Updated: 07 March, 2005

United States Medal of Honor

• Congressional Medal of Honor Society - Official Website.

• Medal of Honor - nformation about - US Government Website.

• The Navy Medal of Honor, 1942 to the Present - The Medal of Honor is the highest-ranking United States' combat award, with different patterns used by the Navy, the Army and the Air Force. Authorized in December 1861 as an award for enlisted men, the Navy Medal of Honor originally served to "further promote the efficiency of the Navy". Its award criteria subsequently included "deeds of gallantry and heroism in times of War and of Peace" on the part of officers and enlisted personnel, but in 1942 were restricted to acts of extraordinary heroism in armed combat. The design of the medal and its associated ribbon have also varied, with the pattern presently used having been adopted in 1942. This page features photographs of the current pattern of the Navy Medal of Honor, and provides links to images of other forms of the Medal and of recipients of the Medal. (Jan 03)

• Medal of Honor – Full Text of all Citations - US Army Centre of Military History

• Theodore Roosevelt and the Medal of Honor

• The Only Medal (Article on the Medal of Honor - Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives and Records Administration Fall 1995, vol. 27, no. 3)

• Private Harry Fisher (First marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously "for distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy at the Battle of Peking, China, June 20th to July 16, 1900 - Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives and Records Administration Winter 1999, vol. 31, no. 4)

• President Hosts Nearly 100 Medal of Honor Winners (Jan 2001)  

• A Vietnam War hero posthumously receives the Medal of Honor (Bill Pitsenbarger, USAF)  

• Medal of Honor winner retires from Kansas National Guard

• Medal of Honor winner Honoured

• Vietnam Vet awarded Medal of Honor after 30 years  Alfred Rasco Photo (Feb 2000)

• Posthumous Medal of Honor for Andrew Jackson Smith (Jan 2001) 

• Navy container ship renamed for Korean War Medal of Honor winner  

• Audie Murphy's Military Awards 

• VFW, Senator rally behind Medal of Honor for WWI Hero (May 01)  

• Medal Of Honor Winner Dunham Cited in National Magazine (Russell Dunham)  

• Civil War Hero gets Grave Marker (John Henry Callahan – M of H Recipient) (May 01)  

• Medal of Honor recipients tell their stories of heroism

• What Price Glory? Medal of Honor Winners Show It (May 01)
• Sammy Davis – Medal of Honor Recipient (Photo)

• Heroic WWII pilot's sister pays respects at crash site (Medal of Honor Winners 2nd Lt. William and 1st Lt. Donald J. Gott Metzger)

• Medal Honors Vietnam War Pilot’s Bravery (Edward W. Freeman Awarded Medal of Honor. Former recipient of DFC) (Jul 01) 
• 'Fear Will Get You Killed — Quicker': Medal of Honor Recipient - Photo (Ed W. Freeman) (Jul 01) 
• Selfless service on display: Medal of honor goes to Neely Vietnam veteran (Capt Ed Freeman)
• Medal of Honor Initiative Tour (An exhibit on the FBI Tour that highlights the investigation into unauthorized and counterfeit Medals of Honor)
• Hero's family greets namesake warship - Jimmie E. Howard - MoH (Nov 01)

• Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. John L. Levitow has died aged 55

• Son of hero offers support, thanks to Air Force - John L. Levitow (Medal of Honor Winner)

• Millett's men's courageous charge remembered 50 years later at Hill 180 (Lewis L. Millett – Medal of Honor Winner)

• Navy faces lawsuit to give medal to hero’s kin (Lawsuit filed to have the Medal of Honor posthumously awarded to Peter Tomich given to Tomich's great-nephew in Bosnia-Herzogovina. The Navy was never able to find Tomich's family, and his medal has been displayed on ships, in museums and at Naval bases for six decades — the only Medal of Honor to go unclaimed in the 20th century.) (Dec 01)

• Medal of Honor recipient lauds youth with interest in military (Lt. Gen. Robert F. Foley - awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam on Nov. 5, 1966. Leading a company through the jungle to aid another unit, Foley was injured by a grenade during an ambush. Despite his injury, he single-handedly destroyed three enemy machine gun entrenchments, allowing his unit to complete its mission. Foley earned more than a dozen other medals for his service, including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart) (Apr 02)

• Army Medal of Honor recipient Master Sgt. Gary Gordon (Undated photo of U.S. Army Medal of Honor recipient Master Sgt. Gary Gordon killed in Somalia in 1993 (Apr 02)

• Veteran petitions for highest honor (Wallace M. Gallant helped break the back of a 1945 German counterattack during World War II. He is seeking a review of his war record with the hope of winning a Medal of Honor. Many of the soldiers he fought with believe he deserved to get the medal 57 years ago. For his bravery, Mr. Gallant received a Distinguished Service Cross, the country's second-highest award for valor) (Mar 02)

• Selfless service on display: Medal of honor goes to Neely Vietnam veteran (Capt Ed Freeman)

• USNS Soderman: New Navy strategic sealift ship is afloat - Soderman (Medal of Honor winner) (Apr 02)

• Soldier's heroism remains a shining light Grabiarz (Pfc. William R. Grabiarz, Buffalo's first Medal of Honor recipient is remembered - as a member of the Army's 1st Cavalry serving in the Philippines - threw himself on a grenade) (Jun 02)

• Army pays long-overdue apology to family of soldier wrongly accused - November 11, 1999 (CNN) (Sgt. Edward A. Carter Jr awarded Medal of Honor)

• Man Pleads Guilty to Wearing Fake Medal of Honor - Ralph Ervin Crowder, 46, was originally charged in a criminal complaint in U.S. District Court with impersonating an officer and a military hero. He had been telling people he was a highly decorated Navy SEAL in Vietnam and had been awarded the Medal of Honor. Neither was true. (Sep 02)

• Bush Awards Medal of Honor to POW - The late Capt. Humbert Roque "Rocky" Versace, a hero whose defiance of the enemy set an example for his fellow soldiers. Capt. Versace is the first Army POW to earn the Medal of Honor for actions taken during captivity in Southeast Asia. Photo and Bio of Capt Versace (Jul 02)

• WWII mission results in awarding of 5 medals - The Medal of Honor presented to Col. John Riley "Killer" Kane is one of five presented for that day's mission, the most ever awarded for a single combat enterprise. Three of the awards were posthumous: 2nd Lt. Lloyd H. Hughes, a native of Alexandria; Lt. Col. Addison Baker; and Maj. John L. Jerstad. The other Medal of Honor presented to a living recipient for that day's battle was to Col. Leon W. Johnson, who died in November 1997. (Sep 02)  

• United States - Town Salutes its WWII Hero - Sixty years after his heroic death, Medal of Honor winner Reinhardt John Keppler will be honored in his tiny hometown. In an act of supreme sacrifice, Keppler bled to death as he helped save the USS San Francisco and many of his shipmates during one of World War II's most horrific sea battles. (Jun 02)

• President awards soldiers posthumous Medals of Honor - President George W. Bush honored two soldiers with posthumous Medals of Honor May 1 during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House. Capt. Ben L. Salomon, a dentist, was recognized for his efforts in defending his regimental aid station from a Japanese attack in the Marianas Islands during World War II, and Capt. Jon E. Swanson was recognized for his work in marking enemy troop and anti-aircraft positions from a damaged aircraft in Cambodia during the Vietnam War. (May 02)

• Pfc. Clarence Craft has died aged 82  One of the 149 living Medal of Honor recipients died of cancer March 28 in Fayetteville, Ark. Pfc. Clarence Craft, 82, received the medal for his actions during World War II, on Hen Hill, Okinawa, when he killed 25 Japanese soldiers and led his battalion to breach enemy defenses, May 31, 1945. Craft was a rifleman with Company G, 382d Infantry, 96th Infantry Division. More (Apr 02)

• White House Welcomes Teddy's Medal of Honor Former President Theodore Roosevelt's long-fought-for Medal of Honor has a new home - the president's former home. At a private gathering, Roosevelt's descendents donated his medal to the White House in a ceremony attended by President George W. Bush. The medal will now sit in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, alongside his Nobel Peace Prize. Roosevelt was recommended to receive the medal in 1898, after leading his volunteer army of Rough Riders in an attack on an entrenched Spanish position at San Juan Hill on July 1. More (Sep 02)

