Legends

When “B” Company Commander Thomas Anderson graduated from PMC in 1942, he was considered to be a no nonsense Cadet and a “True Leader.” He had a commanding voice, a squared-away military appearance and was an expert at handling those Cadets around him. During his four years, he was awarded the Dunlap Memorial Rifle Trophy and the Oliver Revolver Medal for his marksmanship. His amiable manner also kept him busy with several social pursuits, including the 3rd Class (Sophomore) and 2nd Class (Junior) Dance Committees and the Sabre and Sash (Yearbook).

Anderson was assigned to the 26th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed “The Blue Spaders”, 1st Infantry Division. He focused on preparing for the amphibious invasion of North Africa. First Lieutenant Anderson and his unit landed on the beaches west of Oran, in northwest Africa. The inexperienced American troops encountered stubborn enemy resistance. Anderson’s unit came under constant and effective machine-gun and small-arms fire. Anderson was awarded The Silver Star Medal for his leadership and bravery in leading his men to the successful completion of their mission.

Moving inland, the 1st Infantry Division took up defensive positions in the Kasserine Pass, a wide gap in the Atlas Mountains. Elements of Rommel’s Afrika Korps launched a counter-attack against the 1st Infantry in order to regain control of Tunisia. During the German assault, Anderson led a machine gun squad in the destruction of a well-concealed sniper nest. For his outstanding leadership and tactical skill, Anderson was awarded The Oak Leaf Cluster to The Silver Star Medal (Second Award).

On D-Day, the 26th Regiment landed on Omaha Beach. After landing on “Fox Green Beach,” Anderson, now a Captain and the Commanding Officer of A Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, was ordered to take the high ground west and southwest of the Port-en-Bessin, to include Mount Cauvin. Although little is recorded about this engagement, Anderson was awarded The 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to The Silver Star Medal (Third Award).

During the Korean War, in late May 1951, the 7th Infantry Regiment launched a counter-attack to a Chinese advancement. The goal was to capture key hills and passes near Soksa-ri, Korea, and push the enemy back. During the siege, the 3rd Battalion became critically short of water, rations, and ammunition. Anderson responded to the regimental commander’s request for supplies. Despite being under constant small arms fire from the Chinese and avoiding jagged mountaintops, he piloted an unarmed aircraft four times. Each time he accurately dropped the supplies the 3rd Battalion urgently needed. By the end of May, the enemy offensive had been crushed. Anderson was The 3rd Oak Leaf Cluster to The Silver Star Medal (Fourth Award) for his “Unwavering Gallantry.”

Few men are awarded multiples of The Silver Star Medal, the Nation’s Third-Highest Combat Award (Decoration) for Gallantry. Anderson was one of them.

The Tumbelston family had a long association with PMC. Dr. Robert T. Tumbelston, ’07 was a graduate and the President of the Alumni Association. His two sons followed in his footsteps and attended PMC. William “Blackie” Tumbelston started as a rook in the Prep School and rose to be Cadet Captain of B Company in his First Class (Senior) year. His classmates considered him to be one of the most accomplished members of the Class of 1937 and for his “fearless determination” and leadership abilities also admired him. After graduation, he joined a Marine reserve battalion in Philadelphia.

Tumbelston was the Executive Officer of the 1st Battalion of the 27th Marines when they landed on Iwo Jima. He assumed command when Lieutenant Colonel Justin Duryea was wounded while taking Hill 326A. After making a thorough Leader’s Reconnaissance of the forward positions of the battalion, Tumbelston launched an attack on the heavily defended Japanese position that had halted the battalion’s advance. Leading from the front, as he was taught at PMC, he was wounded. The bullet struck him in the left arm, but after receiving treatment and refusing evacuation, he returned to the front. After the battle, Tumbelston was evacuated. In the five days he commanded the battalion, the forward attacks destroyed Japanese opposition. For his actions he was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

The battle to secure Iwo Jima witnessed the toughest combat of World War II. The courage and heroism of the Marines, however, inspired a war-weary nation and helped to propel it to final victory.

