At Guadalcanal in 1942, then-Colonel Merritt “Red Mike” Edson and his outnumbered Marines held a vital ridge against wave after wave of Japanese attacks. Through the night, under relentless fire, Edson moved from position to position, calmly directing his men, rallying their spirits, and leading from the front. His fearless…
In Vietnam, Staff Sergeant Webster Anderson's artillery unit was hit by a ferocious enemy attack. As mortars and grenades exploded around them, Anderson stood exposed, rallying his men and returning fire. Even after a grenade severed both legs and mangled an arm, he refused evacuation, continuing to fight and shout…
During the Allied invasion of North Africa in WWII, COL Demas Craw and MAJ Pierpont Hamilton volunteered for an almost suicidal mission to reach French commanders near Port Lyautey to negotiate a ceasefire. Their landing craft was hammered by shore batteries and strafed by enemy planes before they landed under…
On November 25-26, 2001, Chief Petty Officer Stephen Bass was part of a rescue mission to recover two missing Americans inside the Taliban-controlled Qala-i-Jangi fortress. Under relentless gunfire, mortar blasts, and RPG attacks, CPO Bass walked through an active minefield to reach the fortress. After two failed rescue attempts under…
On October 5, 2009, deep in Taliban territory, SSgt Robert Gutierrez Jr. was shot in the chest during a high-risk night raid. Pinned down with his team and badly wounded, he refused medical evacuation. Instead, he coordinated three danger-close A-10 strafing runs while fighting through a collapsed lung. His precise…
Holding a vital outpost in Korea, 1st Lt. James L. Stone and his platoon faced waves of overwhelming Chinese attacks. Calmly exposed to brutal enemy fire, he moved under fire to repair a flamethrower, carried the last working machine gun across the position while wounded, and kept fighting with his…
On September 16, 1944, Navy LT Arthur Preston led a high-risk mission to rescue a downed pilot just 200 yards from a heavily defended Japanese base in Wasile Bay. After two failed attempts by others, Preston braved 60 miles of mined waters, dodged coastal guns, and faced relentless enemy fire.…
On May 23, 1944, in Italy, TSG Van Barfoot charged and single-handedly destroyed multiple German machine-gun nests. He captured 17 enemy soldiers, took out a tank with a bazooka, and helped evacuate wounded comrades, all in one day. His fearless actions earned him the Medal of Honor. Medal of Honor…
Surrounded by enemy forces during a brutal battle in Korea, 2ndLt Sherrod Skinner Jr. led his Marines in a desperate defense. Wounded and nearly out of ammo, he gathered his men in a bunker. When a grenade landed among them, Skinner threw himself on it, giving his life to save…
On February 20, 1944, after a brutal air battle over Nazi-occupied Europe, 2nd Lt. Walter Truemper and Staff Sgt. Archibald Mathies flew their heavily damaged B-17 back to base. The co-pilot was dead. The pilot was unconscious. Told to bail out, they refused, choosing to stay and try to land…
Air Force Cross Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to First Lieutenant Karl Wendell Richter (AFSN: 0-78872), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight…
In the heat of battle during the Korean War, Private First Class Henry Svehla charged through withering enemy fire to lead his squad forward. Even after being wounded, he continued fighting. When a grenade threatened his fellow soldiers, Svehla threw himself on it, giving his life to save theirs. He…
Under relentless enemy fire in Vietnam, HM3 Robert Ingram sprinted across the battlefield to treat wounded Marines. Shot once… then again… and again he kept going. Despite being hit four times, Ingram refused aid and continued saving lives for hours. His bravery in the face of death earned him the…
During a fierce firefight in Vietnam, LCpl Jedh Barker was wounded, but he refused to stop fighting. When an enemy grenade landed near his fellow Marines, Barker threw himself on it, sacrificing his life to save theirs. For his incredible courage and selflessness, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of…
On August 26, 1944, near Villeneuve-Loubet, France, Canadian Staff Sergeant Ross Orr made a bold move that saved lives. When enemy machine guns blocked a vital Allied supply route, Orr charged in alone under fire to take them out. Without orders, he silenced the first nest and forced the surrender…
On October 7, 1944, flying a P-51 Mustang over Germany, Major Urban Drew made history. He became the first Allied pilot to shoot down two Me 262 jet fighters—all in a single mission. But without gun camera footage or a surviving wingman, his claim went unrecognized for decades. Nearly 40…
During the fierce Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Lt. Cmdr. Herbert Schonland saved the USS San Francisco from sinking by leading damage control efforts deep below deck—waist-deep in water and under constant threat. For his calm leadership and bravery, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Medal of Honor Citation: For…
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Specialist 5th Class Sasser distinguished himself while assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion. He was serving as a medical aidman with Company A, 3rd…
During World War II, Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds stood up to Nazi guards to save over 200 Jewish American POWs. When ordered to identify the Jews in his unit, he told the captors, “We are all Jews here.” His bravery and moral courage made him the only U.S. soldier recognized…
Navy Cross Citation: For extraordinary heroism while serving as Platoon Guide with 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Division, in action against Anti-Coalition Forces in support of Operation AL FAJR, in Fallujah, Iraq on 15 November 2004. Clearing scores of houses in…
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty, 20 February 1944, while serving as pilot of a B-17 aircraft on a heavy bombardment mission over enemy-occupied continental Europe. Coming off the target he was attacked by approximately 20 enemy fighters,…
1st Air Force Cross Citation: The President of the United States, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Robinson Risner, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force on…
Medal of Honor Citation: For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving in operations against enemy aggressor forces. When his company was subjected to heavy artillery and mortar barrages, followed by a determined assault during the hours of darkness…
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Lemon (then Sp4c.), Company E, distinguished himself while serving as an assistant machine gunner during the defense of Fire Support Base Illingworth. When the base…