• Medal of Honor receipient visits Retired Marine Col. Wesley L. Fox spoke of his 43 years in the military, both as an enlisted Marine and an officer. Of the 58 heroes who received the Medal of Honor in Vietnam, only 13 lived to acknowledge the honor. (Oct 02)

  Company fined for selling fake Medals of Honor - The New York company that holds the government contract to make the nation's highest combat decoration was fined $80,000 for selling 300 bootleg Medals of Honor. H.L.I. Lordship Industries also will give the government $22,500 it received for illegally selling the bogus medals for $75 apiece at memorabilia shows from 1991 to 1994. ( Dec 96)

• A Buffalo Soldier's story William A. Aleshire's research into Negro League baseball teams in Prince George's County led him in a direction he never anticipated: writing a book about the forgotten war heroes known as the Buffalo Soldiers. Mr. Aleshire's book focuses on one soldier, Sgt. Thomas Boyne, of Prince George's County, who was 18 when he became one of the 200,000 black men to join the Union Army to fight in the Civil War. Following the Civil War, Boyne's heroic actions in the Indian wars led him to receive the Medal of Honor, the country's highest military award. Washington Times, DC May 03

• Union spy's Medal of Honor comes to Kennesaw Museum More than 140 years ago, Union Sergeant John Morehead Scott was hanged for his participation in a mission impossible. His assignment: penetrate 200 miles into Confederate territory, steal a Confederate train and destroy bridges and tracks between Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Atlanta. 
  The mission failed, but Scott was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. That medal has now come South to be the centerpiece of the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw. (Dec 02)

• Joe Foss has died aged 87 Joe Foss was one of the great American fighter aces of the Second World War, officially credited with shooting down 26 Japanese aircraft while serving in the Pacific; he later embarked on a successful career in public life, becoming Governor of South Dakota. As a Marine Corps pilot during the war, Foss led a unit which became known as "Joe's Flying Circus"; including Foss's own tally, the unit of Grumman Wildcat naval fighters accounted for a total of 72 enemy aircraft. When he received the Congressional Medal of Honour from President Roosevelt at the White House in 1943 for "aerial combat unsurpassed in this war", Foss was immediately hailed by the national media as "the American ace of aces". He was also awarded the American DFC, Bronze Star, Silver Star and Purple Heart. More More More Photos More (Jan 03)

• Florida man wears medal without honor - Wherever 67-year-old Jackie Stern went in this south Florida community, he brought along his Medal of Honor, awarded by Congress to military personnel who have risked life in combat beyond the call of duty. Stern said he bought the medal at a military show for $800. The medal turned out to be authentic but not officially issued. The judge placed him on one year's probation and ordered him to write letters of apology to the 171 surviving recipients of the Medal of Honor. (Dec 96)
• Company fined for selling fake Medals of Honor - The New York company that holds the government contract to make the nation's highest combat decoration was fined $80,000 for selling 300 bootleg Medals of Honor. H.L.I. Lordship Industries also will give the government $22,500 it received for illegally selling the bogus medals for $75 apiece at memorabilia shows from 1991 to 1994. ( Dec 96)
• Family finally learns of belated honor Pvt. George Watson of Birmingham died a hero in World War II and was one of seven black soldiers from WWII awarded Medals of Honor in a 1997 White House ceremony.  Watson received four medals posthumously - the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, next in rank to the Medal of Honor, for saving the lives of 12 shipmates when their cargo ship was sunk in the South Pacific in 1943. Exhausted from his efforts, Watson, 28, drowned when the sinking ship pulled him down. The 1997 upgrade means Watson was the only African American from Alabama to receive the Medal of Honor for actions during World War II. In 1943, he was the first African American in the Armed Forces to earn the Distinguished Service Cross. He also is the only African American to earn the Medal of Honor for action in the Pacific. The other six were earned by soldiers in Europe.  He is the only African American Medal of Honor recipient from that war who was not in the infantry or other combat branch. (Nov 02)
• Florida man wears medal without honor - Wherever 67-year-old Jackie Stern went in this south Florida community, he brought along his Medal of Honor, awarded by Congress to military personnel who have risked life in combat beyond the call of duty. Stern said he bought the medal at a military show for $800. The medal turned out to be authentic but not officially issued. The judge placed him on one year's probation and ordered him to write letters of apology to the 171 surviving recipients of the Medal of Honor. (Dec 96)
• Louis Richard Rocco Dies; Won Medal of Honor for Valor Louis Richard Rocco, 63, who joined the Army during the Vietnam War and whose rescue of men from a downed helicopter earned him the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for valor. More (Nov 02)
• Company fined for selling fake Medals of Honor - The New York company that holds the government contract to make the nation's highest combat decoration was fined $80,000 for selling 300 bootleg Medals of Honor. H.L.I. Lordship Industries also will give the government $22,500 it received for illegally selling the bogus medals for $75 apiece at memorabilia shows from 1991 to 1994. ( Dec 96)

• Ron Rosser earned Medal of Honor for time in Korea (Nov 02)

• Man pleads innocent to impersonating war hero Paul Alan White, 47, of Houston was indicted Tuesday on five counts of impersonating a decorated U.S. Marine Corps chief warrant officer III and forging a document to receive a license plate reserved for veterans who have received some of the highest medals for bravery. White adorned his unearned uniform with the Navy Cross, second only to the Medal of Honor as the Navy's highest award for heroism, the Silver Star, which is awarded for extraordinary heroism in combat, and the Purple Heart, which is awarded for wounds received in combat. White also wore a Vietnam Service Ribbon, indicating combat duty in that country. More (Nov 02)
• Man who faked receiving Medal of Honor sentenced An Independence man who masqueraded as a Medal of Honor recipient, a Navy admiral and a National Security Agency official was sentenced Tuesday to eight months in federal prison. But first, Ralph Ervin Crowder got a close look at a genuine American hero. While waiting to be sentenced, Crowder, 47, glanced sheepishly at retired Army Col. Roger Donlon, who sat in the front row of benches. Around his neck, Donlon wore the first Medal of Honor awarded to an American serviceman during the Vietnam War. (Jan 03)

• Medal recipient's portrait now has a description of his deeds For five years, the portrait of a young soldier with a Medal of Honor draped around his neck has hung in the rotunda of the Fort Bend County courthouse. The only inscription accompanying the painting was, "Sgt. Macario Garcia, Congressional Medal of Honor." Two county officials decided something more was needed, and on Monday, a plaque describing how Garcia earned his nation's highest military honor was unveiled in a Veterans Day ceremony attended by family members and friends (Nov 02)

• South San set to honor Medal of Honor recipient Benavidez Famed Medal of Honor recipient Roy P. Benavidez dropped out of middle school, but he later earned his high school diploma and an associate's degree while carving out a career in the Army. Educators in the South San Antonio School District will honor him by dedicating a new elementary school in his honor. Benavidez was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross from Gen. William Westmoreland, and he received the Medal of Honor from President Reagan in 1981. (Nov 02)

• James R. Hendrix has died aged 77 James R. Hendrix, 77, an Arkansas farm boy who in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II braved hostile gunfire to save fellow soldiers and take a dozen Germans prisoner, actions for which he received the Medal of Honor, died Nov. 14 at his home in Davenport, Fla. (Nov 02)

• Medal of Honor winner's son finally gets dad's due The government finally made it right by Pvt. David M. Gonzales. Finally made sure his family got all the medals this true hometown hero from Pacoima was awarded posthumously for his combat in World War II. Made sure the wrong photograph that's been hanging over the name David M. Gonzales in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes -- a display featuring Latinos who have been awarded the Medal of Honor -- is being replaced with the right one. (Nov 02)

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  Medal of Honor recipient visits Parris Island recruits A Medal of Honor recipient was at the Marine Recruit Depot Parris Island to see how the base has changed and to speak with young Marines. Retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Hershel "Woody" Williams was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry Truman for his actions on Iwo Jima, Volcano Island, on Feb. 23, 1945. Williams won't talk about his actions that day, choosing instead to give anyone who asks a copy of the citation he received when awarded the Medal of Honor. "Covered only by four rifleman, he fought desperately for four hours under terrific enemy small-arms fire and repeatedly returned to his own lines to prepare demolition charges and obtain serviced flame throwers, struggling back frequently to the rear of hostile emplacements to wipe out one position after another," the citation states. "His unyielding determination and extraordinary heroism in the face of ruthless enemy resistance were directly instrumental in neutralizing one of the most fanatically defended Japanese strong points encountered by his regiment, and aided in enabling his company to reach its objective." (Oct 02)

