Medal of Honor awarded for Afghanistan

ZUI this article from the Los Angeles Times:

A small team of American and Afghan troops was pinned down in a remote village under withering fire from three sides. A young lieutenant was begging for artillery or air support. Without it, he yelled, "we are going to die out here."

Can't be done, came the reply. It might kill civilians.

Less than a mile away, Marine Cpl. Dakota L. Meyer heard the radio exchange in agony. His buddies were dying, yet Meyer was under orders to stay where he was. Four times he requested permission to go to their aid, and four times he was refused.

After two hours, Meyer decided to defy his superiors. The powerfully built 21-year-old with a soft Kentucky drawl climbed into the turret of a gun truck mounted with a .50-caliber machine gun and, with another Marine driving, raced toward the battle.

On Thursday, Meyer was at the White House to receive the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for valor, for saving the lives of 36 combatants — 13 Americans and 23 Afghans — and personally killing at least eight Taliban fighters that day, Sept. 8, 2009. He is the first living Marine to receive the award since the Vietnam War.

*******

Trained as a sniper, Meyer volunteered to go to Afghanistan in 2009 because he wanted to see action. His unit, the 3rd Battalion of the 3rd Marine Regiment based in Hawaii, was deploying to Iraq, but Meyer had already done a tour there two years earlier and found it too quiet for his tastes. In Afghanistan, he would be part of a sniper team assigned to a unit training Afghan forces in Kunar province, a remote and rugged area near the Pakistan border.

"The main reason I went is because I wanted to fight," he later told the Marine Corps Times.

President Obama's remarks during the presentation can be found here.

************* *** *************

DAKOTA L MEYER

Corporal, US Marine Corps; Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7

Born: 26 June 1988, Greensburg, Kentucky
Died: TBD

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 8 September 2009. Corporal Meyer maintained security at a patrol rally point while other members of his team moved on foot with two platoons of Afghan National Army and Border Police into the village of Ganjgal for a pre-dawn meeting with village elders. Moving into the village, the patrol was ambushed by more than 50 enemy fighters firing rocket propelled grenades, mortars, and machine guns from houses and fortified positions on the slopes above. Hearing over the radio that four U.S. team members were cut off, Corporal Meyer seized the initiative. With a fellow Marine driving, Corporal Meyer took the exposed gunner’s position in a gun-truck as they drove down the steeply terraced terrain in a daring attempt to disrupt the enemy attack and locate the trapped U.S. team. Disregarding intense enemy fire now concentrated on their lone vehicle, Corporal Meyer killed a number of enemy fighters with the mounted machine guns and his rifle, some at near point blank range, as he and his driver made three solo trips into the ambush area. During the first two trips, he and his driver evacuated two dozen Afghan soldiers, many of whom were wounded. When one machine gun became inoperable, he directed a return to the rally point to switch to another gun-truck for a third trip into the ambush area where his accurate fire directly supported the remaining U.S. personnel and Afghan soldiers fighting their way out of the ambush. Despite a shrapnel wound to his arm, Corporal Meyer made two more trips into the ambush area in a third gun-truck accompanied by four other Afghan vehicles to recover more wounded Afghan soldiers and search for the missing U.S. team members. Still under heavy enemy fire, he dismounted the vehicle on the fifth trip and moved on foot to locate and recover the bodies of his team members. Corporal Meyer’s daring initiative and bold fighting spirit throughout the 6-hour battle significantly disrupted the enemy’s attack and inspired the members of the combined force to fight on. His unwavering courage and steadfast devotion to his U.S. and Afghan comrades in the face of almost certain death reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Victoria Cross: C. L. Smith

CLEMENT LESLIE SMITH

Lieutenant, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry; attached Somali Mounted Infantry

Born: 17 January 1878, Cowes, Isle of Wight
Died: 14 December 1927, Alassio, Italy

Citation: At the commencement of the fight at Jidballi, on 10th January, 1904, the enemy made a very sudden and determined rush on the 5th Somali Mounted Infantry, from under cover of bushes close at hand. They were supported by rifle fire, advanced very rapidly and got right amongst our men.
Lieutenant Smith, Somali Mounted Infantry, and Lieutenant J. K. Welland, M.D., Royal Army Medical Corps, went out to the aid of Hospital Assistant Eahamat Ali, who was wounded, and endeavoured to bring him out of action on a horse, but the rapidity of the enemy's advance rendered this impossible, and the Hospital Assistant was killed. Lieutenant Smith then did all that any man could do to bring out Doctor Welland, helping him to mount a horse, and, when that was shot, a mule. This also was hit, and Doctor Welland was speared by the enemy. Lieutenant Smith stood by Doctor Welland to the end, and when that Officer was killed, was within a few paces of him, endeavouring to keep off the enemy with his revolver. At that time the dervishes appeared to be all round him, and it was marvellous that he escaped with his life.

[London Gazette issue 27683 dated 7 Jun 1904, published 7 Jun 1904.]

Medal of Honor: E. L. Kinser

ELBERT LUTHER KINSER

Sergeant, US Marine Corps Reserve; Company I, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division

Born: 21 October 1922, Greeneville, Tennessee
Died: 4 May 1945, Okinawa

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while acting as leader of a Rifle Platoon, serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, in action against Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Chain, 4 May 1945. Taken under sudden, close attack by hostile troops entrenched on the reverse slope while moving up a strategic ridge along which his platoon was holding newly won positions, Sgt. Kinser engaged the enemy in a fierce hand grenade battle. Quick to act when a Japanese grenade landed in the immediate vicinity, Sgt. Kinser unhesitatingly threw himself on the deadly missile, absorbing the full charge of the shattering explosion in his own body and thereby protecting his men from serious injury and possible death. Stouthearted and indomitable, he had yielded his own chance of survival that his comrades might live to carry on the relentless battle against a fanatic enemy. His courage, cool decision and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death sustained and enhanced the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

George Cross: M. Vaughan

MARGARET VAUGHAN

Student

Born: 25 November 1934, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Died: TBD

Citation: The KING has been pleased to award the Albert Medal to Margaret Vaughan and the late John Howard Davies for their gallantry in the following circumstances: —
On May 28th, 1949, a party of Scouts, aged between 11 and 15 years, visiting Sully Island were cut off by the rising tide from a causeway which led to the mainland. Most of the boys got safely across, but two of them were forced off the causeway by the strong tide. The leader of the party returned to help the elder boy but in the struggle he too became exhausted. Margaret Vaughan (aged 14 years) saw from the beach the difficulties they were in. She undressed and swam towards them over a distance of some 30 yards in cold, rough water and against strong currents due to the rising tide. On reaching them she towed the boy to the shore while he supported himself by grasping the straps of her costume and his leader's coat. At about ten feet from the shore a life belt was thrown in which the boy was placed by the other two and the three reached the shore safely. Margaret Vaughan's action probably saved the life of the Scout leader as well as that of the elder boy.
Meanwhile, John Howard Davies (aged 13 years) had safely reached the mainland when he saw that his friend, who was unable to swim, was being forced away from the causeway into deep water. He stripped to the waist and went back along the causeway to help him. By swimming out he was able to grasp his friend, and hold him up in the water. Both boys shouted for help and it was obvious that they would not get ashore unaided. By this time a rescue boat had put out from the shore but Davies became exhausted by his efforts and before the boat could reach them he was forced to release his hold on his friend and they drifted apart. The boat rescued the friend but no further sign of Davies was seen. His body was subsequently recovered. There is no doubt that in returning to the aid of his friend after he himself had reached safety Davies gave his life in this rescue attempt.

