November 2022 Deaths: Takeoff, Chrysostomas and Cook

**  TAKEOFF, 38

A rapper best known for his work with the Grammy-nominated trio Migos.

Died November 1.

**  ARCHBISHOP CHRYSOSTOMAS II, 81

Outspoken leader of Cyprus' Greek Orthodox Church whose forays into the country's complex  politics and finances fired up supporters and detractors alike.

Died November 7.

**  JEFF COOK, 72

Guitarist who co-founded the country group Alabama and steered them up he charts with such hits as "Song of the South" and "Dixieland Delight."  Of course, their "Farewell Tour" took five years.

Died November 8.

One of my all-time favorite country acts that got their start at Myrtle Beach's "Bowery."  We used to go their regularly.  The house band, which Alabama was before they hit it big, was not paid, but relied on tips.

William Charles Fitzgerald, USN, Navy Cross Recipient, Vietnam War

From Wikipedia

I have been writing about the Guided Missile Destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) in the three previous posts and got to wondering about who the ship was named after.

William "Bill" C. Fitzgerald (January 28, 1938 to August 7, 1967) was a United States naval officer who was killed in action during the Vietnam War, while serving as an advisor to the Republic of Vietnam Navy.  He received the Navy Cross posthumously for his rile in fighting  off a Viet Cong attack.

From Vermont, his father was a career Navy man who retired as a chief petty officer.  After high school graduation, he followed his father's footsteps and enlisted in the Navy.  Seaman Fitzgerald eventually earned selection for officer training by appointment to the  U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis with the Class of 1963.  He excelled there.

Midshipmen Fitzgerald graduated and was commissioned into the U.S. Navy on June 5, 1963 and then reported to the destroyer USS Charles H. Roan (DD-853), where he rose from "boot ensign" to weapons department head.

Cher Ami the Pigeon-- Part 3: American Hero and Awards

For this, Cher Ami became a hero of the 77th Division.  Army medics worked to save her life.  They were unable to save it so they carved a small wooden one.  When she had recovered enough to travel, the now one-legged bird was put on a boat back to the United States, with General John J. Pershing seeing her off.

AWARDS

 Cher Ami was given  the Croix de Guerre Medal by the French for delivering 12 messages at Verdun.

She died at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, on June 13, 1919, of the wounds she received.

After that, she was inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame in 1931.  She also received a gold medal from the Organized Bodies of American Racing Pigeon Fanciers.

The man responsible for training and caring for her in the U.S. Signal Corps, Enoch Clifford Swain, was given an award for his service.

--Cooter