• I've received a number of e-mails regarding this article, one being from the National Headquarters of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, located in Mt. Pleasant, SC.  According to CMHS this information is false and they are in the process of contacting the source that published this article to let them know.  CMHS believes the award received by the British SBS member may have been a CIA Medal of Honor, but they don't have conclusive information at this time. (Feb 03) US honours Briton in Afghan raid A member of the Special Boat Service has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honour, the equivalent of the Victoria Cross, for his part in the rescue of a CIA officer from an Afghan prison revolt. The man, a sergeant, led a patrol of half-a-dozen SBS commandos who rescued a member of the CIA's special activities section from the fort at Qala-i-Jangi near Mazar-i-Sharif, in November 2001. The medal was awarded to the SBS commando in a private ceremony and kept quiet to preserve his anonymity. The SBS, based at Poole, Dorset, is often seen as a poor relation of the SAS but has been present at all leading special forces operations of recent years. The willingness of the Americans to recognise the courage of the NCO contrasts with the British decision not to award a VC either to the SBS NCO or to two SAS soldiers who took part on an attack on the al-Qa'eda cave complex also in Afghanistan in November 2001. One led the main attack on the heavily defended caves near Kandahar while the other directed aerial fire at the other end of the caves, putting his life at extreme risk by waiting until the last possible moment to bring down fire. Members of the SAS, SBS and the RAF squadrons that fly their aircraft were awarded four Conspicuous Gallantry Crosses, five Military Crosses and three Distinguished Flying Crosses for operations in Afghanistan but no VCs. (Jan 03)

  Indiana County's Civil War Medal of Honor recipients Indiana Gazette, PA - 12 Feb 2003

  Posthumous Medal of Honor 'unclaimed' A Medal of Honor awarded posthumously to a sailor more than 60 years ago has yet to be delivered to his family, despite a distant relative's interest in claiming it. Chief Petty Officer Peter Tomich was given the medal for extraordinary heroism at Pearl Harbor, and 61 years later it lies "unclaimed" in a museum because the Navy won't release it to a distant cousin. Washington Times, DC - 23 Feb 2003

• WWII Hero Honored - A World War II hero and Medal of Honor Recipient is being memorialized by having A library at Gunter Air Force Base named in his honor. Today officials unveiled the Henry "Red" Erwin Library. The 21 thousand square foot facility is used by the Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex Community and by 2,000 Air Force Senior NCO Academy students. Staff Sergeant Erwin was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic acts during a Mission in the skies over Japan back in 1945. Suffering from Severe burns and blindness caused by a bomb, he saved his aircraft and crew by carrying the burning bomb to a window and throwing it out of the plane. (Mar 03)
• Senate honors WWII vet, youngest Marine to get Congressional The Mississippi state Senate on Thursday honored Jacklyn "Jack" Lucas, the youngest Marine ever to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Lucas, 75, of Hattiesburg, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on Oct. 5, 1945, at age 17. Of the 26 Marines who received the medal after smothering Japanese grenades with their bodies to save comrades during World War II, only three survived. Lucas was one of them. Jackson Clarion Ledger, MS - 21 Mar 2003
• 6 Ohioans received first Medals of Honor On March 25, 1863, the first Medals of Honor awarded by the United States went to six Ohioans. They were members of Andrews' Raiders, 22 volunteers sent on a daring mission to disrupt rebel transportation and communication lines in the Civil War. Cincinnati Enquirer, OH - 25 Mar 2003

• USS Utah has a hero in its hold In 1942 Chief Watertender Peter Tomich was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his courage. It would prove the start of a long journey for a military decoration in search of a home. The New York Times Apr 03

• McGraw: Lynch should be given Congressional Medal of Honor West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Warren McGraw is sending letters to President Bush and the state's congressional representatives to encourage the awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor to Pfc. Jessica Lynch, the 19-year-old former prisoner of war from Palestine. Parkersburg News, WV Apr 03
• County Pays Tribute to Congressional Medal Of Honor Recipients Lucas County paid tribute to sixteen residents who received the Congressional Medal of Honor. A plaque with their names was unveiled on the second floor of the Lucas County Courthouse. The Ohio Bicentennial Veterans Committee requested each of the state's 88 counties erect such a plaque as a way to honor veterans during the state's 200th anniversary celebration. WTOL, OH - 23 May 2003
  • Medal of Honor - Youngstown Vindicator
  • Local soldiers memorialized - Fremont News Messenger
• Medal of Honor award recipients memorialized The Congressional Medal of Honor is the nation's highest military honor and a medal set apart from all others. Holders of the rare honor from Fairfield County Ohio were given a part of Veterans Park in downtown Lancaster.Lancaster Eagle Gazette, OH - 23 May 2003
  • County honors bravest warriors - Toledo Blade
  • 353 Ohioans got Medal of Honor - Cleveland Plain Dealer

• Hero’s valor Alfred Handrich of Hortonville holds a photograph of his brother, Melvin Handrich, draped with the Congressional Medal of Honor. Melvin Handrich of Manawa was killed in action during the Korean War. Post-Crescent photo by Dan Powers Appleton Post Crescent, WI 25 May 03 Manawa man made a gritty last stand - Appleton Post Crescent

• Local hero may be up for Congressional Medal of Honor An Alabama soldier is the most decorated solider during the war with Iraq, but the honors for Repton's Sgt. Troy Jenkins may not be over. Jenkins died after throwing himself on an unexploded cluster bomb saving half a dozen solders and half a dozen Iraqi children. Sgt. Jenkins has earned the bronze star, the soldier's medal and the purple heart, making him the most decorated soldier in the Iraqi conflict. His cousin John Brown of Alabama was also killed in the war. WPMI, AL - 22 May 2003

• Slain Soldier May Receive Top Medal A Tampa soldier killed while helping stave off 100 Iraqi Republican Guards may be in line for the nation's highest medal. Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith's commander plans to recommend him for the Medal of Honor, an embedded journalist who pieced together Smith's story in Iraq said Thursday. The award is held by 137 living Americans. Tampa Tribune, FL - 17 Apr 2003 Uncommon valor - St. Petersburg Times Selfless final act saved his troops - St. Petersburg Times

• Tampa soldier considered for top medal The battle erupted suddenly and without warning. One minute, Bravo Company of the 11th Engineer Battalion was trying to build a holding pen for war prisoners. The next, the unit was under fire from as many as 200 Special Republican Guard soldiers defending Saddam International Airport. After helping evacuate wounded U.S. soldiers, Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, 33, of Tampa, jumped into an M-113 armored personnel carrier, maneuvered it into the center of a walled courtyard and climbed into the commander's hatch to man its 50-caliber machine gun. Under fire from automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, his flak jacket shredded by incoming rounds, Smith held off a counterattack until he was killed by a bullet to the throat. For the past couple of weeks, U.S. commanders have been putting together recommendations for valor awards, compiling witness accounts and sorting out the often painful details of battlefield actions and casualties. More than 400 soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division's 1st and 2nd brigades are under consideration for such awards. But Smith is believed to be the only one being nominated for the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor. ''His actions clearly warrant it,'' said Col. William Grimsley, the 1st Brigade commander. Miami Herald, FL - 8 May 2003 Medal of Honor sought for Sgt Fayetteville Online, Fayetteville NC - 8 May 2003

• Medal of Honor Sought For Fallen War Hero The family of Don Dingee who died while saving the lives of fellow soldiers during the Korea War wants to see him receive a posthumous the Medal of Honor. WSTM-TV, NY Jun 03

• Medal of Honor recipients were motivated by loyalty to comrades, ... Medal of Honor recipients retired Army Col. Joseph Rodriguez, left, and retired Army Col. Roger Hugh Donlon discuss what they did to earn the highest military award for bravery. Pacific Stars and Stripes, Japan - 11 Jun 2003

