Post a Decorated Soldier [Archive]

BadKarma26

08-24-2006, 03:03 PM

http://www.medalofhonor.com/RandallShughart_GaryGordon.jpg

Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, U.S. Army. Place and date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. Entered service at: ----- Born: Lincoln, Maine. Citation: Master Sergeant Gordon, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as Sniper Team Leader, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Master Sergeant Gordon's sniper team provided precision fires from the lead helicopter during an assault and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires.

When Master Sergeant Gordon learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the second crash site, he and another sniper unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After his third request to be inserted, Master Sergeant Gordon received permission to perform his volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Master Sergeant Gordon was inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon and his fellow sniper, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members.

Master Sergeant Gordon immediately pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Master Sergeant Gordon used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers until he depleted his ammunition. Master Sergeant Gordon then went back to the wreckage, recovering some of the crew's weapons and ammunition. Despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition, he provided some of it to the dazed pilot and then radioed for help. Master Sergeant Gordon continued to travel the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. After his team member was fatally wounded and his own rifle ammunition exhausted, Master Sergeant Gordon returned to the wreckage, recovering a rifle with the last five rounds of ammunition and gave it to the pilot with the words, "good luck."

Then, armed only with his pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon continued to fight until he was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Master Sergeant Gordon's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.

Rakkasans

08-24-2006, 03:11 PM

11609

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company B, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Holtzwihr France, 26 January 1945.

Entered service at: Dallas, Tex. Birth: Hunt County, near Kingston, Tex.

G.O. No.65, 9 August 1945.

CITATION For CMOH: 2d Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by 6 tanks and waves of infantry. 2d Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to prepared positions in a woods, while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone. Behind him, to his right, 1 of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. 2d Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2d Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from 3 sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate 2d Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down by his fire. He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50. 2d Lt. Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction, and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy's objective.

Murphy is considered by most as America's most decorated soldier in WW2. He received every decoration for valor that the USA had to offer plus 5 decorations presented to him by France and Belgium. A complete list of his awards and their citations can be found here: http://www.audiemurphy.com/awards.htm

Ratamacue

08-24-2006, 03:13 PM

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/3659/470pxpaigemqj8.th.jpg (http://img168.imageshack.us/my.php?image=470pxpaigemqj8.jpg)

PAIGE, MITCHELL
Rank and organization: Platoon Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. Place and date: Solomon Islands, 26 October 1942. Entered service at: Pennsylvania. Born: 31 August 1918, Charleroi, Pa.

Citation: For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with a company of marines in combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands on 26 October 1942. When the enemy broke through the line directly in front of his position, P/Sergeant. Paige, commanding a machinegun section with fearless determination, continued to direct the fire of his gunners until all his men were either killed or wounded. Alone, against the deadly hail of Japanese shells, he fought with his gun and when it was destroyed, took over another, moving from gun to gun, never ceasing his withering fire against the advancing hordes until reinforcements finally arrived. Then, forming a new line, he dauntlessly and aggressively led a bayonet charge, driving the enemy back and preventing a breakthrough in our lines. His great personal valor and unyielding devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

BadKarma26

08-24-2006, 03:19 PM

BadKarma26

08-24-2006, 03:21 PM

11609

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company B, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Holtzwihr France, 26 January 1945.

Entered service at: Dallas, Tex. Birth: Hunt County, near Kingston, Tex.

G.O. No.65, 9 August 1945.

CITATION: 2d Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by 6 tanks and waves of infantry. 2d Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to prepared positions in a woods, while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone. Behind him, to his right, 1 of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. 2d Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2d Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from 3 sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate 2d Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down by his fire. He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50. 2d Lt. Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction, and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy's objective.

Murphy is considered by most as America's most decorated soldier in WW2. He received every decoration for valor that the USA had to offer plus 5 decorations presented to him by France and Belgium. A complete list of his awards and their citations can be found here: http://www.audiemurphy.com/awards.htm

Good choice highspeed. Yo you are 101st?

wubanga101

08-24-2006, 03:31 PM

Lieutenant General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller was a colorful veteran of the Korean War, four World War II campaigns, and expeditionary service in China, Nicaragua, and Haiti. He was the only Marine to win the Navy Cross five times for heroism and gallantry in combat.
A Marine officer and enlisted man for 37 years, General Puller served at sea or overseas for all but ten of those years, including a hitch as commander of the "Horse Marines" in China. Excluding medals from foreign governments, he won a total of 14 personal decorations in combat, plus a long list of campaign medals, unit citation ribbons and other awards. In addition to the Navy Crosses, the highest honor the Navy can bestow, he holds its Army equivalent, the Distinguished Service Cross.
Born 26 June 1898, at West Point, Virginia, the general attended Virginia Military Institute until enlisting in the Marine Corps in August 1918. He was appointed a Marine Reserve second lieutenant 16 June 1919, but due to force reductions after World War I, was placed on inactive duty ten days later. He rejoined the Marines as an enlisted man to serve with the Gendarmerie d'Haiti, a military force in that country under a treaty with the United States. Most of its officers were U. S. Marines, while its enlisted personnel were Haitians.
After almost five years in Haiti, where he saw frequent action against the Caco rebels, Puller returned in March 1924 to the United States. He was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant that same month, and during the next two years, served at the Marine Barracks, Norfolk, Virginia, completed the Basic School at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and served with the 10th Marine Regiment at Quantico, Virginia.
In July of 1926, Puller embarked for a two-year tour of duty at the Marine Barracks, Pearl Harbor. Returning in June 1928, he served in San Diego, California, until he joined the Nicaraguan National Guard Detachment that December. After winning his first Navy Cross in Nicaragua, he returned to the United States in July 1931 to enter the Company Officers Course at the Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia. He completed the course in June 1932 and returned to Nicaragua the following month to begin the tour of duty that brought him a second Navy Cross.
In January 1933, Puller left Nicaragua for the United States. A month later he sailed from San Francisco to join the Marine Detachment of the American Legation at Peiping, China. There, in addition to other duties, he commanded the famed "Horse Marines." Without coming back to the United States, he began a tour of sea duty in USS AUGUSTA of the Asiatic Fleet. In June 1936 he returned to the United States to become an instructor in the Basic School at Philadelphia. He left there in May 1939 to serve another year as commander of the AUGUSTA's Marine Detachment, and from that cruiser, joined the 4th Marine Regiment at Shanghai, China, in May 1940.
After serving as a battalion executive and commanding officer with the 4th Marines, Puller sailed for the United States in August 1941. In September, he took command of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, at Camp Lejeune. That Regiment was detached from the 1st Division in March 1942 and the following month, as part of the 3rd Marine Brigade, sailed for the Pacific theater. The 7th Regiment rejoined the 1st Marine Division in September 1942, and Puller, still commanding its 1st Battalion, went on to win his third Navy Cross at Guadalcanal.
The action that brought him that medal occurred on the night of October 24-25 1942. For a desperate three hours his battalion, stretched over a mile-long front, was the only defense between vital Henderson Airfield and a regiment of seasoned Japanese troops. In pouring jungle rain the Japanese smashed repeatedly at his thin line, as General Puller moved up and down its length to encourage his men and direct the defense. After reinforcements arrived, he commanded the augmented force until late the next afternoon. The defending Marines suffered less than 70 casualties in the engagement while 1400 of the enemy were killed and 17 truckloads of Japanese equipment were recovered by the Americans.
After Guadalcanal, Puller became executive officer of the 7th Marines. He was fighting in that capacity when he won his fourth Navy Cross at Cape Gloucester in January 1944. There, when the commanders of the two battalions were wounded, he took over their units and moved through heavy machine-gun and mortar fire to reorganize them for attack, then led them in taking a strongly fortified enemy position.
In February 1944, Puller took command of the 1st Marines at Cape Gloucester. After leading that regiment for the remainder of the campaign, he sailed with it for the Russell Islands in April 1944. He went on to command it at Peleliu in September and October 1944. He returned to the United States in November 1944, named executive officer of the Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Lejeune in January 1945, and took command of that regiment the next month.
In August 1946, Puller became Director of the 8th Marine Corps Reserve District, with headquarters at New Orleans, Louisiana. After that assignment, he commanded the Marine Barracks at Pearl Harbor until August 1950, when he arrived at Camp Pendleton, California, to re-establish and take command of the 1st Marines, the same regiment he had led at Cape Gloucester and Peleliu.
Landing with the 1st Marines at Inchon, Korea, in September 1950, he continued to head that regiment until January 1951, when he was promoted to brigadier general and named Assistant Commander of the 1st Marine Division. That May he returned to Camp Pendleton to command the newly reactivated 3rd Marine Division in January 1952. After that, he was assistant at division commander until he took over the Troop Training Unit, Pacific, at Coronado, California, that June. He was promoted to major general in September 1953, and in July 1954, assumed command of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune. Despite his illness, he retained that command until February 1955, when he was appointed Deputy Camp Commander. He served in that capacity until August, when he entered the U. S. Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune prior to retirement.
In 1966, General Puller requested to return to active duty to serve in Vietnam, but was turned down because of his age. He died 11 October 1971 in Hampton, Virginia, after a long illness. He was 73.

Rakkasans

08-24-2006, 03:33 PM

Nope.... name is in honor of my father, who was in Korea and Japan (Camp Kashi)with the 187th RCT... back when they were still an all Airborne Regiment. The 101 was the training regiment he started in at Fort Bening.... then 82nd and then 187 RCT.

JJHH

08-24-2006, 03:35 PM

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/8416/coneinfu3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Conein, Lucien E. (I own his personal copy of 'Get tough', hand-to-hand combat manual)

Served in Foreign Legion, OSS Operational Groups, OSS Jedburghs, Counter Intelligence Corps, 2nd Battalion Commander 77th Special Forces Group, Key agent CIA in Vietnam, Chief Special Operations Unit DEA and more..

Among his decorations:

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star and
CIA's Intelligence Star
European African Middle Eastern Medal
American Defense Service Medal
Croix de Guerre with Palm
2x Croix de Guerre with Star
Knight Legion of Honor Letter French War Minister
Senior parachute badge
Master Parachute badge

Karo

08-24-2006, 03:46 PM

http://www.achtungpanzer.com/images/bark_1.jpg

Ernst Barkmann

http://www.achtungpanzer.com/gen5.htm

82+ Tank Destroyed or Disabled

136 misc. Afv's

43 Anti-Tank guns

1939 Wound Badge (Gold Class)
1939 Iron Cross 2nd Class (July 14, 1941)
1939 Iron Cross 1st Class (August 1 or 8, 1944)

Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross (August 27, 1944)

'50' Tank Combat Badge
Infantry Assault Badge (Silver Class)
.

Daniel San

08-24-2006, 04:46 PM

Sergeant (Retired) Smokey Smith

Ernest Alvia “Smokey” Smith, VC ,CM, OBC,CD 1914 –2005

Ernest Alvia “Smokey” Smith was born in New Westminster, BC on May 3, 1914. He attended Richard McBride and Herbert Spence public schools and TJ Trap Technical High school. He excelled in sports, notably soccer and track. (It’s suggested he earned the nickname “Smokey” because of his speed on the track; Smokey claims he doesn’t know where or why he got it). Smokey’s high school graduation coincided with the onset of the Great Depression and like thousands of men at that time, he worked sporadically and often “rode the rails” seeking employment.

He enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada in Vancouver on March 5, 1940, aged 25. Initially stationed in Scotland and England during the Battle of Britain he first experienced combat in the autumn of 1942, more than 20 months before the Normandy invasion. On July 10, 1943, he and his fellow Seaforth Highlanders landed with the Canadian First Infantry Division in Sicily and fought through the Sicily/Italian campaign (1943/1944), one of the longest and cruelest campaigns of WW II. By the time of the action in northern Italy that earned him the VC, Smokey had been wounded twice and earned twelve campaign medals.

His action at the Savio River was described in December 1944, by the London Gazette, a Crown publication, as follows:

"In Italy on the night of 21st -22ndOctober, 1944, a Canadian Infantry Brigade was ordered to establish a bridgehead across the Savio River. The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada were selected as the spearhead of the attack, and in weather most unfavourable to the operation, they crossed the river and captured their objective in spite of strong opposition from the enemy. Torrential rain had caused the Savio River to rise six feet in five hours and as the soft vertical banks made it impossible to bridge the river, no tanks or anti-tank guns could be taken across the raging stream to support the rifle companies. As the right forward company was consolidating its objective, it was suddenly counter-attacked by a troop of three Mark V Panther tanks supported by two self-propelled guns and about 30 German infantry. The situation appeared hopeless.

"Under heavy fire from the approaching enemy tanks, Private Smith, showing great initiative and inspiring leadership, led his Piat (Projectile Infantry Anti-Tank) group of two men across an open field to a position from which the Piat could best be employed. Leaving one man on the weapon, Private Smith crossed the road with a companion and obtained another Piat. Almost immediately, an enemy tank came down the road firing its machine guns along the line of the ditches. Private Smith's comrade was wounded. At a range of 30 feet and having to expose himself to the full view of the enemy, Private Smith fired the Piat and hit the tank, putting it out of action. Ten German infantry immediately jumped off the tank and charged him. Without hesitation, Private Smith moved out on the open road and, with his Tommy-gun at point-blank range, killed four Germans and drove the remainder back. Almost immediately another tank opened fire and more enemy infantry closed in on Smith's position. Obtaining some abandoned Tommy-gun magazines from a ditch, he steadfastly held his position, protecting his comrade and fighting the enemy and until they finally gave up and withdrew in disorder.

"Showing 'utter contempt for enemy fire', Pte. Smith managed to get his wounded friend to cover and obtained medical aid for him. Rather than fall back to the safety of the Canadian lines, he then returned to his position beside the road in case there was another enemy attack. There wasn't, and the Seaforths were able to hold the bridgehead on the Savio River, opening the way to the capture of the strategically important Po River Valley in Northern Italy."

