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Apr. 18,2017

75 years ago, the Doolittle Raid changed history

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The Doolittle Raiders were beloved by a nation caught up in World War II. Cole will mark the 75th anniversary in ceremonies held at the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base In Dayton, Ohio.

Lt. Col. Cole said, "It's kind of lonely because I'm the last one." When pressed about what the 75th anniversary of the attack means to him, Cole, with a twinkle in his eye, said, "It means I'm getting to be an old man." Later, Cole said on the anniversary, "You think about the whole group."

The 80 pilots, navigators, engineers, bombardiers and gunners took off in B-25 Mitchell bombers from the USS Hornet in the Pacific Ocean bound for Japan. A bomber takeoff from the deck of an aircraft carrier had never been done. The crew found themselves scrambling to make a hasty takeoff, 12 hours ahead of schedule, after they were spotted by Japanese fishing boats. The early departure also meant the planes would likely run out of gas before landing in friendly China. Cole was the co-pilot in the lead plane alongside the commander of the mission, Jimmy Doolittle.

Cole grew up in Dayton, admiring Doolittle, who set and broke many aeronautical records. Now here he was hurtling down the narrow deck of the Hornet in a small cockpit with Doolittle. His job? Making sure Doolittle was happy, he said, and handling the flaps on the plane so the engines wouldn't overheat. Cole said people thought the takeoff would be the most dangerous part of the mission. "It turned out to be one of the easiest things," he said. Cole later added, "Besides, I was flying with the best pilot, so why worry?"

The B-25 takeoff was filmed by US military cameramen on the Hornet and on nearby ships. Their fellow Doolittle Raiders waited anxiously in the 15 B-25 bombers behind them. Hundreds of the Hornet's crew watched from the deck and the bridge in suspense. The order had been given. If a plane stalled or a technical problem developed approaching takeoff, it would be pushed into the sea in order to get the other planes in the air on time.

Cole described Doolittle as being very patient and not a 'blustery type of individual." The men were teamed after Cole's scheduled pilot was replaced and an operations director said, "I'll crew you up with the old man (Doolittle), if you do OK." Cole and the other raiders had trained in Florida with no clue as to their destination or mission. It was all top secret. Crews were told the assignment would be dangerous and they could pull out if they wanted. None did.

The raiders flew at very low altitudes to avoid detection, 200 feet above the water. The planes arrived over Tokyo 12 hours ahead of schedule, making it a daylight raid instead of the planned night raid. A coincidental air raid drill conducted in Tokyo that morning did not prepare military defenses for the Doolittle Raiders. Bombs were dropped on their targets, oil storage facilities and military installations.

Some pilots reported seeing Japanese military planes in their vicinity, but the planes moved on, apparently thinking they were Japanese aircraft. It was the first retaliation against Japan in response to Pearl Harbor. Cole said, "I felt pretty good that we had done what we were supposed to do." Then the race was on, as gas ran low, to land in mainland China and seek help from Chinese supporters who were living under Japanese rule.

Doolittle ordered his crew to abandon the plane. Cole and almost all the Raiders had no experience jumping out of aircraft. In darkness and stormy weather, Cole leaped with his parachute and learned one thing quickly. "They don't give a Purple Heart for self inflicted injuries. I gave myself a black eye" in pulling the ripcord so hard, he said.

He eventually landed in a pine tree and stayed their overnight. Chinese nationalists found him and brought him to a building where he was surprised to encounter Doolittle. The mission's commander went to the crash site and sat morosely on the wreckage, telling one of the crew that he felt the entire mission was a failure and he would be court-martialed.

Doolittle feared the worst for the 16 planes. Engineer Paul Leonard consoled him, telling Doolittle he was wrong. He promised Doolittle the mission would be viewed as a success and the crews would be hailed as heroes. Back home, the raid was stunning news, with screaming headlines about the raid on the front page of daily newspapers. Japan was shocked. Cole said, "It told the people of Japan their island could be struck by air."

Everything didn't go completely smoothly. Eleven crews had to bail out of their planes. Four bombers crash-landed. Pilot Ted Lawson lost a leg. He would go on to write the best-selling book "Thirty Seconds over Tokyo," later a hit 1944 film. One crew flew to the Soviet Union and was interned before eventually being set free. Eight men were captured. One starved to death in a Japanese prison camp and three were executed by the Japanese.

Cole and others went right back into the war after the Doolittle Raid. Cole flew transport planes carrying cargo and glider-borne troops in India, China and Burma. Some of the Raiders were killed fighting in the European theater.