• Memories Of The Big Medal 'Lauritz Nelson Medal of Honor CHBOSN US NAVY SP AM WAR Mar 26 1860 Sep 16 1941.' Newsday - 11 Apr 2003
• Nature of warfare, attitudes means fewer tapped for Medal of Honor "People think there were Medal of Honors awarded for Desert Storm, and the fact is there weren't any," said Victoria Leslie, director of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. "That surprises some people when you say that, but the reason is that every war is different." Centre Daily Times, PA - 22 Apr 2003
• Korean War hero honored - The plaque for Marine 1st Lt. Henry Alfred Commiskey Sr. becomes one of 17 plaques honoring Mississippians who have received the nation's highest military decoration. Commiskey, who was later promoted to major, was the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism in the Korean conflict. Jackson Clarion Ledger 7 Jun 03
  • Medal Of Honor Winner Celebrated - WLOX
  • Naval Station Pascagoula plaque to honor Mississippi native - Pascagoula Mississippi Press
  • Family, friends commemorate honorable Marine' Pascagoula Mississippi Press, MS
• Medal of Valor recipient lets Vietnam bravery speak for itself If you ever run into Jon Cavaiani and learn that he has a Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for valor, don't ask him how he won it. Modesto Bee, CA 7 Jun 03 
• Photographer captures spirit of ordinary folks  -  48 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients are featured in the book "Ordinary Heroes." conceived by nationally known Hoosier photographer Tom Casalini and including a Casalini photo of each of the 48 heroes and sparse but powerful captions. Henderson Gleaner, KY 25 May 03
  • War hero highlights Memorial Day service - Henderson Gleaner

  • Vietnam vet overdue for Medal of Honor Marine corporal Richard Gresko served his country in Vietnam, his body was shattered by the full force of an exploding North Vietnamese hand grenade. Totally ignoring the threat to his own life, Gresko had flung his body onto the grenade to protect four other members of his unit. For his action in diving onto the enemy grenade, Gresko was eventually awarded the Navy Cross, the second highest military decoration for valor a Marine serving in combat can receive. Yet despite this rare and prestigious award, there are many of us who feel he deserved and should have been given the nation’s top tribute, the Medal of Honor. Montgomery County Record, PA - 6 Jul 2003

  • Book recalls exploits for Medals of Honor Larry Smith will sign copies of his recently released book of interviews with Medal of Honor recipients. Smith will be joined by Rudy Hernandez (left), a Fayetteville resident who is one of 24 men featured in ''Beyond Glory: Medal of Honor Heroes in Their Own Words.'' Fayetteville Online, Fayetteville NC 10 Jul 03

• Medal of Honor Recipient "Doc" Ingram Visits NNMC Medal of Honor recipient Bob Ingram, a former hospital corpsman third class who was decorated for heroism with the Marines in Vietnam, felt he had to do something to help the Marines and Sailors who were wounded in Iraq. So he did. He took off work and traveled from Florida to Maryland to give encouragement to the returning casualties of Iraqi Enduring Freedom. Bethesda Journal, MD - 15 May 2003

• Lucian Adams, 80, Is Dead; Army Hero in World War II Lucian Adams, an Army sergeant in World War II who received the Medal of Honor for a single-handed assault on German troops that opened supply lines for an isolated American battalion. New York Times - 3 Apr 2003 Lucian Adams, 80, Dies; Given Medal of Honor Army staff sergeant who received the Medal of Honor during World War II for a solitary forest raid against overwhelming enemy fire. Oct. 28, 1944. Armed with a Browning Automatic Rifle and some grenades, he took 10 minutes to destroy single-handedly three German machine-gun nests and kill nine enemy soldiers.For his bravery in battle, which helped keep open a supply line to isolated American troops, he received the Medal of Honor, the military's highest award for valor. Washington Post, DC - 1 Apr 2003

• Vietnam heroics earned Fisher Medal of Honor In recognition of a 1966 act of bravery, Bernard F. Fisher has not only received a Medal of Honor. On Jan. 19, 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Major Fisher the first Medal of Honor to be awarded to an Air Force officer during the Vietnam War. Hilltop Times, UT - 24 Apr 2003

  Band of Brothers' seek Medal of Honor for commander The real-life "Band of Brothers" are taking up one last battle -- this time to seek the Medal of Honor for their company commander. The World War II veterans, who fought from Normandy's beaches on D-Day to capture Hitler's Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden, Germany, will meet Thursday with Acting Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee to ask that the nation's highest military honor be awarded to Richard Winters of Hershey, Pa. Winters, 85, who first served as commander of Company E of the 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne, and later as its battalion commander, was given the Distinguished Service Cross for his D-Day fighting and strategy on Utah Beach. The service cross is the nation's second-highest military award. Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - 16 Jul 2003

• Agents thwart sale of Medals of Honor - Buffalo News Man charged with selling Congressional Medals of Honor - Newsday Canadian Man Faces Serious Charges for Illegally Trying to Sell ...  - WIVB  FBI Press Room (press release) (Jul 03) War buff accused of selling prized U.S. medal Edward Fedora, 67, was arrested in Buffalo by the FBI as part of a federal sting operation and charged with three offences that could land him in jail for up to three years. The Buffalo office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation became aware in the spring that Medals of Honor were being offered on eBay. Selling them has always been illegal in the United States, a fact that has recently been highlighted in numerous magazines devoted to collecting. Special Agent Moscal said that in co-operation with the RCMP, the FBI bought a Medal of Honor on May 28 in Ontario for $12,000 (U.S.). After having that medal authenticated by naval authorities, the FBI set up another purchase, this time in the United Sates. That was a dual-citation Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to U.S. Army First Sergeant George Washington Roosevelt for heroic acts in 1862 and 1863 during battle. That medal had been listed on eBay for $30,000 (U.S.), and officers set up a sting. Mr. Fedora is charged with conspiracy to sell a congressional medal, unlawful sale of a Congressional Medal of Honor, and not declaring the medal when he brought it across the Peace Bridge into the United States.Mr. Fedora appeared in U.S. District Court in Buffalo, where bail was set at $50,000.  The Globe and Mail 10 Jul 03

• Gravestones honor vets awarded medals for Civil War heroics The gravestone noting that Thomas N. Graham is a Medal of Honor recipient is one of three such grave markers at Oak Hill Cemetery. The three veterans, Graham, Henry Seymour Hall and Samuel J. Churchill, received the Medal of Honor for their service during the Civil War. Lawrence Journal World, KS - 20 Jul 2003

   

• Guard Training Center Dedicated To Recipient Of Medal Of Honor Retired Col. Robert B. Nett's heroic actions during World War II won him the military's highest honor. But it's what he has done since retiring from the National Guard 30 years ago that has earned the Medal of Honor recipient a new recognition. A new building planned as part of Camp Rowland's multi-million dollar expansion will bear Nett's name, an honor that veterans and National Guard officials say is long overdue. New London Day, CT Jul 03

  GI killed in Iraq may get Medal of Honor Army officials are studying the case of a soldier killed in action in Baghdad to determine whether he should be the first GI in the Iraqi war to receive the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military citation. An Army official said the man is Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith, 33, of Hinesville, Ga., killed April 4 in a firefight near Baghdad International Airport. Tesia Williams, a spokeswoman for the Army's Personnel Command, based in Alexandria, Va., said the paperwork nominating Smith for the honor began with his unit -- the 3rd Infantry Division based at Fort Stewart, Ga. -- and has begun a consideration process that could take up to two years. -- HEARST NEWSPAPERS Charlotte Observer, NC - 9 Aug 2003

• Yukio 'Yuki' Okutsu, 81, awarded Medal of Honor Yukio "Yuki" Okutsu, a World War II veteran whose Distinguished Service Cross award was later upgraded to a Medal of Honor, has died. He was 81. Okutsu was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and returned to Kaua'i in December 1945. He donated the medal to the Kaua'i Museum. In 2000, Okutsu's Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded to a Medal of Honor after Congress ordered the Army to review its records to see if anti-Japanese sentiment during the war prevented the soldiers from getting full recognition. Honolulu Advertiser, HI - 8 Sep 2003

  • WWII Hero Yukio Okutsu Dies at 81 Washington Post, DC - 10 Sep 03

• 2 Ohio Civil War soldiers backed for Medal of Honor Civil War Pvts. Philip Shadrach and George Wilson were overlooked for the nation's highest military honor. But 142 years later, that could change. The Army Decorations Board is in the final stages of awarding the Medal of Honor to the two Ohioans who helped steal a Confederate train. But it's not known when the awards will be made. Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH - 7 Sep 2003

