Who is the most fascinating Medal of Honor recipient?

2015-04-23T05:33:35-04:00

May be your favorite. May not be. But there is something about this MOH recipient that you find fascinating. Something about his or her story that sticks with you. Who is it? Why does this particular MOH recipient interest you?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 5:35 AM

2015-04-23T05:35:20-04:00

Any of the 19 who were awarded two.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 5:52 AM

2015-04-23T05:52:07-04:00

SFC Leroy A. Petry is pretty badass.

If you ever want to read some odd citations for MoHs then go to the Indian Wars. Soldiers got the Medal for some random reason. Later on 900 were revoked only to be reinstated by congress.

http://www.history.army.mil/moh/indianwars.html

Medal of Honor Recipients - Indian Wars Period

Medal of Honor Recipients: Indian Wars Period

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Apr 23 at 2015 6:17 AM

2015-04-23T06:17:47-04:00

Audie Murphy. He was the most decorated soldier in WWII. Beside receiving the MOH he also received the Distinguish Service Cross, Silver Star (x2), Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (x2) and the Purple Heart (X3). He received numerous other awards during WWII. He also received the French Legion of Honor, French Croix de Guerre and the Belgium Croix de Guerre.

He was an actor and singer/songwriter. The man impresses me with his success both in the military and as a civilian. From growing up as a son of sharecroppers to American Hero.

My vote goes to Audie Murphy.

Response by 1SG Michael Farrell made Apr 29 at 2015 3:11 PM

2015-04-29T15:11:55-04:00

Two come to mind. Audie Murphy is perhaps the greatest example of what makes the American Soldier special ever to be recognized. In some ways, he almost mirrors Captain America, except the secret weapon was not found in a test tube but in the mix of East Texas Depression Farm life, courage, integrity, and loyalty to his friends, unit and country that drove him to achieve far more than could or should have been expected. If you're ever near the 3rd Infantry Division Museum, take a look at the exhibit on Audie Murphy, the center piece being his Ike Jacket with all awards, medals, ribbons, badges and so on. For me, that was really inspiring, 40 years ago in Wurzburg at Leighton Barracks.

Col Jack Jacobs is another fascinating guy. He's an analyst for NBC now, and when he discusses issues he makes a lot of sense. As with many of the heroes who were awarded this Medal, his citation is pretty amazing. However, what I find most telling is that he basically forced the Army to violate its policy of not assigning MOH recipients to combat. He threatened to resign if he was not reassigned to combat duties in Vietnam. In fact, in his autobiography, he tells a story of calling for fire support one night toward the end of US combat involvement, and the only available source was the Battleship Missouri. He wanted fire on a column of NVA tanks and vehicles, and the Fire Support Officer on the ship said "On the way." He said, "I'll call in adjustments..." and the Navy Officer chuckled and said something like, "If you need to..." Didn't need to.

Men and women like these do more to justify the continued existence of the United States than all the politicians in our history.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Mar 4 at 2016 4:18 PM

2016-03-04T16:18:43-05:00

MG Smedley Butler - Awarded Two Medal of Honors and the Marine Corps Brevet Medal. What is very interesting about him is his views as expressed in "War is a Racket" and how those views may have influenced C. Wright Mills (author of "The Power Elite") and President Eisenhower with Eisenhower's "military-industrial complex" comment in his "Farewell Address to the Nation".

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Mar 4 at 2016 8:06 PM

2016-03-04T20:06:46-05:00

There are several that are fascinating to me but in WW2 there are two that Stand out fortheir background. Sgt Isadore Jachman known as "Izzy" was awarded the Medal Of Honor Posthumously for being instrumental in stopping a German attack in the Village of Flamierge, Belgium in Jan 1945 during the Bulge Campaign. He picked up a Bazooka and knocked out one Panzer and damaged another forcing it to retreat, causing the German Attack to fail. He is the only US Serviceman who was Born in Germany to be awarded the MOH during WW2. He was also Jewish.
Captain Ben L,Soloman was a son of Abraham as well, he was Dentist assigned to the Medical Corp and attached to the 27th Infantry Regiment. When his Regeminental aid station was being overran by a Banzai Attack he manned a Browning .30 Cal MG and killed 98 Japanese Soldiers before he fell. He was not officially awarded the MOH until 2002 because the initial award was scrapped because it was thought that a medical officer manning a crew served weapon would be considered a violation od the Articles of War, which said medical personel should only use persinal weapons in self defense.