To the calm, Mother Earth's
Waiting breast;
Duty done, Like the sun:
Going West.
Posted on 04/09/2009 6:02:38 PM PDT by Borges
GODFREY, Ill. – An Illinois man awarded the Medal of Honor after killing nine German soldiers and taking two others captive while wounded during a World War II battle has died.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Stupid AP writer. You don’t “win” the MOH.
My grandfather was a WWII vet and died about 12 years ago. I wish I would have been more interested in history before he died so I could have spoken with him about the war. All I know is he drove a tank and saw a lot of action.
these guys were the greatest generation.
Prayers up
DUNHAM, RUSSELL E.
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company I, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Kayserberg, France, 8 January 1945.
Entered service at: Brighton Ill.
Born: 23 February 1920, East Carondelet, Ill. G.O. No.: 37, 11 May 1945.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. At about 1430 hours on 8 January 1945, during an attack on Hill 616, near Kayserberg, France, T/Sgt. Dunham single-handedly assaulted 3 enemy machineguns. Wearing a white robe made of a mattress cover, carrying 12 carbine magazines and with a dozen hand grenades snagged in his belt, suspenders, and buttonholes, T/Sgt. Dunham advanced in the attack up a snow-covered hill under fire from 2 machineguns and supporting riflemen. His platoon 35 yards behind him, T/Sgt. Dunham crawled 75 yards under heavy direct fire toward the timbered emplacement shielding the left machinegun. As he jumped to his feet 10 yards from the gun and charged forward, machinegun fire tore through his camouflage robe and a rifle bullet seared a 10-inch gash across his back sending him spinning 15 yards down hill into the snow. When the indomitable sergeant sprang to his feet to renew his 1-man assault, a German egg grenade landed beside him. He kicked it aside, and as it exploded 5 yards away, shot and killed the German machinegunner and assistant gunner. His carbine empty, he jumped into the emplacement and hauled out the third member of the gun crew by the collar. Although his back wound was causing him excruciating pain and blood was seeping through his white coat, T/Sgt. Dunham proceeded 50 yards through a storm of automatic and rifle fire to attack the second machinegun. Twenty-five yards from the emplacement he hurled 2 grenades, destroying the gun and its crew; then fired down into the supporting foxholes with his carbine dispatching and dispersing the enemy riflemen. Although his coat was so thoroughly blood-soaked that he was a conspicuous target against the white landscape, T/Sgt. Dunham again advanced ahead of his platoon in an assault on enemy positions farther up the hill. Coming under machinegun fire from 65 yards to his front, while rifle grenades exploded 10 yards from his position, he hit the ground and crawled forward. At 15 yards range, he jumped to his feet, staggered a few paces toward the timbered machinegun emplacement and killed the crew with hand grenades. An enemy rifleman fired at pointblank range, but missed him. After killing the rifleman, T/Sgt. Dunham drove others from their foxholes with grenades and carbine fire. Killing 9 Germans--wounding 7 and capturing 2--firing about 175 rounds of carbine ammunition, and expending 11 grenades, T/Sgt. Dunham, despite a painful wound, spearheaded a spectacular and successful diversionary attack.
My grandfather fought in WW1,never talked about it.
It was something that had to be done and that was the end of it.
Don’t bother. AP libs probably think the MOH is given every 6 months.
They are RECIPIENTS.
Sure there is..... they go on the Price is Right for the Showcase Showdown.......
"Ruuuuuuuuuuuussssssssssellll Dunham come on dowwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnn to the Showcase Showdown. Our first showcase is shrapnel from a hand grenade and a bullet to the back. Johnny tell 'em what he's won."
"Well Drew, He's won this bright shinny Medal of Honor, an eroded benifits package, a Congressional and pResidential erosion of the rights he fought for, and the label of "'baby-killer'" by college students everywhere."
/end sarcasm..... anger and disdain for the AP are still 'on'
Prayers for this American Hero!
And for the love of Pete, it’s the Medal of Honor not the CMOH.
Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients of the 3rd Infantry Division
Chapita - throw a cold six-pack into the fridge up there. You're gonna have company. ;-)
Tough gigs. We salute him.
Man, T/Sgt. Dunham had the Dime that day!
Well said. Mr. Dunham can rest in peace knowing he is a better man than anyone in Congress.
<<< SALUTE >>>
The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress, it is often called the Congressional Medal of Honor.
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