• Medal of Honor Recipients in Branson America's greatest heroes - recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor - are in Branson this week for the group's annual convention.  More than 70 of the surviving 136 recipients of the nation's highest military honor are in Branson for a week's worth of activities. Pictured here is Melvin Biddle - Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. kolr10 Sep 03

• Davis remembered for contributions to family, country and his ... Gen. Raymond G. Davis, 88, who was the most highly decorated Marine in the United States has died. In 1938 Davis joined the U.S. Marine Corps and subsequently fought in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. During his military career, he earned the Medal of Honor for his efforts during the Korean War, as well as the Navy Cross, two Distinguished Service Medals, two Silver Star Medals, two Legions of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, five Presidential Unit Citations, three Navy Unit Citations and seven foreign awards. (He was awarded the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart in 1944. He received the Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman, two Silver Star Medals, a Legion of Merit with Combat V and the Bronze Star Medal in Korea in 1950. Fifteen years later, Davis was awarded a second Legion of Merit and then, in 1968, the Republic of Vietnam awarded him the Distinguished Service Medal and three personal decorations from the Vietnamese government). Citizen Online, GA - 9 Sep 2003
  • Soldier remembered as community leader, father and friend - Gwinnett Daily Post
  • Large funeral planned for retired Marine general who died - Access North Georgia
• Medal of Honor winner dies at 70 It seemed nothing could stop Webster Anderson. Not North Vietnamese troops. Not the loss of both legs and a hand. Not the loss of a spouse. Until the end, Army Sgt. 1st Class Anderson pressed on -- driven to see his life of 70 years end on his own terms, family and friends said Monday. Anderson, one of only eight South Carolinians who received the Medal of Honor for heroism in the Vietnam War, died Saturday at his Fairfield County home. Columbia State, SC - 3 Sep 2003
  • Congressional Medal of Honor recipient laid to rest in Fairfield ... WIS, SC - 4 Sep 2003
• Medal of Honor winner finally gets his plaque In the town's history, there was only one soldier awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Come November, there will finally be a plaque bearing his name.Monday night the Board of Selectmen granted the Veterans of Foreign Wars permission to put a plaque near the Henry Breault Bridge. Breault was one of the first non-officers to be presented with the medal. A submarine sailor during World War I, he risked his life trying to save others aboard his doomed ship. Martell said that as the sub was going down, all the sailors on board were ordered to evacuate. A few of them, however, were wounded and were unable to do so. Those few happened to be some of Breault's friends. Rather than let them drown, he stayed with them and closed the submarine hatch from the inside. "They were eventually rescued but he risked his life to save his fellow sailors," Martell said. President Calvin Coolidge presented Breault with the medal at the White House April 24, 1924. Breault died in the 1940s and was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery. Norwich Bulletin 7 Oct 03

• Park Dedicated to Hispanic Medal of Honor recipient A park just inside the main gate at Yermo that is dedicated to the memory of a great American hero, Pfc. Eugene A. Obregon, just one of the countless Hispanic Marines who gave his life for his country, and one of 38 Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients. usmc.mil Oct 03

• Navy Names Newest USNS Ship for Medal of Honor Recipient The U.S. Navy will officially name its newest prepositioning ship USNS Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat, who heroically sacrificed his life to save the lives of two other Marines. After warning his fellow Marines when he unintentionally triggered a concealed anti-personnel mine, Wheat valiantly hurled himself upon the mine, absorbing the impact of the explosion with his own body. Wheat's unselfish action saved his comrades from certain injury and possible death. Wheat's other awards include: the Navy Commendation Medal, Purple Heart with one Gold Star, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, Vietnam Military Merit Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Navy Newsstand 03 Oct 03

• Medal of Honor Recipient Talks of Leadership and Heritage to New Chiefs It’s not very often you get to meet a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor (CMOH). For most members of the armed forces, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. The opportunity presented itself to 150 new chief petty officer (CPO) selectees in early September, during the Fleet CPO Training Week aboard USS Constitution in Charlestown, Mass. In the shadow of the Massachusetts Korean War Memorial, retired Capt. Thomas J. Hudner Jr. spoke with these new chiefs, and they listened. Hudner spoke of the history and heritage of “Old Ironsides” that the new chiefs were being a part of. Hudner, as a Lt. j.g., was a pilot in Fighter Squadron 32, attached to USS Leyte (CV 32). During the battle of the Chosin Reservoir, in December 1950, Hudner risked his life to save an injured pilot who was trapped alive in the burning wreckage of his aircraft. Navy Newstand 15 Sep 03
• Medal of Honor winner coming home A Medal of Honor winner, immortalized in a movie but little known in his home state, will return to Mississippi for a Veterans Day celebration. Greene County native Capt. Ed Freeman, known as "Too Tall," flew 14 rescue missions through enemy fire in the Ia Drang Valley in 1965. Freeman evacuated at least 30 seriously wounded soldiers and delivered ammunition that helped turn the tide of the battle dramatized in "We Were Soldiers," starring Mel Gibson. "I took those people in there and I wasn't going to let them die," Freeman said this week. "The commander said, 'I need a volunteer.' And I did." Freeman now lives in Boise, Idaho. He is the only living Vietnam era Medal of Honor recipient from Mississippi, having received the honor in July 2001 from President Bush. hattiesburgamerican.com 3 nOV 03
• Medal was destroyed, but honor endures Jay Vargas nearly lost his life earning the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for valor. He was wounded while taking out three machine gun nests during a battle in Vietnam in 1968. In pain, facing fire, he carried his seriously wounded Marine battalion commander to safety. Thirty-five years later, the Cedar fire burned down his Scripps Ranch house and everything in it, including the medal. Vargas – one of 134 people alive who hold the prestigious honor – did not have time to save it. He couldn't save his Purple Heart, or his Silver Star or his Combat Action Ribbon or his other medals, either. They were turned into ash. SignOnSanDiego.com 10 Nov 03

• Book Profiles US Medal Of Honor Winners The U.S. Medal of Honor is the highest award given to Americans for valor in combat. It's bestowed for extraordinary acts of courage or sacrifice, and the president must approve all recipients. Since the award was created more than a century ago, there have been just 3,440 recipients, including President Theodore Roosevelt. It's been awarded to only one woman, a civil war surgeon and prisoner of war named Mary Walker. Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty profiles 116 living Medal of Honor winners. Nick Del Calzo created the book and photographed the Medal of Honor recipients. Peter Collier wrote the text. VOA News 11 Nov 03

  A soldier and his medal Retired major general recounts his life, his battles The Olympian 17 Nov 03

• Mitchell Paige, WWII Medal of Honor recipient, dies at age 85 Mitchell Paige, a retired marine colonel who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism in World War II's Battle of Guadalcanal, has died. He was 85. On Oct. 26, 1942, Paige was leading a platoon of 33 men when the Japanese broke through the line directly in front of his position at Guadalcanal, part of the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. With all the men in his machine gunner group killed or wounded, he continued to fire on advancing troops until reinforcements arrived. He then led a bayonet charge and drove the enemy's line back. AP Wire 17 Nov 03
• Distinguished graduates earn awards Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Rear Adm. Eugene B. Fluckey has lived a lifetime of service to the nation and to his alma mater. Fluckey received the Congressional Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" during Barb's 11th war patrol along the east coast of China. In addition, for heroism during Barb's eighth through 12th war patrols, Fluckey was awarded four Navy Crosses--a feat unequaled by any living American. He is further entitled to wear the ribbons of the Presidential Unit Citation and Navy Unit Commendation awarded to Barb for its actions. Since World War II, Fluckey has been decorated with the Distinguished Service Medal and a Gold Star in lieu of the Second Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Legion of Merit, and other honors. DC Military 21 Nov 03
• State taxpayers erred or fibbed about war-hero claims State officials are trying to determine whether hundreds of Virginians erred--or fibbed--when claiming a state tax deduction intended for Medal of Honor recipients. Only four men in Virginia have received the medal, which is the highest citation granted to American military heroes. But 642 people claimed the state tax deduction when it was offered for the first time in 2001. Daily Press 6 Dec 03

