The wall of silver cups: A tribute to courage and gratitude

"My memories have faded, but I will never forget how the Chinese saved me. I am forever grateful." These were the words of Richard Cole, the last surviving pilot of the Doolittle Raid.

During the fight against fascism in 1942, American pilots launched a daring air raid on Japan. Following the raid, 80 crew members, forced to bail out over China in a desperate situation, were sheltered by local Chinese villagers — an act of immense courage that triggered brutal Japanese retaliation, costing an estimated 250,000 Chinese lives.

To honor this bond, the survivors created a tradition: each year, they gathered with silver cups engraved with their names. As each fallen comrade's name was called, they raised their cups in tribute.

Today, at the National Museum of the US Air Force, all 80 cups stand in a silent "W"-shaped formation. Cups upright for the living, inverted for the departed. In 2019, Cole passed away at 103 — the final cup was turned over.

A story not just of war, but of humanity, courage, and a promise remembered.