On March 16, 1968, during the Vietnam War, U.S. Army helicopter pilot Hugh Thompson Jr. witnessed something unthinkable — American soldiers slaughtering unarmed civilians in the village of My Lai. What he did next would go down as one of the most courageous acts of moral bravery in U.S. military…
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. PO1c. Williams was serving as boat captain and patrol officer aboard River Patrol Boat (PBR) 105 accompanied by another patrol boat when the patrol was suddenly taken under…
Medal of Honor Citation: He fought gallantly on the Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands. With two companions he occupied a position on a ridge outside the perimeter defense established by the 1st Platoon on a high hill. At about 0300 hours, two companies of Japanese attacked with rifle and…
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Maj. Shomo was lead pilot of a flight of two fighter planes charged with an armed photographic and strafing mission against the Aparri and Laoag airdromes. While en…
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a rifleman, Second Platoon, Company F, Second Battalion, Third Marines, Third Marine Division, in Vietnam on 28 February 1967. Company F was advancing in dense jungle northwest…
Air Force Cross Citation: For extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as a Forward Air Controller attached as an Air Liaison Officer to the 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, (US Army), on 18 August 1968 in the Republic of Vietnam. On that date, after being shot…
Medal of Honor Citation: For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. During the advance, when Cpl. Creed was mortally wounded while crossing an open field swept by machine-gun fire, Hayden unhesitatingly ran to his assistance and, finding him so severely…
Medal of Honor Citation: Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism as an Air Force Special Tactics Combat Controller, attached to a Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Team conducting reconnaissance operations in Takur Ghar, Afghanistan, on March 4, 2002. During insertion, the team’s helicopter was ambushed…
Silver Star Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Specialist [then Private First Class] Monica Lin Brown, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while…
Medal of Honor Citation: Pfc. Thompson distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. While his platoon was reorganizing under cover of darkness, fanatical enemy forces in overwhelming strength launched a surprise attack on the unit. Pfc. Thompson set…
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. On 1 August 1943, he served as pilot of the lead aircraft in his group in a daring low-level attack against enemy oil refineries and installations at Ploesti, Rumania. Although he had completed more…
At just 14 years old, Dan Bullock was determined to become a United States Marine. He altered his birth certificate to show he was old enough and successfully enlisted, and sent to Parris Island. Boot camp wasn’t easy for him, but with the support of a fellow recruit, he pushed…
Air Force Cross Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Airman Second Class Duane D. Hackney (AFSN: 16827003), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an…
Medal of Honor Citation: Captain Hugh R. Nelson, Jr., distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a member of the 114th Aviation Company (Airmobile Light) on June 5, 1966 near Moc Hoa, Republic of Vietnam. Captain Nelson was the acting…
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as squadron commander of Bombing Squadron 102 and as plane commander of a PB4Y-1 patrol bomber operating against the enemy on Japanese-held Greenwich Island during the battle of…
Have you heard of the soldier who served in three different armies across two continents? Lauri Törni, later known as Larry Thorne, was a Finnish war hero who fought against the Soviets, trained with Nazi Germany, and eventually became a U.S. Green Beret. His incredible journey took him from the…
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 5 June 1944, when he led a Heavy Bombardment Group in an attack against defended enemy coastal positions in the vicinity of Wimereaux, France. Approaching the target, his aircraft was hit repeatedly by…
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an Intelligence Scout attached to Company C, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on May…
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Baca, Company D, distinguished himself while serving on a recoilless-rifle team during a night ambush mission. A platoon from his company was sent to investigate…
Air Force Cross Citation: The President of the United States of America awards the Air Force Cross to United States Air Force Senior Airman Alaxey Germanovich for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an armed enemy of the United States as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller, Combined Joint Special Operations…
In December 1943, a severely damaged B-17 bomber, nicknamed Ye Olde Pub, limped away from a bombing run over Germany. Its crew was wounded, the aircraft barely holding together. Then, out of the clouds, a German Bf 109 appeared—flown by ace pilot Franz Stigler. But instead of finishing the kill,…
Lt. Lance Sijan's story is one of unparalleled courage, resilience, and sacrifice. After ejecting from his disabled F-4 Phantom over enemy territory, he endured unimaginable injuries, starvation, and relentless hardships for 46 days in the jungle, refusing to surrender. Captured by the North Vietnamese, he continued to resist, uphold the…
Medal of Honor Citation: Private First Class Charles R. Johnson distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity beyond the call of duty while defending Outpost Harry, against overwhelming odds, and making the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of his comrades in the Republic of Korea during the period of…
Navy Cross Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Sonar Technician Second Class Matthew Gene Axelson, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in actions against the enemy while serving in a four-man Special Reconnaissance element with SEAL Delivery Vehicle…