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…
Medal of Honor Citation: For extraordinary heroism and valiant devotion to duty as commanding officer of Marine Fighting Squadron 214 in action against enemy Japanese forces in the central Solomons area from 12 September 1943 to 3 January 1944. Consistently outnumbered throughout successive hazardous flights over heavily defended hostile territory,…
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…
Discover the secret heroism of WWII pilot, Captain Robert Trimble of the United States Army Air Forces, in this compelling true story on the Duty & Valor Podcast. In the face of grave danger in the Soviet Ukraine, Trimble conducted clandestine rescue operations behind Russian lines on the Eastern Front,…
Distinguished Service Cross Citation: Captain (Air Corps) John J. Voll, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 308th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group,…
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Lt. Col. Jackson distinguished himself as a pilot of a C-123 aircraft. Lt. Col. Jackson volunteered to attempt the rescue of a three-man USAF Combat Control…
Distinguished Service Cross Citation: For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam: Sergeant Chervony distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 5 May 1968 at Landing Zone Peanuts, west of Khe Sanh. Late at night he detected the…
Medal of Honor Citation: For distinguished conduct in action, outstanding heroism, and utter disregard of his own safety above and beyond the call of duty during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. Upon the commencement of the attack, Lt. Comdr. Fuqua…
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 a radio operator with an artillery forward observation team of Company C, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Standing watch when a well-concealed and numerically…
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 a SEAL team leader during action against enemy aggressor (Viet Cong) forces. Acting in response to reliable intelligence, Lt. (j.g.) Kerrey led his SEAL team…
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty in action on 23 March 1945. At approximately 0830 hours, 23 March 1945, near Speyer, Germany, the tank upon which Staff Sergeant Carter was riding received bazooka…
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. As a forward air controller Capt. Wilbanks was pilot of an unarmed, light aircraft flying visual reconnaissance ahead of a South Vietnam Army Ranger Battalion. His…
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 a fire team leader with Company G, in operations against the enemy in Quang Tri province. Company G was directed to move from a position…
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a pilot in Fighter Squadron 32, while attempting to rescue a squadron mate whose plane, struck by antiaircraft fire and trailing smoke, was forced down behind enemy…
Colonel George "Bud" Day was a living legend. One of the most decorated Air Force pilots history and a man whose courage knew no limits. In this powerful episode of Duty & Valor, we honor the incredible life of a warrior who fought in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.…