Pte. Smith was personally awarded his Victoria Cross by King George VI at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace. Of the seventeen Canadians who were awarded the VC, Smokey was the only private to receive one. It is rumoured that Canadian military authorities, concerned for the personal security of their brand-new VC recipient en-route to London, placed him in a Rome jail cell overnight, one of many stories that Smokey would neither confirm nor deny.

http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/gallery/2005/images/805.jpg

He died peacefully, aged 91, August 3rd 2005.

Ravage

08-24-2006, 06:09 PM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/it/thumb/1/14/Michael_Wittmann.jpg/180px-Michael_Wittmann.jpg

Michael Wittmann (April 22, 1914 - August 8, 1944) was a SS-Hauptsturmführer (SS-Captain) in Schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101 during World War II, and one of the most successful tank commanders in history. He is famous for his June 13, 1944, ambush of elements of the British 7th Armoured Division at the Battle of Villers-Bocage in a Tiger tank. His death has also presented a mystery to historians on which no clear consensus has been reached.
Wittmann began his career in earnest in April 1941, during Germany's intervention of the Italian campaign in the Balkans. He was a commander of a StuG III, a big step up from the armoured cars Wittman had used in his short experience in the Polish Campaign. Its 75mm gun was unwieldy as the Stug lacked a turret - the driver had to turn the vehicle to allow the gunner to aim at targets past its limited traverse.

Wittmann's unit, the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH), distinguished itself for the first time in the capture of the Greek capital, and formed the spearhead alongside the 9th Panzer division which punched though the Greek countryside. After only 3 weeks of campaigning Nazi Germany added the Balkans to its ever growing list of possessions. Wittmann and his unit were sent to Czechoslovakia for a refit. The rest would not last long, however, as Wittmann's unit was soon dispatched to the Eastern Front to participate in the invasion of the Soviet Union. He initially served as a crew commander of the StuG III assault gun and it was using this weapon that Wittmann was to become an expert in the art of armoured warfare. He was assigned for officer training as well as training in tanks in the winter of 1942-43.

Returning to the Eastern Front as a newly commissioned officer, Wittmann was reassigned to a tank unit with the rank of SS-Untersturmführer, where he commanded a Panzer III tank. By 1943 he had graduated to the Tiger and by the time of the Battle of Kursk (Operation Zitadelle) he was commander of his own platoon. The year 1943 would provide Wittmann and his crew (including Balthasar "Bobby" Woll, his gunner) with many successes, and in January 1944 he was awarded the Knight's Cross for his continued excellence in the field. At this time he had destroyed 88 enemy tanks, and a significant number of other armoured vehicles.
By the time of his posting to France in the late spring of 1944 following the Allied D-Day invasion, Wittmann held the oakleaves to the Knight's Cross as well as the rank of SS-Obersturmführer. Perhaps his most famous exploit during the Normandy campaign was at the Battle of Villers-Bocage on June 13, 1944, where Wittmann's tank fought nearly single-handedly against a much larger enemy force, inflicting heavy losses on the British and bringing the advance of the entire 7th Armoured Division to a standstill. For his part in this famous action Wittmann was awarded the swords to the Knight's Cross, and was promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer.
Wittmann was killed in action less than two months after Villers-Bocage, on August 8. During the Allies' Operation Totalise, his tank was destroyed near the town of Cintheaux. While the manner of his death is clear - his tank was hit by two shots to the right rear hull which caused an explosion large enough to throw the turret from the vehicle - the weapon responsible is not.

One explanation has been that Wittmann was killed following a skirmish in which his company was ambushed from behind by tanks of the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry, part of the 33rd Armoured Brigade . The shots are claimed to have come from a single Sherman Firefly commanded by Sergeant Gordon and gunned by Trooper Joe Ekins, of Number 3 Troop, "A" Squadron, at approximately 1240 hours.

Other units in the area also have a historical claim to the fatal shots, specifically Major Sidney Radley-Walters of the Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment of 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division, as well as the 2nd Polish Armoured Regiment of the 1st Polish Armoured Division.

The most recent book to study the subject is No Holding Back by Brian Reid, which provides a detailed topographical map of the engagement, and is benefited by extensive review of Allied and German records (the book is about Operation Totalise but devotes an entire appendix to the subject of Wittman's demise). Reid concludes that there are even odds between the Canadians and the British as far as responsibility for Wittmann's death.
There has previously been much speculation (for example, in After the Battle magazine) that a high-explosive (RP-3) rocket from a RAF Hawker Typhoon aircraft dealt the fatal blow to Wittmann's Tiger. Reid has discredited the Typhoon theory by close examination of 2nd Tactical Air Force logs, concluding "no tanks were claimed destroyed or damaged in the forward areas by immediate support aircraft and ... the only tanks claimed were by Typhoons on armed reconnaissance missions in areas away from the actual battle. Therefore Wittman and his crew almost assuredly did not fall victim to an attack from the air." German records also seem to confirm this; Reid mentions that Kurt Meyer, Wittman's commanding officer, "made a point of remarking on the Allies' failure to use their tactical fighters on the morning of 8 August."
The number of enemy vehicle kills achieved by crews under Wittmann's command has never been surpassed. Wittman's crews (chiefly gunner Balthasar "Bobby" Woll, also a Knight's Cross holder) are known to have destroyed at least 138 tanks and 141 artillery pieces, along with an unknown number of other armoured vehicles. At the time of his death he held many decorations, including:

-Swords to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
-Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
-Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
-Iron Cross, First Class
-Iron Cross, Second Class
-Tank Battle Badge

He is buried in the graveyard of "La Cambe" in France.

Connor Oz

08-24-2006, 06:33 PM

http://www.medalofhonor.com/PaulSmith4.jpg

Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith's family will receive the first Medal of Honor awarded in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Here, Smith is shown in the field during the war in Iraq.
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, March 30, 2005) -- The White House announced March 29 that President George W. Bush will honor Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith by presenting his family the Medal of Honor on April 4, the second anniversary of his courageous actions during the Battle of Baghdad Airport.

Smith is the first to receive the militarys highest award for actions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (http://www.iraqiwar.com/).

In action near the Baghdad Airport on April 4, 2003, Smith, a Soldier in Company B, 11th Engineer Battalion, working with units of the 3rd Infantry Division, was tasked to build a compound to hold enemy prisoners, when his small force came under attack by more than 100 enemies.

Smith threw two grenades and fired rocket launchers at the enemy before manning a .50-caliber machine gun on an M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier to protect his troops. While engaging an enemy attacking from three sides, Smith fired more than 300 rounds from the machinegun before being killed.

He prevented the enemy from overtaking his units position, protected his Task Forces flank, and defended the lives of more than 100 Soldiers, according to his award citation.

Smith was serving as a platoon sergeant in Bravo Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, Task Force 2-7, 3rd Infantry Division. He had been serving in the Army since October 1989.

Source: http://www.medalofhonor.com/PaulSmith.htm

I heard about this guy on shootout on discovery I think, apparently he killed about 60 on that 50. cal.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Private Adam Herbert Wakenshaw

He was 28 years old, and a private in the 9th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 27 June 1942 south of Mersa Matruh, Egypt, Private Wakenshaw was a member of a crew of a 2 pounder (907 g) anti-tank gun, when the enemy attacked, silencing the gun and killing or seriously wounded all the crew. Private Wakenshaw's left arm was blown off but he crawled back to his gun, loaded it with one arm and fired five more rounds with considerable effect. He was then blown away from the gun by an enemy shell and was again severely wounded, but he still managed to crawl back and was preparing to fire again when a direct hit on the ammunition killed him and destroyed the gun.

mojoVA

08-24-2006, 06:42 PM

Congressional Medal of Honor

Michael Thorntonhttp://www.achievement.org/achievers/tho0/photos/tho0-027a.gif (http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/photocredit/achievers/tho0-027)

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while participating in a daring operation against enemy forces..."
The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration the United States of America can bestow. It is an honor reserved for the bravest of the brave, but even in that company of heroes, Michael Thornton is exceptional. His is the rare case of one Medal of Honor winner receiving the award for saving the life of another.
In Vietnam in 1972, Thornton was attempting to lead three comrades to safety under withering enemy fire. On hearing that his Navy SEAL commander, Lt. Thomas Norris had been killed while covering their escape, Thornton replied, "I'm not leaving without my Lieutenant," and returned under fire to find Norris gravely wounded but alive. Although he himself was also injured, Thornton slung the unconscious Norris over his shoulder and carried him out to sea. Taking hold of another wounded comrade in the water, he swam into the open sea and tread water for hours until they could be rescued.
In the words of his Medal of Honor citation: "By his extraordinary courage and perseverance, Petty Officer Thornton was directly responsible for saving the life of his superior officer and enabling the safe extraction of all patrol members, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service."

Thomas R. Norrishttp://www.achievement.org/achievers/tho0/photos/tho0-003a.gif (http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/photocredit/achievers/tho0-003)

As a Navy SEAL in Vietnam, Lt. Thomas Norris completed numerous dangerous missions, including "an unprecedented ground rescue of two downed pilots deep within heavily controlled enemy territory."
But the story of Norris's courage does not end there. Only six months after his historic rescue of the stranded fliers, he was gravely wounded during a firefight behind enemy lines. Rescued by Petty Officer Michael Thornton, he was initially given no chance of survival, much less of returning to a productive life, but Norris confounded his doctors with his relentless determination to survive and recover.
He endured years of painful reconstructive surgery and arduous rehabilitation, until he was ready to serve his country once again as a hostage rescue specialist for the FBI. In 1976 he at last received the Congressional Medal of Honor for "his outstanding display of decisive leadership, undaunted courage, and selfless dedication in the face of extreme danger."

Source
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/tho0pro-1

Interview with both
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/tho0int-1

Freibier

08-24-2006, 07:08 PM

Hans-Ulrich Rudel
(July, 1916 - 1982)
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/7441/rudel1my9.jpg

Hans Rudel is not the kind of "Panzer Ace" such as Wittmann (http://www.achtungpanzer.com/gen3.htm) or Barkmann (http://www.achtungpanzer.com/gen5.htm), simply because he was "Stuka Ace" and destroyed enemy armored fighting vehicles from the air. During his career, as Stuka pilot he managed to destroy enormous number of enemy equipment, including 519 Soviet tanks. Hans-Ulrich Rudel was born in 1916 in Silesia.He was the son of a clergyman - minister. He was never good at school and received limited education. Rudel was a teenager when the NSDAP took charge and became indoctrinated at very early age.Since young age, Rudel showed interest in sports and did not do well in school. In 1936, he joined the Luftwaffe as an cadet officer as a way to continue and develop his sporting activities. After passing his flying training course and becoming a pilot, Hans Rudel applied for further training in the technique of the dive-bombing but was turned down. Instead, he received reconnaissance observer's training and flew long range reconnaissance missions during Polish Campaign in September of 1939 as a Lieutenant. On October 11th of 1939, Rudel was awarded Iron Cross 2nd Class.At the same, Rudel continued applying for Ju-87 Stuka (Sturzkampfflugzeug - dive bomber)training course and was finally admitted in May of 1940. After the completion of the course, Oberleutnant Rudel was posted to Stuka Training Wing near Stuttgart, where he spent the French Campaign. Afterwards, Rudel was transferred to 1st Staffel (1st Squadron) of Stukageschwader 2 (Dive-Bomber Group 2) and took part in the airborne invasion of Crete in May of 1941, although not in the battle zone. In preparations for the Operation Barbarossa, Rudel's Group was transferred to the Eastern Front and on June 23rd of 1941 at 3:00am flew his first combat dive-bombing mission. During next 18 hours, he flew total four combat missions. On July 18th of 1941, Rudel was awarded Iron Cross 1st Class.

On September 23rd of 1941,Rudel's Group (1st and 2nd Wing) attacked elements of the Soviet Baltic Fleet in Kronstadt harbor (Leningrad area). During the attack, Rudel sunk Soviet Battleship "Marat" with 1000kg bomb hitting its ammunition store and breaking the ship in half - "We've got her ... you must have hit her ammunition store...She is blowing up !" (Rudel's rear gunner Scharnovski over the intercom).On Christmas Day, December 24th of 1941, Rudel flew his 500th mission and on December 30th, was decorated with Deutsches Kreuz (German Cross) in Gold by General Freiherr Wolfram von Richthofen himself (who was Manfred von Richthofen's cousin).After that, Hans Rudel was sent to Graz to lecture and train new Stuka crews. On January 15th of 1942, he was awarded with Knights Cross and eventually returned to the Eastern Front on his own demand in June of 1942.In September of 1942, Rudel received the command of the 1st Staffel of the 1st Wing of Stukageschwader 2 (1StG2), while operating in the Stalingrad area. At that time, his squadron was often sent to attack Soviet tank units, when inadequacy of bombs against tanks was realized.

On February 10th of 1943, Hans Rudel flew his 1000th mission and became a national hero to the German public.Rudel was then posted to the new special "Panzerjagdkommando Weiss" unit formed at Briansk to test newly developed tank-busting version of Ju-87 D-3.Modified Stuka armed with two Rheinmetall-Borsig 37mm (BK) Flak 18 guns (each mounted in special canopy under each wing with 6 rounds of ammunition) was developed at the Luftwaffe's experimental station at Rechlin (near Neustrelitz, Germany). Prototypes were used at first against Soviet landing crafts in the Black Sea and in the space of three weeks, Rudel destroyed 70 such boats.In March of 1943, during a tank battle around Belgorod, Rudel knocked out his first tank with his new tank-busting Stuka - "... my rear gunner who said that the tank exploded like a bomb and he had seen bits of it crashing down behind us." (Hans-Ulrich Rudel).Later on, more Ju-87 D-3s were converted to tank-busters and were designated as Ju-87 G-1 (often nicknamed Panzerknacker - Tank Buster or Kanonenvogel - Cannon Bird) and started arriving on the Eastern Front in October of 1943.
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/9664/008fe3.jpg

On April 14th of 1943, Hans Rudel was awarded Oakleaves to his Knights Cross.Captain Hans Rudel's squadron of nine tank-busting Ju-87 G-1 was assigned to support of the 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf". On the first day of the Operation Citadel, during his first mission,Rudel knocked out four Soviet tanks and by the evening, his score grew to twelve. "We are all seized with a kind of passion for the chase from the glorious feeling of having saved much German bloodshed with every tank destroyed." - Hans Rudel.At the same time, because of Rudel's squadron'ssuccess, Panzerstaffels (Tank Destroyer Squadrons) were formed.Based on his experiences, Rudel developed new tactics for Panzerstaffels. He found that the best way to knock out tanks was to hit them in the back (T-34's rear mounted engine and its cooling system did not permit the installation of heavier armor plating) or the side. Interesting fact is that attacking the back of the tank meant that the plane had to come from the rear flying towards friendly territory - great advantage if the plane got damaged during the attack.

