FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Ola L Mize ~ 03 August 2020

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

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---

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Ola L. Mize
Info from here.

 

           

Ola Lee Mize (August 28, 1931 – March 12, 2014) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Korean War.

Mize was born in Marshall County, Alabama, the son of a sharecropper. He left school after 9th grade to help support his family. After several years of working for low pay, he attempted to enlist in the Army but was rejected for being too light, at 120 pounds (54 kg). He tried repeatedly to enlist and was eventually accepted, joining the Army from Gadsden, Alabama.

Assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, Mize planned to finish his term of service and return to school. When the Korean War began, he changed his plans and reenlisted in hopes of seeing combat. He volunteered for a front-line unit and ended up as a sergeant in Company K of the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. On June 10, 1953, his unit was manning Outpost Harry near Surang-ni, Korea, when the post came under heavy enemy attack. Mize organized defensive positions, rescued wounded soldiers, and engaged the enemy until reinforcements arrived about noon the next day He was subsequently promoted to master sergeant and, on September 24, 1954, awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Outpost Harry.

Mize later joined the Special Forces where he gained a commission and served three tours of duty in the Vietnam War. In 1965, he was assigned to the Special Forces Training Group, where he was the Advanced Training Committee chief for SCUBA, HALO, and the SKY HOOK schools. Colonel Mize is credited for being the officer responsible for starting the present day Combat Divers Qualification Course in Key West, FL. From 1966 to 1967, he was again assigned to Vietnam with the 5th Special Forces Group where he was an Operational A, B, and C Detachment Commander and once more in 1969, where he was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group as the Commander of the 3rd Mobile Strike Force Command (Cambodian Troops). During his tour while commander of B-36 3rd Mobile Strike Force he was awarded the Silver Star for Valor in 1969. He retired in 1981 as a colonel

His Medal of Honor is on display at the Guntersville Museum in Guntersville, Alabama. A section of Steel Station Road in Gadsden, Alabama is named Col. Ola Lee Mize Medal of Honor Highway in his honor.

Mize died of cancer on March 12, 2014 at Gadsden, Alabama, aged 82.

 

Rank and organization: Master Sergeant (then Sgt.), U.S. Army, Company K, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Surang-ni, Korea, 10 to 11 June 1953.

Entered service at: Gadsden, Ala. Born: 28 August 1931, Marshall County, Ala.

G.O. No.: 70, 24 September 1954.

Citation:

M/Sgt. Mize, a member of Company K, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Company K was committed to the defense of "Outpost Harry", a strategically valuable position, when the enemy launched a heavy attack. Learning that a comrade on a friendly listening post had been wounded he moved through the intense barrage, accompanied by a medical aid man, and rescued the wounded soldier. On returning to the main position he established an effective defense system and inflicted heavy casualties against attacks from determined enemy assault forces which had penetrated into trenches within the outpost area. During his fearless actions he was blown down by artillery and grenade blasts 3 times but each time he dauntlessly returned to his position, tenaciously fighting and successfully repelling hostile attacks. When enemy onslaughts ceased he took his few men and moved from bunker to bunker, firing through apertures and throwing grenades at the foe, neutralizing their positions. When an enemy soldier stepped out behind a comrade, prepared to fire, M/Sgt. Mize killed him, saving the life of his fellow soldier. After rejoining the platoon, moving from man to man, distributing ammunition, and shouting words of encouragement he observed a friendly machine gun position overrun. He immediately fought his way to the position, killing 10 of the enemy and dispersing the remainder. Fighting back to the command post, and finding several friendly wounded there, he took a position to protect them. Later, securing a radio, he directed friendly artillery fire upon the attacking enemy's routes of approach. At dawn he helped regroup for a counterattack which successfully drove the enemy from the outpost. M/Sgt. Mize's valorous conduct and unflinching courage reflect lasting glory upon himself and uphold the noble traditions of the military service.

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! 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, luvie...he surely deserves a salute.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Grimmy...he was quite a “talented” man. d:o)

[Kathy in Alaska]

PFC Douglas T Jacobson

[PROCON]

Hey Kathy, we’ve cooled from 105+ for the past week back into the ‘90’s, feels real good, even back into the ‘80’s soon, life is good with A/C!

[Kathy in Alaska]

[luvie]

Saluting that hero, too!

So many heroes...so little time.

[Grimmy]

That had to just about give Truman a stroke.

He *hated* the Marine Corps with a purple passion and did everything he could to do away with it until the Korean War broke out.

[luvie]

Howdy, radu!

It was a good day here in spite of the ugh heat. It’s gotta get cooler one of these days, right? LOL!

I did watch the splashdown and it was really a goosebumpy sight to see! Smart to land in the Gulf rather in the fussy Atlantic.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Grimmy]

He looks a little bit like Audie Murphy.

[wjcsux]

I have heard a lot of the same stories from The Greatest Generation as well. My dad lied about his age to enlist. I found his Navy ID card when going through his stuff after he passed away. The Navy had his birthday in 1922, he was born in 1925.

[The Mayor]

Yep, here we go again. : )

[radu]

Hey there, Kathy.

it wasn’t too bad today - - only 85 in the shade and the humidity was down a little bit. There was a nice breeze so even in the sunshine it wasn’t too bad. This time next week we’ll be back in the 90s. Summer’s not through with us by a long shot. LOL

You’ve had more rain than we have the last three days. Nothing here the last two and Fri. was a whoppin’ .05 of an inch.

[radu]

Yeah, it WILL get cooler one of these days but not any time soon, durn it. It’ll be decent here a few more days with 80s, then the 90s come back by next weekend.

I had goosebumps and teary-eyes when they splashed down. It was a beautiful sight and so exciting. A fabulous job by all.

[luvie]

Elon Musk might be a nutjob, and his car might be an expensive lemon, but the man can DO space! And do it right! 🚀 🛰 🛸

[radu]

He certainly did it right this time.

[MoochPooch]

Beastly hot & humid here. I’m very low energy. (But still prefer this weather to the cold.)

[luvie]

Smooth as silk! I hope future flights go as well!

[E.G.C.]

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

How's everyone doing this morning?

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

Any more yard work yesterday or just a day of fun with Gizmo?