Medal of Honor Podcast

Today we want to introduce you to a new podcast from Evergreen Podcasts called History Shorts.

Award-winning historian, author, and history professor Peter Zablocki shares his research into the little-known and hidden-in-plain-sight historical curiosities you probably never heard of. All in the little time you probably do not have. Our guest today is Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Jack H. Jacobs. His selfless acts under fire in Vietnam saved the lives of fellow soldiers and earned him the nation’s highest military honors. The story of Mr. Jacobs’ life before and after the defining event is one of resilience, leadership, and unwavering principles.

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On January 31st, 1968, Specialist 5 Dwight W. Birdwell and his troop were ordered to respond to an NVA attack on Tan Son Nhut Air Base. When the arrived on scene, they were ambushed by over 1,000 soldiers from either side of the road. Birdwell’s troop immediately took heavy casualties, including Birdwell’s tank commander. Under heavy fire, Birdwell got him out of the tank, onto the ground, and to a safe position before commandeering the tank. Standing in the hatch half exposed, Birdwell used the tank, a .50 caliber machine gun, a m60 machine gun, and his m16 rifle to fend off the attackers. Eventually something exploded in front of him, destroying his machine gun and sending shrapnel into his face, chest, arms, and hands. He then gathered a few other soldiers and took cover in the ditch beside the road. He was ordered to evacuate via a helicopter due to his wounds, but he snuck off the other side of the aircraft in order to stay and keep fighting. He then helped treat other wounded soldiers and continued engaging the enemy until reinforcements arrived. Only then did he finally agree to be evac’ed. Birdwell’s bravery and leadership was crucial to the defense of Tan Son Nhut, and directly led to an American victory. This NVA attack was one of several that marked the beginning of the Tet Offensive, which became one of the bloodiest periods in the Vietnam War. 

Birwell’s commanding officer originally recommended him for the Medal of Honor, but that recommendation was sabotaged. In an act of racism, the events of January 31st were intentionally recorded incorrectly in order to prevent Birdwell from receiving the medal. Major chunks of Birdwell’s heroism were missing, and as a result, it was not originally upgraded.

Finally on July 5th, 2022, Dwight Birdwell was awarded the Medal of Honor for his leadership and tenacity under fire over 50 years prior. His other awards include two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and two Silver Stars.

You can read Birdwell's Medal of Honor Citation on the National Medal of Honor Museum website.

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Airman First Class Jone Lee Levitow served in Vietnam as a loadmaster. On February 24th, 1969, Levitow’s AC-47, a fixed wing gunship, was hit by an enemy mortar round. The explosion tore a hole in the plane, slashed the fuselage, temporarily blinded the pilots, and threw everyone in the cargo hold to the ground, causing numerous injuries. It also knocked a 3 foot long, 27 pound explosive metal flare out of a crew member's hands, with the safety pin still around his finger. Armed and ready to explode, the smoking canister threatened to ignite all 19,000 pounds of ammunition in their aircraft. Despite being weak from the loss of blood, his right leg being partially numb, and the aircraft shaking in a 30 degree tilt,  Levitow attempted to grab the flare as it rolled around the floor. Eventually he threw his body on it, and managed to toss it out of the aircraft right before it ignited.

The pilots of the AC-47 were able to get the aircraft under control, and were met with an ambulance when they arrived back at base. All eight crew members survived.

On May 14th, 1970, Airman First Class John Lee Levitow was awarded the Medal of Honor for his incredible feat under dire circumstances. His heroism is probably best summarized by Major Ken Carpenter, who flew the AC-47 that day: “In my experience, I have never seen such a courageous act performed under such adverse circumstances. The entire eight-man crew owes their lives to John, and his quick reactions surely saved the aircraft. It was not possible to bail out as we had two seriously injured men aboard, one of them John Levitow. How the plane ever flew back to the base, I'll never know. How a plane with over 3,500 holes in the wings and fuselage stayed airborne defies description.”

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Sergeant Major Thomas P. Payne served in Iraq as an Army Ranger. On October 22nd, 2015, Payne’s special operations unit was paired with Kurdish allies in order to complete a hostage rescue mission from an ISIS compound. Payne continuously wethered enemy fire, brownout conditions, and smoke from a burning building on the brink of collapse in order to help rescue 75 Iraqi hostages. 

Sergeant Major Thomas P. Payne was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism and selfless service on that day.

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Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith was among the first group of Americans to invade Iraq in 2003, serving as a combat engineer. 

On April 4th, 2003, American forces were attempting to seize Saddam Hussein International Airport. SFC Smith was leading two platoons of about three dozen men with the goal of setting up a holding area for prisoners of war, but they were attacked by over 100 members of the Iraqi Republican Guard. Smith quickly organized their defense, but the overwhelming enemy force began to swarm the area. Then, an RPG explosion sent shrapnel into three of Smith’s men. Smith organized their evac, but they were still vulnerable during their retreat. Seeing that a nearby carrier was unmanned, Smith exposed himself to enemy fire in order to man the .50 caliber machine gun on top of the vehicle. He engaged, covering his allies and killing as many as 50 enemies before being hit in the head by an enemy round. He was pulled to safety, but died a few minutes later in a hospital. 

