January 11th: Today in 1988 Gregory “Pappy” Boyington died of cancer in California. Boyington is best remembered as one of the leading American Aces in the Second World War and was a medal of Honor winner. His squadron was later portrayed in the 70s T.V. show Baa Baa Black Sheep, which was very loosely based on the actual squadron Boyington commanded.

His name was back in the news this year as last year his alma mater school, the University of Washington voted against a memorial to him with several students objecting to a ‘killer’ and a ‘Rich white man’ getting a memorial. Boyington was of Sioux background and never rich, but he was a Marine fighter pilot and did undoubtedly kill people during the war in which the Allies overthrew the Nazis, the Italian Fascists and the Imperial Japanese. Anyhow when the smoke from the press coverage cleared he will get a memorial at the school along with the other medal of honor winners who attended the school.

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