After the war ended, the crews returned to civilian life. Doolittle lived up to a preraid promise of a party if the attack succeeded. The tradition would go on. A special feature of every reunion was the crew sharing a cognac in silver goblets with each Raider's name engraved right-side up and upside-down. If a Raider passed away during that year, the goblet would be turned over.

A toast was made each year until finally there were only four Raiders left alive in 2013. Cole gave the final toast after the remaining four Raiders agreed that their age and inability to travel would make it the last reunion. Cole raised his glass before a large audience at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base and said, "I propose a toast to those who were lost on the mission and to those who have passed away since," adding, "May they rest in peace."

In June, 2016, David Thatcher, tail gunner, died at age 96, leaving Cole as the last surviving Doolittle Raider.

I interviewed Cole at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredricksburg, Texas, not that far from his home. A B-25 from the era sat behind us. Tourists strolling the museum entered an exhibit on the raid. Another surprise from the Raiders: The visitors had no idea one of the pilots from the actual raid was sitting in front of them.

I asked Cole his secret to living past 101. He simply said, "Keep moving." He said he would like to be remembered along "with the rest of the people that had an impact on winning the war." I asked Cole if he felt he was a hero. A quick response. "No."

You make the call on this, the 75th anniversary of one of America's greatest military accomplishments.

CNN's Lawrence Crook and Julian Cummings contributed to this report.

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doolittle raider remembers on 75th anniversary - cnn.com

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Richard Roth, CNN
Video by Lawrence Crook, CNN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
75 years ago, Doolittle Raid changed history

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The Doolittle Raiders were beloved by a nation caught up in World War II. Cole will mark the 75th anniversary in ceremonies held at the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base In Dayton, Ohio. Lt. Col. Cole said, "It's kind of lonely because I'm the last one."

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Cleveland murder suspect Steve Stephens kills himself after pursuit
Steve Stephens, the Cleveland murder suspect accused of posting video of the slaying on Facebook, shot and killed himself Tuesday after he was spotted by police in Erie County, Pennsylvania, state police said.

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Steve Stephens, 37, is wanted for the death of Robert Godwin -- a self-taught mechanic and grandfather of 14 who was shot while walking home from an Easter meal Sunday in Cleveland. Video of the killing was posted on Facebook.

A reported sighting of Stephens in Philadelphia turned out to be false. So did reported sightings in Baltimore, police said.

So authorities have embarked on the dangerous task of searching Cleveland's abandoned buildings while hoping a $50,000 reward will spur anyone with information about Stephens' location to come forward.

Through their tears, several of Godwin's children said they hold no animosity against the suspect.

"Each one of us forgives the killer, the murderer," Godwin's daughter Tonya Godwin-Baines said. "We want to wrap our arms around him."

Godwin taught his children the value of hard work. He taught them how to love God and fear God, and how to forgive, his children said.

"They don't make men like him anymore. He was definitely one in a million," said another daughter, Debbie Godwin.

Suspect cited anger with his girlfriend

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams has said Stephens apparently chose Godwin at random.

Stephens' mother, Maggie Green, said her son stopped by her house Saturday and gave her a cryptic message.

"He said this (was) the last time I was going to see him," Green said.

They spoke briefly the next day, his mother said. Before Green's phone died, Stephens told her he was "shooting people" because he was "mad with his girlfriend" of about three years, his mother said.

Later Sunday, Stephens uploaded a video to his Facebook page showing a gun pointed at a man's head.

Seconds before the shooting, Stephens asked the victim to say the name of a woman believed to associated with the suspect.

"She's the reason why this is about to happen to you," Stephens said.

Then, the gunman fires the weapon. The victim recoils and falls to the ground.

Stephens is a black male who is 6-foot-1 and weighs 244 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark blue and gray or black striped polo shirt. He was driving a white Ford Fusion with temporary license plates, Cleveland police said.

Stephens claimed on Facebook that he had committed multiple homicides, but police said they had no knowledge of other victims. He has many traffic violations but no criminal record, Williams said.

"Obviously, he's got deep, deep issues," the police chief said.

Woman cited by suspect is 'overwhelmed'

The woman believed to be associated with the suspect has told multiple news agencies that she was "overwhelmed" by the tragedy.

"Steve really is a nice guy... He is generous with everyone he knows. He was kind and loving to me and my children," she told CBS News.

Williams said police have spoken to the woman, and she is safe and cooperating with the investigation. The woman's neighbors told CNN that Stephens often stayed at her Twinsburg home with her three young girls. One resident said Stephens was there two days ago, fixing the home's garage.

Suspect worked with children

Stephens was employed at Beech Brook, a behavioral health agency in northeastern Ohio that serves children, teenagers and families, according to a spokeswoman for the facility.