On October 25th of 1943, Hans Rudel was awarded Swords to his Knights Cross with Oakleaves.In early March of 1944, he flew his 1500th mission and was promoted to the rank of Major.In late March, during a mission, Rudel's squadron was attacked by a squadron of Soviet Lavochkin La-5 fighters. One Stuka was shot down and crash landed with its crew unharmed,Hans Rudel decided to land and rescue his comrades stuck in the enemy territory.He landed and rescued his friends but could not take off because of the soft ground.They were forced to escape on foot towards German lines being chased by the Russians.Rudel and his comrades reached the river Dniestr and swam 600m in the ice cold water and just before reaching the other side, Rudel's rear gunner drowned. Eventually, wounded Rudel was the only one who managed to escape and reached German lines. He then returned to his unit, where he was cheerfully welcomed by his comrades. On March 29th of 1944, for his bravery, Major Hans-Ulrich Rudel was awarded Diamonds to his Knights Cross with Oakleaves and Swords, the highest German military award.In November of 1944, while flying near Budapest, he was shot in the thigh but returned to service few days later with his leg in a plaster cast. On January 1st of 1945, Rudel was awarded the Knights Cross with Golden Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds, being the only recipient of this award specially created for him. In February of 1945, Rudel was seriously wounded and his right thigh was shattered by anti-aircraft fire near Lebus (near Frankfurt am der Oder). He managed to land in German held territory and was quickly taken to the field hospital, where his leg was amputated. Rudel was then taken to the hospital in Berlin, where he had an artificial limb fitted and then returned to his squadron. In the last days of the war, Colonel Rudel commanded the oldest and the best known close assault / support Stuka group - Schlachtgeschwader 2 Immelmann. He was still operating with his unit in last days of war on the Eastern Front. At the end of the war, Rudel wanted to fly a suicide attack with his squadron but hissuperior ordered him not to take off because "he might be needed later", which might have been the only reason why he didn't do so. He also volunteered to fly his Stuka into Berlin in May of 1945 to rescue Hitler from the Red Army. On May 8th of 1945, when Germany surrendered, Colonel Hans Rudel who was in Bohemia, flew his last mission in Ju-87 Stuka. He managed to contact American forces and arranged for himself and other planes to fly over to Kitzingen airfield (near Wurzburg) in the American zone, escaping the capture by the Soviets.Afterwards, Hans Rudel was interrogated first in England and then in France and eventually returned to hospital in Bavaria for convalesce. In 1946, Rudel left the Bavarian hospital and started working as a haulage contractor and in 1948, left for Argentina, where he worked for the State Airplane Worksand organized with other escaped Nazis a NSDAP party-like structure.

In 1951, Rudel published two booklets in Buenos Aires, "Wir Frontsoldaten zur WiederaufrÃ¼stung" (We Frontline Soldiers and Our Opinion to Rearmament of Germany) and "DolchstoÃŸ oder Legende" (Daggerthrust or Legend). In the first book, Rudel claims to speak for all frontline soldiers stating that they would fight again against the Bolsheviks and that Germany's "Lebensraum" (Living Space) is in the East.In his second book, Rudel condemns notonly all the soldiers who tried to kill Hitler as traitors, but also the staff officers of the Wehrmacht stating that both groups were directly responsible for the defeat. Rudel condemns soldiers because the turmoil caused by the assassination allowed the Allied forces to succeed with the Invasion of Europe, while he condemns the staff officers of the Wehrmacht because they could not see Hitler's genius in warfare and worked silently against him. Those two booklets were followed by some more of similar nature.Hans-Ulrich Rudel eventually returned to Germany in early 1950s and in 1953, published his war diary entitled "Trotzdem" (Nevertheless). There was a discussion in Germany if it should be allowed that his diary was published, because he was known as a Nazi, but in 1953, it was no longer that bad to be a Nazi. Most people wanted to forget, mostly their own part of the story, while some Nazis became politicians and businessmen and the Witschaftswunder (The rise of the industry and economy) made the Germans interested in other things. Rudel continued his sporting activities and became a candidate for the Deutsche Reichspartei (DRP) an ultraconservative party but was unsuccessful. The "Stuka Ace" died in Germany in 1982. In 1984, his diary was published again and two of the greatest Allied fighter pilots, Douglas Bader and Pierre Clostermann wrote a warm and praising foreword to this edition, surely being unaware of Rudel's political activities.

During his career, Rudel flew over 2530 (around 400 of his sorties were flown in a Focke-Wulf 190 fighter plane during whichhe was credit with 11 air victories) missions and destroyed around 150 various artillery pieces, 519 tanks, around 1000 various vehicles, 70 landing crafts, 2 Lavochkin La-3 fighters, Il-2 Stormovik and sunk Battleship "Marat", 2 Cruisers and a Destroyer. Rudel was responsible for such huge damages to the Red Army that Joseph Stalin himself put a price of 100.000 rubles on his head.He flew more than 600.000km and used more than 5.000.000 liters of fuel. Hans Rudel dropped over 1.000.000kg of bombs, fired over 1.000.000 of machine gun rounds, over 150.000 20mm rounds and over 5000 37mm rounds. Rudel thought that the Lend-Lease American tanks were easier to kill than the Soviet T-34s, but he hated their machine guns, because once he was shotdown by one. Rudel was an outstanding pilot with experience,who loved to fly and destroy.He hated to take homeleave or sickleave and even when he got his leg amputatedhe was not depressed since he couldstill do what he loved - fly and destroy.During his career, Hans Rudel showed remarkable power, toughness, fearlessness, unparalleled determination and arrogance but none of his photos show any impact of the hardship of war on his face. His personal bravery was beyond belief and his place in the annals of military history thoroughly deserved, although it is important to remember the words of an American Protocol-Officer, who absolutely correctly named Rudel "the typical Nazi Officer". Rudel's famous quotation was "Verloren ist nur, wer sich selbst aufgibt" ("Lost are only those, who abandon themselves").
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/637/rudelcoat1mg5.jpg

source: http://www.achtungpanzer.com/gen9.htm

chaz89

08-24-2006, 07:58 PM

Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Lieutenant Jacob Wilson Parrott

Born: July 17, 1843

Died: Dec. 22, 1908
Kenton
Ohio, USA

During the Civil War, Jacob was a member of Company K, 33d Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Jacob, along with 22 other men (including 2 civilians) who, by direction of General Mitchell penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train, "The General" at Big Shanty, Georgia, in an attempt to destroy the bridges and tracks between Chattanooga and Atlanta. Led by James J. Andrews, the men were able to take possession of the train, and a long chase followed. Sometimes this great adventure is referred to as "The Great Locomotive Chase". Many of the men, including Jacob, were eventually captured by the Confederate Soldiers. While being held captive, Jacob endured being whipped over 100 times, on his bare back, by the confederates as they tried to gain information from him. For his part in the undercover mission, Jacob was awarded the very first Medal Of Honor. Other "Andrew's Raiders", as they became to be known by, were also awarded the Medal Of Honor, as they so well deserved. There are several books about this exciting adventure, and Disney also made a movie entitled "The Great Locomotive Chase". (bio by T. Parrott Dreffer, Great-great-granddaughter of Jacob Parrott) Cause of death: angina pectoris.
CITATION:

PARROTT, JACOB (1st to receive Medal of Honor)

Rank and organization: Private, Company K, 33d Ohio Infantry. Place and date: Georgia, April 1862. Entered service at: Hardin County, Ohio. Birth: 17 July 1843, Fairfield County, Ohio. Date of issue: 25 March 1863. Citation: One of the 19 of 22 men (including 2 civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell) penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and tracks between Chattanooga and Atlanta.

Burial:
Grove Cemetery
Kenton
Hardin County
Ohio, USA

source: http://www.medalofhonor.com/JacobParrott.htm

BMF_EOD

08-24-2006, 08:09 PM

http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/webphoto/web_060526-N-1384B-002.jpg

060526-N-1384B-002 Norfolk, Va. (May 26, 2006) - Rear Adm. Donald Bullard, commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command presents the Silver Star with Combat Distinguishing Device to Chief Warrant Officer Two William A. Bastable at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va., May 26, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a Joint Task Force Lead Navigator, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on 25 June 2003. One Silver Star and 14 Bronze Stars, all with the exception of one Bronze Star were awarded with Combat Distinguishing Device to Sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 2, Detachments 02, 20 and 28, for various actions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 1st Class Phil Beaufort (RELEASED)
Silver star- 2 bronze stars- purple heart- meritorious service medal- joint commendation and Navy Commendation with "V" for valor- combat action ribbon- not bad for a guy that young.

titget

08-24-2006, 08:23 PM

Rick Rescorla..A hero in Vietnam..a hero on 9/11

RICK RESCORLA - CORNISH HERO

http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/southwest/series2/i/rik_200.jpgBRAVERY | Rick Rescorla rescued thousands in the World Trade Centre attack9/11 - two years ago, it would be difficult to imagine how these two numbers could embody so much tragedy, grief and fear. But for one man, the tragedy of September 11, was the terrorist attack he had feared for years.
Cornishman Rick Rescorla’s heroism is legendary. What is less well known, in this country at least, were his prophetic views on terrorism.
Inside Out pays tribute to his bravery, his spirit and his astonishing foresight.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/southwest/series2/i/rick_profile_150.jpgAfter a successful army career, Rick Rescorla became director of security for Morgan StanleyBorn in the Cornish town of Hayle, Rick’s first encounter with America came in the form of GIs preparing for D-Day in the town. They inspired Rick’s adventurous spirit and his never failing love for America.
War hero

Rick and his friend and confidante Dan Hill both enlisted in the United States Army.
A highly decorated war hero, Rick served the USA as platoon leader in Vietnam.
For all his success in the US, Cornwall was never far from Rick’s heart and he returned regularly.
Rick retired from his army career in 1968. Via a career as a university law professor, Rick became director of security for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter (previously Dean Witter) in their offices in the World Trade Centre.
Foresight

http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/southwest/series2/i/rick_towers_150.jpgRick always feared a terrorist attack on the Twin TowersIt was here that Rick Rescorla was to predict with startling accuracy the horrors he himself would later face in that building.
Speaking in an interview in 1998, Rick predicted that, "Terrorist forces can tie up conventional forces and bring them to their knees.
Just one man willing to give his life for what he believes in, chooses the time and place and there is no way that any soldiers can be 100% alert."
But alert he was and in 1990 he asked old friend and ex-special forces soldier Dan Hill to evaluate the risks to the World Trade Centre. The garage was pin pointed as a weak point, but no official response to their report was forthcoming.
September 11 2001
In 1993, a van packed with explosives was detonated 30 feet from where they had predicted.
1993 should have been a wake-up all for all. Rick pressed Dean Witter to move out of the Twin Towers believing that the next attack would come by air.
Eight years later, Rick Rescorla would personally escort all 20 floors of Morgan Stanley employees out of the building and to safety.
The day that changed the world

8.46am, September 11 2001, American Airlines, flight 11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Centre.
Amid the panic and desperation that ensued, Rick Rescorla could be found guiding people out of the south tower, despite speaker announcements in the building to the contrary advising people to remain inside.
9.03am and the second passenger plane crashed into the south tower. Despite fears that the building would fall, Rick returned to the building again, singing Cornish songs in an effort to keep spirits up.
10.05am, the south tower collapsed and Rick Rescorla lost his life.
His memory lives on
In all, Rick Rescorla lead 2,700 men and women to safety.
Despite his valiant deeds, Rick hasn’t yet received official recognition, but in his Cornish birthplace, the campaign continues for an honour.
Official recognition aside, Rick Rescorla’s bravery and selflessness has touched thousands - not only those he helped to save, but their loved ones too, ensuring his memory will never die.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gifSee also ...On bbc.co.uk
Hero of the Twin Towers (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1711325.stm)
Farewell to a New York hero (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1580266.stm)
On the rest of the web
Rick Rescorla (http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/insideout/southwest/series2/rick_rescorla_september_11_hero_bravery_cornwall.shtml/ext/_auto/-/http://militaryhistory.about.com/library/prm/blrickrescorla1.htm)
Hayle (http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/insideout/southwest/series2/rick_rescorla_september_11_hero_bravery_cornwall.shtml/ext/_auto/-/http://www.hayledental.co.uk/hayle.html)
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites
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Take a journey on one of the South East's most historic routes.
Cornish tea (http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/southwest/series8/week_two.shtml)
Inside Out goes behind the scenes at Cornwall's tea plantation.
Storm chasers (http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/yorkslincs/series8/week_two.shtml)
Join the storm chasers in search of Yorkshire's worst weather..
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http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i11/blfernandez/18.jpg
You might recognize this picture from the book "We Were Soldiers Once....And Young" this is him on the cover..Some amazing stuff he did during the Ia Drang Battle, his men gave him the nickname 'hard core'..He was a hero then, and was a hero again on 9/11..

