My night with heroes (aka, how creepy TSO really is)

(My photographer was Speedbump6Romeo, and you can see how well that turned out)

When I went to the 2000 inaugural ball, I found myself at the event drinking with Walter Ehlers, Medal of Honor recipient from the 1st ID in the week following D-Day. We were throwing down adult beverages at quite the prolific rate when he turned and asked me “Son, you ain’t *funny* are you?” “Funny sir? No, I’m not funny.” “Then why in the hell are you sitting with an old man when there are so many hot young women around.” It seemed a good point. Hell, even now it seems a good point.

So yesterday, I went with the one intent of meeting Mr Lemon, discussed in this earlier post. I saw him in the lobby, and as stated before, the man wasn’t hard to recognize, what with being 6′-1″ and bald. So, I went up, introduced myself, explained our blog and my post from the other day. Talked about his Canadian heritage, etc. And he said, “Do you always just jump strangers in the hotel lobby and recite their autobiography?”

That’s when it hit me that I really am a creep. It also occurred to me that I can talk to 6-1 Medal of Honor recipients with no problem, but a 5-3 redhead, and ordering delivery food on my cell both scare the bejesus out of me

Anyway, Mr Lemon was as gracious as he is courageous. He was somewhat miffed that I posted something about him and didn’t even bother to email him. (Side Note: Last week SSG Bellavia, Medal of Honor nominee, confirmed me as a friend on Facebook. I immediately sent him an “army good morning” questioning his sexuality, proclivities toward small animals etc. After a very long, very awkward silence, his publicist informed me that she was updating David’s page, and had not been fornicating with wombats as I suggested.)

Anyway, it was an honor meeting Mr. Lemon, and him letting me have my picture taken with him. I ordered his book today, and when I get it will submit a book review, perhaps comparing his book with the memoirs of phony vets who brag constantly about things they didn’t do. By comparison, Mr Lemon seemed a bit surprised I knew who the hell he was.

For those playing at home, I will have a subsequent post about how Obama failed to show for the Ball, the first President since Eisenhower to not come to the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball. But, for the remainder of this one I did want to throw out a few other MoH citations. All night I introduced myself and thanked the MoH guys. Virtually none of them volunteered their names, and asking “How are you” seemed like a crap thing to do when the man is wearing the hallowed ribbon around his neck. However, I did get to talk to 6 of them, and I got 5 of their names. (The 6th was a Cav Scout with the 17th or 19th Cav in Viet Nam if someone wants to do my research.) Anyway, below are the citations for the other 5 heroes I got to talk.

(Also incidentally, I rode the metro home with some band from Ireland, named the Corrigan Brothers. This is fortuitous in that my musical tastes are exclusively Irish music, and possibly Newfoundland guys trying to sound Irish. Anyway, they sing a remarkably funny song about no one being as Irish as Obama. So go check out their stuff. Wrong political bent, but they were fun guys to stand in the cold for a ½ hour with waiting on a cab.)

JENKINS, DON J.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 2d Battalion, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Kien Phong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 6 January 1969.
Entered service at: Nashville, Tenn.
Born: 18 April 1948, Quality, Ky.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Jenkins (then Pfc.), Company A, distinguished himself while serving as a machine gunner on a reconnaissance mission. When his company came under heavy crossfire from an enemy complex, S/Sgt. Jenkins unhesitatingly maneuvered forward to a perilously exposed position and began placing suppressive fire on the enemy. When his own machine gun jammed, he immediately obtained a rifle and continued to fire into the enemy bunkers until his machine gun was made operative by his assistant. He exposed himself to extremely heavy fire when he repeatedly both ran and crawled across open terrain to obtain resupplies of ammunition until he had exhausted all that was available for his machine gun. Displaying tremendous presence of mind, he then armed himself with 2 antitank weapons and, by himself, maneuvered through the hostile fusillade to within 20 meters of an enemy bunker to destroy that position. After moving back to the friendly defensive perimeter long enough to secure yet another weapon, a grenade launcher, S/Sgt. Jenkins moved forward to a position providing no protection and resumed placing accurate fire on the enemy until his ammunition was again exhausted. During this time he was seriously wounded by shrapnel. Undaunted and displaying great courage, he moved forward 100 meters to aid a friendly element that was pinned down only a few meters from the enemy. This he did with complete disregard for his own wound and despite having been advised that several previous rescue attempts had failed at the cost of the life of 1 and the wounding of others. Ignoring the continuing intense fire and his painful wounds, and hindered by darkness, he made 3 trips to the beleaguered unit, each time pulling a wounded comrade back to safety. S/Sgt. Jenkins’ extraordinary valor, dedication, and indomitable spirit inspired his fellow soldiers to repulse the determined enemy attack and ultimately to defeat the larger force. S/Sgt. Jenkins risk of his life reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

MARM, WALTER JOSEPH, JR.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant (then 2d Lt.), U.S. Army, Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).
Place and date: Vicinity of la Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam, 14 November 1965.
Entered service at: Pittsburgh, PA.
Born: 20 November 1941, Washington, pa. G.O. No.: 7, 15 February 1967.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. As a platoon leader in the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), 1st Lt. Marm demonstrated indomitable courage during a combat operation. His company was moving through the valley to relieve a friendly unit surrounded by an enemy force of estimated regimental size. 1st Lt. Marm led his platoon through withering fire until they were finally forced to take cover. Realizing that his platoon could not hold very long, and seeing four enemy soldiers moving into his position, he moved quickly under heavy fire and annihilated all 4. Then, seeing that his platoon was receiving intense fire from a concealed machine gun, he deliberately exposed himself to draw its fire. Thus locating its position, he attempted to destroy it with an antitank weapon. Although he inflicted casualties, the weapon did not silence the enemy fire. Quickly, disregarding the intense fire directed on him and his platoon, he charged 30 meters across open ground, and hurled grenades into the enemy position, killing some of the 8 insurgents manning it. Although severely wounded, when his grenades were expended, armed with only a rifle, he continued the momentum of his assault on the position and killed the remainder of the enemy. 1st Lt. Marm’s selfless actions reduced the fire on his platoon, broke the enemy assault, and rallied his unit to continue toward the accomplishment of this mission. 1st Lt. Marm’s gallantry on the battlefield and his extraordinary intrepidity at the risk of his life are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