[London Gazette issue 38751 dated 1 Nov 1949, published 1 Nov 1949.]


Notes: The Albert Medal, first instituted by Royal Warrant on 7 March 1866, was discontinued in 1971, and all living recipients thereof were invited to exchange their medals for the George Cross.
Sully Island is a small tidal island in Wales, seven miles south of the city of Cardiff.

Victoria Cross: Gobind Singh

GOBIND SINGH

Lance-Dafadar, Indian Cavalry

Born: 7 December 1887, Damoi Village, Jodhpur, India
Died: 9 December 1942, Nagaur, Rajputana, India

Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in thrice volunteering to carry messages between the regiment and Brigade Headquarters, a distance of 1 1/2 miles over open ground which was under the observation and heavy fire of the enemy. He succeeded each time in delivering his message, although on each occasion his horse was shot and he was compelled to finish his journey on foot.

[London Gazette issue 30471 dated 11 Jan 1918, published 8 Jan 1918.]


Note: Lance Daffadar is an Indian army rank equivalent to a corporal in the cavalry. The equivalent rank in other Indian army units is Naik.

Medal of Honor: Brady, Cooney and Johnsen

GEORGE F BRADY

Chief Gunner's Mate, US Navy; USS Winslow (TB 5)

Born: 7 September 1867, Ireland
Died: unknown

Citation: On board the torpedo boat Winslow during the actions at Cardenas, Cuba, 11 May 1898. Conspicuously gallant during this period, Brady, by his energy in assisting to sustain fire, his efforts to repair the steering gear and his promptness in maintaining watertight integrity, was largely instrumental in saving the vessel.









THOMAS CALVIN COONEY

Chief Machinist, US Navy; USS Winslow (TB 5)

Born: 18 July 1853, Westport, Nova Scotia, Canada
Died: 8 January 1907

Citation: On board the U.S. Torpedo Boat Winslow during the action at Cardenas, Cuba, 11 May 1898. Following the piercing of the boiler by an enemy shell, Cooney, by his gallantry and promptness in extinguishing the resulting flames, saved the boiler tubes from burning out.









HANS JOHNSEN

Chief Machinist, US Navy; USS Winslow (TB 5)

Born: 3 January 1865, Sandnes, Norway
Died: 17 June 1920, New Jersey(?)

Citation: On board the torpedo boat Winslow during the action at Cardenas, Cuba, 11 May 1898. Showing great presence of mind, Johnsen turned off the steam from the engine which had been wrecked by a shell bursting in the cylinder.

Book list - Aug 11

Ghost Story - modern fantasy, by Jim Butcher
The Old Buzzard Had It Coming - historical mystery, by Donis Casey
Wolf - YA, by Gillian Cross (Carnegie Medal, 1990)
Aliens on Vacation - children's SF, by Clete Barrett Smith
Hornswoggled - historical mystery, by Donis Casey
Alas, Babylon - WWIII fiction, by Pat Frank *
A Murder, a Mystery, and a Marriage - mystery, by Mark Twain
The Latte Rebellion - YA, by Sarah Jamila Stevenson
The Drop Edge of Yonder - historical mystery, by Donis Casey
Gunsmoke Over the Atlantic: First Naval Actions of the Civil War - USCW, by Coombe
The Confederate States of America: What Might Have Been - AH, by Roger L Ransom


Eleven books last month, one of them a reread (marked by an asterisk). I'm not setting an official goal this year, though I do expect to read around 200 books.

The one Carnegie Medal winner brings me up to 56 of 72. I regret to say that I didn't make note of which library to thank for the ILL.

Victoria Cross: C. Mansel-Jones

CONWYN MANSEL-JONES

Captain, The West Yorkshire Regiment

Born: 14 June 1871, Beddrington, Surrey
Died:29 May 1942, Brockenhurst, Hampshire

Citation: On the 27th February, 1900, during the assault on Terrace Hill, north of the Tugela, in Natal, the companies of the West Yorkshire Regiment on the northern slope of the hill met with a severe shell, Vickers-Maxim, and rifle fire, and their advance was for a few moments checked. Captain C. Hansel-Jones, however, by his strong initiative, restored confidence, and, in spite of his falling very seriously wounded, the men took the whole ridge without further check, this Officer's self-sacrificing devotion to duty at a critical moment having averted what might have proved a serious check to the whole assault.

[London Gazette issue 27214 dated 27 Jul 1900, published 27 Jul 1900.]

Medal of Honor: Y. Kobashigawa

YEIKI KOBASHIGAWA

Technical Sergeant, US Army; Company F, 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate)

Born: 28 September 1917, Hilo, Territory of Hawai`i
Died: 31 March 2005

Citation: Technical Sergeant Yeiki Kobashigawa distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 2 June 1944, in the vicinity of Lanuvio, Italy. During an attack, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa's platoon encountered strong enemy resistance from a series of machine guns providing supporting fire. Observing a machine gun nest 50 yards from his position, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa crawled forward with one of his men, threw a grenade and then charged the enemy with his submachine gun while a fellow soldier provided covering fire. He killed one enemy soldier and captured two prisoners. Meanwhile, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa and his comrade were fired upon by another machine gun 50 yards ahead. Directing a squad to advance to his first position, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa again moved forward with a fellow soldier to subdue the second machine gun nest. After throwing grenades into the position, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa provided close supporting fire while a fellow soldier charged, capturing four prisoners. On the alert for other machine gun nests, Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa discovered four more, and skillfully led a squad in neutralizing two of them. Technical Sergeant Kobashigawa's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.


Note: Kobashigawa was presented the Medal of Honor, upgraded from a Distinguished Service Cross, by President Clinton in 2000, following a review of the records of Asian-American soldiers who served in World War II.

Victoria Cross: J. M. Smith

JOHN MANNERS SMITH

Lieutenant, Indian Staff Corps

Born: 30 August 1864, Lahore, India
Died: 6 January 1920, Central London

Citation: For his conspicuous bravery when leading the storming party at the attack and capture of the strong position occupied by the enemy near Nilt, in the Hunza-Nagar Country, on the 20th December, 1891.
The position was, owing to the nature of the country, an extremely strong one, and had barred the advance of the force for seventeen days. It was eventually forced by a small party of 50 rifles, with another of equal strength in support. The first of these parties was under the command of Lieutenant Smith, and it was entirely owing to his splended leading, and the coolness, combined with dash, he displayed while doing so, that a success was obtained. For nearly four hours, on the face of a cliff which was almost precipitous, he steadily moved his handful of men from point to point, as the difficulties of the ground and showers of stones from above gave him an opportunity, and during the whole of this time he was in such a position as to be unable to defend himself from any attack the enemy might choose to make.
He was the first man to reach the summit, within a few yards of one of the enemy's sungars, which was immediately rushed, Lieutenant Smith pistolling the first man.

[London Gazette issue 26306 dated 12 Jul 1892, published 12 Jul 1892.]


Note: Nilt is a town in northern Pakistan. Lahore, where Smith (later Lt-Col J M Smith VC CIE CVO) was born, is also now in Pakistan.