Smith’s leadership and quick thinking saved the lives of over 100 allied soldiers who were in vulnerable positions just a few hundred meters back. Thanks in part to Smith’s heroism, American forces eventually repelled the Iraqi attack and were able to successfully take control of the airport. 

On April 4th, 2005, Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his role in protecting his men and fending off the Iraqi attack.

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Staff Sergeant Herbert H. Burr served in World War II as a tank gunner. His tank was approaching a town in Germany when they were hit by a bazooka, killing two crewmembers and seriously injuring the platoon sergeant. The surviving crew was forced to evacuate the vehicle, but Burr, delayed by his exit hatch that couldn’t open, feared being targeted upon leaving the vehicle. So, without any other crew, he commandeered the tank and drove it deeper into the town. He made a left turn where he was faced with an anti-tank gun that should have killed him, but Burr did something that was completely unexpected: he advanced. The enemy was thrown off by this decision, giving Burr just enough time to run over the gun with his tank, forcing the enemy to flee. Burr continued on, side swiping a German truck and knocking it over before heading back to his company. Upon his return, he exited the tank and braved sniper fire to reach medics and direct them towards his injured comrades.

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Captain Steven Logan Bennett was flying an OV-10 Bronco near Quang Tri, Vietnam in 1972 when he received an urgent call for help. A friendly South Vietnamese ground unit had overextended, and were about to be engaged by nearly 300 enemies. Bennett called for air support, but none was available. He then called for artillery, but it turned out that it would risk hitting enemy troops. Seeing no other way to help, Bennett engaged the ground forces himself, disregarding the fact that his OV-10 was particularly susceptible to surface to air missiles. He strafed four times and avoided at least two missiles before one finally hit, destroying his left engine. He was kept airborne by his right engine, but a fire on his wing threatened to ignite the fuel storage, so he needed to act fast. His backseater couldn’t eject because his parachute had been destroyed by the missile, so the only option was to attempt a water landing. He knew that the OV-10 was not suited for this, and in fact no pilot had ever survived an OV-10 ditching, but he ignored the risks. His aircraft hit the water and was flung into a wing-over-wing tumble before settling nose first underwater. Bennett did not survive the crash, but his backseater did.

On August 8th, 1974, Captain Steven Logan Bennett was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism and unparalleled concern for his companion. He’s credited with saving the lives of many South Vietnamese ground soldiers and his backseater.

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Today, in honor of Vietnam War Veteran’s Day, we are re-airing our episode featuring SFC Webster Anderson.

Sergeant First Class Webster Anderson served in the Army in Vietnam. He lost two legs and an arm defending his position near Tam Ky, but his resilience and bravery encouraged his men, led to victory, and earned him the Medal of Honor.

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Dr. Mary E. Walker spent her whole life defying gender roles. She saved up money to go to college to become a Doctor, refused to wear women’s clothing her whole life, and served as an “Assistant Surgeon” (but still technically a civilian) during the war. She was captured and held as a prisoner of war for four months, and at the end of the war, she was awarded the Medal of Honor for her devotion to the detriment of her own health. Her medal was later rescinded in 1917, along with 911 other recipients, after the military decided to create eligibility requirements for the Medal of Honor. 50 years later, thanks to the help of her descendants, Dr. Walker’s Medal of Honor was posthumously restored by President Carter. 

Dr. Walker was a vocal supporter of women’s suffrage, equal pay, and healthcare, and testified to Congress in support of women’s suffrage in 1912 and 1914. She received harassment her whole life for how she dressed, and in her later years, she opened her home to others who were ostracized by society.

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Staff Sergeant Robert J. Miller served in Afghanistan as a Weapons Sergeant. In January of 2008, Miller was part of a Special Forces combat reconnaissance unit tasked with confirming enemy activity in the Gowardesh Valley. The unit had a successful initial engagement, in which Miller relayed information that became crucial to a lethal allied air strike. Afterwards, Miller was ordered to be the point man for a patrol tasked with doing a post battle assessment. The patrol separated from the unit, traveling to the opposite side of the valley and into a natural checkpoint as they navigated up a steep hill. There they were ambushed by 140 enemies. Holding elevated fighting positions on three sides of the patrol, the insurgents fired from less than 25 meters away. The patrol immediately retreated, but Miller charged forward, engaging the enemy and drawing a majority of the fire away from his vulnerable allies. He did this for over 25 minutes, killing 16 enemies and wounding 30, before succumbing to two gunshot wounds. He’s credited with saving the lives of 23 allies. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and sacrifice that day.

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Anthony T. Kaho’ohanohano was a native Hawaiian who served in the Army in the Korean War before Hawaii was even a state. When an overwhelming enemy force attacked their defensive position, Kaho’ohanohano ordered his men to fall back, but he stayed behind. Kaho’ohanohano laid down deadly coverfire to protect his men as they retreated, firing a machine gun and throwing grenades. He was hit in the shoulder, but held his position until he had completely exhausted all of his ammo and grenades. Armed only with a shovel, Kaho’ohanohano was overwhelmed by enemy forces, but killed two in hand-to-hand combat.

