I met a Medal Of Honor Veteran Today

[thescoutranch]

Can you share your dad's story about the AF Cross?


If you don't want to I understand if you want to keep it private.

No problem

52 Years ago today

This is a thank you to all the military who have served throughout the years. 52 years ago today my father was serving in the Air Force (20th SOS), and was shot down in Cambodia piloting a UH1 helicopter, while extracting special operations forces. Everyone on board survive the crash and spent...

www.texasguntalk.com

He was also the Flight Lead on Jim Fleming’s MOH mission, My father was picking up the crew from the gunship that was shot down, while Fleming was picking up the SOG team.

 

[single stack]

My Dad was nominated for the Distinguished Service Cross in WWII. It got knocked down to a Silver Star after the war.
He said being the Battalion Commander relieved the sting.

 

[single stack]

My neighbor told me that he was talking to a soldier at the entrance to the hospital at Ft. Sam. Neighbor was a Captain (O3, E5 he had been a medic in a field artillery unit and when he got back stateside he went to nursing school, graduated and transitioned to Medical Corps).
Along comes a Major, Charlie saluted and the Major is waiting for the soldier to salute. Charlie leans in and whispers to the Major “See that little blue ribbon?”
You know the rest of the story.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

I don't.

 

[General Zod]

I don't.

A Medal of Honor recipient receives salutes from every rank.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

A Medal of Honor recipient receives salutes from every rank.

Thank you.

 

[majormadmax]

Officially there is no law or military regulation requiring servicemembers to salute Medal of Honor recipients they outrank.

It is an honored practice of respect for their extraordinary bravery and sacrifice.

The same applies to the President. As commander in chief, they outrank everyone in every branch of the military; but again it's done as a sign of respect.

Many studies have been done of Medal of Honor recipients to see what character traits they have in common. An overwhelming number are high in risk-taking, emotional connection, self-regulation, cooperation, perseverance, and humility.

However, it didn't always recognize great feats of bravery! In 1863, Union Pvt. Jacob Parrott received the first award for stealing a Confederate locomotive and boxcars from a Georgia rail yard a year earlier.

Also during the Civil War, a thirteen-year-old boy named Willie Johnston received one for not dropping his drum and running during the Seven Days Battles. Another received one for carrying on his duties even though he was sick. Hundreds came to the Medal of Honor for carrying flags or capturing those of the enemy. A whole regiment from Maine received the award simply for re-enlisting.

Finally, in 1963, stricter criteria for the Medal of Honor was established: A service member must “distinguish himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty” while engaging in armed conflict with opposing enemy force.

Under this new criteria, almost 500 Medals of Honor have been given, about the same number awarded all together in World War II.

In total, over 3,500 individuals have received it, including one (and only one) woman, an 11-year-old boy, and one (and only one) Coast Guardsman.

 

[Vaquero]

Officially there is no law or military regulation requiring servicemembers to salute Medal of Honor recipients they outrank.

It is an honored practice of respect for their extraordinary bravery and sacrifice.

The same applies to the President. As commander in chief, they outrank everyone in every branch of the military; but again it's done as a sign of respect.

Many studies have been done of Medal of Honor recipients to see what character traits they have in common. An overwhelming number are high in risk-taking, emotional connection, self-regulation, cooperation, perseverance, and humility.

However, it didn't always recognize great feats of bravery! In 1863, Union Pvt. Jacob Parrott received the first award for stealing a Confederate locomotive and boxcars from a Georgia rail yard a year earlier.

Also during the Civil War, a thirteen-year-old boy named Willie Johnston received one for not dropping his drum and running during the Seven Days Battles. Another received one for carrying on his duties even though he was sick. Hundreds came to the Medal of Honor for carrying flags or capturing those of the enemy. A whole regiment from Maine received the award simply for re-enlisting.

Finally, in 1963, stricter criteria for the Medal of Honor was established: A service member must “distinguish himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty” while engaging in armed conflict with opposing enemy force.

Under this new criteria, almost 500 Medals of Honor have been given, about the same number awarded all together in World War II.

In total, over 3,500 individuals have received it, including one (and only one) woman, an 11-year-old boy, and one (and only one) Coast Guardsman.

Thanks for the information.
I've met a few MOH recipients.
Class acts. Every one.

 

[baboon]

That Confederate locomotive was in a Buster Keton movie.