Faithfulness frequently means one's doing...
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Faithfulness frequently means one's doing something other than what is popular. General Billy Mitchell was an ardent supporter of the U.S. Army's use of air power. Throughout his career he argued with those who thought air-power's benefit was limited to observation. Mitchell had served as head of aviation for the Army Signal Corps during World War I. During this tenure he came to understand the true potential of aircraft. In 1921, he persuaded the Army and Navy to permit him to attempt an air strike against the captured German battleship, Ostfriesland. To the surprise of many, the exercise was a success and the battleship became the first sunk by aerial attack. The battle continued against critics with Mitchell finally facing military court-martial for insubordination in 1925. Eventually, he proved his point and in 1946 he was posthumously awarded a special congressional medal.
