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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Herschel F Briles ~ 27 February 2023
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !!
| The Canteen Crew
Posted on 02/26/2023 5:01:36 PM PST by 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! | | |
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~ Hall of Heroes ~Herschel F. BrilesStory 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! |
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport
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To: Kathy in Alaska
2
posted on
02/26/2023 5:02:43 PM PST
by
left that other site
(Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Hi Kathy, thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero!
3
posted on
02/26/2023 5:06:46 PM PST
by
PROCON
(Sic Semper Tyrannis)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Thank you for keeping their memory and heroism before us!
4
posted on
02/26/2023 5:08:35 PM PST
by
lightman
(I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)
To: left that other site
Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...did you get some ice melting today?
You and Tippy be really careful when you venture out.
Mostly sun and blue sky today...what a change.
5
posted on
02/26/2023 5:22:57 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
~ Hai All! ~
~
~ Welcome To My World ~I’m Down There Somewhere |
6
posted on
02/26/2023 5:26:44 PM PST
by
SkyDancer
(Hold on tight to your dream)
To: Kathy in Alaska
February 27
Seeing a Need
All the widows stood around [Peter], crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made.
Acts 9:39In the last few days of my dad’s life, one of the nurses dropped by his room and asked me if she could give him a shave. As Rachel gently pulled the razor across his face, she explained, “Older men of his generation like to have a neat shave every day.” Rachel had seen a need and acted on her instinct to show kindness, dignity, and respect to someone. The tender care she provided reminded me of my friend Julie who still paints her elderly mother’s nails because it’s important to her mom that she “look pretty.”
Acts 9 tells us about a disciple named Dorcas (also known as Tabitha) who showed kindness by providing handmade clothing for the poor (vv. 36, 39). When she died, her room was filled with friends who tearfully mourned this kind woman who loved helping others.
But Dorcas’ story didn’t end there. When Peter was brought to where her body lay, he knelt and prayed. In God’s power, he called her by name, saying, “Tabitha, get up” (v. 40). Amazingly, Dorcas opened her eyes and rose to her feet. When her friends realized she was alive, word spread quickly through the town and “many people believed in the Lord” (v. 42).
And how did Dorcas spend the next day of her life? Probably exactly as she had before—seeing the needs of people and filling them.
Reflect & Pray
Whom do you know that always seems to find ways to help others? What can you do to become more aware of others’ needs?
Father, open my eyes each day to see the hurting and needy people around me. Open my heart to do what I can to show them what God’s love looks like.
7
posted on
02/26/2023 5:32:10 PM PST
by
The Mayor
(“Love the Lord your God,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39))
To: Kathy in Alaska
It’s still very cold, but the sunshine melted most of the ice.
February isn’t even over yet...and we still have to get through Match.
8
posted on
02/26/2023 5:34:24 PM PST
by
left that other site
(Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.)
To: MoJo2001; 007; 1 FELLOW FREEPER; 11B3; 1FreeAmerican; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; 2LT Radix jr; 300winmag; ..
~ Hall of Heroes: Herschel F Briles ~
FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies' military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.
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To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
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Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.
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in keeping the Canteen doors open. The FR Canteen is Free Republic's longest running daily thread
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The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afghanistan.
We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.
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9
posted on
02/26/2023 5:35:31 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska; Jet Jaguar; fieldmarshaldj; Red Badger; Tilted Irish Kilt; Jane Long; ...
To: PROCON
Thanks for, Pro...any warm up for you.
We’ve had sun most all day...what a change.
11
posted on
02/26/2023 5:55:46 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
It’s still winter weather here but sunny which makes it bearable. You have lots of snow?
12
posted on
02/26/2023 6:04:59 PM PST
by
PROCON
(Sic Semper Tyrannis)
To: lightman
Good evening, lightman...so important that they be remembered. Their sacrifice for our America was enormous!
We had SUN today!
13
posted on
02/26/2023 6:10:02 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: PROCON
Boy, do I have snow! My yard was completely filled and I had to have 2 dump truck
loads hauled away so the guys who plow my driveway have some more room to put it.
The pile in the middle of the cul-de-sac is at least 20' tall. The city has no place left to take it.
14
posted on
02/26/2023 6:16:59 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: SkyDancer
Hiya, Janey...((HUGS))...enjoying being home? Nice weather finally arrived, or still stormy?
Flights upcoming?
15
posted on
02/26/2023 6:20:49 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska; luvie; HiJinx; AZamericonnie; Jet Jaguar; SandRat; beachn4fun; laurenmarlowe; ...
Greetings to all at the Canteen!
To all our military men and women, past and present,
16
posted on
02/26/2023 6:21:14 PM PST
by
radu
(God bless our military men and women, past and present)
To: The Mayor
Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.
Hope you got some good rest and are ready to take on the new week.
17
posted on
02/26/2023 6:27:06 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: ExTexasRedhead
OK...that was funny, even if the Admiral didn’t approve. Thanks, K.
18
posted on
02/26/2023 7:22:39 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: radu
Good evening, radu...hope you got some drying time today before more rain shows up.
We had a sunny day and I’m betting Rondy goers had a great day. Now it’s headed to below zero.
19
posted on
02/26/2023 7:41:41 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska; GodBlessUSA; radu; mylife; MS.BEHAVIN; ConorMacNessa; PROCON; laurenmarlowe; ...
Sgt. Herschel F. Briles
February 7, 1914 – July 17, 1994
United States Army
Medal of Honor recipient
—for his actions in World War II.
20
posted on
02/26/2023 7:46:34 PM PST
by
luvie
(🇺🇸The bravery/dedication of our troops keeping us safe & free make me proud to be an American.🇺🇸)
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