• Walden pushes to honor late flier U.S. Rep. Greg Walden is supporting efforts to posthumously nominate an Oregon World War II flier for the nation’s top military honor, the Medal of Honor. The United States Air Force credits Rex Barber, along with squadron mate Tom Lanphier, for downing the transport plane carrying Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. Barber and Lanphier were part of a secret mission to intercept Yamamoto over the Pacific Ocean, which they did April 18, 1943, shooting his plane out of the sky over the Solomon Islands. Barber, who died July 26, 2001, at his home in Terrebonne at age 84, was awarded the Navy Cross for his role in the mission. However, for years supporters have sought more for Barber, who made a career of the Air Force before retiring to small-town life in Oregon. The Kansas-based Second Yamamoto Mission Association is the primary force behind the efforts. The association, which was formed in December 1988, has sought to overturn what members see as a flawed historical account of the Yamamoto mission. Barber, the group contends, deserves sole credit for the downing of Yamamoto’s Mitsubishi transport plane. The current push to award Barber the Medal of Honor is a byproduct of that initiative. Elizabeth Blackney, a spokeswoman for the organization, said the fact that Barber originally was nominated for a Medal of Honor by his commanding officers in 1943 clears the way for Congress to vote on the award with Walden’s proposed legislation. Statesman Journal Oregon 14 Dec 03

• Gebhart: Congressional Medal of Honor for Jack Sugarman long overdue It’s about 60 years overdue, but a movement has been started to award the Congressional Medal of Honor to the late Jack Sugarman for fighting in the jungles of Guadalcanal. He was manning a machine gun on a night the Japanese staged a massive attack on his position. He mowed down wave after wave of attackers, even though he was forced four times to repair his weapon. He moved laterally along the line throughout the night but never retreated a single step. The next morning, when he was relieved, the bodies of 132 dead soldiers were stacked up in front of his position. His valor earned him the Navy Cross, the nation’s second highest award for gallantry. delcotimes 26 Dec 03
• State woman presses medal fight Sites new evidence brother saved many lives Jean Tillquist Risley of Coventry says she has new evidence to bolster her claim that her late brother, Robert A. Tillquist, deserves to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for saving lives during the Vietnam War. So, for a third time, she’ll try to convince the U.S. military. New Haven Register 22 Dec 03
• Senators to seek Rex Barber Medal of Honor Sen. Gordon Smith's office confirmed Tuesday that he will work closely with Oregon colleague Ron Wyden to introduce legislation to posthumously award the Congressional Medal of Honor to Col. Rex T. Barber, USAF Ret. Barber's heroic actions on April 18, 1943 culminated with his P-38 Lightning taking 104 bullets over the island of Bougainville as he chased the Mitsubishi bomber carrying Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto. Barber shot down the aircraft carrying Yamamoto, architect of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. bend.com 14 Jan 04
• Medal of Honor sought for fallen Alabama soldier People in several communities across south Alabama have signed petitions in recent weeks as a rolling billboard traveled the nation's highways in a push to award the Medal of Honor to a soldier from Conecuh County. U.S. Army Sgt. Troy Jenkins, a Repton native, died April 24 from injuries he had sustained days earlier in an explosion in Baghdad. According to military accounts provided to his mother, Connie Gibson, and to servicemen who were present, Jenkins, 25, threw himself on a cluster bomb brought to a group of soldiers by a child. The blast tore away one of Jenkins' legs and mangled his other limbs. Some soldiers have said that his action saved their lives and the lives of civilians, including children standing nearby. Within weeks of his death, Jenkins was granted the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Soldier's Medal for Heroism. al.com 25 Jan 04

• Marker honors medal recipients George Edward Wahlen, who served as a Navy medical corpsman on Iwo Jima, salutes the monument honoring the six Utah Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. Three of the six men are still living. deseretnews.com 12 Jun 04

• Medal of Honor Winner Mike Clausen Dies Mike Clausen Jr. risked his life repeatedly to rescue Marines from a minefield in Vietnam in 1970. Washington Post, DC - Jun 9, 2004

• Family seeks tribute for father's bravery Pete Jimenez fought on the shores of Normandy, and then in the European theater for months afterward.  He has received a host of decorations for bravery, including France’s highest honor last year. During one battle, Jimenez and two other men captured hundreds of Nazi soldiers and saved countless American lives.  Jimenez survived the war, despite being wounded five times in battle. Now, his eldest son Leonard would like to see him receive the Congressional Medal of Honor while he’s still alive. koaa.com 7 Jun 04

• A tribute to bravery, 60 years later On July 7, 1944 -- exactly 60 years earlier -- Troy natives Lt. Col. William J. O'Brien and Sgt. Thomas A. Baker had given their lives in the bloody battle for Saipan, an island in the Pacific Ocean. O'Brien, who is buried in Troy, and Baker, whose grave is in Saratoga, were both posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1945 for their heroism during the weeks-long 1944 battle. "It was like Custer's last stand," recalled Frank Pusatere, 82, of Troy, as he stood at the Troy grave site. "There were just hundreds of Japanese coming down at us, and there was the colonel, fighting right through it." Capt. Ben Salomon, a third division member who is buried in Los Angeles, was also awarded the medal, making the 105th Infantry the only military unit in U.S. history to have three of its soldiers receive the nation's highest military honor for their efforts during a single battle. timesunion.com 8 Jul 04
• Bush lauded by Medal of Honor winners The Bush campaign released an open letter to veterans Saturday signed by 21 Congressional Medal of Honor winners endorsing Bush's re-election. The winners of the nation's highest award for valor also hit hard at Kerry's record, citing the Massachusetts Democrat's as having voted, "against a $1.3 billion increase in veterans health care, skipped votes on concurrent receipt and voted against funding for our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq." washingtontimes.com 17 Jul 04
• William H. Swanson Elected to the Medal of Honor Foundation Board of Directors William H. Swanson, Chairman and CEO of Raytheon Company, has been elected to the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation board of directors. Swanson is a member of the Secretary of the Air Force Advisory Board and a trustee of the Association of the U.S. Army. He also serves on the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation board of advisors and is a member of the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC). "We are delighted to have a leader of Bill Swanson's caliber and life-long commitment to national defense," said retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Nicholas Kehoe, president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. "We welcome his capabilities and experience to our board." The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that supports the efforts of the Medal of Honor recipients and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society to instill in the youth of America the highest principles of character and sacrifice upon which the nation was founded. The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest military award for valor in combat, and there are currently 130 living recipients. The foundation thanks Mr. Swanson for his commitment and involvement in helping to perpetuate the Medal of Honor's legacy of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism. biz.yahoo.com 2 Sep 04

• Band Of Brothers: Family, friends determined to honor Marine for his split-second decision The same Tom Creek who wanted to keep his blood brothers out of Vietnam spilled his own blood to save Marine brothers fighting the war with him. But the 18-year-old lance corporal's family knew nothing of his deliberate sacrifice Feb. 13, 1969, until more than a year after his death in South Vietnam. In the spring of 1970, a Marine major knocked on the family's door to tell them Tom Creek would receive the government's highest award for heroism. Vice President Spiro Agnew presented the Medal of Honor to the Creek family on April 20, 1970, in Washington, D.C. amarillonet.com 7 Sep 04

