Colonel Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, A Marine's Story
Colonel Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, A Marine's Story
Colonel Gregory “Pappy” Boyington was born on December 4, 1912, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. His family relocated to Washington state during his youth, and he graduated from Lincoln High School in Tacoma.
Boyington attended the University of Washington, where he competed on the wrestling and swimming teams. He was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and participated in ROTC. In 1934, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Determined to fly, Boyington sought entry into military aviation through the Aviation Cadet Act. At the time, married men were barred from the program. By reverting to his legal birth surname, Boyington, rather than the name Gregory Hallenbeck, which he had used socially and for which a marriage record existed, he was able to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. He received his naval aviator wings on March 11, 1937, and was assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Group.
In 1941, Boyington briefly resigned his commission to fly with the American Volunteer Group, better known as the “Flying Tigers,” in Burma and China. He returned to the Marine Corps in 1942, serving first with Marine Fighter Squadrons 122 and 112 before being given command of Marine Fighter Squadron 214, the legendary “Black Sheep Squadron.”
As commanding officer of VMF-214, Boyington led aggressive combat operations in the Solomon Islands campaign. Known for both his tactical brilliance and his personal flaws, he nevertheless proved an effective and daring leader in the air. By January 1944, he had tied Captain Eddie Rickenbacker’s long-standing American record of 26 confirmed aerial victories.
On January 3, 1944, Boyington was shot down over Rabaul and captured by Japanese forces. He remained a prisoner of war for more than a year and a half, enduring harsh conditions until his liberation on August 29, 1945.
For his extraordinary heroism and leadership, Colonel Boyington was awarded both the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor in 1945. He retired from the United States Marine Corps on August 1, 1947.
In 1958, Boyington published his autobiography Baa Baa Black Sheep, which later served as the loose inspiration for the television series Black Sheep Squadron. While the show leaned heavily into mythmaking, the real Boyington’s legacy is grounded in documented combat performance and hard-earned leadership under fire.
Colonel Gregory “Pappy” Boyington died on January 11, 1988. He is buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, among the service members he led and served beside.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
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