Seeing Kaho’ohanohano’s fierce dedication and bravery, his squad was inspired. They rallied and launched a successful counter attack, pushing out the enemy. When the dust cleared, they found that Kaho’ohanohano’s machine gun had bent because it had fired so many bullets.

Kaho’ohanohano was initially awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his sacrifice, but decades later, it was upgraded to the Medal of Honor. On May 2nd, 2011, Anthony T. Kaho’ohanohano was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, and it was received by his nephew. He’s buried at the Maui Veterans cemetery in Maui, and a National Guard Armory in Maui was named after him.

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Sergeant John Phillip Baca served in the Army in a recoilless rifle team. His company was near Quan Loi, Vietnam and settled in for the night when an explosion went off in the distance. They recognized it as one of the tripwires they had set to alert them of enemies in their position. Baca and his platoon responded to the disturbance, and quickly came under heavy fire. Baca was preparing to fire when a friendly wounded soldier ran past, bumping Baca’s weapon off his shoulder. This caused Baca to see a grenade near his best friend and fellow soldier, Art. Baca shouted, alerting his platoon of the danger, and instinctively pushed Art out of the way. He then placed the top of his steel helmet on his stomach and jumped on the grenade. Baca and his helmet absorbed almost all of the concussion and shrapnel, and he lived to make a full recovery.

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Colonel Walter Joseph Marm Jr. served in the Army during Vietnam. On the 14th of November, 1965, Marm and his company were tasked with rescuing a platoon that had been surrounded by the NVA. After their first push was unsuccessful, Marm led his platoon through heavy machine gun and light arms fire. Marm killed four enemies that approached their position before exposing himself to enemy fire in order to locate their hidden machine gun. He then charged the machine gun bunker alone, running through 30 yards of open terrain, again exposed to enemy fire. He then tossed a grenade into the bunker, killing several of the 8 enemies that manned it, and killed the rest with his rifle. As he motioned for his men to join up with him, he was shot. The bullet entered his left jaw and exited through his right cheek. Despite the wound, Marm walked back to his company by himself, where he was evac’d to a hospital.

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1st Lieutenant Frank Luke Jr. served in the Army in World War I as a pilot. He quickly gained a reputation as being arrogant and overconfident, but he had the skills to back it up. He scored 18 aerial victories in under three weeks, mostly on unsanctioned missions. His friendship to his group commander allowed him to fly as he pleased, consequence free. 

On September 29th, 1918, after almost being grounded by his squad commander, Luke left on another solo flight, destroying three German observation balloons. What happened after became subject exaggeration and speculation for decades to come. Originally, it was thought that Luke fought 10 German planes, destroying two of them before being shot down himself, and then died in a gunfight on the ground with German soldiers. For this he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Decades later in 2008, thanks to archeological digs, interviews with descendants of witnesses, reviewing unpublished material, and analyzing evidence, the truth was finally revealed. After destroying three German observation balloons, Luke had circled back to head home, but was down by a German machine gun. He crash landed and attempted to escape on foot, but succumbed to his injuries. 

Luke was reburied at the Meuse-Argonne Cemetery. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Italian War Cross, in addition to being the first airman ever awarded the Medal of Honor. He’s been commemorated with a statue that stands at the Arizona State Capitol, and by Luke Air Force Base, which was named after him. To this day, Luke’s Medal of Honor citation has never been updated to reflect the full picture.

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After an enemy Japanese plane crashed into the water besides the USS William D. Porter, it exploded causing the destroyer to partially leave the water and crash down again. Thanks to Lieutenant Richard Miles McCool Jr., the commander of a smaller Landing Craft Support ship (LCS-122), all 300 crew members were evacuated to safety.

The next day, on June 11th, 1945, the LCS-122 was subject to its own Kamikaze attack that made a direct hit to its bow. The impact caused an explosion and a serious fire that threatened to ignite the ship’s ammunition cache, igniting 120 rockets all at once. Despite his right side being covered in burns and shrapnel, Lt. McCool helped two wounded sailors escape the flaming deckhouse, and directed his crew in order to keep the fire from spreading. His lung then collapsed, but he was able to receive aid and be evacuated to another LCS.

Lt. McCool was awarded the Medal of Honor role in saving both the crew of the USS William D. Porter on June 10th, and his own crew on June 11th, 1945.

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Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers served in the Army during World War II. He was a member of the 761st tank battalion, a primarily all black battalion nicknamed the Black Panthers. The panthers were considered an experiment by the U.S. military. At the time, the military was segregated, and they didn’t think black soldiers had the intellect or ability to operate tanks. The 761st had to train for two years before being deployed, as opposed to the usual few months. 

Rivers and the rest of the Black Panthers arrived in Normandy in 1944. During 183 days of continuous combat, the Panthers traveled through six countries and liberated 30 towns on their march to Germany, becoming the first african american tank battalion to see combat. 

