Posted on 12/26/2013 6:05:01 AM PST by DFG
Rodolfo Hernandez, who received the Medal of Honor for rushing into heavy fire while wounded and armed with only an inoperable rifle and bayonet and then killing six enemy soldiers during the Korean War, died on Saturday in Fayetteville, N.C. He was 82.
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society announced his death on its website. Mr. Hernandez was an Army corporal trying to hold a hill in May 1951 when his platoon was overwhelmed by attackers accompanied by heavy mortar, artillery and machine gun fire.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Cpl. Hernandez, a member of Company G, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. His platoon, in defensive positions on Hill 420, came under ruthless attack by a numerically superior and fanatical hostile force, accompanied by heavy artillery, mortar, and machine gun fire which inflicted numerous casualties on the platoon. His comrades were forced to withdraw due to lack of ammunition but Cpl. Hernandez, although wounded in an exchange of grenades, continued to deliver deadly fire into the ranks of the onrushing assailants until a ruptured cartridge rendered his rifle inoperative. Immediately leaving his position, Cpl. Hernandez rushed the enemy armed only with rifle and bayonet. Fearlessly engaging the foe, he killed 6 of the enemy before falling unconscious from grenade, bayonet, and bullet wounds but his heroic action momentarily halted the enemy advance and enabled his unit to counterattack and retake the lost ground. The indomitable fighting spirit, outstanding courage, and tenacious devotion to duty clearly demonstrated by Cpl. Hernandez reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the U.S. Army.
http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3127/hernandez-rodolfo-p.php
“And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day”
Rakkasans ping
I think even the POTUS has to salute MOH.
7. Medal of Honor recipients have uniform privileges, which allow them to wear their uniforms at any time or place they choose, unlike other military personnel or retirees.
8. Although not required by law or military regulation, service members are encouraged to salute Medal of Honor recipients as a gesture of respect and courtesy regardless of rank or status and, if the recipients are wearing the medal, whether or not they are in uniform. This is the only instance where a Soldier will receive a salute from members of a higher rank.
http://armylive.dodlive.mil/index.php/2013/03/the-medal-of-honor-eight-surprising-facts/
Sir, with the greatest respect for your post, and the subject matter, I myself
became curious about this specific point recently and researched it. It is a tradition, not a regulation. But it is a hallowed tradition and followed fastidiously. General officers will salute a lowly private if he is aware of him being a Medal of Honor recipient.
What a HERO!!
Thanks very much for that information!
Until I bought my stamps I did not know that the MOH comes in 2 versions — Army and Navy. I imagine that the Marines use the Navy version, but what about the USAF? Does anybody know?
cool. thanks.
Rest in Peace sir I salute you for your sacrifice for our freedoms.
what about the USAF?
Those are for Air Mail...
Affirmative that the Marines use the Navy version as well as Coast Guard but as you point out, what do the USAF awardees get depends upon 'when' THE MEDAL is awarded. I refer you to this listing from the semi-official Air Force Magazine to show that, of the 60 airmen awarded the MoH, 42 were prior to the official separation (1947) of the USAF from the Army (Air Corps). For them it was obviously the Army MoH version as it was for the Korean War as well.
In 1965, the US Congress and USAF authorized a specific design and thus the Vietnam War awardees were the only members to receive this design (no airman has been awarded since Vietnam). As to why the USPS / Post Office chose not to include the USAF design, ask them. My presumption is that there would only have been a maximum of 14 Air Force design MoH versus the thousands of MoH recipients, but I wasn't asked nor in anyway involved!
could be there were no living AF MOH awardees and they were picturing only those alive? Just a guess..
RIP.
...........the link below will answer your questions with pics and facts....................
http://www.afhso.af.mil/topics/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=15196
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