Medal of Honor: R. H. Wilkins

RAYMOND H WILKINS

Major, US Army Air Corps

Born: 28 September 1917, Portsmouth, Virginia
Died: 2 November 1943, near Rabaul, New Britain

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Rabaul, New Britain, on 2 November 1943. Leading his squadron in an attack on shipping in Simpson Harbor, during which intense antiaircraft fire was expected, Maj. Wilkins briefed his squadron so that his airplane would be in the position of greatest risk. His squadron was the last of 3 in the group to enter the target area. Smoke from bombs dropped by preceding aircraft necessitated a last-second revision of tactics on his part, which still enabled his squadron to strike vital shipping targets, but forced it to approach through concentrated fire, and increased the danger of Maj. Wilkins' left flank position. His airplane was hit almost immediately, the right wing damaged, and control rendered extremely difficult. Although he could have withdrawn, he held fast and led his squadron into the attack. He strafed a group of small harbor vessels, and then, at low level, attacked an enemy destroyer. His 1,000 pound bomb struck squarely amidships, causing the vessel to explode. Although antiaircraft fire from this vessel had seriously damaged his left vertical stabilizer, he refused to deviate from the course. From below-masthead height he attacked a transport of some 9,000 tons, scoring a hit which engulfed the ship in flames. Bombs expended, he began to withdraw his squadron. A heavy cruiser barred the path. Unhesitatingly, to neutralize the cruiser's guns and attract its fire, he went in for a strafing run. His damaged stabilizer was completely shot off. To avoid swerving into his wing planes he had to turn so as to expose the belly and full wing surfaces of his plane to the enemy fire; it caught and crumpled his left wing. Now past control, the bomber crashed into the sea. In the fierce engagement Maj. Wilkins destroyed 2 enemy vessels, and his heroic self-sacrifice made possible the safe withdrawal of the remaining planes of his squadron.


Note: New Britain was then a part of the Territory of New Guinea, a former German colony controlled by Australia under a League of Nations mandate. It is now part of Papua New Guinea.

100 years

Today would have been my father's 100th birthday.

20 Aug 1911 - 15 Apr 1970

RIP

Ultimate Zombie Apocalypse Survival Quiz

I got %60.7798165137615

on the

Ultimate Zombie Apocalypse Survival Quiz!

Medal of Honor to be presented next month

According to CNN, Corporal Dakota Meyer - the first living Marine to receive the Medal of Honor since Sergeant Major Allan Kellogg received his on 15 October 1973 - will be presented with the Medal at the White House on 15 September.

ZUI also this article from the Navy Times.

Living Medal of Honor recipients

Left to right: Army, Navy/Marine Corps and Air Force Medals of Honor

In yesterday's post about Charles Murray, I said that there are now 84 surviving MoH recipients. The complete list, with links to individual pages, can be found at the CMOHS site here; below is a simplified list, like that which I posted a year ago.

World War II

Van T Barfoot, Second Lieutenant, US Army
Mike Colalillo, Private First Class, US Army
Charles H Coolidge, Technical Sergeant, US Army
Francis S Currey, Sergeant, US Army
Walter D Ehlers, Staff Sergeant, US Army
John D Hawk, Sergeant, US Army
Daniel K Inouye, Second Lieutenant, US Army
Arthur J Jackson, Private First Class, US Marine Corps
Robert D Maxwell, Technician Fifth Grade, US Army
Vernon McGarity, Technical Sergeant, US Army
Nicholas Oresko, Master Sergeant, US Army
Wilburn K Ross, Private, US Army
George T Sakato, Private, US Army
Hershel W Williams, Corporal, US Marine Corps

Korean War

Hector A Cafferata Jr, Private, US Marine Corps
William R Charette, Hospital Corpsman Third Class, US Navy
Duane E Dewey, Corporal, US Marine Corps
Rodolfo P Hernandez, Corporal, US Army
Thomas J Hudner Jr, Lieutenant, US Navy
Einar H Ingman Jr, Sergeant, US Army
Hiroshi H Miyamura, Corporal, US Army
Ola L Mize, Master Sergeant, US Army
Ronald E Rosser, Corporal, US Army
Tibor Rubin, Corporal, US Army
Robert E Simanek, Private First Class, US Marine Corps
James L Stone, First Lieutenant, US Army
Ernest E West, Private First Class, US Army

Vietnam War

John P Baca, Specialist Fourth Class, US Army
John F Baker Jr, Sergeant, US Army
Donald E Ballard, Hospital Corpsman Second Class, US Navy
Harvey C Barnum Jr, Captain, US Marine Corps
Gary B Beikirch, Sergeant, US Army
Patrick H Brady, Major, US Army
Paul W Bucha, Captain, US Army
Jon R Cavaiani, Staff Sergeant, US Army
Bruce P Crandall, Major, US Army
Sammy L Davis, Sergeant, US Army
George E Day, Colonel, US Air Force
Drew D Dix, Staff Sergeant, US Army
Roger H C Donlon, Captain, US Army
Frederick E Ferguson, Chief Warrant Officer, US Army
Bernard F Fisher, Major, US Air Force
Michael J Fitzmaurice, Specialist Fourth Class, US Army
James P Fleming, Captain, US Air Force
Robert F Foley, Captain, US Army
Wesley L Fox, Captain, US Marine Corps
Harold A Fritz, Captain, US Army
Charles C Hagemeister, Specialist Fifth Class, US Army
Frank A Herda, Specialist Fourth Class, US Army
Robert R Ingram, Hospital Corpsman Third Class, US Navy
Joe M Jackson, Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force
Jack H Jacobs, Captain, US Army
Don J Jenkins, Staff Sergeant, US Army
Thomas G Kelley, Lieutenant Commander, US Navy
Allan J Kellogg Jr, Gunnery Sergeant, US Marine Corps
Joseph R Kerrey, Lieutenant (Junior Grade), US Navy
Thomas J Kinsman, Specialist Fourth Class, US Army
Howard V Lee, Major, US Marine Corps
Peter C Lemon, Sergeant, US Army
Angelo J Liteky, Captain, US Army
Gary L Littrell, Sergeant First Class, US Army
James E Livingston, Captain, US Marine Corps
Allen J Lynch, Sergeant, US Army
Walter J Marm Jr, First Lieutenant, US Army
John J McGinty III, Second Lieutenant, US Marine Corps
Robert J Modrzejewski, Major, US Marine Corps
Thomas R Norris, Lieutenant, US Navy
Robert E O'Malley, Sergeant, US Marine Corps
Robert M Patterson, Sergeant, US Army
Richard A Pittman, Sergeant, US Marine Corps
Alfred V Rascon, Specialist Fourth Class, US Army
Ronald E Ray, Captain, US Army
Gordon R Roberts, Sergeant, US Army
Clarence E Sasser, Specialist Fifth Class, US Army
James M Sprayberry, Captain, US Army
Kenneth E Stumpf, Specialist Fourth Class, US Army
James A Taylor, Captain, US Army
Brian M Thacker, First Lieutenant, US Army
Michael E Thornton, Engineman Second Class, US Navy
Leo K Thorsness, Lieutenant, US Air Force
Jay R Vargas, Major, US Marine Corps
Gary G Wetzel, Specialist Fourth Class, US Army

Afghanistan

Salvatore A Giunta, Specialist, US Army
Leroy A Petry, Staff Sergeant, US Army

That breaks down to:

14 World War II (12 Army, 2 Marine Corps)
13 Korean War (8 Army, 2 Navy and 3 Marine Corps)
55 Vietnam War (34 Army, 6 Navy, 10 Marine Corps and 5 Air Force)
2 Afghanistan (both Army)

(A Marine, Corporal Dakota Meyer, is to receive the MoH next month for his actions in Afghanistan.)

56 Army
8 Navy
15 Marine Corps
5 Air Force

(The only Coast Guardsman ever to be awarded the Medal, Signalman First Class Douglas A Munro, received it posthumously after his death at Guadalcanal in 1942.)