Green_Machine

08-24-2006, 08:54 PM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/47/Thomas_ricketts%2C_VC.jpg/250px-Thomas_ricketts%2C_VC.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Thomas_ricketts%2C_VC.jpg) http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Thomas_ricketts%2C_VC.jpg)
Thomas Ricketts, V.C.
(Royal Newfoundland Regiment)

Thomas (Tommy) Ricketts (April 15 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_15), 1901 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1901) – February 10 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_10), 1967 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967)) was a Newfoundlander (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newfoundland) and a recipient of the Victoria Cross (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Cross), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom) and Commonwealth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations) forces.
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_Ricketts&action=edit&section=1)]
[/URL]
First World War

Born on April 15 (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/), 1901 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1901) in Middle Arm (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle_Arm&action=edit), White Bay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Bay_%28Newfoundland%29), Newfoundland, Ricketts enlisted aged 15 and 4 months into the 1st Bn, Royal Newfoundland Regiment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Newfoundland_Regiment) during the First World War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I). He was wounded in the leg at Cambrai (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cambrai), but soon returned to his regiment. The following deed took place October 14 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_14), 1918 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918) at Ledeghem (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ledeghem&action=edit), Belgium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium), for which Ricketts was awarded the VC.

No. 3102 Pte. Thomas Ricketts, 1st Bn., R. Newfoundland R.
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 14th October, 1918, during the advance from Ledeghem, when the attack was temporarily held up by heavy hostile fire and the platoon to which he belonged suffered severe casualties from the fire of a battery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artillery_battery) at point-blank range.
Pte. Ricketts at once volunteered to go forward with his section commander and a Lewis gun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_gun) to attempt to outflank the battery. Advancing by short rushes under heavy fire from enemy machine guns with the hostile battery, their ammunition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammunition) was exhausted when still 300 yards (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yard) from the battery. The enemy, seeing an opportunity to get their field guns (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_gun) away, began to bring up their gun teams. Pte. Ricketts, at once realising the situation, doubled back 100 yards under the heaviest machine-gun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine-gun) fire, procured further ammunition, and dashed back again to the Lewis gun, and by very accurate fire drove the enemy and the gun teams into a farm.
His platoon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platoon) then advanced without casualties, and captured the four field guns, four machine guns, and eight prisoners (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner_of_war).
A fifth field gun was subsequently intercepted by fire and captured.
By his presence of mind in anticipating the enemy intention and his utter disregard of personal safety, Pte. Ricketts secured the further supply of ammunition which directly resulted in these important captures and undoubtedly saved many lives.
From The London Gazette Issue 31108 January 3 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_3), 1919 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1919) (Fourth Supplement January 6 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_6), 1919 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1919) p.309).
For this incident, Ricketts was awarded the Victoria Cross by King George V (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_V_of_the_United_Kingdom) himself, and promoted to Sergeant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergeant). On the 18th January 1919 Thomas Ricketts received a message informing him that he was to be invested with the Victoria Cross by King George V on the following day, Sunday, 19th January 1919. As he was shortly due to return home to Newfoundland, the King instructed that Ricketts should proceed by train to Sandringham, the sovereign's country estate in Norfolk, where he would be invested with his Victoria Cross. The ceremony took place in the estate's York Cottage where the King, accompanied by Princess Mary and Prince George, chatted with Ricketts for ten minutes before pinning the VC on his uniform coat. He was then the youngest living recipient of the Victoria Cross, and was introduced by the King at the investiture as "the youngest VC in My army."
Ricketts also received the British War Medal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_War_Medal) 1914–1920, the Victory Medal (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Victory_Medal&action=edit) 1914–1919, 1937 GVIR Coronation Medal (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coronation_Medal&action=edit), 1953 EIIR Coronation Medal and France's Croix de Guerre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croix_de_Guerre) with Golden Star. Despite many references, Thomas Ricketts was never awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Conduct_Medal).
[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_Ricketts&action=edit&section=2)]

After the war

After the war, Ricketts studied Pharmacy, and opened a business on Water Street in [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s%2C_Newfoundland_and_Labrador"]St. John's (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/). He was given a state funeral when he died in 1967 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967), and is commemorated by a memorial on the former site of his pharmacy.
Ricketts is buried at the Anglican Cemetery (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anglican_Cemetery&action=edit), Forest Road, St. John's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s%2C_Newfoundland_and_Labrador), Newfoundland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newfoundland), Canada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada).
Ricketts' medals are kept at the Canadian War Museum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_War_Museum) in Ottawa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa).
Although Ricketts is sometimes considered a Canadian soldier, it should be borne in mind that during World War I (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I) Newfoundland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newfoundland) was a self governing dominion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominion) and didn't became a Province of Canada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada) until 1949 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1949).

MEGR

08-24-2006, 10:25 PM

Robert L. Howard

http://members.cox.net/rlhtribute/images/uniform_rlh.jpg

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 30 December 1968. Entered service at: Montgomery, Ala. Born: 11 July 1939, Opelika, Ala.

Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Howard (then Sfc .), distinguished himself while serving as platoon sergeant of an American-Vietnamese platoon which was on a mission to rescue a missing American soldier in enemy controlled territory in the Republic of Vietnam. The platoon had left its helicopter landing zone and was moving out on its mission when it was attacked by an estimated 2-company force. During the initial engagement, 1st Lt. Howard was wounded and his weapon destroyed by a grenade explosion. 1st Lt. Howard saw his platoon leader had been wounded seriously and was exposed to fire. Although unable to walk, and weaponless, 1st Lt. Howard unhesitatingly crawled through a hail of fire to retrieve his wounded leader. As 1st Lt. Howard was administering first aid and removing the officer's equipment, an enemy bullet struck 1 of the ammunition pouches on the lieutenant's belt, detonating several magazines of ammunition. 1st Lt. Howard momentarily sought cover and then realizing that he must rejoin the platoon, which had been disorganized by the enemy attack, he again began dragging the seriously wounded officer toward the platoon area. Through his outstanding example of indomitable courage and bravery, 1st Lt. Howard was able to rally the platoon into an organized defense force. With complete disregard for his safety, 1st Lt. Howard crawled from position to position, administering first aid to the wounded, giving encouragement to the defenders and directing their fire on the encircling enemy. For 3 1/2 hours 1st Lt. Howard's small force and supporting aircraft successfully repulsed enemy attacks and finally were in sufficient control to permit the landing of rescue helicopters. 1st Lt. Howard personally supervised the loading of his men and did not leave the bullet-swept landing zone until all were aboard safely. 1st Lt. Howard's gallantry in action, his complete devotion to the welfare of his men at the risk of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army

http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_living/vn_a_howard.html

Robert L. Howard grew up in Opelika, Alabama and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956 at age seventeen. He retired as a full Colonel in 1992 after 36 years service. During Vietnam, he served in the U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets) and spent most of his five tours in the super-secret MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observations Group) also known as Special Operations Group, which ran classified cross-border operations into Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam. These men carried out some of the most daring and dangerous missions ever conducted by the U.S. military. The understrength sixty-man recon company at Kontum in which he served was the Vietnam War's most highly decorated unit of its size with five Medals of Honor. It was for his actions while serving on a mission to rescue a fellow soldier in Cambodia, that he was submitted for the Medal of Honor the third time for his extraordinary heroism.

Buckeye67

08-24-2006, 11:20 PM

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/6012/ralphneppelmedalofhonorha1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/7009/ralphneppelharrytrumanow9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

NEPPEL, RALPH G.

Rank and Organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company M, 329th Infantry, 83d Infantry Division.

Place and Date Birgel, Germany, 14 December 1944.

Entered Service at: Glidden, lowa. Birth: Willey, lowa. G.O. No.: 77, 10 September 1945.

Citation:
He was leader of a machinegun squad defending an approach to the village of Birgel, Germany, on 14 December 1944, when an enemy tank, supported by 20 infantrymen, counterattacked. He held his fire until the Germans were within 100 yards and then raked the foot soldiers beside the tank killing several of them. The enemy armor continued to press forward and, at the pointblank range of 30 yards, fired a high-velocity shell into the American emplacement, wounding the entire squad. Sgt. Neppel, blown 10 yards from his gun, had 1 leg severed below the knee and suffered other wounds. Despite his injuries and the danger from the onrushing tank and infantry, he dragged himself back to his position on his elbows, remounted his gun and killed the remaining enemy riflemen. Stripped of its infantry protection, the tank was forced to withdraw. By his superb courage and indomitable fighting spirit, Sgt. Neppel inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and broke a determined counterattack.

Royal

08-25-2006, 03:49 AM

Two men, both burried at Argenta Gap War Cemetery in Italy. They won their VC's a week apart at Lake Commachio.

Cpl Tom Hunter VC, 43 Commando RM and Maj Anders Lassen VC MC** Special Boat Service, 1 SAS Regiment (both claim him as their own as the SBS was part of 1 SAS at the time).

http://www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk/history/historyimages/Hunter.jpg

In Italy during the advance by the commando to its final objective, Corporal Hunter of ' C' troop was in charge of a Bren group of the leading sub-section of the Commando. Having advanced to within four hundred yards of the canal, he observed the enemy were holding a group of houses south of the canal. Realising that his troop behind him were in the open, as the country there was completely devoid of cover, and that the enemy would cause heavy casualties as soon as they opened fire, Corporal Hunter seized the Bren gun and charged alone across two hundred yards of open ground. Three Spandaus from the houses, and at least six from the north bank of the canal opened fire and at the same time the enemy mortars started to fire at the troop.
Corporal Hunter attracted most of the fire, and so determined was his charge and his firing from the hip that the enemy in the houses became demoralised. Showing complete disregard for the intense enemy fire, he ran through the houses, changing magazines as he ran, and alone cleared the houses. Six Germans surrendered to him and the remainder fled across a footbridge on to the north bank of the canal.
The troop dashing up behind Corporal Hunter now became the target for all the Spandaus north of the canal. Again, offering himself as a target, he lay in full view of the enemy on a heap of rubble and fired at the concrete pill boxes on the other side. He again drew most of the fire, but by now the greater part of the troop had made for the safety of the houses. During this period he shouted encouragement to the remainder, and called only for more Bren magazines with which he could engage the Spandaus. Firing with great accuracy up to the last, Corporal Hunter was finally hit in the head by a burst of Spandau fire and killed instantly.
There can be no doubt that Corporal Hunter offered himself as a target in order to save his troop, and only the speed of his movement prevented him being hit earlier. The skill and accuracy with which he used his Bren gun is proved by the way he demoralised the enemy, and later did definitely silence many of the Spandaus firing on his troop as they crossed open ground, so much so that under his covering fire elements the troop made their final objective before he was killed. Throughout the operation his magnificent courage, leadership and cheerfulness had been an inspiration to his comrades.

http://www.timelapse.dk/img/Anders%20Lassen2.gif

In Italy, on the night of 8th/9th April, 1945, Major Lassen was ordered to take out a patrol of one officer and seventeen other ranks to raid the north shore of Lake Comacchio.

His tasks were to cause as many casualties and as much confusion as possible, to give the impression of a major landing, and to capture prisoners. No previous reconnaissance was possible, and the party found itself on a narrow road flanked on both sides by water.

Preceded by two scouts, Major Lassen led his men along the road towards the town. They were challenged after approximately 500 yards from a position on the side of the road. An attempt to allay suspicion by answering that they were fishermen returning home failed, for when moving forward again to overpower the sentry, machine gun fire started from the position, and also from two other blockhouses to the rear.

Major Lassen himself then attacked with grenades, and annihilated the first position containing four Germans and two machine guns. Ignoring the hail of bullets sweeping the road from three enemy positions, an additional one having come into action from 300 yards down the road, he raced forward to engage the second position under covering fire from the remainder of the force. Throwing in more grenades he silenced this position which was then overrun by his patrol. Two enemies were killed, two captured and two more machine guns silenced.

By this time the force had suffered casualties and its fire power was very considerably reduced. Still under a heavy cone of fire Major Lassen rallied and reorganised his force and brought his fire to bear on the third position. Moving forward himself he flung in more grenades which produced a cry of »Kamerad«. He then went forward to within three or four yards of the position to order the enemy outside, and to take their surrender.

Whilst shouting to them to come out he was hit by a burst of spandau fire from the left of the position and he fell mortally wounded, but even whilst falling he flung a grenade, wounding some of the occupants and enabling his patrol to dash in and capture this final position. Major Lassen refused to be evacuated as he said it would impede the withdrawal and endanger further lives, and as ammunition was nearly exhausted the force had to withdraw.

By his magnificent leadership and complete disregard for his personal safety, Major Lassen had, in the face of overwhelming superiority, achieved his objects. Three positions were wiped out, accounting for six machine guns, killing eight and wounding others of the enemy and two prisoners were taken. The high sense of devotion to duty and the esteem in which he was held by the men he led, added to his own magnificent courage, enabled Major Lassen to carry out all the tasks he had been given with complete success.

RECON DOC

08-25-2006, 04:36 AM

http://www.chicagoboyz.net/blogfiles/Hackworth.jpg

Col. David H. Hackworth

(November 11 (http://experts.about.com/e/n/no/November_11.htm), 1930 (http://experts.about.com/e/0/1930.htm) – May 4 (http://experts.about.com/e/m/ma/May_4.htm), 2005 (http://experts.about.com/e/0/2005.htm)) known affectionately as "Hack", was a retired United States Army (http://experts.about.com/e/u/un/United_States_Army.htm) colonel (http://experts.about.com/e/c/co/colonel.htm) and prominent military (http://experts.about.com/e/m/mi/military.htm) journalist (http://experts.about.com/e/j/jo/journalist.htm).http://z.about.com/ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Davidhackworth.jpg)David H. Hackworth

Early life and entrance into the military

Hackworth suffered a rough childhood, and ran off to join the U.S. Merchant Marine (http://experts.about.com/e/m/me/Merchant_Marine.htm) at age 14, towards the end of World War II (http://experts.about.com/e/w/wo/World_War_II.htm). After the war, he lied about his age (15) to enlist in the U.S. Army (http://experts.about.com/e/u/u/U.S._Army.htm), and was assigned occupation duty in Trieste (http://experts.about.com/e/t/tr/Trieste.htm), and also gave him the majority of the lessons that he would later draw on as a non-commissioned officer and officer. It was under the tutelage of Sergeant Steve Prazenka that Hackworth would learn the value of hard training and the quest for perfection, cutting troopers no slack and questing to be STRAC. The start of the Korean War (http://experts.about.com/e/k/ko/Korean_War.htm) found him a sergeant (http://experts.about.com/e/s/se/sergeant.htm) and he volunteered for duty there.