O’MALLEY, ROBERT E.
Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Cpl.), U .S. Marine Corps, Company 1, 3d Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division (Rein).
Place and date: Near An Cu’ong 2, South Vietnam, 18 August 1965.
Entered service at: New York, N.Y.
Born: 3 June 1943, New York, N.Y.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the communist (Viet Cong) forces at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While leading his squad in the assault against a strongly entrenched enemy force, his unit came under intense small-arms fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Sgt. O’Malley raced across an open rice paddy to a trench line where the enemy forces were located. Jumping into the trench, he attacked the Viet Cong with his rifle and grenades, and singly killed 8 of the enemy. He then led his squad to the assistance of an adjacent marine unit which was suffering heavy casualties. Continuing to press forward, he reloaded his weapon and fired with telling effect into the enemy emplacement. He personally assisted in the evacuation of several wounded marines, and again regrouping the remnants of his squad, he returned to the point of the heaviest fighting. Ordered to an evacuation point by an officer, Sgt. O’Malley gathered his besieged and badly wounded squad, and boldly led them under fire to a helicopter for withdrawal. Although 3 times wounded in this encounter, and facing imminent death from a fanatic and determined enemy, he steadfastly refused evacuation and continued to cover his squad’s boarding of the helicopters while, from an exposed position, he delivered fire against the enemy until his wounded men were evacuated. Only then, with his last mission accomplished, did he permit himself to be removed from the battlefield. By his valor, leadership, and courageous efforts in behalf of his comrades, he served as an inspiration to all who observed him, and reflected the highest credit upon the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.

ROBERTS, GORDON R.
Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Sp4c.), U.S. Army, Company B, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division.
Place and date: Thua Thien Province, Republic of Vietnam, 11 July 1969. [Ed Note: Hamburger Hill]
Entered service at: Cincinnati, Ohio.
Born: 14 June 1950, Middletown, Ohio.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Roberts distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman in Company B, during combat operations. Sgt. Roberts’ platoon was maneuvering along a ridge to attack heavily fortified enemy bunker positions which had pinned down an adjoining friendly company. As the platoon approached the enemy positions, it was suddenly pinned down by heavy automatic weapons and grenade fire from camouflaged enemy fortifications atop the overlooking hill. Seeing his platoon immobilized and in danger of failing in its mission, Sgt. Roberts crawled rapidly toward the closest enemy bunker. With complete disregard for his safety, he leaped to his feet and charged the bunker, firing as he ran. Despite the intense enemy fire directed at him, Sgt. Roberts silenced the 2-man bunker. Without hesitation, Sgt. Roberts continued his l-man assault on a second bunker. As he neared the second bunker, a burst of enemy fire knocked his rifle from his hands. Sgt. Roberts picked up a rifle dropped by a comrade and continued his assault, silencing the bunker. He continued his charge against a third bunker and destroyed it with well-thrown hand grenades. Although Sgt. Roberts was now cut off from his platoon, he continued his assault against a fourth enemy emplacement. He fought through a heavy hail of fire to join elements of the adjoining company which had been pinned down by the enemy fire. Although continually exposed to hostile fire, he assisted in moving wounded personnel from exposed positions on the hilltop to an evacuation area before returning to his unit. By his gallant and selfless actions, Sgt. Roberts contributed directly to saving the lives of his comrades and served as an inspiration to his fellow soldiers in the defeat of the enemy force. Sgt. Roberts’ extraordinary heroism in action at the risk of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

ROSSER, RONALD E.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Heavy Mortar Company, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division.
Place and date: Vicinity of Ponggilli, Korea, 12 January 1952.
Entered service at: Crooksville, Ohio.
Born: 24 October 1929, Columbus, Ohio. G.O. No.: 67, 7 July 1952.
Citation: Cpl. Rosser, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. While assaulting heavily fortified enemy hill positions, Company L, 38th Infantry Regiment, was stopped by fierce automatic-weapons, small-arms, artillery, and mortar fire. Cpl. Rosser, a forward observer was with the lead platoon of Company L, when it came under fire from 2 directions. Cpl. Rosser turned his radio over to his assistant and, disregarding the enemy fire, charged the enemy positions armed with only carbine and a grenade. At the first bunker, he silenced its occupants with a burst from his weapon. Gaining the top of the hill, he killed 2 enemy soldiers, and then went down the trench, killing 5 more as he advanced. He then hurled his grenade into a bunker and shot 2 other soldiers as they emerged. Having exhausted his ammunition, he returned through the enemy fire to obtain more ammunition and grenades and charged the hill once more. Calling on others to follow him, he assaulted 2 more enemy bunkers. Although those who attempted to join him became casualties, Cpl. Rosser once again exhausted his ammunition obtained a new supply, and returning to the hilltop a third time hurled grenades into the enemy positions. During this heroic action Cpl. Rosser single-handedly killed at least 13 of the enemy. After exhausting his ammunition he accompanied the withdrawing platoon, and though himself wounded, made several trips across open terrain still under enemy fire to help remove other men injured more seriously than himself. This outstanding soldier’s courageous and selfless devotion to duty is worthy of emulation by all men. He has contributed magnificently to the high traditions of the military service.

Category: Historical, Support the troops