RIP: Charles P Murray, Jr

Charles Patrick Murray, Jr
26 Sep 1921 – 12 Aug 2011

ZUI this article from The State (Columbia SC):

Col. Charles P. Murray Jr., who received the Medal of Honor, three Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars and the French Legion of Honor for valor in World War II, passed away at his Columbia home Friday. He was 89.

*******

He is survived by his wife, Anne, son Brian of Fort Payne, Ala., and daughter Cynthia Anne of Roswell, Ga. Another son, Charles P. Murray III, of Columbia passed away in 2004.
Along with Audie Murphy, with whom he served, Murray was one of the most decorated soldiers in the most decorated division in the U.S. Army.
A Baltimore native raised in Wilmington, N.C., Murray was a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill when he enlisted in the Army Sept. 7, 1942.
Murray joined the famed 3rd Infantry Division in 1944 after it went ashore in southern France in what is termed the Forgotten D-Day — two months after the more famous D-Day in Normandy. The 3rd Infantry Division — part of an invasion force of American, British, Dutch, Canadian, French and even Italian troops — landed at St. Tropez in France and advanced up the Rhone Valley.

*******

His battalion was pinned down on a ridge under heavy fire by 200 well-entrenched Germans. Murray, using a variety of weapons, killed 20 enemy soldiers and captured 10 more, single-handedly driving the Germans from the position.
At the end of his assault, a German grenade riddled him with shrapnel, wounding him in eight places. He spent only four days in an aid station before “borrowing” a uniform and returning to his unit.

There are now 84 living Medal of Honor recipients.

************* *** *************

CHARLES PATRICK MURRAY JR

First Lieutenant, US Army; Company C, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division

Born: 26 September 1921, Baltimore, Maryland
Died: 12 August 2011, Columbia, South Carolina

Citation: For commanding Company C, 30th Infantry, displaying supreme courage and heroic initiative near Kaysersberg, France, on 16 December 1944, while leading a reinforced platoon into enemy territory. Descending into a valley beneath hilltop positions held by our troops, he observed a force of 200 Germans pouring deadly mortar, bazooka, machinegun, and small arms fire into an American battalion occupying the crest of the ridge. The enemy's position in a sunken road, though hidden from the ridge, was open to a flank attack by 1st Lt. Murray's patrol but he hesitated to commit so small a force to battle with the superior and strongly disposed enemy. Crawling out ahead of his troops to a vantage point, he called by radio for artillery fire. His shells bracketed the German force, but when he was about to correct the range his radio went dead. He returned to his patrol, secured grenades and a rifle to launch them and went back to his self-appointed outpost. His first shots disclosed his position; the enemy directed heavy fire against him as he methodically fired his missiles into the narrow defile. Again he returned to his patrol. With an automatic rifle and ammunition, he once more moved to his exposed position. Burst after burst he fired into the enemy, killing 20, wounding many others, and completely disorganizing its ranks, which began to withdraw. He prevented the removal of 3 German mortars by knocking out a truck. By that time a mortar had been brought to his support. 1st Lt. Murray directed fire of this weapon, causing further casualties and confusion in the German ranks. Calling on his patrol to follow, he then moved out toward his original objective, possession of a bridge and construction of a roadblock. He captured 10 Germans in foxholes. An eleventh, while pretending to surrender, threw a grenade which knocked him to the ground, inflicting 8 wounds. Though suffering and bleeding profusely, he refused to return to the rear until he had chosen the spot for the block and had seen his men correctly deployed. By his single-handed attack on an overwhelming force and by his intrepid and heroic fighting, 1st Lt. Murray stopped a counterattack, established an advance position against formidable odds, and provided an inspiring example for the men of his command.

Victoria Cross: A. D. Home and W. Bradshaw

ANTHONY DICKSON HOME

Surgeon, 90th Regiment

Born: 30 November 1826, Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland
Died: 10 August 1914, Kensington, West London

Citation: For persevering bravery and admirable conduct in charge of the wounded men left behind the column, when the troops under the late Major-General Havelock, forced their way into the Residency of Lucknow, on the 26th September, 1857. The escort left with the wounded had, by casualties, been reduced to a few stragglers, and being entirely separated from the column, this small party with the wounded were forced into a house, in which they defended themselves till it was set on fire. They then retreated to a shed a few yards from it, and in this place continued to defend themselves for more than twenty-two hours, till relieved. At last, only six men and Mr. Home remained to fire. Of four officers who were with the party, all were badly wounded, and three are since dead. The conduct of the defence during the latter part of the time devolved therefore on Mr. Home, and to his active exertions previously to being forced into the house, and his good conduct throughout, the safety of any of the wounded, and the successful defcnce, is mainly to be attributed.

[London Gazette issue 22174 dated 18 Jun 1858, published 18 Jun 1858.]



WILLIAM BRADSHAW

Assistant Surgeon, 90th Regiment

Born: 12 February 1830, Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland
Died: 9 March 1861, Thurles, Co Tipperary, Ireland

Citation: For intrepidity and good conduct when, ordered with Surgeon Home, 90th Regiment, to remove the wounded men left behind the column that forced its way into the Residency of Lucknow, on the 26th September, 1857. The dooly bearers had left the doolies, but by great exertions, and notwithstanding the close proximity of the sepoys, Surgeon Home, and Assistant-Surgeon Bradshaw, got some of the bearers together, and Assistant-Surgeon Bradshaw with about twenty doolies, becoming separated from the rest of the party, succeeded in reaching the Residency in safety by the river bank.

[London Gazette issue 22174 dated 18 Jun 1858, published 18 Jun 1858.]

Medal of Honor: A. Jones

ANDREW JONES

Chief Boatswain's Mate, U.S. Navy; USS Chickasaw

Born: 1835, Ireland
Died: unknown

Citation: Served as chief boatswain's mate on board the U.S. Ironclad, Chickasaw, Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Although his enlistment was up, Jones volunteered for the battle of Mobile Bay, going on board the Chickasaw from the Vincennes where he then carried out his duties gallantly throughout the engagement with the enemy which resulted in the capture of the rebel ram Tennessee.

NPR's Top 100 SF and Fantasy books

National Public Radio (NPR) just announced the results of their poll poll to find the top 100 SF and fantasy books ever published. Some of these are actually series, not just single books. Bold numbers, as usual, indicate the ones I've read.

The Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels of All Time

1. The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, by J R R Tolkien
2. The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, by Douglas Adams *
3. Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card
4. The Dune Chronicles, by Frank Herbert
5. A Song Of Ice And Fire series, by George R R Martin
6. 1984, by George Orwell
7. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
8. The Foundation Trilogy, by Isaac Asimov **
9. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
10. American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
11. The Princess Bride, by William Goldman
12. The Wheel Of Time Series, by Robert Jordan
13. Animal Farm, by George Orwell
14. Neuromancer, by William Gibson
15. Watchmen, by Alan Moore
16. I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov
17. Stranger In A Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein *
18. The Kingkiller Chronicles, by Patrick Rothfuss ***
19. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
20. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
21. Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K Dick
22. The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood
23. The Dark Tower series, by Stephen King
24. 2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C Clarke
25. The Stand, by Stephen King
26. Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson ***
27. The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury
28. Cat's Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut
29. The Sandman series, by Neil Gaiman
30. A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess
31. Starship Troopers, by Robert Heinlein
32. Watership Down, by Richard Adams
33. Dragonflight, by Anne McCaffrey
34. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, by Robert Heinlein
35. A Canticle For Leibowitz, by Walter M Miller
36. The Time Machine, by H G Wells
37. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, by Jules Verne
38. Flowers For Algernon, by Daniel Keys
39. The War Of The Worlds, by H G Wells
40. The Chronicles Of Amber, by Roger Zelazny
41. The Belgariad, by David Eddings
42. The Mists Of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley
43. The Mistborn Series, by Brandon Sanderson ***
44. Ringworld, by Larry Niven
45. The Left Hand Of Darkness, by Ursula K LeGuin
46. The Silmarillion, by J R R Tolkien *
47. The Once And Future King, by T H White
48. Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman
49. Childhood's End, by Arthur C Clarke
50. Contact, by Carl Sagan
51. The Hyperion Cantos, by Dan Simmons
52. Stardust, by Neil Gaiman
53. Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson
54. World War Z, by Max Brooks
55. The Last Unicorn, by Peter S Beagle
56. The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman
57. Small Gods, by Terry Pratchett
58. The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever, by Stephen R Donaldson *
59. The Vorkosigan Saga, by Lois McMaster Bujold
60. Going Postal, by Terry Pratchett
61. The Mote In God's Eye, by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
62. The Sword Of Truth, by Terry Goodkind ***
63. The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
64. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
65. I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson
66. The Riftwar Saga, by Raymond E Feist **
67. The Shannara trilogy, by Terry Brooks
68. The Conan the Barbarian series, by R E Howard
69. The Farseer Trilogy, by Robin Hobb ***
70. The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
71. The Way Of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson ***
72. A Journey To The Center Of The Earth, by Jules Verne
73. The Legend Of Driz'zt series, by R A Salvatore
74. Old Man's War, by John Scalzi
75. The Diamond Age, by Neil Stephenson ***
76. Rendezvous With Rama, by Arthur C Clarke
77. The Kushiel's Legacy series, by Jacqueline Carey
78. The Dispossessed, by Ursula K LeGuin
79. Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury
80. Wicked, by Gregory Maguire
81. The Malazan Book Of The Fallen series, by Steven Erikson ***
82. The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde
83. The Culture series, by Iain M Banks ***
84. The Crystal Cave, by Mary Stewart
85. Anathem, by Neal Stephenson ***
86. The Codex Alera series, by Jim Butcher
87. The Book Of The New Sun, by Gene Wolfe
88. The Thrawn trilogy, by Timothy Zahn
89. The Outlander series, by Diana Gabaldan
90. The Elric saga, by Michael Moorcock
91. The Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury
92. Sunshine, by Robin McKinley
93. A Fire Upon The Deep, by Vernor Vinge
94. The Caves Of Steel, by Isaac Asimov
95. The Mars Trilogy, by Kim Stanley Robinson
96. Lucifer's Hammer, by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
97. Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis
98. Perdido Street Station, by China Mieville
99. The Xanth series, by Piers Anthony **
100. The Space trilogy, by C S Lewis


* Started it, but couldn't finish it. (Couldn't even finish one book, if it's a series.)
** Read at least one entire book in the series, but not all of them.
*** Never heard of it.

RIP: Nancy Wake AC GM

Nancy Grace Augusta Wake AC GM

The White Mouse

30 Aug 1912 – 7 Aug 2011

ZUI this article from The Sydney Morning Herald:

Nancy Wake, whose remarkable exploits as a British agent with the French Resistance during the Second World War made her one of the most decorated servicewomen of that conflict, was born on August 30, 1912, in the back room of a weatherboard shack in Wellington, New Zealand.

*******

In 1936, she met a Marseilles millionaire, Henri Fiocca, and she married him just after World War II broke out. She settled into his Marseilles mansion, leaving journalism behind. As the Nazis crossed the French border, Wake was appalled at the ''collaborationistes'' who advocated living as comfortably as possible within the Nazi yoke.

She was never so disposed herself and only a short time after the war began, became a courier for the local Resistance movement, shifting everything from simple messages and high-tech radio parts to well-secreted cells of partisans.

*******

So busy was she that the Gestapo came to call her ''the White Mouse'', in part it seems because whenever they felt they had this beautiful woman cornered, she was able to disappear. Finally, though, the Gestapo came for her and she was only just able to escape before getting over the Pyrenees herself.

Her husband, however, was not so fortunate. After being arrested by the Gestapo, he refused to divulge her whereabouts or give an account of her activities and was summarily executed.

*******

At 1 o'clock on the morning of March 31, 1943, she was parachuted back into France into the forests of Auvergne - just to the north of the town of Clermont-Ferrand - where 7000 partisans were to be found in separate groups.

Her mission was to judge the strength of the many separate bands and then radio London a heavily coded message as to what was needed in terms of munitions.

*******

For her courage and feats during the war, Wake was awarded nine bravery medals, including the Medal of Freedom from the US, the George Medal from Britain and the Medaille de la Resistance from France. In a controversy that continued for the next five decades, she never received a medal from the Australian government on the simple grounds that she was not fighting for any of the Australian services during the war.

Despite that, in her latter years, the federal government did contact her from time to time to see if she would accept a medal. It was consistently rejected. When the Herald asked her about this in April 2000, she was typically blunt. ''The last time there was a suggestion of giving me [an Australian medal], I told the government they could stick their medals where the monkey stuck his nuts. The thing is, if they gave me a medal now, it wouldn't be given with love, so I don't want anything from them. They can bugger off.''

ZUI also this article from The Australian:

Wake helped recruit an additional 3000 fighters to build a force of about 7000. She led groups of these fighters on guerilla attacks against German troops, installations and equipment.

In one confrontation with German soldiers, she lost her radio and codes and, therefore, all ability to communicate with her controllers in Britain. It was a severe loss because without a radio she could not receive orders or advice about air drops, nor could she report the results of her sabotage missions.

It meant a hazardous bicycle ride of 500km through German checkpoints to replace her lost codes. It was a marathon effort that took more than 70 hours. "I got back and they said, 'How are you?'. I cried. I couldn't stand up, I couldn't sit down. I couldn't do anything. I just cried," Wake recalled.

The 1944 Normandy landings were approaching and the resistance was being primed to divert as many German troops as possible. Wake's groups were constantly on the move, sleeping rough and engaging the enemy in numerous firefights. Often, the local people suffered reprisals.

Wake was leading a force of more than 7000, a highly motivated army that was making life decidedly uncomfortable for about 22,000 German storm-troopers stationed in the Auvergne. In June 1944, the Germans attacked the resistance stronghold with the help of artillery and aircraft. At the end, about 1400 German soldiers lay dead; the resistance lost about 100.

During a later attack on an arms factory, Wake killed a sentry with a karate chop to the neck.

"They'd taught this judo-chop stuff with the flat of the hand at SOE, and I practised away at it. But this was the only time I used it -- whack -- and it killed him all right. I was really surprised."

There were sabotage missions, roadblocks and gun fights. Wake led an attack on Gestapo headquarters; she reputedly executed a woman who had been spying for the Germans.

In August, Paris was liberated and Wake's fighters celebrated in Vichy where she heard of her husband's fate.

*******

The French government made her a Chevalier de Legion d'Honneur, awarded her the Croix de Guerre with star and two Palms, and the Medaille de la Resistance. The British gave her the George Medal and the US awarded her the Medal of Freedom with Palm. She was also entitled to wear the British 1939-45 Star, the France and Germany Star, the British War Medal 1939-45 and the Defence Medal. She also held the New Zealand Returned and Services Association's highest honour, the badge in Gold.

Despite representations from the Returned Services League, successive Australian governments refused to recognise her heroism with an award. That was rectified in March 2004 when governor-general Michael Jeffery presented her with a Companion of the Order of Australia.