• Marine dies saving comrades; nominated for Medal of Honor Jason Dunham stepped into the role of protector long before he ever donned a Marine uniform. He has been nominated for the Medal of Honor, given for extraordinary valor without regard to one's safety. On April 14, the 22-year-old corporal from Scio, N.Y., was patrolling a vehicle checkpoint near Husaybah, Iraq, when a man leapt from a car and snatched Dunham by his throat. As Dunham wrestled with his attacker, he apparently spotted a grenade in the Iraqi's hand and shouted a warning to other Marines rushing to his aid. Marine officials would later conclude that Dunham dived onto the explosive and covered it with his helmet to shield his comrades. He died a week later at a U.S. hospital, his parents by his side. azcentral.com 7 Sep 04
• Native American Heritage highlighted in November November is American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. The celebrations recognize their contributions to this country, and showcase the proud traditions of the first Americans. Native Americans have served with distinction in the U.S. military for more than 200 years. They fought in the War of 1812, in the Civil War as auxiliary troops for Union and Confederate forces, and were on the frontlines in the Spanish-American War in 1898. During World War I (WW I) more than 12,000 served in the U.S. Armed Forces. They turned out again in force after the outbreak of World War II (WW II). Over 44,000 Native Americans served in Europe and the Pacific between 1941 and 1945. Since then they have fought in the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf Wars. And the warrior tradition continues with those serving in Iraq today. "American Indians have fought for this country in every war...they have won many military awards. There were 71 Air medals, 51 Silver Stars, 41 Bronze Stars, 34 Distinguished Flying Crosses and three Medals of Honor," said Maniece, cataloguing the honors awarded to Native American war heroes. The three Native American Navy service members that were awarded the highest military decoration -- the Medal of Honor -- are Cmdr Ernest Evans, Lt. Michael Thornton and Chief Boatswain's Mate James Williams. During WW II Evans was honored for his actions as the Commanding Officer of USS Johnston during a sea battle off Samar Island in the Philippines, Oct.1944. Thornton was decorated for his actions as a Navy patrol advisor during combat in Vietnam, Oct. 1972. Williams received the Medal of Honor for his actions as a river patrol boat captain during combat, also in Vietnam, Oct.1966. dcmilitary.com 5 Nov 04
• Family and Friends of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation During a series of meetings which were held on Sept. 28th – Oct. 2nd, 2004, nearly 70 descendants of living and deceased MOH Recipients gathered in Pueblo, Colorado for the inaugural meeting of a new organization, Family and Friends of the Congressional Medal of Honor. The centerpiece of the three-day meeting was a special premier showing of a new two-hour documentary "Beyond the Medal of Honor" - which is the story of Pueblo's four Medal recipients: William Crawford, Raymond "Jerry" Murphy, Carl Sitter and Drew Dix. The film will be shown on PBS stations nationally in November. H. Ross Perot and his philanthropy, The Perot Foundation, provided funding for the development of this documentary and Mr. Perot has pledged to provide a copy of the film for every high school in the nation. On the final day of the three day meetings, Family and Friends of living and deceased MOH Recipients organized a new organization called Family and Friends of the Congressional Medal of Honor(FFCMOH). FFCMOH is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in the state of Colorado whose Mission shall be: "To perpetuate the history and heritage of the Medal of Honor, and to educate future generations about the recipients' values of courage, commitment and sacrifice." In a recent letter to his fellow Medal of Honor Recipients, WWII Medal of Honor Recipient and past-president of the Medal of Honor Society Robert Bush wrote: "When we are gone from this divine world, it will be our family and friends who will be dedicated to carry on the legacy of the Medal of Honor for future generations of Americans." Doug Sterner who is a Military Historian and who also helped organize the three day event in Pueblo, Colorado indicated The importance of this new organization is not so much solely to honor and pay tribute to heroes of the past, but to preserve the message they, by their valor, have to say to the heroes of the future. Doug was quoted as saying, “Behind every Medal of Honor is a person, for every person there is a story, and in every story can be found an important lesson. When that hero's memory becomes lost in time, we loose that lesson that might otherwise inspire and encourage future generations." We encourage all of those who are interested in perpetuating the legacy of the Medal of Honor and its Recipients to please visit http://www.homeofheroes.com/family onlypunjab.com 6 Nov 04
• Several Jews highly decorated for heroism In the Argonne Forest, Pvt. Abraham Krotoshinsky made his way through the German lines for reinforcements which saved the "Lost Battalion." Maj. Gen. Milton J. Foreman received the Distinguished Service Cross. Foreman was one of the organizers of the American Legion. After Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, the United States entered into war with Japan and Germany. More than 550,000 Jewish men and women responded to America's call for the armed forces in World War II. About 11,000 were killed; more than 40,000 were wounded. During World War II, 2nd Lt. Raymond Zussman killed 19 enemy soldiers, took 93 prisoners and captured two anti-attack guns, a flak gun and two trucks. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously. Sgt. Isadore S. Jachman also received his Medal of Honor posthumously. He saved his company by single-handedly attacking two enemy tanks using a bazooka from a fallen comrade. When the Marianas Islands were attacked, Capt. Ben Salomon, a medical officer, saw a Japanese soldier bayonet a wounded soldier. He killed that enemy soldier and several others who were attacking his aid station. He ordered the wounded to make their way back as best they could. He rushed out of the tent to confront the enemy and found four dead American soldiers slumped over their machine gun. The next morning, he was found dead over that machine gun with 98 Japanese dead in front of his position. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously. Sgt. Charles Feuereisen's many engagements in the Pacific theater earned him the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with Oakleaf clusters. When the U.S. Army Transport Dorchester was sunk off the coast of Greenland in World War II, Chaplain Rabbi Alexander Goode and three Christian chaplains gave their life jackets to soldiers who were without them. They all stood together and prayed as the ship sank. Lt. Frances Slanger, an Army nurse, had to hold on to the backpack straps of a GI in front of her to keep from being swept under by the ocean waves; she was one of the first nurses to land in France after the initial assault on D-Day. While caring for the wounded on the beach under direct fire from the Germans, a shell landed near her and four other nurses. As she lay dying, she directed medical attention to the other wounded nurses. Lt. Col. David "Mickey" Marcus volunteered to join the D-Day airborne assault and parachuted into Normandy. Marcus was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star and many British decorations. Gen. Maurice Rose, killed in action, was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star and the Purple Heart, in addition to the French Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre. Maj. Melvin Garten had previously earned the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, a Presidential Unit Citation and the Purple Heart with three Oakleaf clusters in World War II; he received the Distinguished Service Cross for action in Korea. During the Vietnam War, two Jewish combatants who received the Medal of Honor: Col. Jack Jacobs of the Army and Sgt. John L. Levitow of the Air Force. Marine Cpl. Roger Stephen Briskin was killed in Danang, Quong Nam Province; he was awarded many medals for his action under fire in Vietnam. Capt. Fred Zedeck received the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 10 Oakleaf Clusters. Naval Lt. Joseph Ira Goldstein received the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross and five Air Medals. The first Jewish casualty in Iraq was Lt. Seth Dvorin, who died in February. myrtlebeachonline.com 7 Dec 04

• SFLM opens Medal of Honor exhibit December 7 has also come to mark service above and beyond the call of duty... service that in its ultimate form is symbolized by the Medal of Honor. It's on this day that the Submarine Force Library and Museum honored the submarine force's recipients of the Medal of Honor with the opening of their new Medal of Honor Gallery. Inside this gallery are the stories of seven submarine officers and one enlisted crewmember who received their Medals of Honor while serving in submarines, and one submarine pioneer who received his Medal of Honor while serving aboard a battleship during a campaign in Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1914. For a complete list of submarine force Medal of Honor recipients, visit USS Nautilus site or visit the Submarine Force Library and Museum in Groton, Conn. The museum is open every Wednesday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. zwire.com 16 Dec 04

• Arizona Welcomes America's Heroes as Official Host Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon have announced that the Congressional Medal of Honor Society has selected Phoenix as the site of its 2005 convention. The convention is scheduled for Sept. 25 to Oct. 1, 2005, at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix. There are only 129 living recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. There are 48 recipients from World War II, 18 from the Korean War, and 63 from the Vietnam War. Arizona's living Medal of Honor recipients are Fred E. Ferguson, Leo Thorsness, and Sylvestre S. Herrera. Twenty Medals of Honor have been accredited to the Grand Canyon State since the award's inception in 1861. Herrera is the only person in history to receive the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor and the Mexican government's equivalent honor. evliving.com 15 Dec 04

• Texas World War II Hero Planning To Attend Fifth Inauguration A 94-year-old military hero who has seen four presidents sworn in. Jose Mendoza Lopez is the oldest living Latino Medal of Honor recipient. He plans to attend the second inauguration of President George W. Bush. Lopez eagerly anticipates another visit to the White House after receiving an invitation. The World War II veteran received the Congressional Medal of Honor after he gunned down more than 100 Germans on the second day of the monthlong Battle of the Bulge 60 years ago. He has also been knighted by the Belgian government. nbc5i.com 17 Jan 05

• Iraq hero joins hallowed group Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith who died outside Baghdad defending his outnumbered soldiers from an Iraqi attack, will receive America's highest award for bravery. President Bush will present the Medal of Honor to Smith's wife, Birgit, and their children Jessica, 18, and David, 10, at a ceremony at the White House, possibly in March. The official announcement will come soon, but the Pentagon called Mrs. Smith with the news. sptimes.com 2 Feb 05