In Korea, Hackworth fought with the 25th Infantry Division (http://experts.about.com/e/u/us/US_25th_Infantry_Division.htm), winning a battlefield commission (http://experts.about.com/e/b/ba/battlefield_commission.htm) as a lieutenant (http://experts.about.com/e/l/li/lieutenant.htm) and several medals for valor along with multiple Purple Heart (http://experts.about.com/e/p/pu/Purple_Heart.htm)s for being wounded several times. He subsequently volunteered for a second tour in Korea, this time with the 40th Infantry Division (http://experts.about.com/e/0/40th_Infantry_Division.htm).

Interwar service

Assigned to Germany in the 1960's, he was a company commander under Colonel Glover S. Johns, and learned a great deal of the skills that were needed to be an effective officer from this old warhorse. He was involved in a number of firedrills around the Berlin Blockade, and his exploits at the time were rivalled only by the loyalty of his troops and the growth in his leadership skills and style that he enjoyed.

Vietnam service

Demobilized after the cease-fire in Korea, Hackworth quickly became bored with civilian life. He managed to get back into the expanding "Cold War (http://experts.about.com/e/c/co/Cold_War.htm)" model U.S. Army, which had changed substantially from the army he had known. He was among the earliest volunteers to go to Vietnam with the Special Forces.

In 1965, he returned to Vietnam as the Army's youngest full colonel. He served as a battalion (http://experts.about.com/e/b/ba/battalion.htm) commander in the 101st Airborne Division (http://experts.about.com/e/0/101st_Airborne_Division.htm). He quickly developed a reputation as an eccentric but effective soldier. Hackworth co-wrote "The Vietnam Primer" with General S.L.A. Marshall. The book adopted some of the same tactics as Mao Zedong and Che Guevera and the Viet Cong in fighting guerillas. He described the strategy as "out-geeing the G."

But Hackworth was not just a theoretician. He put his theories to work most famously with the 4/39 Infantry in the Mekong Delta (http://experts.about.com/e/m/me/Mekong_Delta.htm). It's said that the role of Colonel Kilgore in Apocalypse Now (http://experts.about.com/e/a/ap/Apocalypse_Now.htm) was modeled after him.

His time on staff duty at the Pentagon (http://experts.about.com/e/t/th/the_Pentagon.htm) soured Hackworth on the Vietnam War (http://experts.about.com/e/v/vi/Vietnam_War.htm). One aspect of his tour of duty there required him to defend the US position on the Vietnam War. Even with his reservations concerning the conflict, he refused to resign, feeling it was his duty as a field grade officer to wage the campaign as best he could.

Hackworth was assigned to a training battalion and then returned to Vietnam to lead elements of the 9th Infantry Division (http://experts.about.com/e/u/us/US_9th_Infantry_Division.htm). He next served as a senior military advisor to the South Vietnamese. His view that the U.S. Army was not learning from its mistakes, and that South Vietnamese ARVN (http://experts.about.com/e/a/ar/ARVN.htm) officers were essentially corrupt, created friction with Army leadership.

Hackworth's disgruntlement ultimately culminated in a television interview with ABC (http://experts.about.com/e/a/am/American_Broadcasting_Company.htm). On June 27 (http://experts.about.com/e/j/ju/June_27.htm), 1971 (http://experts.about.com/e/0/1971.htm) he appeared on the program Issues and Answers and strongly criticized U.S. commanders in Vietnam, said the war couldn't be won and called for U.S. withdrawal.

The interview enraged senior U.S. Army officers at the Pentagon. Hackworth was nearly court-martialed for giving the interview, and found himself ostracized in the defense establishment. At the same time, he was experiencing personal problems that resulted in divorce (http://experts.about.com/e/d/di/divorce.htm). He soon retired at the rank of colonel (http://experts.about.com/e/c/co/colonel.htm), and in an effort to rebuild his life, Hackworth moved to Australia (http://experts.about.com/e/a/au/Australia.htm).

Hackworth the businessman

Settling on the Australian Gold Coast (http://experts.about.com/e/g/go/Gold_Coast,_Queensland.htm) near Brisbane (http://experts.about.com/e/b/br/Brisbane.htm), Hackworth soon made a fortune through savvy real estate investing, a profitable duck farm, and a popular restaurant called Scaramouche. He was also active in the Australian anti-nuclear movement (http://experts.about.com/e/a/an/anti-nuclear_movement.htm).

Hackworth the Journalist

Hackworth returned to the U.S. in the mid-1980s (http://experts.about.com/e/0/1980s.htm) and began working as a contributing editor on defense issues for Newsweek (http://experts.about.com/e/n/ne/Newsweek.htm). He also made regular television (http://experts.about.com/e/t/te/television.htm) appearances to discuss various military-related topics. His commentary on the psychological effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (http://experts.about.com/e/p/po/post-traumatic_stress_disorder.htm), based on his own experiences in overcoming the disease, resonated with disabled veterans.

In the mid-1990s, Hackworth interviewed Admiral Jeremy Michael Boorda (http://experts.about.com/e/j/je/Jeremy_Michael_Boorda.htm), then Chief of Naval Operations (http://experts.about.com/e/c/ch/Chief_of_Naval_Operations.htm). Hackworth questioned Boorda's wearing of potentially unauthorized V (Valor) devices on his Navy Achievement Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/n/na/Navy_Achievement_Medal.htm) and Navy Commendation Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/n/na/Navy_Commendation_Medal.htm), generating much controversy. Boorda committed suicide during the ensuing media frenzy.

Later, CBS (http://experts.about.com/e/c/cb/CBS.htm) had a similar report about Hackworth wearing unauthorized decorations. Hackworth responded with an U.S. Army audit confirming his medals, and CBS admitted to an error in reporting.

King Features Syndicate (http://experts.about.com/e/k/ki/King_Features_Syndicate.htm) distributed Hackworth's weekly column "Defending America" until his death from bladder cancer (http://experts.about.com/e/c/ca/cancer.htm) in May (http://experts.about.com/e/m/ma/May.htm), 2005 (http://experts.about.com/e/0/2005.htm). Associates believe that his cancer was caused by exposure to Agent Blue (http://experts.about.com/e/a/ag/Agent_Blue.htm); a defoliant (http://experts.about.com/e/d/de/defoliant.htm) used in Vietnam, and are lobbying the United States government to have the substance acknowledged as a known carcinogen like the more famous Agent Orange (http://experts.about.com/e/a/ag/Agent_Orange.htm).

Hackworth passed away on May 4 (http://experts.about.com/e/m/ma/May_4.htm), 2005 (http://experts.about.com/e/0/2005.htm) at the age of 74 in Tijuana, Mexico. He is survived by his wife, Eilhys England, a stepdaughter, and four children from his two previous marriages. His remains were interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

Military decorations

Hackworth earned over ninety decorations, including numerous individual citations for valor as well as unit citation (http://experts.about.com/e/u/un/unit_citation.htm)s earned by units he served in or commanded. He was proudest of his Combat Infantry Badge (http://experts.about.com/e/c/co/Combat_Infantry_Badge.htm), which he frequently wore on the lapel of his civilian sportsjackets in retirement.

Individual decorations and service medals

* Distinguished Service Cross (http://experts.about.com/e/d/di/Distinguished_Service_Cross_%28USA%29.htm) (with Oak Leaf Cluster (http://experts.about.com/e/o/oa/Oak_Leaf_Cluster.htm))
* Silver Star (http://experts.about.com/e/s/si/Silver_Star.htm) (with nine Oak Leaf Clusters (http://experts.about.com/e/o/oa/Oak_Leaf_Clusters.htm))
* Legion of Merit (http://experts.about.com/e/l/le/Legion_of_Merit.htm) (with three Oak Leaf Clusters (http://experts.about.com/e/o/oa/Oak_Leaf_Clusters.htm))
* Distinguished Flying Cross (http://experts.about.com/e/d/di/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_%28U.S.%29.htm)
* Bronze Star Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/b/br/Bronze_Star_Medal.htm) (with "V" Device & seven Oak Leaf Clusters (http://experts.about.com/e/o/oa/Oak_Leaf_Clusters.htm))
* Purple Heart (http://experts.about.com/e/p/pu/Purple_Heart.htm) (with seven Oak Leaf Clusters (http://experts.about.com/e/o/oa/Oak_Leaf_Cluster.htm))
* Air Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/a/ai/Air_Medal.htm) (with "V" Device & Numeral 34)(One for heroism and 33 for aerial achievement)
* Army Commendation Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/a/ar/Army_Commendation_Medal.htm) (with "V" Device & 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
* Good Conduct Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/g/go/Good_Conduct_Medal.htm)
* World War II Victory Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/w/wo/World_War_II_Victory_Medal.htm)
* Army of Occupation Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/a/ar/Army_of_Occupation_Medal.htm) (with Germany and Japan Clasps)
* National Defense Service Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/n/na/National_Defense_Service_Medal.htm) (with one Bronze Service star (http://experts.about.com/e/s/se/Service_star.htm))
* Korean Service Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/k/ko/Korean_Service_Medal.htm) (with Service Stars for eight campaigns)
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/a/ar/Armed_Forces_Expeditionary_Medal.htm)
* Vietnam Service Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/v/vi/Vietnam_Service_Medal.htm) (2 Silver Service star (http://experts.about.com/e/s/se/Service_star.htm)s)
* Armed Forces Reserve Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/a/ar/Armed_Forces_Reserve_Medal.htm)

Unit awards

* Presidential Unit Citation (US) (http://experts.about.com/e/p/pr/Presidential_Unit_Citation_%28US%29.htm)
* Valorous Unit Award (http://experts.about.com/e/v/va/Valorous_Unit_Award.htm) (with one Oak Leaf Cluster (http://experts.about.com/e/o/oa/Oak_Leaf_Cluster.htm))
* Meritorious Unit Commendation (http://experts.about.com/e/m/me/Meritorious_Unit_Commendation.htm)

Badges and tabs

* Combat Infantryman Badge (http://experts.about.com/e/c/co/Combat_Infantryman_Badge.htm) (with one Star; representing 2 awards)
* Master Parachutist Badge (http://experts.about.com/e/p/pa/Parachutist_Badge_%28U.S.%29.htm)
* Army General Staff Identification Badge (http://experts.about.com/e/a/ar/Army_General_Staff_Identification_Badge.htm)

Foreign awards

* United Nations Service Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/u/un/United_Nations_Service_Medal.htm) (Korea)
* Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (http://experts.about.com/e/v/vi/Vietnam_Campaign_Medal.htm) (1960)
* Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (http://experts.about.com/e/v/vi/Vietnam_Cross_of_Gallantry.htm) (with two Gold Stars)
* Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (http://experts.about.com/e/v/vi/Vietnam_Cross_of_Gallantry.htm) (with two Silver Stars)
* Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/v/vi/Vietnam_Armed_Forces_Honor_Medal.htm) (1st Class)
* Vietnam Staff Service Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/v/vi/Vietnam_Staff_Service_Medal.htm) (1st Class)
* Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Order (http://experts.about.com/e/v/vi/Vietnam_Army_Distinguished_Service_Order.htm), 2d Class
* Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation (http://experts.about.com/e/p/pr/Presidential_Unit_Citation_%28Korea%29.htm)
* Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation (http://experts.about.com/e/p/pr/Presidential_Unit_Citation_%28Vietnam%29.htm)
* Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (http://experts.about.com/e/r/re/Republic_of_Vietnam_Gallantry_Cross_Unit_Citation.htm) (with three Palm oak leaf clusters)
* Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/v/vi/Vietnam_Civil_Actions_Medal.htm), First Class Unit Citation (with one Palm oak leaf cluster)

World War II Merchant Marine awards

* Pacific War Zone Bar (http://experts.about.com/e/p/pa/Pacific_War_Zone_Bar.htm)
* World War II Victory Medal (http://experts.about.com/e/w/wo/World_War_II_Victory_Medal.htm)

DDR004

08-25-2006, 09:36 AM

Col. Lewis Millet

-Congressional Medal of Honor
-Distinguished Service Cross
-Silver Star Medal
-Legion of Merit with 2 OLC
-Bronze Star with "V" & OLC
-Purple Heart with 3 OLC
-Air Medal with "V" & ? numeral
-Good Conduct Medal
-American Defense Service Medal
-American Campaign Medal
-European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with bronze arrowhead & 3 stars
-WW II Victory Medal
-Army of Occupation Medal
-National Defense Service Medal
-Korea Service Medal with silver star
-Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
-Vietnam Service Medal with silver star
-Armed Forces Reserve Medal
-MÃ©daille commÃ©morative franÃ§aise de la Guerre 1939-1945
-Croix de Guerre with Palm
-United Nations Service Medal
-British War Medal 1939-1945
-Canadian Volunteer Service Medal 1939-1945
-RVN Honor Medal 1st Class
-RVN Staff Service Medal 1st Class
-RVN Cross of Gallantry with Palm
-RVN Campaign Medal

Place and date: Vicinity of Soam-Ni, Korea, 7 February 1951.