George Cross: M. Willetts

MICHAEL WILLETTS

Sergeant, 3d Battalion The Parachute Regiment

Born: 13 August 1943, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
Died: 25 May 1971, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Citation: At 8.24 p.m. on the evening of 25th May 1971, a terrorist entered the reception hall of the Springfield Road Police Station in Belfast. He carried a suitcase from which a smoking fuse protruded, dumped it quickly on the floor and fled outside. Inside the room were a man and a woman, two children and several police officers.
One of the latter saw at once the smoking case and raised the alarm. The Police Officers began to organise the evacuation of the hall past the reception desk, through the reception office and out by a door into the rear passage.
Sergeant Michael Willetts was on duty in the inner hall. Hearing the alarm, he sent an N.C.O. up to the first floor to warn those above and hastened himself to the door towards which a Police Officer was thrusting those in the reception hall and office. He held the door open while all passed safely through and then stood in the doorway, shielding those taking cover. In the next moment, the bomb exploded with terrible force.
Sergeant Willetts was mortally wounded.
His duty did not require him to enter the threatened area: his post was elsewhere. He knew well, after 4 months' service in Belfast, the peril of going towards a terrorist bomb but he did not hesitate to do so. All those approaching the door from the far side agree that if they had had to check to open the door they would have perished. Even when they had reached the rear passage, Sergeant Willetts waited, placing his body as a screen to shelter them. By this considered act of bravery, he risked — and lost — his life for those of the adults and children. His selflessness, his courage are beyond praise.

[London Gazette issue 45404 dated 22 Jun 1971, published 21 Jun 1971.]

Victoria Cross: W. N. W. Hewett

WILLIAM NATHAN WRIGHTE HEWETT

Lieutenant, Royal Navy; HMS Beagle

Born: 12 August 1834, Brighton, Sussex
Died: 13 May 1888, RNH Haslar, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Citation: 1st. On the occasion of a repulse of a sortie of Russians by Sir De Lacy Evans' Division on the 26th October, 1854, Mr. Hewett, then Acting-Mate of Her Majesty's Ship "Beagle," was in charge of the Right Lancaster Battery before Sebastopol. The advance of the Russians placed the gun in great jeopardy, their skirmishers advancing within 300 yards of the Battery, and pouring in a sharp fire from their Minié rifles. By some misapprehension the word was passed to spike the gun and retreat; but Mr. Hewett, taking upon himself the responsibility of disregarding the order, replied, that "Such order did not come from Captain Lushington, and he would not do it till it did." Mr. Hewett then pulled down the parapet of the Battery, and with the assistance of some soldiers, got his gun round, and poured upon the advancing column of Russians a most destructive and effective fire.
For the gallantry exhibited on this occasion, the Board of Admiralty promoted him to the rank of Lieutenant.
2nd. On the 5th November, 1854, at the Battle of Inkerman, Captain Lushington again brought before the Commander-in-chief the services of Mr. Hewett, saying, "I have much pleasure in again bringing Mr. Hewett's gallant conduct to your notice."
(Sir S. Lushington to Vice-Admiral Sir J. D. Dundas, inclosed in despatches of 1st November, 1854, and 8th November, 1854).

[London Gazette issue 21971 dated 24 Feb 1857, published 24 Feb 1857.]


Note: At the timeof his death he was Vice Admiral Sir William Hewett VC KCB KCSI.

Medal of Honor: M. M. M. Van Iersel

LUDOVICUS M M VAN IERSEL

Sergeant, US Army; Company M, 9th Infantry, 2d Division

Born: 19 October 1893, Holland
Died: 9 June 1987

Citation: While a member of the reconnaissance patrol, sent out at night to ascertain the condition of a damaged bridge [at Mouzon, France, on 9 November 1918], Sgt. Van Iersel volunteered to lead a party across the bridge in the face of heavy machinegun and rifle fire from a range of only 75 yards. Crawling alone along the debris of the ruined bridge he came upon a trap, which gave away and precipitated him into the water. In spite of the swift current he succeeded in swimming across the stream and found a lodging place among the timbers on the opposite bank. Disregarding the enemy fire, he made a careful investigation of the hostile position by which the bridge was defended and then returned to the other bank of the river, reporting this valuable information to the battalion commander.

Book list - Jul 11

The Making of Man - children's palaeoanthropology, by Dr I W Cornwall (Carnegie Medal, 1960)
Jordan Freeman Was My Friend - children's historical fiction, by Richard White
Blind Justice - historical mystery, by Bruce Alexander
Stork Raving Mad - mystery, by Donna Andrews
The Kindling - YA postapocalyptic, by Jennifer Armstrong and Nancy Butcher
Side Jobs - modern fantasy (short stories), by Jim Butcher
Time of Trial - children's historical fiction, by Hester Burton (Carnegie Medal, 1963)
Once & Future Giants: What Ice Age Extinctions Tell Us About the Fate of Earth's Largest Animals - ecology, by Sharon Levy
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate - YA historical fiction, by Jacqueline Kelly
The Real Macaw - mystery, by Donna Andrews
Josh - children's, by Ivan Southall (Carnegie Medal, 1971)
A Flock of Ships - WWII fiction, by Brian Callison *


Twelve books last month, with only one reread (marked by an asterisk). I'm not setting an official goal this year, though I do expect to read around 150 books.

The three Carnegie Medal winners bring me up to 55 of 72. My thanks to the J Eugene Smith Library, Eastern Connecticut State College, Willimantic CT; the Connecticut State Library Library Service Centre, Willimantic CT; and the Fletcher Memorial Library, Hampton CT, for the ILLs.

FY12 CPO selectees

The list is out.

Was beginning to think I wouldn't see any names I knew, but finally found a nuc MM and a shower sonar tech, both from Prov. It's been eight years since I retired,* so between time and forgetfulness I imagine I won't see many more names I recognise on the CPO lists in the future....

Congratulations to all of the new selectees!


* Hard to believe it's been 16 years since I left Jax, 19 since I left Simon Lake and 22 since I left Oly!

Victoria Cross: Yeshwant Ghadge

YESHWANT GHADGE

Naik, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry, Indian Army

Born: 16 November 1921, Palasgaon Village, India
Died: 10 July 1944, Upper Tiber Valley, Italy

Citation: In Italy, on l0th July, 1944, a Company of the 5th Mahratta Light Infantry attacked a position strongly defended by the enemy.
During this attack a rifle section commanded by Naik Yeshwant Ghadge came under heavy machine-gun fire at close range, which killed or wounded all members of the section except the commander. Without hesitation, and well knowing that none were left to accompany him, Naik Yeshwant Ghadge rushed the machine gun post. He first threw a grenade which knocked out the machine gun and firer, after which he shot one of the gun crew with his Tommygun. Finally, having no time to change his magazine, he grasped his gun by the barrel and beat to death the remaining two men of the gun crew. Unfortunately Naik Yeshwant Ghadge was shot in the chest and back by enemy snipers and died in the post which he had captured single handed.
The courage, determination, and devotion to duty of this Indian N.C.O. in a situation where he knew the odds against him gave little hope of survival were outstanding.

[London Gazette issue 36774 dated 2 Nov 1944, published 31 Oct 1944.]

Medal of Honor: J. J. Kelly

JOHN JOSEPH KELLY

Private, US Marine Corps; 78th Company, 6th Regiment, 2nd Marine Division

Born: 24 June 1898, Chicago, Illinois
Died: 20 November 1957, Chicago, Illinois

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 78th Company, 6th Regiment, 2d Division, in action with the enemy at Blanc Mont Ridge, France, 3 October 1918. Pvt. Kelly ran through our own barrage a hundred yards in advance of the front line and attacked an enemy machinegun nest, killing the gunner with a grenade, shooting another member of the crew with his pistol, and returning through the barrage with 8 prisoners.


