...We have all heard about the Medal of Honor, but how much do you really know about it. Yes it is the nation’s highest military award, but how about when it was established. Did you know that there are three different versions of the award one for the army, one for the air force, and one for the navy marines and coast guard? The history of our nation’s highest medal is deep with honor and self sacrifice. The origin of the Medal of Honor came about during the civil war. Iowa Senator James W. Grimes proposed a medal for individual valor, and was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on December 21, 1861. It was first turned down by Winfield Scott the Commanding General of the United States Army at that time, but it was first used in the Navy. Not far there after a different wording was made and the Army’s version was signed into law on July 12, 1862. The Medal of Honor has changed appearance from the time it was signed into law until now. When it was first created the familiar blue with stars that we see today was not there, in fact it was red white and blue resembling the flag, and nation’s colors. It wasn’t until 1904 for the army and 1912 for the navy that the ribbon was changed to resemble today’s Medal of Honor. The Air Force’s version has never changed from the time that it was created in 1965, and prior to that year airmen were award the army’s version. There are two ways a service member can be put in for the award. The first is by his or her chain of command...
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...Medal Of Honor: Coast Guard On September 27, 1942 Douglas A. Munro volunteered to evacuate a detchment of Maries in Guadalcanal. He succeeded in safely extricating them and by doing so he was mortally wounded. He was born in Vancouver, Canada on Octerber 11, 1919. He graduated from the Cle Elum High School in 1937. He attended the Central Washington College of Education for a year and left to enlist in the United States Coast Guard in 1939. He had a great record as an enlisted man and was promoted rapidly to the rank of signalman, first class. In the engagement in which he gave his life, he played an important part, having been in charge of the original detachment of ten boats that had landed the Marines at the scene. Having landed them, and upon his return to the rally point he was told by the officer in charge that the conditions of the insertion point were not as exepected. The Marines were under attack from a large Japanese force and needed to be extracted. Munro volunteered to lead the boats back to the beach for the evacuation. He lead the boats in-shore under heavy enemy fire and proceeded to evacuate the marines still on the beach. Though the majority of the Marines had been loaded on the boats, but the remaining elements of the rear guard were having diffculty getting to the boats. He maneuvered himself and his boats into a postion to cover the last groups of men as they headed to the boat. In doing so he exposed himself to greater enemy fire and suffered...
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...MARY E. WALKER By: Rebecca Leadership March 2, 2013 I chose Mary Edwards Walker as my leader for this final project. I have always enjoyed reading a little bit of military history and I always look for stories about people who have gone above and beyond the call of duty or went against the grain. In my opinion, she really set the bar high for other women to follow, and I find her to be an exemplary leader and role model for other women in the business world. Mary Walker was born on November 26, 1832 in Oswego, New York (Unknown, Women in History ). She can accredit her leadership style and personality to her father, Alvah. Her father was a farmer, abolitionist, and a self-taught doctor. During this time, most women did not attend school or work outside the home, but because Mary’s father believed that women should be well educated, he built the first schoolhouse in Oswego on their land known as the Bunker Hill Farm (Unknown, Women in History ). In addition, this farm served as a “station” in the Underground Railroad system that assisted southern slaves to freedom—mainly from western New York into Canada (D. L. Walker 29-30) . Alvah also believed that women’s clothing was too tight and because his daughters had to help on the farm, he prohibited them from wearing the traditional clothing and corsets (Unknown, Women in History ). When Mary turned 18, she spent two years at the Falley Seminary where she was taught Mathematics, Philosophy, Grammar, and...
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...flying or doing some sort magic, but that is not what a hero is. A hero is someone with tremendous amount of courage and bravery and will be in the front line ready for any duty or obstacle comes upon them. One of the greatest 20th century hero ever lived is Audie Murphy. Born in Kingston, Hunt County, Texas on June 20, 1924, Audie Murphy was raised in a sharecropper’s dilapidated house. His father fell short on his parental responsibilities and eventually abandoned his family leaving Audie to pick up his slack and take care of his mother and younger siblings. Soon after, his mother passed away and to honor her death he enlisted in the military. Audie soon became the most decorated U.S. soldier in World War II. Though he was only 21 years old at the end of the war, he had killed more than 240 German soldiers, had been wounded three times, and had earned 33 awards and medals. One of Audie’s most courageous moments in combat started on January 26, 1945. Murphy and Company B found themselves on the outskirts of woods facing the German village of Holtzwihr. The weather was miserably cold and uncomfortable as the American force waited tensely for an attack. Suddenly, six heavily equipped German tanks appeared supported by a large infantry began moving toward them and instantly put two American tank destroyers out of action. Audie ordered his men to retreat while he stayed put with his field telephone requesting artillery fire upon the...