One day near Geubling, France, River’s tank hit a mine, causing shrapnel to shred Rivers’ leg to the bone. He repeatedly refused morphine and evacuation, not wanting to leave his battalion. A few days later, the panthers encountered a German anti-tank unit, and their commanding officer ordered a retreat. Seeing the location of the enemy, Rivers radioed and said “I see ‘em, We’ll fight ‘em!”. He and another tank engaged the enemy, providing cover fire for the rest of the panthers as they withdrew. Suddenly River’s tank was hit by two high powered artillery shells, killing him and wounding the rest of the crew. 

Rivers’ Medal of Honor recommendation was initially denied, but it was a long shot considering that at that point, no African American had received the award for their actions in either of the world wars. 

Over 50 years later, Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his fighting spirit and daring leadership.

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The Lost Battalion was the name given to 554 American soldiers who were encircled by German forces during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of World War I. These men defended their vulnerable position for nine days with very little food, water and supplies. This episode tells the story of four soldiers who were awarded the Medal of Honor during those nine days: Major Charles Whittlesey, Captain George McMurtry, 1st Lieutenant Harold Goettler, and 2nd Lieutenant Erwin Bleckley.

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The Lost Battalion was the name given to 554 American soldiers who were encircled by German forces during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of World War I. These men defended their vulnerable position for nine days with very little food, water and supplies. This episode tells the story of four soldiers who were awarded the Medal of Honor during those nine days: Major Charles Whittlesey, Captain George McMurtry, 1st Lieutenant Harold Goettler, and 2nd Lieutenant Erwin Bleckley.

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Colonel William A. Shomo served as a pilot in the pacific theater during World War II. While on a reconnaissance mission, Shomo and his wingman encountered a Japanese bomber convoy and attacked despite being outnumbered 13 to 2. Together they destroyed 10 enemy aircraft, and the remaining three were forced to flee. Shomo earned the Medal of Honor for destroying 7 of those enemies.

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On a raid in a Taliban compound, Master Sergeant Petry was wounded in both legs when an enemy grenade landed by his wounded comrade. Without thinking twice, Petry saved his friend by throwing the grenade back and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his self-sacrifice. 

You can read Petry's Medal of Honor Citation on the National Medal of Honor Museum website.

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The Medal of Honor podcast team would like to take a moment to thank our listeners for all your support this year. Your kind words and support are greatly appreciated. We’re taking the next two weeks off to enjoy the holidays with our families, but next week we’ll be re-airing an episode that we’re really proud of. 

Happy Holidays, and see you next year.

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MSG Plumlee’s Medal of Honor story is straight out of a movie. When enemies with suicide vests attacked his base in Afghanistan, Plumlee was out gunned and outmanned. He fought multiple insurgents with little ammo, and miraculously emerged from the fight with relatively minor injuries despite being under heavy fire.

You can read Plumlee's Medal of Honor Citation on the National Medal of Honor Museum website.

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Specialist 5th Class Clarence Eugene Sasser served in Vietnam as an Army Medic. Through numerous wounds and excruciating pain, he continuously administered aid to fellow soldiers for 20 hours as his company was attacked in Vietnam.

To hear more of Sasser's story listen to his episode on our other show; Warrior In Their Own Words.

You can read Sasser's Medal of Honor Citation on the National Medal of Honor Museum website.

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Leading up to World War II, Signalman First Class Douglas Albert Munro and Chief Signalman (later Commander) Raymond J. Evans enlisted to the Coast guard on the same day. They quickly became inseparable, only served one short assignment apart.

You can read Munro's Medal of Honor Citation on the National Medal of Honor Museum website.

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Lieutenant Commander Thomas Gunning Kelly served in Vietnam as a river assault division commander. Even after a rocket rendered him temporarily blind and unable to walk, he successfully directed his division’s defense of a vulnerable boat until the threat was gone.

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Corporal William Kyle Carpenter covered an enemy grenade in Afghanistan to protect his fellow Marine. He was severely injured, and had to be resuscitated multiple times, but he survived. It took him three years to recover, and he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his courage.

You can read Carpenter's Medal of Honor Citation on the National Medal of Honor Museum website.

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Son of former President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was the oldest soldier and the highest ranking official to fight in the Invasion of Normandy. His seasoned and unfaltering leadership during D-Day inspired and reassured assaulting troops, leading to a successful establishment of the beachhead in France.

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Before becoming President, Theodore Roosevelt fought in the Spanish-American war and served in a volunteer cavalry unit called the Rough Riders. Roosevelt became a national hero for leading a dangerous charge with the Rough Riders to take San Juan Hill. Despite being recommended for the award multiple times, Roosevelt was refused the Medal of Honor until 2001, one hundred and three years after the battle. Roosevelt and his son became the second father and son in history to each receive a Medal of Honor, and Roosevelt became the only person in history to receive both the Medal of Honor and the Nobel Peace Prize.

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Sergeant First Class Webster Anderson served in the Army in Vietnam. He lost two legs and an arm defending his position near Tam Ky, but his resilience and bravery encouraged his men, led to victory, and earned him the Medal of Honor.