Citation: Pvt. Kelly ran through our own barrage 100 yards in advance of the front line and attacked an enemy machinegun nest, killing the gunner with a grenade, shooting another member of the crew with his pistol, and returning through the barrage with 8 prisoners.


Note: Kelly was one of five Marines who received both Navy and Army medals for the same action. (Two of these double awards were for this battle in October, 1918; one had been awarded in June, 1918, and the other two were awarded for a battle in July of that year.)

Victoria Cross: A. S. Cobbe

ALEXANDER STANHOPE COBBE, DSO

Captain (local Lieutenant-Colonel), Indian Army; 1st (Central Africa) Battalion, King's African Rifles

Born: 5 June 1870, Naini Tal, India
Died: 29 June 1931, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire

Citation: During the action at Erego, on 6th October, 1902, when some of the Companies had retired, Lieutenant-Colonel Cobbe was left by himself in front of the line, with a Maxim gun. Without assistance he brought in the Maxim, and worked it at a most critical time. He then went out under an extremely hot fire from the enemy about 20 yards in front of him, and from his own men (who had retired) about the same distance behind, and succeeded in carrying in a wounded Orderly. Colonel Swayne, who was in command of the Force, personally witnessed this Officer's conduct, which he describes as most gallant.

[London Gazette issue 27517 dated 20 Jan 1903, published 20 Jan 1903.]


Notes: At the time of his death he was General Sir Alexander Stanhope Cobbe VC GCB KCSI DSO.
Erego (or Erigo) is in Somalia.

Medal of Honor: J. R. Kerrey

JOSEPH R KERREY

Lieutenant, Junior Grade, US Naval Reserve; Sea, Air, and Land Team (SEAL)

Born: 27 August 1943, Lincoln, Nebraska
Died: TBD

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 [near Nha Trang Bay, Republic of Vietnam, on 14 March 1969]. Acting in response to reliable intelligence, Lt. (J.G..) Kerrey led his SEAL team on a mission to capture important members of the enemy's area political cadre known to be located on an island in the bay of Nha Trang. In order to surprise the enemy, he and his team scaled a 350-foot sheer cliff to place themselves above the ledge on which the enemy was located. Splitting his team in 2 elements and coordinating both, Lt. (J.G..) Kerrey led his men in the treacherous downward descent to the enemy's camp. Just as they neared the end of their descent, intense enemy fire was directed at them, and Lt. (J.G.) Kerrey received massive injuries from a grenade which exploded at his feet and threw him backward onto the jagged rocks. Although bleeding profusely and suffering great pain, he displayed outstanding courage and presence of mind in immediately directing his element's fire into the heart of the enemy camp. Utilizing his radioman, Lt. (J.G.) Kerrey called in the second element's fire support which caught the confused Viet Cong in a devastating crossfire. After successfully suppressing the enemy's fire, and although immobilized by his multiple wounds, he continued to maintain calm, superlative control as he ordered his team to secure and defend an extraction site. Lt. (J.G.) Kerrey resolutely directed his men, despite his near unconscious state, until he was eventually evacuated by helicopter. The havoc brought to the enemy by this very successful mission cannot be over-estimated. The enemy soldiers who were captured provided critical intelligence to the allied effort. Lt. (J.G.) Kerrey's courageous and inspiring leadership, valiant fighting spirit, and tenacious devotion to duty in the face of almost overwhelming opposition sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

Medal of Honor to be awarded for Afghanistan

ZUI this article from The Adair Progress (Columbia KY):

Dakota Meyer, a Marine from Adair County, will receive the nation’s highest military award, the Medal of Honor, from President Barrak [sic] Obama for his heroic actions during a firefight in Afghanistan.
According to the Marine Corps Times, President Obama contacted Meyer on Monday to inform him of the decision to award him the Medal of Honor. Meyer ... becomes the first living Marine to receive the Medal of Honor in 41 years, and is only the third living Medal of Honor recipient from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Meyer is being honored for the actions he took in a firefight that occurred in the remote village of Ganjgal in Eastern Afghanistan on Sept. 8, 2009.

*******

The date when President Obama will present Meyer with the Medal of Honor has not yet been announced. More details will be made available later.

According to the Marine Corps Times, two other Marines will receive the Navy Cross for heroism at Ganjgal.

Medal of Honor awarded for Afghanistan

Forgot to post this last week because I was distracted by getting ready for my vacation....

ZUI this article from ABC News:

Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry was honored at the Pentagon today for the heroism that cost him his right hand but saved the lives of two of his fellow soldiers.

Petry is only the second living recipient of the nation's highest award for valor in the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq.

President Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Petry on Tuesday at a White House ceremony, at which he said the Army Ranger's service "speaks to the very essence of America -- the spirit that says no matter how hard the journey, no matter how steep the climb, we don't quit."

*******

Petry lost his right hand on May 26, 2008 during what his platoon commander described as one of the most complex Special Operations raids ever conducted in Afghanistan at the time. A platoon of Rangers was targeting a high-value target hiding in a compound in eastern Afghanistan.

Special Operations forces typically conduct their missions at night, but this mission was more dangerous because it was conducted during daylight. Almost immediately after getting out of their helicopters, the Rangers came under strong enemy fire.
*******

When asked by a reporter what message he had for younger soldiers about what they could learn from his experience, Petry said, "Give it your best. Always put your faith in those to your left and right, and may y'all come home safe. And thank you."

ZUI also this ABC News blog post. The president's remarks from the presentation are here.

************* *** *************

LEROY ARTHUR PETRY

Staff Sergeant, US Army; D Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment

Born: 29 July 1979, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Died: TBD

Citation: Staff Sergeant Leroy A. Petry distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy in the vicinity of Paktya Province, Afghanistan, on May 26, 2008. As a Weapons Squad Leader with D Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Staff Sergeant Petry moved to clear the courtyard of a house that potentially contained high-value combatants. While crossing the courtyard, Staff Sergeant Petry and another Ranger were engaged and wounded by automatic weapons fire from enemy fighters. Still under enemy fire, and wounded in both legs, Staff Sergeant Petry led the other Ranger to cover. He then reported the situation and engaged the enemy with a hand grenade, providing suppression as another Ranger moved to his position. The enemy quickly responded by maneuvering closer and throwing grenades. The first grenade explosion knocked his two fellow Rangers to the ground and wounded both with shrapnel. A second grenade then landed only a few feet away from them. Instantly realizing the danger, Staff Sergeant Petry, unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his safety, deliberately and selflessly moved forward, picked up the grenade, and in an effort to clear the immediate threat, threw the grenade away from his fellow Rangers. As he was releasing the grenade it detonated, amputating his right hand at the wrist and further injuring him with multiple shrapnel wounds. Although picking up and throwing the live grenade grievously wounded Staff Sergeant Petry, his gallant act undeniably saved his fellow Rangers from being severely wounded or killed. Despite the severity of his wounds, Staff Sergeant Petry continued to maintain the presence of mind to place a tourniquet on his right wrist before communicating the situation by radio in order to coordinate support for himself and his fellow wounded Rangers. Staff Sergeant Petry's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service, and reflect great credit upon himself, 75th Ranger Regiment, and the United States Army.