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...Meyer, Dakota. Into the Fire. Random House: New York, NY, 2012. Character List: Dakota Meyer | Dakota Meyer is the protagonist, narrator and author of “Into the Fire”. He’s Team Monti’s sniper and is in charge of everything that has to do with combat. He is a Medal of Honor recipient for the courageous acts he demonstrated in Afghanistan. | Cpt. William Swenson | Swenson, a long-haired, quiet, border police advisor, is one of the main characters in the book. He and Meyer become very close and fight beside one another at during the events at Ganjigal. | Lt. Mike Johnson | Mike was the leader of Team Monti. He specialized in communications and was and advisor to improve leadership procedures of Afghan officers. He was stranded in a house in Ganjigal and killed. | Sgt. Aaron Kenefick | Kenefick was the staff NCO of Team Monti. There was some tension between him and Meyers until they spent some time in Dangham. Kenefick’s job was to bring order to the Afghan personnel and pay records. He was stranded in a house in Ganjigal and killed. | Doc Layton | Hospital man 3rd class Layton, was a laid back Navy corpsman. His job was to provide medical assistance to Team Monti. He was stranded in a house and killed. | Hafez | Hafez is the lead interpreter at Team Monti. He is the best warning system that they have. He is the unofficial 5th member if the Team and is loyal to the US. He has yet to find a way to America. | Setting: The story takes place along the Afghan-Pakistan...
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...The Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded to the bravest soldiers in armed forces and is the highest medal awarded. In 2007 Xavier Alvarez had a lawsuit filed against him after lying about his services in the military. He would lie about being wounded several times in the military by the same person, and also about being awarded with the Congressional Medal of Honor. He would lie to gain respect from everyone. Xavier Alvarez believed he deserved the Congressional Medal of Honor which is why he lied. Most people believe that Xavier Alvarez is not protected by the First Amendment. Some people believe that Alvarez ruined the Medal of Honor for them. This argument had been taken to the Supreme Court. Those who knew Xavier Alvarez personally, say that he had a lying habit. Alvarez's most serious lie had to be about winning the Congressional Medal of Honor. In the passage, from United States v. Xavier Alvarez by Justice Kennedy, it is stated that, “Enhanced Penalty for Offenses Involving Congressional Medal of Honor...The offender shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.” In this case, Alvarez was automatically fined for his false statements. According to the passage, from United States v. Alvarez by Justice Alito, it is stated, “There is ‘no...
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...SGT. Leo J. Powers During World War II Leo J. Powers became the first of four recipients in the Transportation Branch whom received the Congressional Medal of Honor, which is rewarded to military officials who are characterized by evident heroism and audaciousness in the line of duty. Powers was born on April 5th, 1909 in the city of Anselmo, Nebraska. In his thirties, he developed an acute foot problem and trained to become an Army mechanic. Soon after, he left for the frontlines of Italy, during World War II. (Tribune Staff, 1945) In September 1942, he joined the United States Army from Alder Gulch, Montana, and within two years, he became part of the 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division. At that time, he was a Private First Class in his unit. During the time of World War II, Powers as a Private First Class in the 34th Infantry Division, his unit was designated on the main enemy point the Northwest of Cassino, Italy to incarcerate the Hill 175 that was occupied by the Germans. It was anticipated that the enemy could be at the minimum of 50 soldiers with the power of machine guns. They were located in three pill boxes and mortar fire stationed behind the hill. Their power of fire helped them to undermine the attackers and cause eight deaths. Pfc. Powers’ unit was in a position that they could not precede, however, Powers initiated singly amidst terrible fire. He crept frontward to attack one of the enemies’ pill boxes that he had witnessed. With great...
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...Honor An honorable man is someone who displays qualities like integrity, courage, bravery, and honest and then strive to maintain those qualities. Calvin Coolidge says, “No person was ever honored for what you received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave” (Coolidge). He is saying that that honor needs to be earned by giving and it isn’t just something that is handed out. It can be argued that honor hasn’t changed but honor has been affected by time and culture; modern American honor is based off those changes. The definition of honor has not changed, but how people have acted upon it has very much changed. Historically, humanity earned honor by having integrity and doing what is right. Honor was displayed in history through poems; “The epic poems of Homer are primarily about honor and man’s quest to achieve and maintain it” (McKay). That means writers used the truth of how people needed to find...
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...side by side with his master, also serving as "personal assistant, bodyguard, sous-chef, bugler, courier, confidant, and oarsman." When the Medal of Honor—the nation's highest award for military valor—was established in 1861, African Americans were not excluded. In time, however, conferral of the award began to mirror the status of black Americans in general, embodying a tumultuous history that has not always been so honorable. The origins of the award lie with the Civil War. On 21 December 1861—exactly a year and a day after the secession of South Carolina—President Abraham Lincoln signed Senate Bill 82 into law. The measure, created to honor "non-commissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldier-like qualities," was at first an honor exclusively for Navy sailors, but by the following year was expanded to include the Army. Though originally intended to cover only the length of the Civil War, the Medal of Honor was made a permanent decoration in 1863, and has remained the highest honor of all military branches. Almost immediately after the award's establishment, black Americans—of whom nearly eighteen thousand are estimated to have served with Union forces—became eligible for the honor, at least in principle. During the first forty years or so of the Medal of Honor, African American servicemen were regularly considered as...