The battalion staff of 1/27. L-R: Unknown, Unknown, Capt Thomas R. Shepard, Bn-3, LTC John A. Butler, CO, MAJ William R. Tumbelston, XO, Unknown, 1LT James T. Rain, Bn-2 Photo courtesy John A. Butler, Jr.

The 1939-1940 polo season was, perhaps, one of the greatest for polo at PMC. Under the guidance of Coach Carl Schaubel, ’30, considered at the time to be the best polo coach in the country, the team of Jim Spurrier ‘40, Emery Hickman ‘40 and “Bud” Maloney ‘41 excelled. Jim Spurrier was the sparkplug of the team. Bud Maloney formed the spearhead on attack, and Emory Hickman constantly retrieved the ball, feeding it to Spurrier and Maloney. Following the completion of a successful regular season, the PMC team once again played in the Intercollegiate Polo Tournament. They beat Harvard and West Point, but were defeated by Princeton in the Championship game. After graduation, these men, along with William Dudley ’42, a sophomore and another member of the polo team, were again teamed together in the 1st Cavalry Division. Three of these polo players distinguished themselves in action and earned Silver Star Medals for their leadership and heroism.

After months of “island hopping” through the Japanese held island chain known as “the Admiralties”, the 1st Cavalry Division invaded the Philippine Island of Leyte in October 1944. On November 30th, B Troop, under the command of CPT James R. Spurrier, was ordered to open the only available supply route by attacking a strongly entrenched force. To accomplish this, Spurrier was forced to cut his own trail through a densely wooded jungle over rugged mountain terrain. As darkness fell, there was the added danger of his troops becoming lost. Spurrier demonstrated initiative and courage leading his men to a point from which an attack could be made at first light. During the night, he gathered reinforcements to his command with men returning from the hospital and others carrying rations. As the sun rose the next day, Spurrier launched a coordinated attack. After 12 hours of hand-to-hand combat led by Spurrier, the supply route was reopened and an estimated 218 Japanese troops had been killed.

In January 1945, Luzon was invaded and General MacArthur issued the order “Go to Manila!” to liberate prisoners held by the Japanese and take the Malacañan Palace, the White House of the Philippines. Detached from the famous “flying column” and ordered to seize and hold the Palace, F Troop, commanded by CPT Emery M. Hickman, began the race towards Manila. To reach the objective, the squadron swept through the maze of unfamiliar streets and quickly overran the Japanese that were preparing to destroy the Palace. Hickey then organized the defense of the compound so well that when the Japanese tried to re-enter the grounds during the night they were stopped while taking many casualties. The next day, the Japanese began a murderous artillery bombardment of the Palace from across the Pasig River. Without regard for his personal safety Hickman courageously directed the fire of F Troop ordnance, observed the effects of the fire, and saw that all casualties received care.

As the 8th Cavalry Regiment began its push southward of Manila, Japanese resistance blocked its progress. Troop E, commanded by CPT William Dudley, was given the assignment to clear the area, starting with Gilmore Street. On Gilmore, a determined and tenacious Japanese force, consisting of machine guns and sniper fire, defended the area. Dudley was continually in the lead and exposed to the withering enemy fire. Throughout the daylong battle, Dudley remained in the forefront of the Troop reassuring his men and exploiting every gain before the enemy could reorganize. His leadership, personal courage, and heroism were directly responsible for the success of his and the regiment’s mission.

Wilfred F. Farrell

Wilfred “Casey” Farrell was a member of the basketball team and a determined student while attending PMPS (1932-35). He graduated from PMC in 1939. Best known for his unselfishness, leadership, and carefree outlook, he was a standout during his seven years as a resident of Old Main. After graduation, Farrell entered the Army and was assigned to the 26th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed the Blue Spaders. The 26th was a part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade of the First Infantry Division.

