FReeper Canteen ~ Medal of Honor ~ July 9, 2007

[Brad’s Gramma]

Hope you’re having a good day!

[SandRat]

Robert Rosenthal, Leader in Bombing Raids and Lawyer at Nuremberg, Dies at 89

Robert Rosenthal helped usher in a new kind of warfare, the strategic bombing of Germany. GO HERE

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Raymond Murphy, 77, Medal of Honor Recipient During the Korean War, Dies

He was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading his platoon to take a hill, even though he was painfully wounded. GO HERE

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Jay Zeamer Jr. a Pilot in WW II, and a Medal of Honor Recipient, Dies at 88

Jay Zeamer Jr., a World War II bomber pilot was awarded the Medal of Honor for fighting off enemy attacks during a photographic mapping mission. GO HERE

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Jack P. Smith, Ia Drang Valley Veteran, Dies at 58

Mr. Smith, son of the late broadcaster Howerd K. Smith, wrote a first-person article for the Saturday Evening Post on the bloody battle of the Ia Drang Valley, Vietnam. GO HERE

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General Jacob E. Smart, Ploesti Raid Strategist, Dies at 97

General Jacob E. Smart, then a colonel, conceived the strategy for the daring World War II bombing raid on the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. GO HERE

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Guy Gabaldon, 80, Hero of Battle of Saipan, Dies

Guy Gabaldon, a Marine private in World War II used extraordinary grit and a smattering of Japanese phrases to capture more than 1,000 Japanese soldiers single-handedly in the battle for Saipan. GO HERE

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Joe Rosenthal,94, Photographer at Iwo Jima, Dies

An American flag is raised atop Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, on Feb. 23, 1945. Joe Rosenthal took this famous picture on the fifth day of the furious 36-day battle that left 6,621 American dead and 19,217 wounded. GO HERE

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Besby Frank Holmes, 88, Ace Who Scored a Big Kill in 1943, Dies

Besby Frank Holmes in front of a P-38 fighter plane in 1943. GO HERE

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Donald Rudolph, 85, Medal of Honor Recipient, Dies

Donald Rudolph, received the Medal of Honor for his actions on the island of Luzon, the main Philippine island, on 5 February 1945. GO HERE

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After 65 Years a Hero's Medal of Honor Finds a Home

Peter Tomich, Born in Bosnia, received the Medal of Honor for his actions on 7 December 1941. GO HERE

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Fred Christensen, 84, U.S. Ace in Europe in World War II, Dies

Fred Christensen, a leading American ace shot down six German transport planes in a single day in 1944. GO HERE

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Desmond T. Doss, 87, Heroic War Objector, Dies

Desmond T. Doss, recipient of the Medal of Honor. As a unarmed Army medic he saved the lives of dozens of fellow soldiers under fire on Okinawa in World War II. GO HERE

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Military Lab Puts Name on a Long-Lost Airman

The melting snow of the Sierra Nevada fell away from the airman inch by inch. He lay facedown, his hair thick and blond atop a crushed head. GO HERE

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Duty and Honor, in 24 Notes

The weather is cold, the mood solemn as Ed Crobie raises his bugle to sound taps. His calling is to ensure that tradition keeps its human touch

Retired Marine Corporal Ed Crobie trudges through the snowdrifts with his bugle. GO HERE

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Hugh Thompson, 62, Who Saved Civilians at My Lai Dies

Chief Warrant Office dies on 6 January 2006. GO HERE

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Medal of Honor Citations

Iraqi Conflict

Army Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith of Tampa, Florida GO HERE

Marine Corporal Jason Dunham of Scio, New York to Receive the Medal of Honor GO HERE

[TASMANIANRED]

Hugs, CMS.

Long time no see.

[TASMANIANRED]

Hullofa thread. Congrats.

[txradioguy]