Citation: Capt. Millett, Company E, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. While personally leading his company in an attack against a strongly held position he noted that the 1st Platoon was pinned down by small-arms, automatic, and antitank fire. Capt. Millett ordered the 3d Platoon forward, placed himself at the head of the 2 platoons, and, with fixed bayonet, led the assault up the fire-swept hill. In the fierce charge Capt. Millett bayoneted 2 enemy soldiers and boldly continued on, throwing grenades, clubbing and bayoneting the enemy, while urging his men forward by shouting encouragement. Despite vicious opposing fire, the whirlwind hand-to-hand assault carried to the crest of the hill. His dauntless leadership and personal courage so inspired his men that they stormed into the hostile position and used their bayonets with such lethal effect that the enemy fled in wild disorder. During this fierce onslaught Capt. Millett was wounded by grenade fragments but refused evacuation until the objective was taken and firmly secured. The superb leadership, conspicuous courage, and consummate devotion to duty demonstrated by Capt. Millett were directly responsible for the successful accomplishment of a hazardous mission and reflect the highest credit on himself and the heroic traditions of the military service.

(sorry, having trouble with the photo) But he is worth mentioning anyways. Maybe someone can dig up a pic?

Btw thanks for the post about Anders Lassen, a true danish hero.

shocker1

08-25-2006, 12:49 PM

DESMOND T. DOSS http://www.homeofheroes.com/profiles/doss_portrait.jpg

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 307th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Urasoe Mura, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 29 April-21 May 1945. Entered service at: Lynchburg, Va. Birth: Lynchburg, Va. G.O. No.: 97, 1 November 1945.
Citation: He was a company aid man when the 1st Battalion assaulted a jagged escarpment 400 feet high As our troops gained the summit, a heavy concentration of artillery, mortar and machinegun fire crashed into them, inflicting approximately 75 casualties and driving the others back. Pfc. Doss refused to seek cover and remained in the fire-swept area with the many stricken, carrying them 1 by 1 to the edge of the escarpment and there lowering them on a rope-supported litter down the face of a cliff to friendly hands. On 2 May, he exposed himself to heavy rifle and mortar fire in rescuing a wounded man 200 yards forward of the lines on the same escarpment; and 2 days later he treated 4 men who had been cut down while assaulting a strongly defended cave, advancing through a shower of grenades to within 8 yards of enemy forces in a cave's mouth, where he dressed his comrades' wounds before making 4 separate trips under fire to evacuate them to safety. On 5 May, he unhesitatingly braved enemy shelling and small arms fire to assist an artillery officer. He applied bandages, moved his patient to a spot that offered protection from small arms fire and, while artillery and mortar shells fell close by, painstakingly administered plasma. Later that day, when an American was severely wounded by fire from a cave, Pfc. Doss crawled to him where he had fallen 25 feet from the enemy position, rendered aid, and carried him 100 yards to safety while continually exposed to enemy fire. On 21 May, in a night attack on high ground near Shuri, he remained in exposed territory while the rest of his company took cover, fearlessly risking the chance that he would be mistaken for an infiltrating Japanese and giving aid to the injured until he was himself seriously wounded in the legs by the explosion of a grenade. Rather than call another aid man from cover, he cared for his own injuries and waited 5 hours before litter bearers reached him and started carrying him to cover. The trio was caught in an enemy tank attack and Pfc. Doss, seeing a more critically wounded man nearby, crawled off the litter; and directed the bearers to give their first attention to the other man. Awaiting the litter bearers' return, he was again struck, this time suffering a compound fracture of 1 arm. With magnificent fortitude he bound a rifle stock to his shattered arm as a splint and then crawled 300 yards over rough terrain to the aid station. Through his outstanding bravery and unflinching determination in the face of desperately dangerous conditions Pfc. Doss saved the lives of many soldiers. His name became a symbol throughout the 77th Infantry Division for outstanding gallantry far above and beyond the call of duty.
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_living/ii_a_doss.html

Johnny_H02

08-25-2006, 01:09 PM

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/2678/ejghandmonkeydq1.jpg

He was 22 years old, and a Sergeant in The Royal Canadian Dragoons, Canadian Army during the South African War (Boer War) when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 7 November 1900 in South Africa, Sergeant Holland kept the Boers away from two 12-pounder guns with his Colt gun. When he saw that the enemy were too near for him to escape with the carriage, as the horse was blown, he calmly lifted the gun off and galloped away with it under his arm.

Source for picture
http://www.geocities.com/ejghvc/ejghandmonkey.jpg

Source for text
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_James_Gibson_Holland

Additional sources
http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/cmdp/mainmenu/group01/cdn_vc&CFID=5670796&CFTOKEN=59752878

welshmann

08-28-2006, 05:38 AM

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/4994/tw1dh9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/8357/tw2km1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Sir Tasker Watkins VC GBE (born November 18, 1918), is a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He is a former High Court judge, and was President of the Welsh Rugby Union from 1993 to 2004.

Details
Tasker Watkins was born in the small town of Nelson, Glamorgan, and educated at Pontypridd Grammar School.

He was 25 years old, and a Lieutenant in the 1/5th Bn., The Welsh Regiment, British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 16 August 1944 at Barfour, Normandy, France, Lieutenant Watkins' company came under murderous machine-gun fire while advancing through corn fields set with ****y traps. The only officer left, Lieutenant Watkins led a bayonet charge with his 30 remaining men against 50 enemy infantry, practically wiping them out. Finally, at dusk, separated from the rest of the battalion, he ordered his men to scatter and after he had personally charged and silenced an enemy machine-gun post, he brought them back to safety. His superb leadership not only saved his men, but decisively influenced the course of the battle.

He is a living recipient of the VC. He later achieved the rank of Major, and on leaving the army, became a barrister at the Middle Temple. He became a High Court judge in 1971, the same year in which he was knighted. He became a Privy Counsellor in 1980.
http://experts.about.com/e/t/ta/Tasker_Watkins.htm

sjsoon

08-29-2006, 08:30 AM

WO2 "Ray" Simpson, VC DCM

Rayene Stewart "Ray" SIMPSON was born at Chippendale, New South Wales, on 16 February 1926. Educated at Carlingford and Dumaresque Island Public Schools, Taree, New South Wales, he joined the second AIF on 15 March 1944 and was sent to the 41st 2nd Infantry Battalion, a 'holding' unit for young soldiers under nineteen years. On the morning of 5 August 1944, Simpson had his first taste of action when he was part of a detachment sent to reinforce the garrison troops at Cowra after the escape of several hundred Japanese prisoners-of-war.

One of his duties that day was to man number one Vickers machine-gun, identical to number two gun which several hours earlier had been defended to the death by Privates Hardy and Jones who were both posthumously awarded the George Cross. He was first posted to the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion, AIF, and later served with an Advanced Ordnance Depot and the 26th Battalion, AIF.

Victoria Cross DCM 1939/45 Star Pacific Star

1939/45 War Medal Defence Medal ASM 1939/45 ASM 1945/75

GSM 1918/64 Active Service Medal Korea Medal UN Korea Medal
"Vietnam" Clasp for the Australian Active Service Medal

Vietnam Medal US Pres. Unit Citation (3RAR) Vietnamese Campaign Medal
Note that the DCM pictured is incorrect in that it bears the likeness of an earlier Monarch.

Saigon, South Vietnam. 1969-08. Warrant Officer Second Class (WO2) Rayene (Ray) Stewart Simpson, forty three, of Redfern, NSW (right), the latest Australian to win a Victoria Cross (VC), claps a friendly arm around the American Army Staff Sergeant who was with him during the actions which led to the award. WO2 Simpson is a member of the Australian Army Training Team in Vietnam (AATTV), and is the third member of the team to win a VC. Staff Sergeant Peter Holberk of Holliston, Massachusetts, was the medic in the company commanded by WO2 Simpson during the actions. Note the cans of Victoria Bitter beer in their hands.

Demobilised in January 1947, Simpson for four years worked at various jobs - tram conductor, builders' labourer, sugar cane cutter, sailor around Papua New Guinea - before re-enlisting in 1951 for service in Korea with the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 30 November 1951 and promoted to Corporal on 21 January 1953. During this period he married Shoko Sakai, a Japanese citizen, on 5 March 1952.

He was posted to the 2nd Battalion in January 1954 and he served in Malaya with this unit for two years from October 1955. Simpson was next posted to 1st Special Air Service Company in November 1957 and served with that unit until selected as one of the initial group of advisors for the Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam (AATTV) who left by air for Vietnam in July 1962.

A year later he returned to the Special Air Service unit in Australia for twelve months service before his second tour of duty with the AATTV in Vietnam commenced in July 1964. During this second tour he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions when a patrol was ambushed at Tako on 16 September. Simpson, although severely wounded in the leg, held off the enemy while he called for assistance by radio. He and his men repelled several enemy assaults until help arrived, and none too soon as the ammunition had almost gone and Simpson was weak from loss of blood. He was evacuated by helicopter to the 6th Field Hospital at Nha Trang and he later convalesced in Tokyo.

Simpson had been promoted to Sergeant on 1 July 1955 and to temporary Warrant Officer Class II in July 1964, the latter promotion being confirmed on 1 October the same year.

On 16 May 1966 Simpson left the Army for a second time but re-enlisted in Saigon a year later for his third period of service with the AATTV. On 6 and 11 May 1969, when he performed the actions for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross, he was serving in Kontum Province, near the Laotian border, as commander of a mobile strike force.

Paraphrased from 'They Dared Mightily', 1986
His citation for the Victoria Cross reads:

CITATION

Warrant Officer Simpson enlisted initially in 1951. He saw active service in the Pacific, Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam.

On 6th May 1969, Warrant Officer Simpson was serving as Commander of 232nd Mobile Strike Force Company of 5th Special Forces Group on a search and clear operation in Kontum Province, near the Laotian border. When one of his platoons became heavily engaged with the enemy, he led the remainder of his company to its assistance. Disregarding the dangers involved, he placed himself at the front of his troops, thus becoming a focal point of enemy fire, and personally led the assault on the left flank of the enemy position. As the company moved forward, an Australian Warrant Officer commanding one of the platoons was seriously wounded and the assault began to falter. Warrant Officer Simpson, at great personal risk and under heavy enemy fire, moved across open ground, reached the wounded Warrant Officer and carried him to a position of safety. He then returned to his company where, with complete disregard for his safety, he crawled forward to within ten metres of the enemy and threw grenades into their positions. As darkness fell, and being unable to break into the enemy position, Warrant Officer Simpson ordered his company to withdraw. He then threw smoke grenades and, carrying a wounded platoon leader, covered the withdrawal of his company together with five indigenous soldiers. His leadership and personal bravery in this action were outstanding.

On 11th May 1969, in the same operation, Warrant Officer Simpson's Battalion Commander was killed and an Australian Warrant Officer and several indigenous soldiers were wounded. In addition, one other Australian Warrant Officer who had been separated from the majority of his troops was contained in the area by enemy fire. Warrant Officer Simpson quickly organised two platoons of indigenous soldiers and several advisors and led them to the position of contact. On reaching the position the element with Warrant Officer Simpson came under heavy fire and all but a few of the soldiers with him fell back. Disregarding his own safety, he moved forward in the face of accurate enemy machine-gun fire, in order to cover the initial evacuation of the casualties. The wounded were eventually moved out of the line of enemy fire, which all this time was directed at Warrant Officer Simpson from close range. At the risk of almost certain death he made several attempts to move further forward towards his Battalion Commander's body but on each occasion he was stopped by heavy fire. Realising the position was becoming untenable and that priority should be given to extricating other casualties as quickly as possible, Warrant Officer Simpson alone and still under enemy fire covered the withdrawal of the wounded by personally placing himself between the wounded and the enemy. From this position he fought on and by outstanding courage and valour was able to prevent the enemy advance until the wounded were removed from the immediate vicinity. Warrant Officer Simpson's gallant and individual action and his coolness under fire were exceptional and were instrumental in achieving the successful evacuation of the wounded to the helicopter evacuation pad.

Warrant Officer Simpson's repeated acts of personal bravery in this operation were an inspiration to all Vietnamese, United States and Australian soldiers who served with him. His conspicuous gallantry was in the highest tradition of the Australian Army.

Thanks to: http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-vc/simpson-vc.htm

pooch

08-29-2006, 09:08 AM

"I spent thirty- three years and four months in active military service as a member of this country's most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high class muscle- man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. "

2-time Medal of Honor recipient Maj.Gen Smedley Butler, USMC

Hellfish

08-29-2006, 09:09 AM

Rongoteus

08-29-2006, 11:16 AM

CAPTAIN IN THE FINNISH ARMY
US. ARMY MAJ. LAURI ALLAN TÖRNI/LARRY A. THORNE 1919-1965

http://turuntori.com/tiedostot/251.jpg
Source (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/turuntori.com/tiedostot/251.jpg)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Larry_Thorne.jpg/180px-Larry_Thorne.jpg
Source (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Larry_Thorne.jpg/180px-Larry_Thorne.jpg)
http://kotisivut.turunsanomat.fi/tiedostot/1010.jpg

1919-1953

Lauri Törni was born in Vyborg on May 28, 1919. After elementary school he finished a few grades of Vyborg modern lyseum, then commercial school. He became an active participant in the activities for boys in the civil guard. On September 3, 1938, he began his military career, which would from there on continue for 27 years almost without a pause. He volunteered in the military service, entering Battalion 4 of light infantry. As a non-commissioned officer serving in Infantry Battalion 4, Törni was assigned to a supplementary refresher course and ended up in the Winter War. He was a patrol leader and the deputy commander of a Swedish-speaking company within the battalion. Toward the end of the war he took Course 45 in the reserve officers’ school (RUK) in Niinisalo.

After RUK Törni was transferred from Infantry Regimen 12 to serve the armed forces as a platoon commander, hired for a supplementary second lieutenant. In May 1941 Finns were being recruited for military service and Törni, too, enlisted as a volunteer. However, he only served in the SS-troops (SS Freiwilligen Bataillon Nordost) in Germany from the beginning of June till the end of July. Due to the great numbers of officers in the battalion, Törni was returned to Finland with several other “extra officers”.

