We would do well to honor & remember Francis Flaherty, who gave up his life 82 years & one day ago, staying in the turret of the capsizing USS Oklahoma after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, guiding his fellow sailors to safety, & earning the Medal of Honor posthumously. Flaherty, from Charlotte, Michigan and raised Catholic, joined the Navy … Read More
December 5 William McWhorter Medal of Honor
I am pausing to remember William McWhorter today, a 26 year old private who earned the Medal of Honor posthumously OTD 80 years ago, when he smothered a Japanese grenade with his body, saving the lives of two fellow Americans, William Brooks and George Panzer. McWhorter was from Liberty, South Carolina. He was with the 32nd Infantry Division in 1944 … Read More
December 4 George Washington Bids Farewell
It’s worth pausing on this Monday to remember what the greatest American, George Washington, did on this day, 241 years ago. It was a remarkable act, unparalleled in history, and one which caused his former sovereign and more recent enemy to call Washington “the greatest man of the age.” On this day, Washington walked away from power, saying farewell to … Read More
December 3 Pedro Cano Medal of Honor
We should honor and remember Pedro Cano today, who earned the Medal of Honor for his leadership on this day 79 years ago in World War II, by exposing himself to ferocious German fire to blast his bazooka at machine gun nests pinning down his company in the Hurtgen Forest. As part of the 8th Infantry Regiment of the 4th … Read More
December 2 William Windrich Medal of Honor
Please help me honor and remember the incredible Marine Corps Staff Sergeant William Windrich, who earned the Medal of Honor posthumously during the Chosin Reservoir withdrawal, for leading his Marines in a valiant defense of hill 1520 against Chinese communist forces. Though badly wounded, he stayed in the fight, rallying his men until he succumbed to his wounds. A native … Read More
Don Carlos Faith Medal of Honor
I am remembering Don Carlos Faith today, an incredible Army officer who earned the Medal of Honor posthumously for his leadership and courage in the Korean War, when he led his battalion and disparate Army troops in a fighting withdrawal to Hagu-Ri. Faith, the son of an Army general, went to Georgetown University because he was medically unfit for West … Read More
November 30 The USS Archerfish
I really enjoyed learning about the USS Archerfish, whose crew sank the largest warship ever, the Japanese aircraft carrier “Shinano” on this day 79 years ago. It’s also the remarkable story of the ship’s captain, Jospeh Enright, who failed as a leader but who got back in the saddle and redeemed himself. Enright and his crew were off of Hokkaido … Read More
November 29 Andrew Miller Medal of Honor
Andrew Miller, an Army Staff Sergeant, earned the Medal of Honor posthumously for a sequence of especially heroic deeds between November 16 and November 29, 1944. The following is from his Medal of Honor citation. November 16, 1944 – As he led a rifle squad on 16 November at Woippy, a crossfire from enemy machineguns pinned down his unit. Ordering … Read More
November 28 William Barber Medal of Honor
Today is a day to honor and remember the incredible leadership and courage of William Barber, as well as all of the Marines of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, who fought off at least a communist Chinese regiment to protect their fellow Marines withdrawing from the Chosin Reservoir. For six days and five nights, Barber and his Marines defended … Read More
November 27 Marcario García Medal of Honor
Today, I learned about United States Army Marcario García, who earned the Medal of Honor in 1944 when he single-handedly charges German machine guns that had pinned down his company’s advance through Grosshau, Germany. He destroyed two guns and captured four Germans. Garcia was wounded and only let himself be evacuated when his company had seized its objective. The Staff … Read More