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Privates First Class Charles D. Barger and Jesse N. Funk both served in World War I as Stretcher Bearers in the U.S. Army. After hearing that two wounded officers were pinned down under heavy fire in No Man’s Land, Barger and Funk leaped into action and raced through heavy fire to save them both.

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Major Horace Seaver Carswell Jr. was tasked with piloting a surprise single-plane bombing mission against a convoy of 14+ Japanese ships. Carswell hit his targets, but his B-24 suffered severe damage in the process. Down one parachute, he ordered his men to bail out and leave him behind. He attempted to crash land, but wasn’t able to gain enough altitude and crashed into a mountainside. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his exemplary Sacrifice.

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Corporal James Allen served in the Union Army, and fought in many famous battles including Bull Run, Gettysburg, and Chancellorsville without ever seeing the inside of the hospital. During the Battle of Crampton’s Gap, Allen was separated from the rest of his division, and faced a squad of Confederates. He charged, prompting them to retreat. Allen then realized that they must think he has a squad behind them, because they’d never retreat with only one man in pursuit. Leaning into this, he hopped over a wall, landed amongst the 14 enemies, and convinced them to surrender. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for this impressive trick.

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Sergeant David Bruce Bleak served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and was assigned to the Army Medical Service. As he and a patrol of 20 men attempted to capture Hill 499, Sergeant Bleak continuously administered aid while killing four enemies with his bare hands and one with a trench knife, protecting a fellow soldier from a grenade blast, and carrying another down the hill down to safety.

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Sergeant Jose M. Lopez was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the Battle of the Bulge. Carrying and operating a heavy machine gun that was meant to be manned by at least three men, Lopez moved from position to position, defending his company from the German attack. He killed over 100 enemies and is credited with being nearly solely responsible for saving his company.

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Master Sergeant Raul Perez “Roy” Benavidez spent his adolescence working a series of odd jobs in Cuero, TX before enlisting in the National Guard in 1952. He would later join the Army and earn his Green beret before being deployed to Vietnam. It was here that he earned the Medal of Honor for risking his own life to rescue wounded soldiers and recover the body of a fallen soldier and the classified information he was carrying.

You can find Benavidez’s autobiographical books about his experiences here:

Medal of Honor

The Three Wars of Roy Benavidez

Medal of Honor: One Man’s Journey From Poverty and Prejudice

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Cold, underequipped, and out positioned, Private Martinez led the way up tundra mountains through Japanese defenses on the Alaskan island of Attu. As he readied to destroy the final bunker, Martinez was killed, but turned the battle around for his fellow soldiers.

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The last man to leave his sinking ship, Rear Admiral Antrim and his sailors could only run for so long before being captured and imprisoned as POW. Faced with cruelty and brutality from guards everyday, Antrim stood up for his fellow POWs and was awarded the Medal of Honor for saving another’s life in the prison camp.

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On a raid in a Taliban compound, Master Sergeant Petry was wounded in both legs when an enemy grenade landed by his wounded comrade. Without thinking twice, Petry saved his friend by throwing the grenade back and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his self-sacrifice.

You can read Petry's Medal of Honor Citation on the National Medal of Honor Museum website.

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Flying over a thousand miles to his target, 2ndLt Hughes’s B-24 Liberator took heavy fire from enemy flak, yet continued with the mission of bombing burning enemy oil fields.

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After enlisting for a second time, Corporal Joseph Vittori was sent to the Republic of Korea at the beginning of the Korean War. Alone in a position of his company’s defense, Vittori held off hundreds of enemy fighters to the death, and was awarded the Medal of Honor.

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When Corporal Roberts’ tank sank into 10 feet of water, his first instinct was to save his gunner, knowing only one of them could escape. Because of his self sacrifice, Roberts was awarded the Medal of Honor.

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LTJG Koelsch was one of two Navy pilots to receive the Medal of Honor during the Korean War. Flying his helicopter deep into enemy territory, he attempted to rescue a downed Marine pilot and resisted capture after being shot down.

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When PFC Austin’s observation post was spotted and overrun, his only instinct was to save his fellow Marines. Austin sacrificed his life to save another Marine from a deadly grenade, and then took a bullet for him. Because of his sacrifice, Austin was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

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2ndLt Sudut received a battlefield commission during the Korean War and twice cleared a bunker alone that was stopping his platoon’s attack on a hill. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

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Chief Boatswain’s Mate James Williams served as a patrol boat commander in the Vietnam War, intercepting enemy boats on the Mekong River. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for fighting through an ambush against over 50 armed enemy boats.

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An escaped slave, Color Sergeant Smith fought in the American Civil War’s Western Theater and Sherman’s March. When his regiment’s color sergeant was killed in battle, Smith grabbed the colors and inspired his men despite the fierce enemy fire. Nearly 140 years after the battle, Smith was awarded the Medal of Honor.

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Ken and the Medal of Honor podcast team would like to thank you all for your support as listeners. Stay tuned tomorrow for a rerelease of a special episode.

