On June 9–10, 1944, near Goville, France, Walter David Ehlers proved what frontline leadership truly looks like. Serving as a Staff Sergeant with the 3rd Battalion, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, Ehlers repeatedly placed himself at the point of attack during the Allied push through Normandy. When advances stalled under…
On August 11, 1967, in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam, Lance Corporal Roy Wheat of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division made a split-second decision that saved the lives of his fellow Marines. Assigned to provide security for a Navy construction crew along Liberty Road, LCpl Roy Wheat and…
On August 11, 1967, in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam, Lance Corporal Roy Wheat of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division made a split-second decision that saved the lives of his fellow Marines. Assigned to provide security for a Navy construction crew along Liberty Road, LCpl Roy Wheat and…
On December 26, 1944, during the bitter fighting in Italy, U.S. Army First Lieutenant John Fox was serving as a forward observer attached to the 598th Field Artillery Battalion, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division. What began as a quiet Christmas night quickly turned into a nightmare when German forces…
On December 26, 1944, during the bitter fighting in Italy, U.S. Army First Lieutenant John Fox was serving as a forward observer attached to the 598th Field Artillery Battalion, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division. What began as a quiet Christmas night quickly turned into a nightmare when German forces…
On December 10, 2013, deep in the heart of Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, Master Sergeant (at the time) Ivan Ruiz, an Air Force Pararescueman, was embedded with an Army Special Forces team and Afghan Commandos during a daring raid in hostile territory. After a close-quarters gunfight, Ruiz and two teammates became…
On December 10, 2013, deep in the heart of Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, Master Sergeant (at the time) Ivan Ruiz, an Air Force Pararescueman, was embedded with an Army Special Forces team and Afghan Commandos during a daring raid in hostile territory. After a close-quarters gunfight, Ruiz and two teammates became…
On August 6, 1950, during the early weeks of the Korean War, Second Lieutenant Chester Lenon of the 77th Engineer Combat Company, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division displayed extraordinary heroism while covering the withdrawal of a sister unit under intense enemy fire. Pinned down by a deadly combination of…
On August 6, 1950, during the early weeks of the Korean War, Second Lieutenant Chester Lenon of the 77th Engineer Combat Company, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division displayed extraordinary heroism while covering the withdrawal of a sister unit under intense enemy fire. Pinned down by a deadly combination of…
On October 23, 1944, Commander Richard O’Kane, commanding officer of the USS Tang, led one of the most daring submarine attacks of World War II. Taking his submarine into the heart of two heavily escorted Japanese convoys near the Taiwan Strait, CDR O’Kane launched a bold surface assault under intense…
On October 23, 1944, Commander Richard O’Kane, commanding officer of the USS Tang, led one of the most daring submarine attacks of World War II. Taking his submarine into the heart of two heavily escorted Japanese convoys near the Taiwan Strait, CDR O’Kane launched a bold surface assault under intense…
The Greatest Military Con in History? Operation Fortitude was the brilliant deception plan that fooled Hitler and protected the D-Day invasion, saving countless lives. In 1944, the Allies created a massive, non-existent army—complete with inflatable tanks, dummy aircraft, and even General George S. Patton as its fake commander—to convince the…
On November 1, 1950, during the Korean War, Captain Emil Kapaun was serving as a U.S. Army chaplain with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division when Chinese Communist forces launched a massive assault on American positions. As enemy fire tore through the lines, Captain Kapaun walked calmly…
On November 1, 1950, during the Korean War, Captain Emil Kapaun was serving as a U.S. Army chaplain with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division when Chinese Communist forces launched a massive assault on American positions. As enemy fire tore through the lines, Captain Kapaun walked calmly…
On September 17, 1950, during the Korean War, Marine Corps Private First Class Walter Monegan served as a rocket gunner with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, when enemy armor threatened to break through his battalion’s defensive line on the road to Seoul. Dug in on a…
On September 17, 1950, during the Korean War, Marine Corps Private First Class Walter Monegan served as a rocket gunner with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, when enemy armor threatened to break through his battalion’s defensive line on the road to Seoul. Dug in on a…
On May 24, 1969, in Vietnam, Staff Sergeant James Bondsteel served as a platoon sergeant with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry, 1st Infantry Division when his unit was sent to help a friendly force pinned down by intense fire from a North Vietnamese battalion dug into a heavily fortified…
On May 24, 1969, in Vietnam, Staff Sergeant James Bondsteel served as a platoon sergeant with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry, 1st Infantry Division when his unit was sent to help a friendly force pinned down by intense fire from a North Vietnamese battalion dug into a heavily fortified…
On October 28, 1951, First Lieutenant Lloyd Burke displayed exceptional courage during a brutal engagement in Korea. Although he had a plane ticket home and wasn’t required to fight, he chose to lead from the front. Single-handedly assaulting three enemy bunkers with grenades, an M1 rifle, and a pistol, Burke…
On October 28, 1951, First Lieutenant Lloyd Burke displayed exceptional courage during a brutal engagement in Korea. Although he had a plane ticket home and wasn’t required to fight, he chose to lead from the front. Single-handedly assaulting three enemy bunkers with grenades, an M1 rifle, and a pistol, Burke…
On February 19, 1945, during the brutal invasion of Iwo Jima, U.S. Marine Corporal Tony Stein was the first man from his unit to hit the beach. Armed with a custom-made machine gun he called “Stinger,” Stein unleashed accurate and relentless fire so his fellow Marines could advance under cover.…
On February 19, 1945, during the brutal invasion of Iwo Jima, U.S. Marine Corporal Tony Stein was the first man from his unit to hit the beach. Armed with a custom-made machine gun he called “Stinger,” Stein unleashed accurate and relentless fire so his fellow Marines could advance under cover.…
On October 31, 1972, in the final years of the Vietnam War, Navy SEAL Michael Thornton displayed extraordinary courage that would earn him the Medal of Honor—for saving the life of a fellow SEAL who had also received the Medal of Honor just months earlier. Then a Petty Officer, Thornton…
On October 31, 1972, in the final years of the Vietnam War, Navy SEAL Michael Thornton displayed extraordinary courage that would earn him the Medal of Honor—for saving the life of a fellow SEAL who had also received the Medal of Honor just months earlier. Then a Petty Officer, Thornton…