Medal of Honor
Valor Friday
I previously talked about Second Lieutenant Robert Femoyer. He earned the Medal of Honor as a navigator aboard a B-17 during a bombing mission in World War II. Fatally wounded, he refused morphine so that he could, with clear head, guide his crew back to England. He remained at his post until they made it […]
Valor Friday
As today is Veteran’s Day, and tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of my entry to active duty, I thought I’d briefly highlight a subject we’ve talked about before. It’s one of my favorite stories of valor. The incredible story is soon coming to the big screen (23 November) and looks to be an excellent flick. […]
Valor Friday
John C “Red” Morgan was born in 1914. Hailing from Texas, he graduated from a military high school before bouncing around several colleges in Texas and New Mexico. In 1934 he dropped out of school, but not before learning his pilot’s license. Finding his way to the South Pacific, Red worked as a foreman on […]
Valor Friday
The US Army’s First Infantry Division, known as “The Big Red One” for their shoulder sleeve insignia’s design, was one of the first division-sized elements organized by the Army upon the US entry into World War I. They paraded through Paris on 4 July 1917 after arriving in France, to bolster the spirits of the […]
Valor Friday
This week’s article comes by request. I’d previously touched on the heroics of Joe Ronnie Hooper in my “Most Decorated” series. While Major General Patrick Brady got the tip as the most decorated man of the Vietnam War (and by extension the most decorated officer and Army soldier), Hooper can lay claim to being the […]
Valor Friday
My least favorite Valor Friday articles to write are those that coincide with the death of a hero. Such is today’s subject. Last week, Robert Simanek, a recipient of the Medal of Honor, passed away at the age of 92 on 1 August. David posted about it earlier this week, but I wanted to dig […]
Medal of Honor awardee Simanek passes on. Only 2 from Korea remain
Robert E. Simanek, 92, passed August 4 in West Bloomfield, MI. He was awarded the Medal of Honor after jumping on a Chinese hand grenade (after kicking away a second grenade thrown at the same time.) The Chinese attacked. During the ensuing firefight, two grenades landed in the shallow trench where Simanek and other Marines […]
Valor Friday
Of the more than 3,500 Medals of Honor that have been earned, there are some unique edge cases. I’ve previously talked about the handful of chaplains and dentists to have received the award. I’ve also talked about the lone Coast Guardsman to have gotten one. Today’s case is another of an “only.” Despite being in […]
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