Medal of Honor

elite, I met a couple of guys who had been in the Kornegal Valley with Giunta. My impression was that the 173 was a very solid unit. (I met them in the Pech Valley--right off the Korengal). But as I have come to know other soldiers from the 101st, 10th, 75th, 25th, 1st, 82nd and other units, I have become aware that there are still many Americans who can perform heroically on any given day. It is easy to be cynical in this day and age, but there are still great Americans walking amongst us every day. Makes one proud...or humble...or, maybe both.
 
Thanks for the contest.
Senator Bob Kerry from Nebraska. I'm not voting for him this year but it should be noted that he is a Navy vet who served
in Vietnam. He was a SEAL team leader on a mission to capture NV politicians on a remote island. While injured and under fire, he called for secondary support to
save his team. Kerry was later evacuated by helicopter and awarded the medal of honor. A walk bridge crossing the Missouri River connecting Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa is named after him.
I picked Bob Kerry because I live in Bellevue, Nebraska and I like to learn about the history and the people of where ever I currently reside.
 
Everyone,

Thanks for the great entries so far. It has been educational and humbling. I'm heading out to the mountains for a few days and won't be checking in on the contest for a while. Please keep the entries coming in! I'll update the contestant list when I return.

Happy trails!
 
Cpl. Thomas Bennett
Born April 7, 1947
Morgantown, West Virginia
Died February 11, 1969 (aged 21)
Chu Pa Region, Pleiku Province, Republic of Vietnam
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1968 - 1969
Rank Corporal
Unit 14th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Awards Medal of Honor
Purple Heart

Citation:[1]
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Cpl. Bennett distinguished himself while serving as a platoon medical aidman with the 2d Platoon, Company B, during a reconnaissance-in-force mission. On 9 February the platoon was moving to assist the 1st Platoon of Company D which had run into a North Vietnamese ambush when it became heavily engaged by the intense small arms, automatic weapons, mortar and rocket fire from a well fortified and numerically superior enemy unit. In the initial barrage of fire, 3 of the point members of the platoon fell wounded. Cpl. Bennett, with complete disregard for his safety, ran through the heavy fire to his fallen comrades, administered life-saving first aid under fire and then made repeated trips carrying the wounded men to positions of relative safety from which they would be medically evacuated from the battle position. Cpl. Bennett repeatedly braved the intense enemy fire moving across open areas to give aid and comfort to his wounded comrades. He valiantly exposed himself to the heavy fire in order to retrieve the bodies of several fallen personnel. Throughout the night and following day, Cpl. Bennett moved from position to position treating and comforting the several personnel who had suffered shrapnel and gunshot wounds. On 11 February, Company B again moved in an assault on the well fortified enemy positions and became heavily engaged with the numerically superior enemy force. Five members of the company fell wounded in the initial assault. Cpl. Bennett ran to their aid without regard to the heavy fire. He treated 1 wounded comrade and began running toward another seriously wounded man. Although the wounded man was located forward of the company position covered by heavy enemy grazing fire and Cpl. Bennett was warned that it was impossible to reach the position, he leaped forward with complete disregard for his safety to save his comrade's life. In attempting to save his fellow soldier, he was mortally wounded. Cpl. Bennett's undaunted concern for his comrades at the cost of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

I chose Cpl. Bennett for several reasons. He is from Morgantown which is close to where my Mom was born and raised. Also he was a medic who I believe get over looked sometimes when people think of bravery. Every man who has been enlisted, received a CMH is a hero in my book. But Cpl Bennett stuck out to me.
 
Maj Gen James L. Day, USMC While on combat operations on Okinawa:

On the first day, Corporal Day rallied his squad and the remnants of another unit and led them to a critical position forward of the front lines of Sugar Loaf Hill. Soon thereafter, they came under an intense mortar and artillery barrage that was quickly followed by a ferocious ground attack by some forty Japanese soldiers. Despite the loss of one-half of his men, Corporal Day remained at the forefront, shouting encouragement, hurling hand grenades, and directing deadly fire, thereby repelling the determined enemy. Reinforced by six men, he led his squad in repelling three fierce night attacks but suffered five additional Marines killed and one wounded, whom he assisted to safety. Upon hearing nearby calls for corpsman assistance, Corporal Day braved heavy enemy fire to escort four seriously wounded Marines, one at a time, to safety. Corporal Day then manned a light machine gun, assisted by a wounded Marine, and halted another night attack. In the ferocious action, his machine gun was destroyed, and he suffered multiple white phosphorous and fragmentation wounds. He reorganized his defensive position in time to halt a fifth enemy attack with devastating small arms fire. On three separate occasions, Japanese soldiers closed to within a few feet of his foxhole, but were killed by Corporal Day. During the second day, the enemy conducted numerous unsuccessful swarming attacks against his exposed position. When the attacks momentarily subsided, over 70 enemy dead were counted around his position. On the third day, a wounded and exhausted Corporal Day repulsed the enemy's final attack, killing a dozen enemy soldiers at close range. Having yielded no ground and with more than 100 enemy dead around his position, Corporal Day preserved the lives of his fellow Marines and made a significant contribution to the success of the Okinawa campaign. By his extraordinary heroism, repeated acts of valor, and quintessential battlefield leadership, Corporal Day inspired the efforts of his outnumbered Marines to defeat a much larger enemy force, reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

MGen Day was extremely modest, and when the paperwork for his MOH was misplaced, he refused to let his comrades re-submit it. Only after he retired did other Marines redress the error, and he was awarded the Medal to go with the three Silver Stars earned in Korea and Vietnam. I was fortunate enough to serve under him in the 1MARDIV, and consider him to be the epitome of a US Marine.
 
