Posted on Jul 30, 2015

Who was Airman (Private, Whomever) Snuffy?

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I see much on here about Airman (Private, etc) Snuffy. Generally pejorative.

So, here is who Snuffy really is:

SSgt "Snuffy" (Maynard) Smith joined the USAAC in 1942. He was such an asshole nobody wanted to fly with him. On his FIRST mission, he got the Medal of Honor. Three crew members very senior to him jumped out of the burning B17, but Snuffy stayed at his post. Kept firing back at the Luftwaffe with every M2 available, and there were several because, well, most of the gunners left or were WIA/KIA. Did first aid on two crewmen. Put out the burning airplane by PISSING on it. The B17 broke in half as it touched down and skidded down the runway in two pieces. Smith's bomber had been hit with more than 3,500 bullets and pieces of shrapnel. The Secretary of War came to award him the MEDAL OF HONOR for the above-mentioned heroics, he was found peeling potatoes or some shit on KP. Because he got drunk and was late for a mission.

THAT, my friends, is a hero. I never rose to his level, however, I did show up late for formations because I got drunk, if that counts...

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Medal of Honor

Posted >1 y ago

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Responses: 4

Capt Mark Strobl

Posted >1 y ago

I though Snuffy was the guy always seen at the barracks hanging with Benotz and Schmucatelli? He was an 0351 as long as I knew him. Now, I know why "Snuffy" got tagged as the guy who was always hung-over & half-dressed... on his way to formation! Good stuff, MSgt J D McKee!

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MSgt J D McKee

10 y

I tried, but I could not enter his standard of Badassery. There were no burning bombers in my time, and no Luftwaffe to shoot at us. Shit, what I could have done with a few burning planes.....

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Maj Jeff Dodd

Posted 10 y ago

Close relative of Seaman Apprentice Joseph "Joey" Bagadonuts

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MSgt J D McKee

10 y

yeah, pretty close. Except this guy was real. I heard about "Bagadonuts" all the way over int the USAF, though....

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SSgt Judy L

Posted 10 y ago

And proof of this story is where? It sounds like a war movie.

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SSgt Judy L

10 y

No wasn't there till 85. Maybe in the Gulf?

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MSgt J D McKee

10 y

90-91 Taif Desert Whatever

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MSgt J D McKee

10 y

05-2012 Afghanistan not official military

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MSgt J D McKee

>1 y

I didn't answer your actual question I see, having been brought back here by someone else. Proof is wikipedia, google, and the national archives. Broad brush, everything I said came from wiki pretty much. We were told the tale in the SP Academy, too.

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Capt Seid Waddell

Posted >1 y ago

MSgt J D McKee, so, did you get your MOH?

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MSgt J D McKee

>1 y

No, I guess I showed up sober to too many formations, if I really wanted to follow the Snuffy paradigm. Well, that and the fact I never did anything to deserve it.

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MSgt J D McKee

10 y

I didn't have a good war. That's my excuse. Just Vietnam, Desert Storm et al. So, not WWII.

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Capt Seid Waddell

10 y

MSgt J D McKee, Viet Nam had such promise...

http://www.badassoftheweek.com/crandall.html

Badass of the Week: Bruce Crandall

The ultimate list of all badasses past and present.

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MSgt J D McKee

10 y

No Shit. Note the capitalization. I never heard of Major Bruce Crandall, but I had heard of completely off the chain chopper pilots during V, so I guess he was the one I was hearing about.

That doesn't even make sense to me, really, but the guy was in fact a hero.

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Who was Airman (Private, Whomever) Snuffy?

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