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On a classified assignment, CMSgt Etchberger’s radar site came under heavy attack from NVA forces. Etchberger was awarded the Medal of Honor for saving his fellow airmen at the cost of his own life.

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Specialist 4 Larry Dahl originally joined the Army as a truck driver, but when the enemy started ambushing convoys, he became a gunner too, serving on a truck named “Brutus.” Dahl was awarded the Medal of Honor for jumping on a grenade and saving the lives of his truck’s crew during an ambush.

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At the end of a months-long battle to capture Okinawa, Cpl Bush and his Marines charged a mountain stronghold when an enemy grenade landed among them. Without hesitation, Bush jumped on it, saving their lives.

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When his unit’s entire leadership was wiped out during the Argonne offensive, Capt Chiles took command of his battalion, advancing through a creek against heavy fire. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for commanding his unit despite a mortal wound from a sniper, refusing to leave until the unit was in good hands.

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PFC Obregon was a fireman-turned-ammo carrier who saved a wounded Marine in the battle for Seoul. With an enemy platoon approaching, he shielded his fellow Marine’s body from fire at the cost of his own life.

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First Sergeant Kaufman couldn’t say no to a fight. After being shot in the arm, rendering it useless, and being separated from his men, Kaufman captured an enemy machine gun position despite only having one working arm.

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A member of the all-Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Technical Sgt. Tanouye led his men through enemy machine gun and small arms fire to seize the vital Hill 140. Tanouye securing Hill 140 on the German main line of resistance allowed the Allies to advance. Tanouye was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2000.

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2ndLt Zussman was one of the three Jewish Americans to receive a Medal of Honor in World War II. With only one working tank, Zussman scouted enemy positions alone to direct his tank’s fire, capturing the French town of Noroy-Le-Borg and taking dozens of prisoners.

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With his company commander killed in an ambush, and Marines isolated from the rest of the battalion, Colonel Barnum took over the company and defeated the enemy. Barnum used attack helicopters on enemy positions and evacuated his dead and wounded.

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As Marines counterattacked to regain a vital outpost in the mountains of Korea, MCHM Charette shielded a wounded Marine’s body from a grenade blast. When his medical bag was destroyed, Charette bandaged wounded Marines with whatever he could get his hands on, even shreds of his own uniform. Charette was the only sailor who survived to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Korea.

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A first generation Croatian American, Major Cukela was known for his fighting skill. Alone with a rifle, bayonet, and grenades, Cukela flanked a machine gun bunker firing upon his company, killing or capturing all of the enemy soldiers. Cukela was awarded two Medals of Honor for his actions, one from the Army, and one from the Navy.

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During a patrol with several high ranking commanders, Captain Groberg noticed a suspicious individual following his group. Groberg realized the individual was a suicide bomber and pushed him away. After three years recovering from the blast, Groberg was awarded the Medal of Honor.

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One of four Marines on his tractor to make it to the beach alive, SSgt. Bordelon leveled four enemy machine gun bunkers using improvised explosives and saved wounded Marines. Severely wounded himself, Bordelon covered Marines as they landed before being killed by machine gun fire. Bordelon’s actions helped secure the beachhead and he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

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An escaped slave, Color Sergeant Smith fought in the American Civil War’s Western Theater and Sherman’s March. When his regiment’s color sergeant was killed in battle, Smith grabbed the colors and inspired his men despite the fierce enemy fire. Nearly 140 years after the battle, Smith was awarded the Medal of Honor.

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During WWII, one day before the landing at Tarawa, Captain Cromwell’s submarine was severely damaged by a Japanese destroyer. Forced between losing all his men as they took water or risking capture, Cromwell scuttled the ship with himself in it, keeping the Japanese from learning about Tarawa or the Allies’ ULTRA intelligence program. Cromwell was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

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Ernest Janson went AWOL from the Army and joined the Marines under a false name: Charles Hoffman. Eight years later, at the legendary Battle of Belleau Wood, Hoffman’s actions awarded him the Medal of Honor when he single handedly charged a German machine gun squad from attacking his Marines.

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Master Sergeant Raul Perez “Roy” Benavidez spent his adolescence working a series of odd jobs in Cuero, TX before enlisting in the National Guard in 1952. He would later join the Army and earn his Green beret before being deployed to Vietnam. It was here that he earned the Medal of Honor for risking his own life to rescue wounded soldiers and recover the body of a fallen soldier and the classified information he was carrying.

You can find Benavidez’s autobiographical books about his experiences here:

Medal of Honor

The Three Wars of Roy Benavidez

Medal of Honor: One Man’s Journey From Poverty and Prejudice

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2ndLt O’Brien fought in the Korean War’s First Battle of the Hook. After the PVA seized a key hill near the 38th Parallel, O’Brien led an attack through mortar and artillery fire to win it back. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions, during a ceremony at the White House in 1953.

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LT Capodanno spent 10 years as a priest before becoming a Navy Chaplain and deploying to Vietnam. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for saving Marines and sailors without regard for his own safety.