Victoria Cross: B. S. Gordon

BERNARD SIDNEY GORDON, MM

Lance Corporal, 41st Battalion (Queensland) Australian Imperial Force

Born: 16 August 1891, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Died: 19 October 1963, Torquay, Queensland, Australia

Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 26/27th August, 1918, east of Bray.
He led his section through heavy shell fire to the objective, which he consolidated. Single-handed he attacked an enemy machine gun which was enfilading the company on his right, killed the man on the gun, and captured the post, which contained one officer and ten men. He then cleared up a trench, capturing twenty-nine prisoners and two machine guns. In clearing up further trenches he captured twenty-two prisoners, including one officer, and three machine guns.
Practically unaided, he captured, in the course of these operations, two officers and sixty-one other ranks, together with six machine guns, and displayed throughout a wonderful example of fearless initiative.

[London Gazette issue 31082 dated 24 Dec 1918, published 24 Dec 1918.]

Medal of Honor: J. Trautman

JACOB TRAUTMAN

First Sergeant, Company I, 7th US Cavalry

Born: 1840, Germany
Died: 7 November 1898, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Citation: Killed a hostile Indian at close quarters [at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota, on 29 December 1890], and, although entitled to retirement from service, remained to the close of the campaign.

Victoria Cross: J. J. Farmer

JOSEPH JOHN FARMER

Provisional Lance-Corporal, Army Hospital Corps

Born: 5 May 1855, Clerkenwell, London
Died: 30 June 1930, Northwood, Middlesex

Citation: For conspicuous bravery during the engagement with the Boers at the Majuba Mountain, on the 27th February, 1881, when he showed a spirit of self-abnegation and an example of cool courage which cannot be too highly commended.
While the Boers closed with the British troops near the wells, Corporal Farmer held a white flag over the wounded, and when the arm holding the flag was shot through, he called out that he had "another." He then raised the flag with the other arm, and continued to do so until that also was pierced with a bullet.

[London Gazette issue 24973 dated 17 May 1881, published 17 May 1881.]


Note: Majuba Hill is near Volksrust, South Africa. This was the main battle of the First Boer War, and was a decisive victory for the Boers.

Medal of Honor: E. S. Michael

EDWARD STANLEY MICHAEL

First Lieutenant, US Army Air Corps; 364th Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomber Group

Born: 2 May 1918, Chicago, Illinois
Died: 10 May 1994, Utah(?)

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as pilot of a B17 aircraft on a heavy-bombardment mission to Germany, 11 April 1944. The group in which 1st Lt. Michael was flying was attacked by a swarm of fighters. His plane was singled out and the fighters pressed their attacks home recklessly, completely disregarding the Allied fighter escort and their own intense flak. His plane was riddled from nose to tail with exploding cannon shells and knocked out of formation, with a large number of fighters following it down, blasting it with cannon fire as it descended. A cannon shell exploded in the cockpit, wounded the copilot, wrecked the instruments, and blew out the side window. 1st Lt. Michael was seriously and painfully wounded in the right thigh. Hydraulic fluid filmed over the windshield making visibility impossible, and smoke filled the cockpit. The controls failed to respond and 3,000 feet were lost before he succeeded in leveling off. The radio operator informed him that the whole bomb bay was in flames as a result of the explosion of 3 cannon shells, which had ignited the incendiaries. With a full load of incendiaries in the bomb bay and a considerable gas load in the tanks, the danger of fire enveloping the plane and the tanks exploding seemed imminent. When the emergency release lever failed to function, 1st Lt. Michael at once gave the order to bail out and 7 of the crew left the plane. Seeing the bombardier firing the navigator's gun at the enemy planes, 1st Lt. Michael ordered him to bail out as the plane was liable to explode any minute. When the bombardier looked for his parachute he found that it had been riddled with 20mm. fragments and was useless. 1st Lt. Michael, seeing the ruined parachute, realized that if the plane was abandoned the bombardier would perish and decided that the only chance would be a crash landing. Completely disregarding his own painful and profusely bleeding wounds, but thinking only of the safety of the remaining crewmembers, he gallantly evaded the enemy, using violent evasive action despite the battered condition of his plane. After the plane had been under sustained enemy attack for fully 45 minutes, 1st Lt. Michael finally lost the persistent fighters in a cloud bank. Upon emerging, an accurate barrage of flak caused him to come down to treetop level where flak towers poured a continuous rain of fire on the plane. He continued into France, realizing that at any moment a crash landing might have to be attempted, but trying to get as far as possible to increase the escape possibilities if a safe landing could be achieved. 1st Lt. Michael flew the plane until he became exhausted from the loss of blood, which had formed on the floor in pools, and he lost consciousness. The copilot succeeded in reaching England and sighted an RAF field near the coast. 1st Lt. Michael finally regained consciousness and insisted upon taking over the controls to land the plane. The undercarriage was useless; the bomb bay doors were jammed open; the hydraulic system and altimeter were shot out. In addition, there was no airspeed indicator, the ball turret was jammed with the guns pointing downward, and the flaps would not respond. Despite these apparently insurmountable obstacles, he landed the plane without mishap.

George Cross: Rev. H. C. Pugh

HERBERT CECIL PUGH

Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Born: 2 November 1898, Johannesburg, South Africa
Died: 5 July 1941, Atlantic Ocean (aboard HM Transport Anselm)

Citation: The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the GEORGE CROSS to: —
The Reverend Herbert Cecil PUGH, M.A. (Oxon.), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (deceased).
The Reverend H. C. Pugh, after seeing service in this country, was posted to Takoradi and embarked on H.M.T. Anselm, carrying over 1,300 passengers, for West Africa at the end of June, 1941. She was torpedoed in the Atlantic [north of the Azores] in the early hours of the 5th July, 1941. One torpedo hit a hold on Deck C, destroying the normal means of escape. Mr. Pugh came up on deck in a dressing gown and gave all the help he could. He seemed to be everywhere at once, doing his best to comfort the injured, helping with the boats and rafts (two of these were rendered unserviceable as a result of the explosion) and visiting the different lower sections where the men were quartered. When he learned that a number of injured airmen were trapped in the damaged hold, he insisted on being lowered into it with a rope. Everyone demurred because the hold was below the water line and already the decks were awash and to go down was to go to certain death. He simply explained that he must be where his men were. The deck level was already caving in and the hold was three parts full of water so that, when he knelt to pray, the water reached his shoulders. Within a few minutes the ship plunged and sank and Mr. Pugh was never seen again. He had every opportunity of saving his own life but, without regard to his own safety and in the best tradition of the Service and of a Christian Minister, he gave up his life for others.

[London Gazette issue 37920 dated 1 Apr 1947, published 28 Mar 1947.]

Victoria Cross: E. P. Leach

EDWARD PEMBERTON LEACH

Captain, Royal Engineers

Born: 2 April 1847, Londonderry, County Londonderry, Ireland
Died: 27 April 1913, Caddenabbia, Lake Como, Italy

Citation: For having, in action with the Shinwarris near Maidanah, Afghanistan, on the 17th March, 1879, when covering the retirement of the Survey Escort who were carrying Lieutenant Barclay, 45th Sikhs, mortally wounded, behaved with the utmost gallantry in charging, with some men of the 45th Sikhs, a very much larger number of the enemy.
In this encounter Captain Leach killed two or three of the enemy himself, and he received a severe wound from an Afghan knife in the left arm. Captain Leach's determination and gallantry in this affair, in attacking and driving back the enemy from the last position, saved the whole party from annihilation.

[London Gazette issue 24790 dated 9 Dec 1879, published 9 Dec 1879.]


Note: The Shinwari are a Pashtun tribe of western Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan.