2021 Second Virtual National Congress
“Always Faithful and Holding Fast”

22 – 23 October 2021

Friday - 22 OCT 2021 Presentation 17:45 EDT

Harrison and McCool; the “Double Dose of Bad Luck Twins” of the Marine Corps

Mr. Dan Kent

Synopsis

On 29 November 1950, Task Force Drysdale was ambushed by Chinese soldiers eight miles south of Hagaru-ri, North Korea. The Chinese force captured 165 Americans. Among those captured were two Marines, SSgt Charles Harrison and CWO Felix McCool. Combined, the two men spent 1,110 days in captivity in North Korea. The Korean War, however, was not their first experience with an enemy POW camp. During World War II, Charles Harrison was captured by the Japanese at Wake Island on 23 December 1941. He spent 1,340 days as a prisoner of the Japanese. McCool was captured by the Japanese at Bataan in 1942, spending 1,245 days in captivity. Between 7 August 1954 and 15 May 1955, McCool and Harrison were interviewed by a select committee of the Department of Defense. They were two of several hundred former POWs interviewed by the committee. Their actions in captivity were determined to be exemplary and led to the survival of hundreds of fellow prisoners. Based on the testimony of the Korean War POWs, the committee established “The Code of the U.S. Fighting Force.”

Dan Kent has been a docent at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia, since 2018.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from Davis and Elkins College and a Master of Arts degree in History from George Mason University. Kent served in the Marine Corps Reserves from 1973 to 1978. He taught high school social sciences in Virginia and North Carolina for 40 years. Kent also served as an adjunct professor of History for Northern Virginia Community College, the University of Virginia, and the University of North Carolina. In 1997, Kent was named the Virginia National State Teacher of the Year and a finalist for the National Teacher of the Year award.

2021 Congress is hosted by the Continental Commandery, the Naval Order’s virtual, national Commandery, using collaboration software easily downloaded from the Internet. Training /practice sessions will be provided in the preceding months to familiarize Companions with the use of the collaboration software.

The events leading up to our 2021 CONGRESS are important for all companions.  They involve our various committee meetings and essential business of the Order. A timeline is provided for Pre-CONGRESS activities; inputs and comments are still welcome.

Welcome to the 2021 Naval Order Virtual CONGRESS
“Always Faithful and Holding Fast”

Our Congress this year will again be held in a Virtual Environment. The CONGRESS endeavors to deliver the same level of information on the business of the Order and Educational opportunities as professional and rich as at past Congresses.  The key to success is YOU. Your participation in our advance training in mid-September and other test opportunities to make sure your equipment works prior to the Congress is critical.  Please sign up!   We will have a sign up (Registration) page, and those registering up will receive a very nice 2021 Congress challenge coin (for the nominal fee); but your commitment to your Commandery as soon as possible ensures that the Virtual Environment is sized, planned and readied for the Congress. 

The Meeting URL for the Survey for the Congress 2021 will be posted to this web site throughout the CONGRESS; the Zoom event code will have the same password. If you do not have internet or computer access, please contact us at nouscongress@outlook.com or contact your Commandery Commander, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. A Kindle device with all reports and briefs can be provided to Companions (on a limited basis). The Zoom event can be accessed from a computer or a Smartphone. The Congress Brochure will be available soon.

Coming Soon: CONGRESS Brochure

Pre-CONGRESS presentation and preps

Wednesday - 22 SEP 2021 Presentation 20:00 EDT: Naval History Night - “From Belleau Wood to Guadalcanal: Thomas Holcomb and the Making of the Modern Marine Corps” Speaker: D. Ulbrich

Thursday - 21 OCT 2021 14:00-16:00 EDT: Gathering and Equipment Checks

2021 CONGRESS Theme: “Always Faithful and Holding Fast”

Friday - 22 OCT 2021 “Business Day”  1400 – 1900 Eastern Daylight Time

17:45 – History Presentation: ”Harrison and McCool; the ‘Double Dose of Bad Luck Twins’ of the Marine Corps” Speaker: D. Kent

18:30 – Q&A

Saturday - 23 OCT 2021 “History Day & Change of Command”  1400 – 1900 Eastern Daylight Time

15:15 – History Presentation: “Cold War in the Tropics; the Cuban Missile Crisis” Speaker: A. Atwood

16:15 – History Presentation: “The Battle of Midway: How America Won the Pacific War” Speaker: S. M. Andres

17:00 – Break

17:30 – History Presentation: “Medium Tank Operations During the 1943 Battle of Tarawa” Speaker:  D. Vickers

 Coming Soon: CONGRESS Brochure

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