FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Herschel Briles ~ 20 November 2017

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC and The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Herschel F. Briles

Story from this website.

           

Herschel F. Briles (February 7, 1914 – July 17, 1994) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

Briles joined the Army from Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and by November 20, 1944 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company C, 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion. On that day, near Scherpenseel, Germany, he left cover to rescue the wounded crew of a burning tank destroyer and extinguish the vehicle's flames. The next day, he single-handedly forced the surrender of fifty-five German soldiers and again left cover to reach a burning tank destroyer, rescue its crew, and put out the flames. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor ten months later, on September 10, 1945.

Briles reached the rank of first sergeant before leaving the Army.

He died at age 80 and was buried in Waveland Cemetery, Prairie City, Iowa.

Briles' official Medal of Honor citation reads:

    He was leading a platoon of destroyers across an exposed slope near Scherpenseel, Germany, on 20 November 1944, when they came under heavy enemy artillery fire. A direct hit was scored on 1 of the vehicles, killing 1 man, seriously wounding 2 others, and setting the destroyer afire. With a comrade, S/Sgt. Briles left the cover of his own armor and raced across ground raked by artillery and small-arms fire to the rescue of the men in the shattered destroyer. Without hesitation, he lowered himself into the burning turret, removed the wounded and then extinguished the fire. From a position he assumed the next morning, he observed hostile infantrymen advancing. With his machinegun, he poured such deadly fire into the enemy ranks that an entire pocket of 55 Germans surrendered, clearing the way for a junction between American units which had been held up for 2 days. Later that day, when another of his destroyers was hit by a concealed enemy tank, he again left protection to give assistance. With the help of another soldier, he evacuated two wounded under heavy fire and, returning to the burning vehicle, braved death from exploding ammunition to put out the flames. By his heroic initiative and complete disregard for personal safety, S/Sgt. Briles was largely responsible for causing heavy enemy casualties, forcing the surrender of 55 Germans, making possible the salvage of our vehicles, and saving the lives of wounded comrades.

Thank you sir, for your service and sacrifice for our country!

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[radu]

Dang, I have GOT to remember not to have a mouthful of Coke when I refresh the page. Those bubbles BURN when they get blown out through the nose!

But the keyboard didn’t get soaked when I laughed. You find the best images and this one’s a winner! LOL

[radu]

This part is pretty much in pea soup fog, though once in a while things clear up a bit. We had a decent visit last weekend for the first time in a while. She even knew who I was.

Cool that Dulcie’s mind is still so sharp, even if her hearing isn’t what it used to be. When Clara was her age, her mind was already dimming.

[radu]

They DID play a bad joke on him. I wonder how much furniture he shredded for revenge. LOL!

[radu]

Good night and sleep well.
I hope tomorrow’s a good day and the weather is decent for your weekly shopping.

[luvie]

LOL! They should have had that picture too. He sure is a fluffy one! And I just THINK I have cat hair!

Of course, I can’t imagine the tons of the stuff you have to deal with. Lots of work!

BTW...how are the 4 younguns doing? Haven’t heard much about those scoundrels lately.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...are you nice and warm? Has the bad weather moved on?

My only outings today were to shovel the deck and go to the trash barrels. Finally got ALL the shipping boxes cut up and into the trash. Finally!! Glad that job is done. And the snow removal guy came...2+ inches last night and this morning.

One of the four of us is on vacation this coming week...so the three of us will need to pick up the slack. Monday and Tuesday nights are going to be BUSY!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh my, Luv...so many memories here. I sure hope they can get you the hoist for your MIL. It does no one any good for the caregiver to get hurt. I know.

I hope they are able to get her meds for pain. Will someone be coming in to help each day? Do you have an establishment in town that has disabled equipment for loan or rent? Do you already have a hospital bed with railings? And an over the bed table? Does she like to read? Work with her hands? The table can be a great help for holding things and moved back and forth.

[Kathy in Alaska]

My Mom used to make cola roasts and you are so right...very tender and tasty.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Love that Christmas tree for cats...gotta send it to my sister. LOL!

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Monday morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?

[Kathy in Alaska]

wh!!

Pro.....#50!!

[radu]

Sorry I disappeared. I reeeeeeeally needed to wash socks and sweaters and have to do that at the other house. We have a front-loader washer here and it will NOT rinse the detergent out of heavy stuff and the other house has a top-loader.

Yeah, the long-haired kitties do leave a lot of hair around. We have several but do have a few shorthairs that shed worse than the longhairs. It’s a constant battle, that’s for sure.

The lil girlies are doing fine. Not growing very much and we aren’t sure they’ll be as big as Pixie when they’re full-grown. I’m going to try to get them in to be spayed next week.
They’re wild lil injuns and are running back and forth through the house as I type. Of course, they’ve got a few others wound up too. LOL

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, E...((HUGS))...you and Bo having a good hunting season? Family coming for Thanksgiving, or bringing you some goodies?

You guys have a great Monday.

[radu]

Hey there, Kathy.

The bad weather has moved on and we were apparently VERY lucky last night. Lots of wind damage across the state but we just had a mess o’ leaves all over the place. Yesterday’s winds stripped all the dead leaves out of the trees.

Not eeeeeeeven close to warm tonight. It was a bitter-cold walk to the other house to wash sweaters and socks a little while ago.
It’s supposed to warm up just a little the next couple of days, then cool back off for Thanksgiving.

Sounds like you got a lot accomplished today. Can’t blame you for not getting out any more than necessary today. It’s COLD up there!

Dang!!! Pay week is never a good time for one of you to take off from work. It really loads the rest of you down and that’s the last thing y’all need. :-(

[E.G.C.]

My sister from the city is coming down for a brief visit on Wednesday. She is bringing down a turkey for Thanksgiving.

[radu]

You’re the first person I’ve run across who knows about cola roasts. LOL

Several have done them since I’ve told them how to do it and they all love them. They also love how easy they are.

[left that other site]

Probably FEELS like 10,000!

[left that other site]

I had a salad, so, no. Penny's Ultimate, Most Favorite, Yummy, Ecstatic Treat looks and smells like.....BACON!!!!!!!!

[luvie]

Made me totally laugh out loud! We cat owners can sooooo relate. LOL!

[luvie]

I'm so proud!
....and totally still sleepy!
It's a beautiful chilly morning!
For some reason cold air smells better! LOL!
I wouldn't want to be working outside, though!
Anyhooooo....🦃.....y'all try to have a Mahv'lus Monday!
Hope all of you get a long weekend for the holiday!
((((hugs))))
I'm so thankful I don't have to work on Black Friday! ~~~shudder~~~