• Medal of Honor recipient returns, reaches out to troops Maj. Alfred Rascon discusses the events that led to his Medal of Honor citation at an exhibit featuring his Medal of Honor flag, signed by more than 700 Soldiers, at the National Museum of American History. Rascon received the Medal of Honor in 2000 for an action during his service as a medic in the Vietnam War. army.mil 2 Feb 05

   

• Flags at half-staff; WWII Medal of Honor winner stayed humble, kept vets in heart Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Stephen R. Gregg, of Bayonne, died after a lengthy illness. He was 90. Gregg was inducted into the Army in 1942 and was assigned to Weapons Platoon, Company L, 143rd Infantry, 36th Infantry Division. His unit went to Oran, Algeria, in North Africa, for training, and then sailed to Italy for combat. Under fire while crossing the Rapido River near Casino, Italy, Gregg took shrapnel in the leg and back. After fighting its way through the San Rafaele and Vosges mountains in Italy, Tech. Sgt. Gregg's platoon was advancing on the enemy near Montelimar, France, on Aug. 27, 1944, when, according to his Medal of Honor citation, the unit's lead scout drew fire and Gregg "immediately put his machine guns into action to cover the advance of the riflemen," but the German soldiers counterattacked with grenades, wounding seven from Gregg's platoon. Gregg was also the recipient of the Silver Star, a Purple Heart, Oak Leaf Cluster and Combat Infantryman's Badge. nj.com 5 Feb 05

• Medal recipients remain humble Sixty years ago, Pfc. Jack Lucas dove onto live grenades to save two fellow Marines. Marine Cpl. Hershel "Woody" Williams carried a 70-pound flame-thrower seven times up and seven times down the side of Mount Suribachi, opening up a lane for the infantry through the Japanese entrenchments. For these two men, the Medals of Honor they received while in combat on Iwo Jima do not belong to them. Instead, they insist the decorations belong to the men who died trying to protect them and secure the island during the 36-day battle in the spring of 1945. Williams, along with 22 other Iwo Jima veterans, received the Medal of Honor in 1945. Today he is one of three who are still alive. Two of the men were in Fredericksburg for the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima. themonitor.com 23 Feb 05

• Medal of Honor recipient's grave to get new headstone The grave of a Gulfport soldier who was posthumously presented the Medal of Honor for his actions during a World War II battle will receive a new headstone. Army Pfc. James Diamond was 20 when he was killed on Mindanao, Philippines. His body was returned to Gulfport and buried at Evergreen Cemetery. A small cement slab marks his grave. L.C. "Doc" Blanchard, an Air Force veteran who served in World War II, said he never new Diamond but was disappointed when he saw the soldier's grave. "I found it sunken into the ground," Blanchard said. "It's a disgrace to have a hero ... with a disrespectful little marker." sunherald.com 24 Feb 05

• 1968 Tawas grad gives his Congressional Medal of Honor to the school Peter C. Lemon, a 1968 Tawas Area High School graduate who is a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, spoke to students at his alma mater on being persistent during an assembly. Lemon donated to the school copies of his book "Beyond the Medal" and the documentary he researched and co-produced "Beyond the Medal of Honor" on a five CD set. But Lemon stunned school officials and the student body when, at the end of his presentation, he donated his Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation's most prestigious war decoration to the high school. iosconews.com 12 Jan 05

• Valor beyond words Sylvester and Jane Sijan attended the unveiling of a memorial to their son, Capt. Lance Sijan, in 2003 in Milwaukee. Sijan's plane crashed in Laos in 1967, but he ejected and eluded capture for six weeks. The injured Sijan was tortured, escaped, then was captured again. He died while in captivity and was the first Air Force Academy graduate to earn the Medal of Honor. rockymountainnews.com 6 Nov 04

• Family, Faith and Freedom Hero visits RHQ AFNORTH "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" is how the citation begins. The citation was read moments before President Lyndon B. Johnson secured the light blue cloth that held America's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor, around then Captain Roger H.C. Donlon's neck. Hearing those words brought back agonizing memories of the fateful early morning of July 6, 1964. Capt. Donlon was the commanding officer for 11 men at the U.S. Army Special Forces Detachment A-726 on duty in the dark jungle Camp Nam Dong, Republic of Vietnam, on the Laotian border. afnorth.nato.int Oct 01

   

• Post office to honor war hero President Bush signed a bill renaming the downtown Hattiesburg post office after Korean War hero Maj. Henry A. Commiskey Sr. Commiskey was the first Marine awarded the Medal of Honor during the Korean War for his extraordinary heroism. Armed only with a pistol, Commiskey, a native of Hattiesburg, charged up the steep slope of Hill 85 near Yondungp'o, Korea, on Sept. 20, 1950, jumped into a machine gun nest and killed five enemy soldiers. He killed two more soldiers at the next emplacement. President Truman gave Commiskey the Medal of Honor in August 1951. Commiskey died in 1971. hattiesburgamerican.com 26 Jun 04

• Theft strikes blow to Yorktown Seven Medals of Honor are missing from the Yorktown's Medal of Honor museum at Patriots Point. One of the medals dates back to the Civil War, the first military conflict in which the Medal of Honor was awarded. The FBI is investigating because attempting to sell a Medal of Honor is a federal offense, Livingston said. Because of the sentimental value of the medals, there is a presumption of interstate transportation, according to Agent Steve Grimaldi of the FBI. So far, officials have no suspects. Police and the FBI are monitoring online auction sites such as eBay and notifying area antique dealers, Livingston said. Police are considering the possibility that the theft was an inside job. charleston.net 30 Jun 04

• Men Who Falsely Claim to have Received the Medal of Honor Neil Mishalov

• Widow: Medal of Honor no substitute Now, as the first anniversary of the start of the war approaches, Paul Smith's death may be remembered as more than just a number. He has been recommended by his battalion commander, Lt. Col. Scott Rutter, for the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest battlefield award. His death may become a symbol of American military resolve and commitment in Iraq, and of a family's sacrifices and heartache at home in a time of war. The paperwork required for such a prestigious award is slowly wending its way through the military bureaucracy as officials seek to determine whether his actions, in essence the sacrifice of his own life to save his fellow soldiers, merits the medal. Such decisions can take years. But division officials said the Pentagon was seriously considering the award recommendation. It was returned to Bravo Company recently for additional supporting statements from soldiers who were with Smith during the battle. ajc.com 13 Mar 04

• Man In Hot Water Over Fudging Military Record To Get Free Plates  Last December, Redmond police spotted a 37-year-old man making a turn without using his turn signals.Police now want that man charged with forgery for allegedly altering his war records to get a state license plate with the message "Congressional Medal of Honor" recipient. Ferdi Mai Deguzman did serve in the military, but police say he added the words "Congressional Medal of Honor Winner" when he sent documentation to the state to get a free-for-life Medal of Honor license plate. Redmond police initially contacted the FBI, but they said they did not have the resources to investigate. Redmond detectives spent almost three months putting the case together before recommending the filing of state forgery charges. They also confiscated the license plate. Only 18 of the special plates had been issued by Washington state. komotv 19 Mar 04

• Delegation makes bid for Barber's Medal of Honor Wartime secrecy and a disputed claim kept retired Air Force Col. Rex T. Barber from receiving the nation's highest military honor for shooting down the Japanese architect of the attack on Pearl Harbor; Oregon's congressional delegation wants to see it done posthumously. bend.com 28 Jan 04 War hero could get top honor The movement to award the Medal of Honor to deceased World War II fighter pilot Rex Barber received a boost Wednesday when it received the support of the entire Oregon congressional delegation. bendbulletin.com 30 Jan 04

• World War II hero re-enlists 419th reservist Retired Maj. George Wahlen, a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, congratulates Staff Sgt. Tamara Wass on her re-enlistment. During the invasion of Iwo Jima, Major Wahlen, then a Navy Pharmacist’s Mate attached to a Marine unit, was injured on three separate occasions while providing medical aid to his fallen comrades. On one occasion, after being seriously wounded, he crawled 50 yards under heavy enemy fire to care for a fallen service member. For his gallantry, Major Wahlen was selected for the Medal of Honor which is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force.  Hilltop Times 18 Dec 03

• USNS Pililaau reflects gallantry The Pililaaus of Wai‘anae visit the USNS Pililaau, the cargo ship named after Korean War hero Herbert Pililaau, who died at Heartbreak Ridge and was awarded the Medal of Honor. Honolulu Advertiser 11 Dec 03