Next, Törni became the leader of the tank battalion (founded on August 15, 1941) of the light infantry battalion 8 in the first division. The battalion advanced to Karhumäki, Petrozavodsk and Käppäselkä. Törni was severely wounded by a mine on a nocturnal ski patrol in Malu on March 23, 1942. He was injured by splinters all over his body and suffered from a partial stroke. After Midsummer he returned from the stationary hospital in Seinäjoki to his previous detachment as the 1st company commander, having been promoted to First Lieutenant. When the aggressive warfare became stabilized, the detachment was disbanded and Törni was transferred to Infantry regimen 56.

Light infantry companies were established within the divisions to handle special missions. Men for these companies were selected out of volunteers and in January 1943 Törni was also given the order to form a light infantry company for the 1st division. This detachment was disbanded and in the summer Törni established a partisan defence detachment, which was brought under control of the reserve battalion of light infantry 15 in August. Törni was appointed commander of the light infantry company in December 1943. Törni led his company successfully in the heavy battles of summer 1944 and on July 9 he was nominated the 144th Knight of the Mannerheim Cross for his military merits. In the evening of July 13 major general Uno Fagernäs came to visit the company’s command post and gave lieutenant Lauri Törni the Mannerheim cross awarded by the supreme commander. After Finland withdrew from the war, Törni left for Germany to get further training in preparation of returning to Finland to organize resistance in case the Soviets were to occupy Finland. When Finland was not seized and Germany broke down, Törni surrendered to the Allies. He escaped from an English prison camp and, after a series of adventures, managed to return to Finland. In Finland Törni received a 6-year sentence to prison for anti-government activity. He escaped from prison once. President J. K. Paasikivi pardoned him already in December 1948. Thereafter Törni moved (1949-1951) to the United States through Sweden and Venezuela and managed to enlist in the US military force. Törni lost his Finnish military rank in 1950. This happened mainly for political reasons. The official establishing date of the light infantry company called Detachment Törni is December 3, 1943. In the spring of 1944 the members of the detachment received versatile training and their general fitness level was also raised through heavy exercises. In the summer, after the launch of a major Soviet attack, Detachment Törni had busy times ahead –form and skill were indeed required. Between June 20 and August 8 the detachment was constantly moving from one post to another, delivering counterblows when the enemy was threatening critically.
Altogether 239 people served in the detachment.

1954-1965

Törni started his military career in the US armed forces as a private in Fort Dix, New Jersey, in January 1954 under the name Larry A. Thorne. He was successful in service and completed training in signals, mountaineering and parachuting. He also performed HALO (high altitude low opening) jumps with a parachute. In the spring of 1957 Törni was ordered to join the 11th landing division of the special troops. In summer 1957 the division transferred to Bavaria in West Germany and was joined to the composition of NATO. Törni served in the 10th detachment for special mission warfare, located at the base of the Alpes in Bad Tölz.

The nature of missions assigned to Törni is well illustrated by an operation he was entrusted with in the Zagros mountains in Iran. A group of 12 men under Törni’s leadership recovered the remains of the crew of an American transport carrier that had hit a mountain, along with some classified equipment, finishing the operation by blowing up the plane’s fuselage. In 1963 Törni was sent on a field officer course in the infantry school of Fort Benning in Georgia. During the course he was ordered to serve in Vietnam for the first time. He served there from November 1963 to April 1964 and completed the course in December 1964. In January 1965 Törni received orders for service in Vietnam for the second and also for the last time. He was leading a special troops camp in Phan Chau and was wounded on June 12, 1965. Although Törni now had an opportunity to select more peaceful duties, he set off to be the commander of a special operations base and, true to his nature, also left to escort the first reconnaissance patrol of the secret Shining Brass-operation. Törni disappeared on the return flight to the military base of Khan Duc. The site of the helicopter crash was localized in 1998 and the crash site was investigated in July-August 1999. A Finnish search patrol participated in the search for the remains and specimen in July 20-27, 1999. We continue to wait for the DNA tests’ results from the USA.

Source (http://www.larrythorne.com/)

Decorations

Finnish:
26.07.1940 VM2
24.08.1940 VM1
09.10.1941 VR3
23.05.1942 VR4
09.07.1944 2 lk:n Mannerheim-risti (Mannerheim Cross (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannerheim_Cross) 2nd class)
Talvisodan muistomitali
Divisioonan muistoristi
Rajajääkärijoukkojen risti
Puolustusvoimien ****ssinen mitali

German:
11.12.1943 II klasse Eiserne Kreuz

U.S.:
The Legion of Merit
The Distinguished Flying Cross
The Bronze Star
The Purple Heart (2kpl)
The Army Commendation Medal

Ranks and promotions:

Suomen Armeija:
03.09.1938 varusmies
01.03.1939 res. alikersantti
09.05.1940 res. vänrikki
05.03.1942 res. luutnantti
27.08.1944 res. kapteeni
06.10.1950 Poistettu upseeriluettelosta
sotilasarvonsa menettäneenä. TasPres18/50

Der Deutsche Wehrmacht:
18.5.1941 Untersturmführer
15.4.1945 Hauptsturmführer

U.S. Army:
28.01.1954 PVT-1
28.05.1954 PVT-2
20.12.1954 PFC
28.04.1955 CPL
17.11.1955 SGT
09.01.1957 1st LTN
30.11.1960 CPT
16.12.1965 MAJ*

* Promoted after M.I.A.

More information

http://www.larrythorne.com/
http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/t/t375.htm
http://sfandfamily.bravepages.com/special-forces/html/thorne.html
http://www.usarmygermany.com/Units/HqUSAREUR/USAREUR_10th%20SF%20Gp%20ABN.htm
http://www.taskforceomegainc.org/t375.htm

Epilogue

Törni lost his Finnish military rank in 1950. This happened mainly for political reasons. However Finnish M.P. Sulo Aittoniemi left a parlamential question to the Minister of Justice 2001. He asked the officials to restore Törnis Military Rank and his Honor.

http://www.om.fi/9579.htm

On his answer Minister Olli-Pekka Heinonen said; only the President of Finland can restore Törni´s rank. In question of Törni´s honour, Minister Heinonen said:

Mitä tulee kysymykseen Lauri Törnin kunniasta, voidaan todeta ainakin se, että mitään sellaista ei voida palauttaa, mitä ei ole koskaa menetettykään.

Conserning Lauri Törnis honour, only thing what can be mentioned is: One can not restore honour which is never lost.

R.I.P.

Ralf174978

08-29-2006, 11:32 AM

http://www.lalegion.ch/upload/mod/ReneMittenaere3.jpg

René Mittenaere was involved in the following operations:

Bjervik (Norway) 13-05-1940
Narvik (Norway) 28-05-1940
Keren (Eritrea) 27-03-1941
Massoua (Eritrea) 07-04-1941
Damas (Syria) 07-06-1941
Bir Hakeim (Libya) 17-05-1942
El Alamein (Libya) 22-10-1942
Himelmat (Libya) 23-10-1942
Tobrook (Libya) 28-10-1942
Bizerte (Tunisia) 04-05-1943
Tunis (Tunisia) 07-05-1943
Djebel-Garci (Tunisia) 09-05-1943
Ponte Corvo (Italy) 12-05-1944
Monte Fencio (Italy) 19-05-1944
Tivoly (Italy) 25-05-1944
Rom (Italy) 04-06-1944
Radicofani (Italy) 18-06-1944
Toulon (France) 22-08-1944
Lyon (France) 01-09-1944
Autun (France) 08-09-1944
Dijon (France) 13-09-1944
Remouchamps (France) 26-10-1944
Côte 1013 (France) 05-11-1944
Belfort (France) 21-11-1944
Ballon d'Alsace (France) 04-12-1944
Abenheim (Alsace) 11-01-1945
Ilhausern (Alsace) 23-01-1945

Wounded on 10.06.1942 at Bir Hakeim (Libya)
Wounded on 18.06.1944 at Radicofani (Italy)
Wounded on 05.11.1944 near Ballon d'Alsace (France)
Wounded on 23.01.1945 at Ilhausern (Alsace)

René Mittenaere is carrier of the following decorations and medals:

Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur par décret du 18/12/63 enregistré sous le n° L.H.E. 63

Médaille Militaire à titre exceptionnel par décret du 26/4/45 J.O. du 20/05/45

Citation à l’ordre de l’Armée par décret du 26/04/45 j ;o ; du 25/05/45

Citation à l’Ordre de la Division - Extrait de L.O.G. n° 260 de la 1ère D.F.F.L. du 11/12/44

Citation à l’Ordre de la Division - Extrait de L.O.G. n°73 de la 1ère D.F.F.L. du 20/06/43

Citation à l’Ordre de la Brigade O.G. n°5540/1 du 22/03/44 des F.F.L.

Citation à l’Ordre de la Brigade O.G. n°108 de la 1ère D.F.F.L. du 19/07/44

Médaille de la Résistance avec rosette par décret du 24/04/46 du J.O. du 17/05/46

Médaille du Combattant Volontaire de la Résistance Française, décret du 21/03/50 n° 500035 de la Carte

Croix du Combattant volontaire Brevet n° 2203 du 30/11/56

Médaille Commémorative des services volontaires dans la France Libre Brevet n° 14946 du 16/11/48

Médaille Commémorative Française de la Guerre 1939-1945 par décret du 21/05/46, brevet du 07/04/59

Médaille Commémorative de la Campagne d’Italie par décret n° 53.1009 du 10/10/53

Médaille Commémorative de Syrie-Célicie, agrafe " Levant brevet n° 549.026 du 21/07/60

Croix du Combattant par décret n° 562.769 de la Carte en date du 04/02/52

Médaille des Engagés Volontaires par brevet du Ministre de la Défense Nationale du 07/04/59

Médaille de la Guerre de Norvège par brevet du 13/05/60

Médaille de participation de Norvège par brevet du 13/05/50

Médaille Coloniale avec agrafe " Erythrée - Lybie - Bir Hackeim - Tunisie " par décret du 26/03/42

Médailles des blessés du 27/03/41 par note n° 86/503 G.D.N. du23/10/43

Médaille du Mérite Syrien en date du 07/06/41 à Damas- Syrie

Chevalier du Mérite Combattant par décret du 02/11/61, brevet du 06/11/61

Chevalier du Ouissam Alouïte Chérifien de 5ème classe, brevet n° 15880 du 12/09/46

Chevalier du Mérite Libanais de 4ème classe par brevet du 09/07/41

Officier de 3ème classe du Nichan Ifthikar, brevet n° 2464 du 03/01/45 à Tunis

Médaille d’Argent du Mérite Civique Français n° 10480 A. en date du 12/10/63

Médaille Commémorative " Rhin et Danube " Français remise par l’Hôtel de Ville d’Obernai le 28/11/65

Médaille " The France and Germany Star " par brevet du 10/11/47

Médaille " The Italy Star " par brevet du 18/08/47

Médaille " The Africa Star " par brevet du 09/08/47

Médaille " The Campaign Star "1939-1945 " par brevet du 20/11/47

Atlantic Star 1939-1945 en date du 01/03/57, annexe n° 8

Air Crew Star 1939-1945 en date du 01/03/57, annexe n°8

Défense Médaille Anglaise n° 4245 en date du 10/06/55

Officier de l’Ordre National de Grèce enn date du 14/07/65

Médaille d’or Internationale de Colombie en date du 01/05/65

Commandeur de l’American Legion en date du 02/02/65 à Paris

The Interallied Distinguished Service Cross 1ère Classe en date du 24/12/48

War Medal Général Eisenhower 1939-1945 en date du 24/12/48

Grand Officier du Mérite Polonais des Résistants en France n° 81 du 11/11/65

Chevalier de L’ordre National Polonais de la Virtuti Militari par décret du Ministre du 27/12/44 n° L.d.z.16979/TyN Mob

Médaille de la Victoire Polonaise par brevet n° 9822 du 28/02/64

Médaille Commémorative de la Résistance Polonaise en France par brevet 8030 du 11/11/62

Croix de la Vaillance Polonaise par décret Ministériel L.8 du 20/02/45

Mérite Polonais avec Glaive d’Or par décret Ministériel du 27/02/44

Médaille Militaire Polonaise

Chevalier de l’ordre du Mérite National du Grand Duché de Luxembourg donné au Palais de Luxembourg, le 03/06/67, pour ampliation : le Ministre d’Etat Pierre Werner

Diplôme d’Honneur des Passeurs Luxembourgeois en date du 12/03/67

Médaille de la Victoire Russe en date du 1910/66 à Moscou n° 943/9

Médaille de S./Officier de l’Armée Belge, brevet en date du 01/05/67

Médaille de 2ème Classe de la Fédération Royale des Ex- S./Officier de Belgique en date du 21/05/67

Diplôme D’Honneur du Corps de Volontaire Belges des Anciens de Corée, le 1er Août 1967

Médaille d’Argent des Déportés Belges 1940-1945 en date du 27/03/64

Grandes Palmes d’Argent de l’Armée du Rhin Belge par brevet du 01/06/65

Médaille d’or de la Protection Aérienne 39-45 de Belgique par Brevet du 21/09/62

Croix de Commandeur de la Medal of Liberty Américaine en date du 05/10/74

Croix d’Honneur de l’Armée du Rhin Belge avec 3 étoiles d’Or en date du 29/05/65

Commandeur de l’Ordre de St Georges de Bourgogne par brevet n° 380 du 23/04/49

Médaille de Léopold III n° 2565 du 17/11/63

Médaille du Résistant Armée Belge F.A.R. par brevet en date du 07/05/61

Médaille Commémorative Des Armées d’Occupation par brevet du 28/05/49

Médaille de l’Armée Secrète Belge, Zone I, Secteur C.G. " Mésange " brevet en date du 15/06/62

