# Neither mundane nor pointless: The Congressional Medal of Honor **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 22, 2008, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698 "2008-02-22T05:59:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/1 "2008-02-22T05:59:35Z")
God almighty. For no particular reason, I was over at the website of [The Congressional Medal of Honor Society](http://www.cmohs.org/), reading citations for the highest military medal in the land. These stories are absolutely incredible. > [@](#): > > Captain Ben L. Salomon was serving at Saipan, in the Marianas Islands on July 7, 1944, as the Surgeon for the 2nd Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division. The Regiment’s 1st and 2d Battalions were attacked by an overwhelming force estimated between 3,000 and 5,000 Japanese soldiers. It was one of the largest attacks attempted in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Although both units fought furiously, the enemy soon penetrated the Battalions’ combined perimeter and inflicted overwhelming casualties. In the first minutes of the attack, approximately 30 wounded soldiers walked, crawled, or were carried into Captain Salomon’s aid station, and the small tent soon filled with wounded men. As the perimeter began to be overrun, it became increasingly difficult for Captain Salomon to work on the wounded. He then saw a Japanese soldier bayoneting one of the wounded soldiers lying near the tent. Firing from a squatting position, Captain Salomon quickly killed the enemy soldier. Then, as he turned his attention back to the wounded, two more Japanese soldiers appeared in the front entrance of the tent. As these enemy soldiers were killed, four more crawled under the tent walls. Rushing them, Captain Salomon kicked the knife out of the hand of one, shot another, and bayoneted a third. Captain Salomon butted the fourth enemy soldier in the stomach and a wounded comrade then shot and killed the enemy soldier. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Captain Salomon ordered the wounded to make their way as best they could back to the regimental aid station, while he attempted to hold off the enemy until they were clear. Captain Salomon then grabbed a rifle from one of the wounded and rushed out of the tent. After four men were killed while manning a machine gun, Captain Salomon took control of it. When his body was later found, 98 dead enemy soldiers were piled in front of his position. Captain Salomon’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/2 "2008-02-22T06:06:27Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/3 "2008-02-22T06:06:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/4 "2008-02-22T06:14:05Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/5 "2008-02-22T06:15:37Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/6 "2008-02-22T06:22:46Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] 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. [/QUOTE] And from what I can tell, most of them died in action and were awarded the CMOH posthumously. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/7 "2008-02-22T06:26:48Z")
**Ogre** I believe 70% of the time, the Medal of Honor is awarded posthumously. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/8 "2008-02-22T07:09:50Z")
[QUOTE=furt] 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. [/QUOTE] 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? ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/9 "2008-02-22T07:46:52Z")
[QUOTE=Ogre] 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? [/QUOTE] Bo-_ring_. I wanna see another show about Hitler! Or mebbe the mysteries of the Sphinx. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/10 "2008-02-22T08:22:46Z")
[QUOTE=Ogre] 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? [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/11 "2008-02-22T12:57:35Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/12 "2008-02-22T13:09:34Z")
[QUOTE=Ogre] Do you think it would cheapen their memories if someone like the History Channel did a series based on them, say, one per episode? [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/13 "2008-02-22T14:23:05Z")
[QUOTE=furt] 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. [/QUOTE] This may be one of the best posts I’ve ever read on the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/14 "2008-02-22T18:56:26Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/15 "2008-02-22T19:05:11Z")
[QUOTE=Ogre] Do you think it would cheapen their memories if someone like the History Channel did a series based on them, say, one per episode? [/QUOTE] Some episodes of \*\*Dog Fight! \*\* recognize MOH winners. Particularly in the Pacific Theatre. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/16 "2008-02-22T19:15:42Z")
[QUOTE=furt] 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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/17 "2008-02-22T19:22:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/18 "2008-02-22T19:26:55Z")
[QUOTE=Sage Rat] 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. [/QUOTE] Speaking of this, have any MoH been awarded in the Iraq or Afghanistan theaters? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/19 "2008-02-22T19:33:24Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] Speaking of this, have any MoH been awarded in the Iraq or Afghanistan theaters? [/QUOTE] Navy [Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy](http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=32528) USMC Corporal Jason Dunham [and](http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/iraq.html) US Army SFC Paul R. Smith ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698/20 "2008-02-22T19:39:13Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] Speaking of this, have any MoH been awarded in the Iraq or Afghanistan theaters? [/QUOTE] [Two for Iraq, one for Afghanistan.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Medal_of_Honor_recipients) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless-the-congressional-medal-of-honor/438698.md?page=2)