Who was the greatest Military Hero you have ever met?

SFC Joseph James — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 15:22:19 -0400

I recently had the amazing opportunity to meet 23 of the surviving Medal of Honor Recipients in Nashville! The most interesting person that I got to talk to was Col. Bruce Crandall. He was the Huey pilot during the battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam (We were Soldiers). He was so funny and he kept asking the women if they would like to see his "Good Conduct" medal. He told them it was up in his hotel room! Freaking funny! He told me that he originally turned down his MOH right after Vietnam because his co-pilot (Too Tall) was denied it for a lessor award. He told the General who called to shove it! He said it was only until FMR President George W. Bush that they BOTH received it! I think he made sure "Too Tall" got it first! What a true friend! I was just wondering, Who have you met that blew your mind? Living heroes they all are and a treasure to our country!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2015 3:25 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 15:25:36 -0400

When I was in High School I was lucky enough to meet Tex Hill from the Flying Tigers.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 10 at 2015 3:30 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 15:30:38 -0400

This is going to be biased as hell, but my military heroes would be both my grandfather WW II vet, and my father a Nam vet, and my mother a DA civilian. ALL made me want to serve, and in their own ways ALL made me proud as hell to have worn the uniform.

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Aug 10 at 2015 3:41 PM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 15:41:16 -0400

Thank you for taking the time to answer your own question! I always wonder when so many people ask these types of questions without any obvious "reason". Good to hear your story too!
At the risk of sounding cliche, my Dad was my military hero. He served in the front lines and the back lines as a radar operator in the Korean War - back in the day, they actually had to be pretty close... he has LOTS of stories and I never get tired of hearing them - and yes, I have heard the same story hundreds of times. I have met and spoke with several POW/MIA's, MOH winners etc - and don't get me wrong - all GREAT guys - but I would not have had the passion to serve like I did without my Dad's support and influence.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Aug 10 at 2015 4:05 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 16:05:57 -0400

Chuck Yeager, Las Vegas NV, during an AF "Gathering of Eagles" event. I was a AF SrA at the time and was an Honor Guard member carrying colors for the event. Afterwards, our HG members got to meet with him, and? It doesn't happen often, even as a young Airman, but I became totally speechless, which is why I don't have an exciting story to go with this! LOL!

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Aug 10 at 2015 4:20 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 16:20:44 -0400

My sons, (SGT) Michael II and (SPC) Zachary (still serving 1/75)....Mikey deployed for 21 months (Iraq and Afghanistan), Zach has deployments to Afghanistan.....so very proud of both of these warriors!

Response by SPC George Long made Aug 10 at 2015 8:44 PM

SPC George Long — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 20:44:31 -0400

Joe Foss MOH. I first met the General when in was about 8. He knew who I was every time we ran into each other thru the years. He never forgot my wife or son either. American Hero may not be strong enough honor for Joe.

Response by PO1 Tony Holland made Aug 11 at 2015 4:52 AM

PO1 Tony Holland — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 04:52:45 -0400

While assigned to Seal Team One from December, 1970 to May, 1972 I met both Frank Thornton and Bob Kerry before they were awarded the MOH. Both were the epitome of the warrior ethic.

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Nov 10 at 2015 1:03 PM

SPC David Hannaman — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 13:03:29 -0500

Met personally?
Richard A Cody. Fired the first shots of Desert storm, I was there watching him build the plan for that mission (I wasn't part of the planning, but I had a front row seat of the people coming and going). It wasn't until years later that I realized who he is and what he did.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_A._Cody

Richard A. Cody - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Richard "Dick" A. Cody (born August 2, 1950) is a retired United States Army general who served as the 31st Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army from June 24, 2004 to July 31, 2008. He retired from the Army on August 1, 2008.

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Nov 10 at 2015 1:20 PM

SPC David Hannaman — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 13:20:23 -0500

Another that I haven't met, but I served with his wife Cindy (before they met) is CW5 Karl Maier...

An unsung hero in my opinion, not because of "Blackhawk Down" (although that alone earns the title), but because of the decades of service that made a huge difference and made the free world a safer place.

http://www.army.mil/article/122820/160th_SOAR_CW5s__of_Black_Hawk_Down_legacy__retire/

160th SOAR CW5s, of Black Hawk Down legacy, retire

As the A Company, 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment hangar began to fill with people March 21, it was clear this wasn't just another retirement ceremony.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 10 at 2015 2:56 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 14:56:14 -0500

I was invited twice to a Delta Co, 101t Division reunion. I was humbled to watch them interact and share their broken hearts with each other as they collectively performed a time travel back to Vietnam. For better or worse they became one again.

Response by CPT Jim Schwebach made Dec 5 at 2015 7:59 PM

CPT Jim Schwebach — Sat, 05 Dec 2015 19:59:07 -0500

Colonel Arthur D.(Bull) Simons. A replica of his White Star ring is one of my proudest possessions.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Dec 30 at 2017 2:04 PM

MSgt George Cater — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 14:04:58 -0500

The guy who signed my orders to leave Vietnam.......

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2017 8:15 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 20:15:04 -0500

I’ve been truly Blessed to meet and know these following MOH recipients, LT John Finn, USN, Pearl Harbor, John Baca, USA, S. Vietnam, SgtMaj Allen Kellogg, USMC, S. Vietnam, Col. Jay Vargas, USMC, S. Vietnam and Capt. John McGinnty, USMC, S. Vietnam. All have passed on except John Baca, SgtMaj Kellogg, Col Vargas. Semper Fidelis to these individuals who gave all above and beyond.