"We are shocked and horrified like everyone else," said Nancy Kortemeyer. "To think that one of our employees could do this is awful."

She said Stephens was a vocational specialist who worked with youth and young adults. He had previously worked as a youth mentor, she said.

Victim was celebrating Easter

Robert Godwin was walking home from a holiday meal with his family when he encountered the gunman on a sidewalk.

Brenda Haymon, Godwin's youngest child from his first marriage, said he was the father of 10.

"He lived a good life. He's a man people should model themselves after," she said.

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steve stephens: facebook murder suspect could be anywhere - cnn.com

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Darran Simon, Holly Yan and Gary Tuchman, CNN

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Facebook murder suspect Steve Stephens could be anywhere

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Steve Stephens, 37, is wanted for the death of Robert Godwin -- a self-taught mechanic and grandfather of 14 who was shot while walking home from an Easter meal Sunday in Cleveland. Video of the killing was posted on Facebook. A reported sighting of Stephens in Philadelphia turned out to be false.

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Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert will miss Game 2 vs. the LA Clippers on Tuesday after injuring his knee during the opening minute of Game 1,

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Rudy Gobert out for Game 2 vs. LA Clippers - NBA.com

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Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert will miss Game 2 vs. the LA Clippers on Tuesday after injuring his knee during the opening minute of Game 1, reports Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune. The Jazz confirmed the news on Twitter.

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There's a new world's oldest woman

Violet-Mosse Brown is the new oldest woman in the world at age 117. Born on March 10, 1900, she said her secret is to not drink rum. She also says she has good genes in her family. Her son is 97.

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Syria photographer takes action instead of pictures, picks up injured boy

A Syrian photographer decided to stop taking pictures and help an injured boy and rescue him to safety.

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It happened in 2015 with an image of the lifeless body of Alan Kurdi, face down on a beach in Turkey, who drowned in the Mediterranean fleeing the war.

It happened last year when a photographer captured little Omran Daqneesh sitting in an ambulance, his body bloodied and dusty after his home was bombed in Aleppo.

And it happened again last weekend, when a bomb hit a convoy of buses carrying evacuees from besieged Syrian villages, killing 126 people.

Photographer and activist Abd Alkader Habak was there working and was briefly knocked out by the blast. When he came to, he began trying to help the wounded.

"The scene was horrible -- especially seeing children wailing and dying in front of you," Habak told CNN. "So I decided along with my colleagues that we'd put our cameras aside and start rescuing injured people."

The first child he checked on was dead.

He ran towards another. Someone shouted at him to stay away -- the child was already dead, they said.

But he wasn't. Habak could see the boy was barely breathing.

He picked him up and began to run towards safety. His camera was still on, recording the chaos.

"This child was firmly holding my hand and looking at me," he said.

An image taken by another photographer, Muhammad Alrageb, shows Habak dashing towards an ambulance, the child and his camera in his arms.

Algareb said he also helped some of the injured but then began taking photos.

"I wanted to film everything to make sure there was accountability," he said. Also, he added, "I feel proud that there was a young journalist there helping save lives."

Habak said he left the injured boy, who must have been only 6 or 7, at the ambulance. He doesn't know if the boy survived.

Then he ran back to scene of the bombing to help others. He came across another child on the ground. This one, too, was dead -- one of 68 children killed in the attack.

Overwhelmed, Habak collapsed.

An image, shot by another photographer, shows him on his knees sobbing near the boy's body.

"I was overcome with emotion," he told CNN. "What I and my colleagues witnessed is indescribable."

CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali contributed to this story.

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Donie O'Sullivan and Waffa Munayyer, CNN

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Syria photographer puts down camera, picks up injured boy

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It happened in 2015 with an image of the lifeless body of Alan Kurdi, face down on a beach in Turkey, who drowned in the Mediterranean fleeing the war. It happened last year when a photographer captured little Omran Daqneesh sitting in an ambulance, his body bloodied and dusty after his home was bombed in Aleppo.

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Apr 18, 2017
Wichita St aligns Under Armour
Wichita State has announced an eight-year deal with Under Armour for players to wear its apparel and use its equipment, a contract that coincides with the Shockers' move to the American Athletic Conference.

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Wichita State has announced an eight-year deal with Under Armour for players to wear its apparel and use its equipment, a contract that coincides with the Shockers' move to the American Athletic Conference. (WSU)

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AAC-bound Wichita St aligns with apparel maker Under Armour

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Wichita State has announced an eight-year deal with Under Armour for players to wear its apparel and use its equipment, a contract that coincides with the Shockers' move to the American Athletic Conference. (WSU)