Medal of Honor

FOLLAND, MICHAEL FLEMING *

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade

Place and date: Long Khanh, Providence, Republic of Vietnam, 3 July 1969

Entered service at: Richmond, Virginia

Born: 15 April 1949, Richmond, Virginia

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Cpl. Folland distinguished himself while serving as an ammunition bearer with the weapons platoon of Company D, during a reconnaissance patrol mission. As the patrol was moving through a dense jungle area, it was caught in an intense crossfire from heavily fortified and concealed enemy ambush positions. As the patrol reacted to neutralize the ambush, it became evident that the heavy weapons could not be used in the cramped fighting area. Cpl. Folland dropped his recoilless rifle ammunition, and ran forward to join his commander in an assault on the enemy bunkers. The assaulting force moved forward until it was pinned down directly in front of the heavily fortified bunkers by machine gun fire. Cpl. Folland stood up to draw enemy fire on himself and to place suppressive fire on the enemy positions while his commander attempted to destroy the machine gun positions with grenades. Before the officer could throw a grenade, an enemy grenade landed in the position. Cpl. Folland alerted his comrades and his commander hurled the grenade from the position. When a second enemy grenade landed in the position, Cpl. Folland again shouted a warning to his fellow soldiers. Seeing that no one could reach the grenade and realizing that it was about to explode, Cpl. Folland, with complete disregard for his safety, threw himself on the grenade. By his dauntless courage, Cpl. Folland saved the lives of his comrades although he was mortally wounded by the explosion. Cpl. Folland’s extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Folland Hall, the Old Guard’s Regimental Headquarters at Ft. Myer is named in his honor.

[PAR35]

Full texts of MoH citations:

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/moh1.htm

(Includes Navy and Air Force as well)

Photos and bios of some of the Navy and Marine recipents here:
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/awd/us-indiv/moh-9.htm

[BIGLOOK]

He’s a good guy, heard his acceptance.....a lot of humility. Hope you got a chance to chat on the side.

[amom]

That I am. Wrapping up a few cycles, printing out some photos for the album, basically my first day off to just play catch up on quite awhile. :-)

[SandRat]

Men Who Falsely Claim to have Received the Medal of Honor.
What can you do to right this wrong?

[StarCMC]

My kids are reading a lot of these stories. Required reading in my homeschool.

[Brad’s Gramma]

That’s good! Cool Beans and ALL that stuff! ;)

[StarCMC]

Thank you very much, lady! *HUG*

[TASMANIANRED]

That’s a great trick.

[txradioguy]

Yes we did. The running joke between us was that if he stumbled during his remarks I had to do pushups for him.

First thing he said to me right before that pic was “you got lucky”!

LOL!

He was also nice enough to autograph my script from the ceremony.

[TASMANIANRED]

Words of wisdom...

[TASMANIANRED]

Congratulations..

[Kathy in Alaska]

Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of today's thread




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[auboy]

Medal of Honor

SPRAYBERRY, JAMES M .

Rank and organization: Captain (then 1st Lt.), U.S. Army, Company D, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry , 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).

Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 25 April 1968.

Entered service at: Montgomery, Ala.

Born: 24 April 1947, LaGrange, Ga.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Sprayberry, Armor, U.S. Army, distinguished himself by exceptional bravery while serving as executive officer of Company D. His company commander and a great number of the men were wounded and separated from the main body of the company. A daylight attempt to rescue them was driven back by the well entrenched enemy’s heavy fire. Capt. Sprayberry then organized and led a volunteer night patrol to eliminate the intervening enemy bunkers and to relieve the surrounded element. The patrol soon began receiving enemy machinegun fire. Capt. Sprayberry quickly moved the men to protective cover and without regard for his own safety, crawled within close range of the bunker from which the fire was coming. He silenced the machinegun with a hand grenade. Identifying several l-man enemy positions nearby, Capt. Sprayberry immediately attacked them with the rest of his grenades. He crawled back for more grenades and when 2 grenades were thrown at his men from a position to the front, Capt. Sprayberry, without hesitation, again exposed himself and charged the enemy-held bunker killing its occupants with a grenade. Placing 2 men to cover his advance, he crawled forward and neutralized 3 more bunkers with grenades. Immediately thereafter, Capt. Sprayberry was surprised by an enemy soldier who charged from a concealed position. He killed the soldier with his pistol and with continuing disregard for the danger neutralized another enemy emplacement. Capt. Sprayberry then established radio contact with the isolated men, directing them toward his position. When the 2 elements made contact he organized his men into litter parties to evacuate the wounded. As the evacuation was nearing completion, he observed an enemy machinegun position which he silenced with a grenade. Capt. Sprayberry returned to the rescue party, established security, and moved to friendly lines with the wounded. This rescue operation, which lasted approximately 71/2 hours, saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers. Capt. Sprayberry personally killed 12 enemy soldiers, eliminated 2 machineguns, and destroyed numerous enemy bunkers. Capt. Sprayberry’s indomitable spirit and gallant action at great personal risk to his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

[TASMANIANRED]

Sure is humbling isn’t it.

Where do men like this come from?

[TASMANIANRED]

Sure is humbling isn’t it.

Where do men like this come from?