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After immigrating from Austria, Specialist Sabo served his new home by joining the US Army and deploying to Vietnam and Cambodia in 1970. On a mission to interdict enemy supply lines, Sabo fought off an ambush, saved a wounded soldier, and sacrificed his life to destroy an enemy bunker. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor 42 years later.

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Michael Monsoor was born in Long Beach, CA, and followed in his father’s footsteps to serve in the military. As a SEAL during the Global War on Terror, Monsoor was frequently deployed to the Middle East. While in Iraq in 2006, Monsoor sacrificed his own life to save his fellow SEALs, an act for which he received the Medal of Honor.

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A childhood immigrant, LT COL Al “Doc” Rascon became an Army medic and deployed to Vietnam. During a firefight,Rascon saved the lives of many soldiers by bringing them back to safety and absorbing grenade blasts. Rascon was so wounded he was given last rites, but recovered, continued to serve, and was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2000.

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Private First Class Fernando Luis García Ledesma was born in Utuado, Puerto Rico before enlisting in the Marines in 1951. García was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine regiment and eventually deployed to fight in the Korean War. While engaged with forces from China’s People's Volunteer Army, García gave his life to protect his fellow Marines, for which he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

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Born in Alabama in 1921, Henry Erwin enlisted in the Army Reserve in his early twenties. Erwin was assigned to a bombardment squadron and deployed to the Pacific in World War II. During one harrowing bombing run, Erwin suffered severe injuries while saving his aircraft and all those aboard. His actions earned him the Medal of Honor, but left him with grave injuries that required multiple surgeries.

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Ken and the Medal of Honor podcast team are taking some time off for the holidays. New episodes will return on January 2nd. Thank you for your support and Happy Holidays.

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Commander John H. Balch was born just before the turn of the 20th century in Kansas, were he studied at Kansas State University before joining the Navy. Balch was sent to fight in France as the US entered World War I. His efforts during pivotal engagements during the war earned him many military decorations, including the Medal of Honor.

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Before enlisting in the military, Melvin Morris lived out a humble childhood on his grandparent’s farm in Okmulgee, OK. Morris’s career began in the National Guard, and ultimately led to him serving in an Army Special Forces unit in Vietnam. It was there that Morris earned the Medal of Honor by rescuing injured comrades and retrieving classified information from the enemy’s grasp.

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Captain Francis Brown Wai was the son of a Chinese immigrant and Native Hawaiian who, despite intending to work with his father in real estate, eventually enlisted in the National Guard. He served in the US invasion of the Japanese-occupied Philippines in World War II, where he gave his life in combat. Wai was awarded a posthumous Distinguished Service Cross, which was eventually upgraded to the Medal of Honor after a congressionally-directed review found that many Asian Americans did not receive fair consideration at the time.

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Born in 1841, Alonzo Hereford Cushing was raised in Fredonia, NY and graduated from West Point in 1861. He would go on to fight in some of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War against the Confederates. Cushing’s valiant actions would help to turn the tide during Pickett’s Charge in the Battle of Gettysburg, and eventually earn him the Medal of Honor.

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Dan Daly was born in Glen Cove, NY in 1873 and first saw combat during the Boxer Rebellion. He later fought in Haiti during the Banana Wars, and at the Battle of Belleau Wood in World War I. His bravery in these conflicts earned him two Medals of Honor, a privilege which only two Marines have received.

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Before enlisting in the Army, Randy Shugart spent most of his childhood on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania. Shugart would eventually be deployed to Somalia as part of Operation Gothic Serpent. His actions while on a mission there would eventually serve as the inspiration for the book, and later movie, Black Hawk Down.

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Despite being the son of immigrants and having teachers struggle to pronounce his name, Hiroshi Miyamura saw himself as fully American. Miyamura would eventually serve in multiple military conflicts and demonstrate extraordinary bravery in defeating a wave of enemy soldiers during the Korean War. Hiroshi was captured there, and was secretly awarded the Medal of Honor while a POW. He received the medal upon his release.

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Born into a large family in Oviedo, FL, Alwyn Cashe’s military career began in the early 2000’s. He was deployed to Iraq in 2005 as a member of the 3rd Infantry Division. When one of the unit’s vehicles was hit by an IED, Cashe went to extraordinary lengths to save members of his party, suffering grievous injuries in the process.

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Originally enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve, Hector Cafferata Jr found himself called to active duty at the outbreak of the Korean War. His unit was tasked with defending a hill at the critical Toktong Pass, where Cafferata fought to protect his fellow Marines from a wave of enemy soldiers.

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John Paul Bobo joined the Marine Corps Reserve not long after graduating college and soon found himself in Vietnam. He earned the Medal of Honor defending his company from an enemy ambush as they patrolled along the North Vietnam border.

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James Howard led a long career as a pilot, serving in multiple branches of the military and across several conflicts. His flying skills quickly led him to become a squadron leader and Ace. Howard won the Medal of Honor in 1944 defending American bombers from German attacks.

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Henry Johnson enlisted in the Army in 1917 and became one of the first American heroes of WWI. While in France, Johnson saved the life of his comrade by single handedly fighting off a wave of enemy soldiers. Though he returned home a hero, he faced difficulties finding work and accessing healthcare.

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Lt Col George A. Davis, Jr. served in the Army Air Corps during WWII and Korea, flying over 250 missions and becoming an ACE. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for attacking a vastly superior enemy formation during the Korean War.

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Captain Eddie Rickenbacker served as a pilot in WWI. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for destroying two enemy aircraft in a one-versus-seven dogfight behind enemy lines. He also was awarded eight Distinguished Service Crosses for his other aerial victories.

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Earlier this week, Hershel Woody Williams, the last surviving WWII Medal of Honor recipient, passed away. His heroism was vital to American efforts in the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Learn more about Williams here:

• "75 years ago, a farm boy became a Medal of Honor hero with a flamethrower at Iwo Jima", Task & Purpose
• "Battle of Iwo Jima's Last Living Medal of Honor Recipient Still Working for Military Families", Military.com
• Williams' bio, Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation
• Medal of Honor citation, Congressional Medal of Honor Society

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Harold Gonsalves sacrificed his own life for the sake of his fellow Marines and their mission at the Battle of Okinawa. He was the only Latino Marine to earn the Medal of Honor during World War II.

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Holocaust-survivor and Hungarian immigrant Tibor Rubin received the Medal of Honor for his incredible resilience as a prisoner of war in Korea.

Despite saving the lives of up to 40 fellow prisoners, he served under an anti-Semitic sergeant who blocked his nomination for the Medal four separate times.

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The standard bearer for his unit, Joseph De Castro carried the Union Flag into the bloodiest battle of the Civil War.

He was the first Latino to receive the Medal of Honor for his role in the Battle of Gettysburg.

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George Sakato's courageous solo charge up a German-held hill during World War II inspired his platoon to follow and complete their mission, capturing more than 30 enemy soldiers.

Initially awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Sakato's award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 2000 along with 21 other veterans of Asian descent.

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John Chapman, the first airman since Vietnam to be awarded the medal, earned his Medal of Honor during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan.

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Corporal Rodolfo (Rudy) Hernandez received the Medal of Honor for his heroism in Korea, after he was launched a solo attack armed only with a bayonet and a few grenades.

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Though he hated the term "conscientious objector", Corporal Desmond Doss was the first in history to receive the Medal of Honor. He refused to shoot or even to carry a weapon, but served as a medic and saved dozens of lives in the Pacific Theatre of World War II.

His story was told in the 2017 Oscar-winning film "Hacksaw Ridge", played by actor Andrew Garfield.

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The first Black American to earn the Medal of Honor, William Harvey Carney nearly died at Fort Wagner in the Civil War - but he never once let the Union flag touch the ground.

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The only US Senator so far to receive both the Medal of Honor and the President Medal of Freedom, Senator Daniel Inouye lost his right arm fighting in World War II. He went on to serve nine terms in the Senate and was the highest-ranking Senator at the time of his death in 2012.

Read the AUSA's graphic novel about Sen. Inouye for a gripping retelling and illustration of his story.

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PFC Olive earned the Medal of Honor for his selfless act of bravery in Vietnam. At only 18 years old, he sacrificed his own life to save four of his fellow soldiers. He was the first Black soldier to receive the Medal of Honor during Vietnam.

PFC Olive also earned a mention in the recent Spike Lee film, Da 5 Bloods - the character Otis says, "I would be the first cat in line if there was a film about a real hero, you know, one of our blood. Somebody like Milton Olive."

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M.Sgt. Juan Negrón fought with the Borinqueneers, an all-Puerto Rican regiment, in Korea.

He did not originally receive the Medal of Honor, but was one of the 24 veterans to whom President Obama awarded the medal in 2014 - veterans who should have received it in the first place, but had been overlooked due to their race or religion.

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Dr. Mary Edwards Walker is the only woman to ever receive the Medal of Honor. She fought her whole life to become a surgeon, to serve her country, and to achieve full rights for women. She refused to wear women's clothing and even testified before Congress on behalf of women's suffrage, but was never fully recognized for her groundbreaking work.

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The first Native American to receive the Medal of Honor since the 1880s, Lt. Col. Childers served in World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam. He earned the Medal of Honor for his bravery at Oliveto, Italy in 1943.

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The last surviving Marine to have received the Medal of Honor during World War II, Woody Williams' heroism was vital to American efforts in the Battle of Iwo Jima.

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William "Pits" Pitsenbarger flew in helicopter rescue missions to treat and evacuate wounded soldiers and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his selfless actions near Cam My, Vietnam in 1966.

Pitsenbarger's heroism was the subject of the recent film The Last Full Measure, starring Sebastian Stan, Christopher Plummer, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jeremy Irvine as Pitsenbarger.

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Before Audie Murphy was a 1950s Hollywood star, he earned a Medal of Honor for his bravery in Germany during World War II.

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John Chapman, the first airman since Vietnam to be awarded the medal, earned his Medal of Honor during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan.

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Jacob Parrott received the first Medal of Honor ever awarded for his participation in the Great Locomotive Chase during the Civil War.

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