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...right and left but still they came on. We had to retreat," wrote Sgt. William Burns of the 71st. (Medal of Honor) Garnett's men moved forward capturing the wall. The 72nd began firing back, their volley hitting Garnett who fell dead. Webb sprinted over to the 72nd and gave the order "charge bayonets". But the noises of war were so loud, that his orders were not heard and later said "couldn't be herd, I don't suppose ten feet away." (Medal of Honor) Because he knew his orders were not heard and convinced the 72nd would not move, Webb took off towards the 69th who were still engaging the Confederates at the wall. The Confederates targeted Webb once they saw him because they recognized officer brass. Webb survived the flurry of bullets with the only injury being a graze to the thigh. (Medal of Honor)...
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...Marian Blumenthal Lazan should be granted the medal of honor. She was a very strong woman during the Holocaust. When she was put into a concentration camp they had little food. Then she and her mom snuck into the kitchen and started making food. The guards came in and they hid from them, or they would have died. When they were in hiding the hot boiling water spilled on her leg, but she did not make a sound because she knew if she would have made a sound they would have been killed. Marian Blumenthal Lazan has the courage to speak about her experience during the Holocaust. Marian speaks all over the world at schools, churches, communities and more. Over 2 million people today has heard of Marian’s story and what she went through for 4 years...
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...John L. Levitow was the only Air Force enlisted man to be awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War. He received the medal for exceptional heroism during wartime. He is the lowest ranked serviceman in the Air Force to ever receive the Medal of Honor, which is the United States military’s highest honor. He may not have been leading the military at the time, but he showed exemplary leadership and saved many lives with his heroic actions. BACKGROUND - On February 24, 1969, Levitow was asked to fill in for the regular loadmaster on an armed AC-47 call sign Spooky 71. -- Levitow's job was to set the ejection and ignition timer controls on magnesium flares. --- These flares were 27 pounds, 3 feet long, and would burn at 4,000 degrees....
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...187th Infantry The Regimental Motto: “Ne Desit Virtus” ---- “ Let Valor Not Fail” 187th Infantry Regiment is a regiment that has fought in many wars and conflicts. Originating out of Fort Mackall in North Carolina the 187th Infantry Regiment was activated on the twenty-fifth day of February, 1943. The 187th is a highly decorated regiment. They have been involved in wars such as World War ll, The Korean War, and The Vietnam War are three of the wars that the unit has been a part of. The unit has also deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan under its belt. The unit has three Medals of Honor recipients. The 187th is currently based out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The 187th Infantry Regiment was activated during World War ll. The Regiment arrived in New Guinea on the twenty-ninth day of May, 1944. On the eighteenth day of November, 1944. The unit joined the Leyete Campaign; soon after the unit left The Leyete Campaign they joined The Luzon Campaign by assaulting the Nasugbu Point Luzon in late January. From late January to April the unit fought its way through many hotspots such as the Nichols Field, Fort William McKinley, Mount Macikid, and Malipunyo. After fighting these through these hot spots the unit moved inside Lipa as part of Operation Downfall. The...
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...Crosby Medal Quality Paper By Conrad A. Joseph Jr. Introduction: “The Crosby Medal is presented to the individual who has authored a distinguished book contributing significantly to the extension of the philosophy and application of the principles, methods, or techniques of quality management.” (“Crosby medal,”). For one to understand the Crosby Medal, we must first explain how it came into existence and the person behind this distinguished honor. Philip Bayard Crosby, a philosopher and practitioner of quality, is also the man whom the medal is named after. Philip B. Crosby came to be known as the person, who developed the “Zero Defects” concept for quality, while working at Martin Marietta in the 50’s. Crosby wrote a book on his concept while at the same time preaching his concept to any corporation that is willing to listen and learn. He did this at a time when the United States was losing the global market to the Japanese right after the great world war. Crosby wrote several books which have been translated into 17 different languages worldwide. Philip B. Crosby, an author, businessman, philosopher, teacher and even a practitioner of quality. History: Philip Bayard Crosby was born in Wheeling, West Virginia on June 18, 1926. Crosby was the son of a podiatrist. Shortly after finishing high school, Crosby joined the ranks of the Navy and became a hospital corpsman. After completing his tour of duty, Crosby entered Ohio college of Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland...
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...on the battlefield. He got his first medal which was the Bronze Star Medal in March 1944 for knocking out a german tank all by himself. Then his second and third medal was in May. He got the Combat Infantryman Badge that made him unique from the others and the 1st Oak Leaf Cluster to the Bronze Star Medal. He has also gotten the Medal of Honor which is the highest Medal you can get for Valor and Courage on the battlefield. He got it for Jumping into a tank that was about to blow up, use it’s machine gun, and turn the tables that once seemed extremely against him. He individually hurt/killed over 50 people. He also got the second highest medal for Valor just before that, the Distinguished Service Cross. He got it because of the situation where he kills the Germans with their own guns in fury for the Germans killing his friend. The rest of the Medals he received were 2 silver stars, The Legion of Merit, 3 Purple Hearts, Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, 2 Distinguished Unit Emblems, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War Two Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Marksmanship Badge, Expert Marksmanship Badge, French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier, French Croix de Guerre With Palm and Silver Star, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 With Palm, Medal of Liberated France, and Texas Legislative Medal of Honor. All in All, Audie Murphy has the most medals for a World War Two...
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