God almighty. For no particular reason, I was over at the website of The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, reading citations for the highest military medal in the land. These stories are absolutely incredible.
I like to think I am a tough guy. But I read about the exploits of the men that fought WWII and I realize just what a wuss I really am.
I too am in awe when I read these stories.
Yeah, that’s pretty incredible. Apparently his medal was so long delayed because of Army anti-semitism. That’s a tragedy. I hope part of his family was still alive to see the medal bestowed.
There was a time when such men were celebrated; every schoolboy knew the names of Audie Murphy and Alvin York.
We still produce them, but do not acknowledge them.
Yes, the Medal of Honor is not something you consciously aim for, like an Oscar or some other prize. The men who have earned one have generally gone through complete hell.
And from what I can tell, most of them died in action and were awarded the CMOH posthumously.
Ogre
I believe 70% of the time, the Medal of Honor is awarded posthumously.
I was thinking about that. I wonder if there’s any way to raise the profiles of these soldiers in the public eye. I know that their bravery shines all on its own, but it seems like the American public should know each of their stories.
Do you think it would cheapen their memories if someone like the History Channel did a series based on them, say, one per episode?
Bo-ring. I wanna see another show about Hitler!
Or mebbe the mysteries of the Sphinx.
When my brothers were little and there was nothing on TV, we’d roll dice to see who got to choose a movie. Depending on who chose one, “Sergeant York” and “Los Últimos de Filipinas” were it.
But now it’s politically incorrect to enjoy war movies, at least hereabouts (I’m in Spain). When forced to watch something like that, you’re expected to complain about the brutality, not say “wow, what a guy!”
On the other hand, a movie where some dude (who may or may not be a cop, forensic doctor or assistant district attorney) goes into some house where there may or may not be gangsta’s holed up firing both guns at the same time is perfectly fine a thing to enjoy. Go figure.
During Ancient Roman times, Sulla passed a law that any soldier who had won a military crown had to wear it in public and receive a standing ovation whenever he appeared in the Senate.
I think I could go along with something like that.
Unfortunately, I don’t think you’d get much help from the living winners themselves. Each of the four MOH recipients I’ve met and interviewed downplayed the actions for which they were awarded the medal. To a man, they deferred to their buddies and wanted me to write about them. Most felt that they received their award for their unit’s actions, not their personal actions, though after some research I felt they couldn’t be more wrong.
This may be one of the best posts I’ve ever read on the Dope.
I remember reading one very similar where two men were carrying a 3rd wounded man. They were running away from the approaching enemies. The wounded man told the other two to leave him behind because they would all get killed. They left him a pistol with X ammount of rounds in it. When they found the body there were X+2 dead Japanesse on the ground… Apparently he knifed one and just strangled another. I am trying to find his name
Some episodes of **Dog Fight! ** recognize MOH winners. Particularly in the Pacific Theatre.
I don’t mean this snarkily, but I don’t think you’ll ever see such praise again until there’s another Hitler. Whether the men are heroes or not, the heroes of an unpopular war are unlikely to receive universal applause regardless that the unpopularity has little to nothing to do with the men themselves or their reasons for joining the military.
I remember a little while back, (post 9/11) how an airport security guard almost confiscated a CMoH from it’s owner because ‘it looked too dangerous’ to allow him to take on the plane. Never mind that the owner was fairly old as well but the guy didn’t even know what it was he held in his hand.
Speaking of this, have any MoH been awarded in the Iraq or Afghanistan theaters?