The coast guard is a military service. I am active duty coast guard and have served in the middle east in OIF and OND.
Original official caption: "DOUGLAS A. MUNRO
HERO OF GUADALCANAL POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE. . .MEDAL OF HONOR
Douglas A. Munro, Signalman First Class, U.S. Coast Guard, of Cle Elum, Washington, died heroically on Guadalcanal, September 27, 1942.* He volunteered and successfully led five Higgins boats from the seaplane tender BALLARD to evacuate a detachment of Marines from a point where enemy opposition developed beyond anticipated dimensions. Munro's last words were 'Did they get off?'* The. . .Medal of Honor, the country's highest award, was [posthumously] presented to Munro in May 1943 by President Roosevelt at the White House.* Accepting the award were his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Munro of Cle Elum, Washington."* Rel. No. 05-12-43 (7); no photographer listed.*
 
Even if i don't win, this is such a great thread to read about these stories. I chose this winner, because if it wasn't for the efforts, sacrifices and help from the US military, things may have been different for myself(Korean ethnically), and i'm happy to be an American who has the freedoms that many others unfortunately don't. Thanks for starting it:thumbup:, and thanks for the chance.

Corporal Charles G. Abrell-USMC-Korea

against enemy aggressor forces. While advancing with his platoon in an attack against well-concealed and heavily fortified enemy hill positions, Cpl. Abrell voluntarily rushed forward through the assaulting squad which was pinned down by a hail of intense and accurate automatic-weapons fire from a hostile bunker situated on commanding ground. Although previously wounded by enemy hand grenade fragments, he proceeded to carry out a bold, single-handed attack against the bunker, exhorting his comrades to follow him. Sustaining 2 additional wounds as he stormed toward the emplacement, he resolutely pulled the pin from a grenade clutched in his hand and hurled himself bodily into the bunker with the live missile still in his grasp. Fatally wounded in the resulting explosion which killed the entire enemy guncrew within the stronghold
 
James Anderson Junior.
Served in Vietnam. Also became the first African American to be awarded this medal. He jumped on a grenade to save his comrades lives.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a rifleman, Second Platoon, Company F, Second Battalion, Third Marines, Third Marine Division, in Vietnam on 28 February 1967. Company F was advancing in dense jungle northwest of Cam Lo in an effort to extract a heavily besieged reconnaissance patrol. Private First Class Anderson's platoon was the lead element and had advanced only about 200 meters when they were brought under extremely intense enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire. The platoon reacted swiftly, getting on line as best they could in the thick terrain, and began returning fire. Private First Class Anderson found himself tightly bunched together with the other members of the platoon only 20 meters from the enemy positions. As the fire fight continued several of the men were wounded by the deadly enemy assault. Suddenly, an enemy grenade landed in the midst of the Marines and rolled alongside Private First Class Anderson's head. Unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, he reached out, grasped the grenade, pulled it to his chest and curled around it as it went off. Although several Marines received shrapnel from the grenade, his body absorbed the major force of the explosion. In this singularly heroic act, Private First Class Anderson saved his comrades from serious injury and possible death. His personal heroism, extraordinary valor, and inspirational supreme self-sacrifice reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
 
Dakota Meyer
Dakota L. Meyer (born June 26, 1988) is a United States Marine Corps veteran and recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Ganjgal on September 8, 2009, part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kunar province, Afghanistan. He is the third living recipient of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War, and the first living United States Marine in 38 years to be so honored. On September 8, 2009, near the village of Ganjgal, Meyer learned that three U.S. Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman were missing after being ambushed by a group of insurgents. He charged into an area known to be inhabited by insurgents and under enemy fire. Meyer eventually found all four dead and stripped of their weapons, body armor, and radios.[5] With the help of some friendly Afghan soldiers, he moved the bodies to a safer area where they could be extracted.[6] During his search, Meyer "personally evacuated 12 friendly wounded, and provided cover for another 24 Marines and soldiers to escape likely death at the hands of a numerically superior and determined foe."
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I chose him because I've read his book and the man is the textbook example of a true American hero.
 
blueprint said:
The coast guard is a military service. I am active duty coast guard and have served in the middle east in OIF and OND.
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Well said. And thank you for your service. I'm always amazed that people don't realize the broad extent of the US Coast Guard's role as one of our nation's uniformed services.
 
Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry and related the history of a recipient of the Medal of Honor. The stories are often painful and recall difficult times, but we should never forget the sacrifices and valor of those who made our lives possible.

Using a random number generator to select the winner this evening, I am happy to announce:

Minibear464

is the contest winner.

Again, thank you to everyone who made the effort to recount the story of a valiant American. Minibear, send me some contact information so I can arrange to have the Commander shipped to you. Enjoy!
 
Oh my god!! Rotte, thank you so much! I loved the uniqueness of this contest, and it's going to be my first emerson!!! Thank you! I posted the information under visitors messages, hope that's okay.
 
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