TAPS
RIP MOH Recipient George E. Wahlen, USN USA
Posted on 06/06/2009 1:08:00 AM PDT by Noahs Rook
Medal of Honor recipient, George Wahlen dies June 5th, 2009 @ 6:30pm Salt Lake City -- Congressional Medal of Honor recipient and Utah resident George E. Wahlen died Friday morning after an extended illness.
Wahlen was 84-years-old.
Wahlen earned the Medal of Honor as a Navy Corpsman at the battle of Iwo Jima where he is credited for saving countless lives.
He was injured on three separate occasions but refused to leave the battlefield.
President Harry S. Truman presented the Medal of Honor to Wahlen in 1945. He later re-enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He retired with the rank of Major.
He then went on to a career with The Department of Veterans affairs where he continued to serve our country and other veterans for 14 years.
In 2004, President George W. Bush signed legislation authorizing the naming of the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City. As federal buildings cannot bear the name of a living person, Congress approved special legislation allowing for an exemption in the case of Wahlen.
Son Brock Wahlen said, "My dad was a quiet, humble man. He didn't want much attention."
"If you were to ask my dad today, if he were here, he would say this is not about him. It's about the veterans who served everywhere, specifically those who did not return, that paid the ultimate sacrifice," said son Blake Wahlen.
Gov. Jon Huntsman released this statement on the passing of George Wahlen: "Our state has lost our humble hero. As our only remaining Medal of Honor recipient, he touched countless lives...
"Mary Kaye and I offer our most sincere condolences to his lovely wife, Melba, and the Wahlen family and thank them for sharing his wonderful life with all of us."
In a press release, the Veteran Affairs Salt Lake City Health Care System said, "This modest hero truly exemplified the meaning of patriotism, commitment to service and love of country. The people of Utah, this hospital and the veterans that he tirelessly served have lost a remarkable man."
Wahlen leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Melba, five children, 27 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren.
He is the subject of this book - The Quiet Hero: The Untold Medal of Honor Story of George E. Wahlen at the Battle for Iwo Jima by Gary W. Toyn
Day is done ... RIP
Sorry to hear about this national treasure. God Bless him and his family.
Lucky you, and God bless your friend and you. He was a great man.
May he rest peacefully in God’s light.
Sympathies,
bc
Bump
God bless you Major Wahlen, and thank you.
Lt. Col. Bruce Crandall was awarded his MOH at the White House by President Bush in 2004. Not sure why Navy Times made that statement?
RIP MOH Recipient George E. Wahlen, USN USA
BTTT
WAHLEN, GEORGE EDWARD
Rank and organization: Pharmacist's Mate Second Class, U.S. Navy, serving with 2d Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division.
Place and date: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands group, 3 March 1945.
Entered service at: Utah.
Born: 8 August 1924, Ogden, Utah.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 2d Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano group on 3 March 1945.
Painfully wounded in the bitter action on 26 February, Wahlen remained on the battlefield, advancing well forward of the frontlines to aid a wounded marine and carrying him back to safety despite a terrific concentration of fire. Tireless in his ministrations, he consistently disregarded all danger to attend his fighting comrades as they fell under the devastating rain of shrapnel and bullets, and rendered prompt assistance to various elements of his combat group as required. When an adjacent platoon suffered heavy casualties, he defied the continuous pounding of heavy mortars and deadly fire of enemy rifles to care for the wounded, working rapidly in an area swept by constant fire and treating 14 casualties before returning to his own platoon. Wounded again on 2 March, he gallantly refused evacuation, moving out with his company the following day in a furious assault across 600 yards of open terrain and repeatedly rendering medical aid while exposed to the blasting fury of powerful Japanese guns. Stouthearted and indomitable, he persevered in his determined efforts as his unit waged fierce battle and, unable to walk after sustaining a third agonizing wound, resolutely crawled 50 yards to administer first aid to still another fallen fighter. By his dauntless fortitude and valor, Wahlen served as a constant inspiration and contributed vitally to the high morale of his company during critical phases of this strategically important engagement. His heroic spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of overwhelming enemy fire upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
I guess the Navy Times gave me the wrong information. To be honest, I am glad because I think there has to be some great heroes in the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s. Thank you for the link.
FReeper txradioguy, of The Old Guard, announced the MOH ceremony.
Salute. RIP Hero.
Thank you for what you have done for our country. RIP sir.
OO-Rah! for a Navy Corpsman and great american hero, RIP brother.
Probably because the event for which Lt. Col. Crandall was awarded the medal occurred in 1965.
What they said could likely have been rephrased as “All awards since 1972 have been posthumous”.
As well as perhaps meaning that no MOH awards have gone to living Navy personnel since 1972?
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