Minnesota) High School in 1961. He earned his B.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1965 and his M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1969. His wife, Debbie, and he were married during his senior year of medical school. They have three children and four grandchildren. He took further training at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, California (Stanford University), Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii (University of Hawaii), McLaren Regional Medical Center in Flint, Michigan (Michigan State University), and at the U.S. Army Aero-medical Center in Ft. Rucker, Alabama.He served as a flight surgeon on army active duty from 1973-1975. In January of 1974 he proposed, to the army, an ejection system for helicopters using explosive bolts to release the rotor blades before timed upward crew ejection. The Russians now have it. In 1975, he entered private medical practice in Anoka, Minnesota. In 1978, he moved to Houston, Texas where he has been the Clinical Director of a University of Texas residency program, and the medical director of a hospital clinic.In May of 2004, he was assigned by the University of Texas Medical Branch to work in the Flight Analog Research Unit and in the Human Test Subject Facility at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. There, he supported work on countermeasures to the pathophysiologic effects of prolonged space-travel.In July of 2009, he contracted to work in the Soldier Readiness Center at Ft. Hood, Texas. He was present during the November fifth shooting and was one of the first responders to render medical care to the victims.

Book preview

An American Hero:

Eugene Trowbridge

From the author of

The Tower Of Babel: NASA’S Great Endeavor

(Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award quarterfinalist)

Magnificent Endeavor

Patient-Centered Healthcare

Reform: What We Want

And Need

V.A. Nelson

An American Hero:

Eugene Trowbridge

An American Hero: Eugene Trowbridge

Third Edition

Copyright 2017 by Victor A. Nelson M.D.

Published by

Squall Line Publishers

Houston, Texas

Cover art and some illustrations by Victor A. Nelson, M.D.

Other photo origins are as indicated or in public domain

Smashwords edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is written in ‘American’ English, so there may be some differences in spelling to other international forms of English.

This is a work of nonfiction and has attempted to be historically accurate.

Verbalized opinions, especially about Japan and Japanese soldiers, in the era and context of World War II, do not reflect present opinions of the author.

This book is dedicated to:

‘The Greatest Generation’

All, whose efforts and sacrifices on the battlefields of the World and on the home fronts, led to the defeat of the evil empires in the Second World War, while preserving our freedom.

American F4F Wildcat Fighters

Acknowledgements

I would like to recognize and express my appreciation to Gene Trowbridge Jr., Esq. Without his knowledge, effort, and assistance, his father’s story could not have been told. He has generously allowed me to invade the privacy of his family to bring this story to the general public and thousands of his former students.

Likewise, Eugene Trowbridge’s close friend, confidant, fellow aviation enthusiast, and school teaching colleague, Anders Christenson, shared personal knowledge and information gleaned from post-war conversations during the years that they taught school together. His aviation knowledge was also useful.

I would like to express special appreciation to the noted British author, Robert A. V. Jacobs, for his mentoring and for his editing and formatting of manuscripts and book covers over the years.

My thanks to: Bruce Nelson, Bryan Nelson, World War II Database, C. Peter Chen, War History Online, Google, Google Earth, Battle 360, Life Magazine, many other contemporary magazines, The Saint Paul Pioneer Press, other newspaper articles and Wikipedia.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Preface

Prologue: The Beginnings.

Chapter One: The Prince of Rabaul.

Chapter Two: His Early Years.

Chapter Three: A Date Which Will Live In Infamy.

Chapter Four: Deployment.

Chapter Five: Sail Into Danger.

Chapter Six: First Days On Guadalcanal.

Chapter Seven: The Big Battles.

Chapter Eight: Escalation of Combat.

Chapter Nine: Edson's Ridge.

Chapter Ten: Back to The States.

Chapter Eleven: Last Days in the Marine corps.

Chapter Twelve: Pursuit of a Music Career.

Chapter Thirteen: An Edina Band Director.

Epilogue: Conclusions.

About The Author.

Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame.

Preface

The Second World War was a tragedy for the entire world. Millions of people lost their lives in this desperate conflict and millions of others were affected by it for the rest of their lives.

Many detailed and well-written accounts of all aspects of the Pacific War exist. This is not an effort to describe events, or parts of events, that did not specifically impact Eugene Trowbridge’s struggle.

Stories of personal heroism were born out of the global conflict, to be told to future generations. Other personal stories will, unfortunately, be forever lost to the collective memory of mankind.

Fictitious stories have also sprung up from the war. Most of the readers are familiar with the Hollywood production titled Flying Leathernecks. In this film, a fictitious marine fighter squadron, VMF-247 is the first to land on Guadalcanal and spends much of its time supporting ground troop operations while the squadron commander and the executive officer quarrel over discipline.

In reality, the real squadron, VMF-223, a part of Marine Air Group MAG-23, was the first fighter squadron to land on the airstrip at Guadalcanal. Marine Second-Lieutenant Eugene Trowbridge, who had never before flown in aerial combat against the enemy, was the first to put wheels down on the short, uneven, and bumpy airstrip named Henderson Field. Initiation by fire awaited Eugene, and his eighteen squadron mates as they joined one of the fiercest struggles in military history.

Eugene Trowbridge bravely carried out his duty assignments while initially fighting with long odds for survival. Three of his squadron mates died in their first air battle against skilled, veteran Japanese pilots. Eugene not only survived; but shot down two Japanese fighters in the first air battle of his life. He quickly excelled in aerial combat and became an experienced veteran combat pilot.

He never publicly talked about the war. Very few, in the school where he later taught music, knew that he was a war hero. Respecting his wishes, they kept it to themselves. He shunned publicity; but it caught up with him anyway because he became an Ace after his first three air battles over a span of four days. Even though he had no interest in body counts or kills for personal fame or recognition, he became a Double Ace within his first two