In 1942, the 26th Infantry led America’s first amphibious assault in North Africa near Oran in Algeria. In January 1943, Harold Boyle, a renowned war correspondent traveling with the Army, wrote that, in a pre-dawn assault, the Americans charged up a slippery slope of 1,000 feet with fixed bayonets and seized the heights. Farrell led his unit, a heavy weapons company, in advance of this attack. In February, in an effort to locate machine gun nests that had kept his unit pinned down on a hillside, he and another officer voluntarily went beyond their own lines. Many Americans, including Farrell, were subsequently cut off and taken prisoner when the Germans launched a counter attack. For his gallantry in action during the battle, Farrell was awarded the Silver Star Medal, which was presented, to his father at Fort DuPont.

According to Farrell, he was first taken to Tunis and then to a camp in Naples, Italy. Two weeks later, Farrell was moved to a camp in Austria. After three months in Austrian camp, he was shipped to Oflag (Offizierslager) 64, a prisoner of war camp for American officers in Poland. The camp was built around a Polish boys’ school in Szubin to detain the 150 officers captured in the North Africa Campaign. As the war continued, the size of the camp rose to 1,471 men. The “Kriegies” (short for Kriegsgefangenen: prisoners of war) made the best of their situation by organizing sports events, musical and theatrical performances and escape plans. Farrell wrote to his parents that he was studying French and German as well as reading some good books. In January 1945, the Russians liberated the camp and Farrell was returned to the United States. It was reported in the PMC News (June, 1945) that Farrell felt the Polish people “treated us wonderfully” and were of great assistance once the prisoners were liberated.

Evans Kayser entered PMC because of the recommendation of Norman Goldberg who, together, would be in the Class of 1965. In Kayser’s view, it “was one of the best decisions” he ever made. As a member of HQ Company (the Band) and a trombone player, he participated in the Boardwalk Bowl in Atlantic City and the PMC 1st Place Award-Winning National Marching Band Competition at the New York World’s Fair. His Army aviation career began when he participated in the ROTC Flight program where he learned to fly at the Wilmington, DE, airport. After graduation, he attended Rotary Wing Flight School (training for helicopter pilots) before deploying to Vietnam. In Vietnam, Kayser served as Pilot with Delta Troop, 3/5 Armored Cavalry. D Troop acted as a separate unit as a Quick Reaction Force, to work in tandem with infantry brigades on major assaults and other missions.

Late in the afternoon of June 19, 1967, two UH-1C helicopter gunships, piloted by 1st Lt. Kayser and Capt. Paul Osterlin, responded to an urgent call to support units of the 2nd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division that had been ambushed by the Viet Cong. As they approached the battle, radio communication with the Brigade was difficult due to the casualties, ground fire, and chaos. The two helicopters immediately engaged the enemy firing all of their weapons systems (two mini-guns and two 7 round 2.75 rocket pods plus two M-60 machine guns). After several firing passes, an emergency UHF radio call from the Brigade declared a tactical emergency and requested additional fire support from any weapons-capable aircraft. The combined response from helicopter gunships and Air Force tactical aircraft was remarkable. Kayser’s helicopter only left the battle to refuel and rearm at the airstrip at Tan An (a few minutes away) and return to the firefight. As the battle continued, Kayser continued to effectively fire on the enemy as well as escorting medical evacuation helicopters in and out of the area. Despite sustaining damage to his aircraft, Kayser continued to support the ground troops until daybreak on June 20.

Capt Sam Slaughter, commander of the fire team, wrote: … this was one of the most complicated and difficult combat operations I have ever supported while under fire. Although it took 44 years and the help of Congressman Tim Scott of South Carolina, Evans Kayser was awarded the Silver Star Medal in 2011.

Watch Congressman Tim Scott Present Evans Kayser with the Silver Star click here