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Ace in a Day Death Rattler is one of the fewest of the few left

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1stLt-Jeremiah-Joseph-Jerry-O-KEEFE
One of the last remaining fighter aces from the “Greatest Generation” received the Congressional Gold Medal at age 91 Friday for his actions over Okinawa in World War II.

As a 21-year-old Marine lieutenant stationed on the recently captured Japanese island of Okinawa, Jeremiah “Jerry” Joseph O’Keefe started Easter Sunday, April 22, 1945, by volunteering to assist the Chaplin with the morning’s service. By the time the sun set that fateful day, the young aviator from Mississippi would come face to face with the enemy for the first time and shoot down five Japanese dive-bombers in a row to earn the title of ace.

There were only 118 Marine WWII fighter pilots. Further, of the 1,447 total U.S. aces since 1918, just 77 are still with us.

One of the last remaining fighter aces from the “Greatest Generation” received the Congressional Gold Medal at age 91 Friday for his actions over Okinawa in World War II.

1st Lt. Jerry O’Keefe, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, late of VMF-323 (the Death Rattlers) received Congressional recognition Friday for his service in helping disrupt Japanese kamikazes. His military awards to include the Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal are visible in the background. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

I was on hand Friday covering the ceremony for Guns.com and 1LT O’Keefe was very gracious.

Condos & Restaurant Planned for Deer Island

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Condos & Restaurant Planned for Deer Island.

 

This is great stuff from the Itchy Pelican

 

Imagine sitting on our Biloxi or Ocean Springs beaches, toes in the sand, basking in the sunlight, gazing out across the sparkling water and seeing…condos.

I recently saw a movie called “The Rum Diary.” In it, some questionable individuals concocted a plan to take a beautiful island and turn it into a destination resort. When I read this article, I had to wonder who else saw that movie alongside me, and what ideas they had taken from it in hopes of making them a reality.

This project is being billed as ‘The Oasis at Deer Island’ which struck me funny as an oasis, for one thing, typically occurs in the desert, and is alternately defined as, “A pleasant or peaceful area or period in the midst of a difficult, troubled, or hectic place or situation.” I agree that Deer Island could be described as such now, but will it still be described as such when all of this is said and done? Will they stop at one condo, or are condos like Lays potato chips in that you cannot have only one?

I will make my stance clear in that I do not feel this is a good idea, for several reasons….