Médaille de la Presse Clandestine Belge par brevet en date du 03/09/62

Médaille des Vétérans du Roi Albert I par brevet en date du 01/08/61

Croix du Mérite de la Protection Aérienne 39-45 par brevet n° 361 du 11/11/62

Médaille de la Ville de Nieuport 800ème anniversaire par brevet en date du 04/08/63

Médaille d’Honneur du Général Patton décernée le 02/07/67 à l’Hôtel de Ville d’Ettelbruck, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg

Médaille d’Argent du Mérite des Partisans de la Résistance Italienne, brevet du 14/07/66

Croix de la Libération Républicaine Espagnole n° 619 en date du 14/04/64

Commandeur Belgo-Espagnol n° 2 en date du 30/09/65

Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Courtoisie Française par brevet du 22/05/62

Chevalier du 4ème Classe dans l’Ordre du Bien Public, brevet du 18/03/62

Chevalier de l’Etoile du Mérite Franco-Alliés 39-45 n° 187/186 en date du 08/05/63

Chevalier du Mérite Français, diplôme n° 7118 en date du 08/01/66

Officier du Génie Français n° 214/80 en date du 01/01/64

Officier de l’Ordre du Mérite Français d’Outremer n° 254 en date du 09/05/65

Croix d’Officier de la Légion Franco-Belge enregistré n° 1054 en date du 03/03/63

Croix d’Officier d’aide aux Anciens Militaires n° 684 en date du 18/06/84 à Paris

Croix du Mérite des Résistants Combattants Polonais en France n° 64 du 01/01/65

Officier de l’Education Sociale enregistré n° 12 B.S. en date du 25/03/63

Médaille d’Argent du Mérite National Français par brevet n° 5958 en date du 01/02/62

Médaille d’Or Franco-Belge du Dévouement

Médaille d’Or du Grand Humanitaire de France et des Colonies, brevet n° 6867 du 21/09/62

Médaille d’Or du Mérite Volontaire Français en date du 13/12/65

Médaille d’Or de l’Etoile Sociale J.O. du 04/11/36

Croix du Mérite des Combattants Alliés 14-18 et 39-45 en date du 26/03/66

Croix d’Honneur de la Fraternelle Belge des Anciens Légionnaires en date du 30/04/63

Croix d’Honneur Franco-Britannique par brevet n° 6303 en date du 22/07/50

Diplôme d’Honneur International de la Chaîne des Mères n°47 " Moniteur " du 10/02/51

Commandeur dans l’Ordre Français des Arts et des Lettres n° 816 du 01/01/64

Commandeur Franco-Belge des Résistants Réunis n° 2 en date du 03/12/64

Commandeur Union et Maintien n° 1397 en date du 15/02/65

Croix d’Honneur de Grand Officier de l’Ordre du Service Sanitaire n° 20/3 du 01/01/64

Grand-Croix du Génie Français n° 214/9 en date du 01/05/64 à Paris

Médaille Franco-Allié Belge de 1940 n° 218/182 en date du 06/03/64

Médaille du Mérite Volontaire, Croix d’Officier par brevet n° 238 en date du 10/10/61

Médaille Commémorative du Roi Albert I par brevet du 10/05/60

Médaille Industrielle Belge de 2ème Classe par brevet du 10/05/60

Médaille de Nieuport, brevet du 09/08/64

Médaille de la Ville de Dunkerque offerte par l’Hôtel de Ville, le 01/08/65

Lauréat du Travail Néerlandais, 1ère Classe, le 27/01/67

Commandeur de la Distinguished Service Star de la Marine Américaine du 07/08/64

Military Order of the Firing Squad Américaine du 18/06/70

Médaille d’Honneur d’Or de l’Armée Secrète d’Albion n° 380 du 01/04/49

Commandeur de l’Ordre Royal de la Couronne d’Acier d’Araucanie par décret du 13/11/71

Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur Polonaise par décret Ministériel du 03/05/80

Croix du Passeur des Combattants Alliés en Europe du 14/07/70

Citation internationale of Military of Merit Américaine du 22/01/69

Diplôme de Reconnaissance des Vétérans du Roi Léopold III n° 22 du 21/07/70

Médaille d’Honneur Commémorative du Prince des Aucas d’Araucanie du 05/06/71

The Commemorative War Medal of General Dwight D. Eisenhower du 09/05/65

http://www.hypertainer.com/fremdenlegion/ReneMittenaere1.jpg

http://www.hypertainer.com/fremdenlegion/ReneMittenaere2.jpg

Hellfish

08-29-2006, 11:50 AM

Holy crap. That guy was everywhere.

Anthony91

08-29-2006, 01:59 PM

Major Richard D. Winters
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c5/Capt_richard_winters_506e.jpg

Early Life
Winters was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancaster%2C_Pennsylvania), and grew up in the area. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_and_Marshall_College) in 1941 with a degree in business.

During WWII
An original member of Company E ("Easy Company") of the 2nd Battalion, 506th PIR, Winters began his service as a platoon leader (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platoon_leader) after graduating the U.S. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) Army Officer Candidate School (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Officer_Candidate_School_%28U.S._Army%29) (OCS) program at Fort Benning, Georgia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Benning%2C_Georgia). During initial paratrooper training at Camp Toccoa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Toccoa) in northeastern Georgia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28U.S._state%29) Winters was appointed Company Executive Officer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Officer) (XO) and received a promotion to 1st Lieutenant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant) while under the company's original commander, Captain Herbert Sobel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Sobel).
When the 101st Airborne Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101st_Airborne_Division) was deployed to England (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England), due to tension between Captain Sobel and the non-commissioned officers of Easy Company, Sobel was replaced by First Lieutenant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Lieutenant)Thomas Meehan III (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Meehan_III) shortly before the invasion of German (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany)-occupied France. On June 6 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_6), 1944 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1944), at approximately 1:15 A.M., the lead C-47 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DC-3) of jump stick 66 carrying Meehan and the Headquarters section of E Company paratroopers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paratrooper) was shot down by German (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany) anti-aircraft fire killing everyone on board. Without knowing the fate of his comrades, Winters was left as the de facto company commander of Easy. He remained so for the duration of the Normandy Campaign (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Normandy).
After landing off-course near Sainte-Mère-Église (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-M%C3%A8re-%C3%89glise) and having lost his weapon during the drop, Lieutenant Winters was able to figure out where he was, collect a few lost paratroopers, and march toward the unit's assigned objective near Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-Marie-du-Mont).
Lieutenant Winters was recommended for the Medal of Honor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Honor) for leading an assault that destroyed a battery of German 105 mm howitzers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howitzer) which were situated to fire onto the causeways that served as the principal exits from Utah Beach during the D-Day assault. The guns were defended by at least one platoon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platoon) of Germans; Winters had only 12 men. The assault occurred south of Le Grand-Chemin, and is often referred to as the Brécourt Manor Assault (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%C3%A9court_Manor_Assault). In addition to taking out the battery Winters also obtained a map detailing all German defenses in the Utah Beach area. The recommendation was later downgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Cross_%28USA%29), the U.S. military's second highest award for combat valor, due to a division policy of only one Medal of Honor awarded per campaign (Lieutenant Colonel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_Colonel)Robert G. Cole (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_G._Cole) was the 101st Airborne soldier to receive the Medal of Honor for the Normandy Campaign). A letter-writing campaign after the release of the Band of Brothers television mini-series failed in its purpose of having the MOH retroactively awarded. The assault itself is still studied at military academies the world over as a classic example of small unit tactics.
During the course of Operation Market Garden (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Market_Garden) in Holland in September 1944, Winters assumed duties as 2nd Battalion, 506th PIR, Executive Officer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Officer). Although normally a major (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major)'s command, Winters filled the position while still a captain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain). During the campaign in Holland, Captain Winters led a successful attack with 20 members of Easy Company (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easy_Company) against a force of 200 German soldiers.
On December 16 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_16), 1944 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1944), the Germans launched a counter-offensive against the Allies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allies) in Belgium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium). After the 101st Airborne was moved to the Bastogne, Belgium area on December 18, Captain Winters (as 2nd Battalion XO) and Easy Company (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easy_Company) held the line northwest of Bastogne (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastogne) near the small town of Foy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foy) during what became known as the Battle of the Bulge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge). The entire 101st Airborne and elements of the 10th Armored Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._10th_Armored_Division) held off several elite German Divisions for nearly a week before elements of the US 3rd Army broke through the German lines surrounding Bastogne.
He was promoted to the rank of Major (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major) following the Battle of the Bulge.

Medals and Decorations
Distinguished Service Cross (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Cross_%28United_States%29)
Bronze Star Medal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Star_Medal)
Purple Heart (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Heart)
World War II Victory Medal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_Victory_Medal)
Presidential Unit Citation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Unit_Citation_%28US%29) with two Oak leaf clusters (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_leaf_cluster)
Orange Lanyard of the Royal Netherlands Army (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Lanyard)

Nick063

08-29-2006, 05:35 PM

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1492/583pxerichhartmannfrontjpgdq0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Erich “Bubi” Hartmann was born on 19 April 1921 at Weissach in Württemberg. His early years were spent in China where his father, a doctor, had a general practice in Changsha. He returned to Germany with his family in 1928 and completed his schooling. Hartmann learned to fly sailplanes and had gained his pilot’s licence in 1939. He entered the Luftwaffe on 10 October 1940. Hartmann attended the Luftkriegsschule II (air combat school) at Berlin-Gatow gaining his military pilot’s licence in August 1941. From 14 October 1941 to February 1942 he attended Jagdfliegerschule-Vorschule 2 at Lachen-Speyerdorf. He attended Jagdfliegerschule 2 at Zerbst from February 1942 to July 1942 before being posted to Ergänzungruppe Ost at Gleiwitz for operational training, which he completed in October 1942. His first operational posting was to 7./JG 52 on the Eastern Front on 10 October 1942. Leutnant Hartmann came under the guidance of Oberfeldwebel Edmund “Paule” Rossmann (93 victories, RK, POW 9 July 1943), considered one of the best element leaders on the Eastern Front. During this time he was given the advice of several another accomplished aces of 7./JG 52, including Oberfeldwebel Alfred Grislawski (132 victories, RK-EL) and Leutnant Walter Krupinski (197 victories, RK-EL). Hartmann recorded his first victory, a Russian Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft, shot down on 5 November 1942. However, he too was hit in the engagement and was forced to crashland. By the end of April 1943, his victory total stood at 11. On 23 May he claimed his 17th victory but two days later force-landed his Bf 109 G-4 “White 2” (W.Nr. 14 997) after colliding with a LaGG-3 fighter. After this incident he was given leave to rest and recuperate, returning to combat duty by the end of June. By the end of July 1943 his victory total had reached 42, including seven enemy aircraft shot down on 7 July to record his 22nd through 28th victories. In August, he claimed 48 victories, including five on 1 August (43-47), 4 August (52-56), 5 August (57-61) and 7 August (63-67). However, following his 90th victory on 20 August 1943, Hartmann was shot down in Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 20 485), and captured. Feigning injury, he managed to decoy his captors into not keeping a close watch on him and was able to escape and returned to his unit after two days. On 2 September 1943, Hartmann was appointed Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 52. On 13 September he was awarded the Ehrenpokal. He gained his 100th victory on 20 September 1943. In October, he claimed 33 victories. Leutnant Hartmann was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 29 October 1943 after his 148th victory. On 6 December he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold. He recorded his 150th victory on 13 December. On 30 January 1944, Hartmann shot down six enemy aircraft (178-183). He claimed five victories on 1 February (186-190). He brought up his 200th victory on the 26 February 1944, on a day when he shot down 10 Airacobra fighters (192-202). He was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 420) on 2 March. On 8 May, Hartmann, with two of his groundcrew in the baggage locker of his Bf 109, was forced to withdraw from the Crimea. He had 223 victories to his credit at the time. For a short period, Hartmann operated over Rumania intercepting the American daylight bombing raids on the Rumanian oil fields and installations, and on 24 June he claimed a 15th USAAF P-51 fighter as his 265th victory. On 2 July he was awarded the Schwertern (Nr. 75) for 266 victories. A Russian counter-offensive took the unit back to the Crimea and, during May and June 1944, he accounted for 60 Russian aircraft to bring his score to 267. In August 1944, Hartmann claimed 35 victories, including eight on 23 August (284-291). He became the first fighter pilot to record 300 victories on 24 August 1944, on a day when he shot down eleven enemy aircraft. Hartmann was awarded the Brillanten for 303 victories on 25 August 1944, only the 18th German soldier to receive this accolade. He was immediately prohibited from combat flying and was assigned to Erprobungskommando 262 to test fly the Me 262 jet fighter. In October, Hartman was able get the prohibition on his combat flying lifted. On 1 October he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 52 (or 7./JG 52?) based in Hungary. By the end of 1944, he had raised his victory tally to 331. From 1 to 14 February 1945, Hartmann briefly led I./JG 53 in an acting Gruppenkommandeur role. He relinquished the role to Hauptmann Helmut Lipfert (203 victories, RK-EL) on 15 February. In mid-February 1945, Hartmann was given command of I./JG 52. In March he was transferred to Lechfeld for short training on the Me 262 jet fighter before requesting to return to JG 52. He became the only man ever to achieve 350 victories on 17 April 1945 and in late April he was promoted to Major. On 8 May 1945 he claimed his 352nd, and last, victory against a Yak-9 fighter over the Brünn area in Czechoslovakia. Major Hartmann surrendered his unit to an American armoured unit but on 24 May he was handed over to the Russians. He was to be sentenced to 25 years hard labour by the Russians, serving 10 years before returning to Germany on 15 October 1955. He served in the reformed Luftwaffe from 1956 and commanded JG 71. He retired from active duty in 1970. Erich Hartmann died on 19 September 1993 at Weil im Schönbuch.
Erich Hartmann was the top scoring fighter pilot of all the combatants in World War 2. He flew 825 missions in recording 352 victories. All his victories were recorded on the Eastern Front and included 15 Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft. He force-landed 14 times during his combat career.