March 25: Medal of Honor Day

USMCGrunt

USMCGrunt

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((From LinkedIn’s US Military Veterans Network)

Medal of Honor Day: Honoring the Bravery of Our Nation's Heroes

On March 25th, we observe Medal of Honor Day, a day dedicated to honoring the brave men and women who have been awarded the United States' highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor. This day serves as a reminder of the selfless sacrifices made by our nation's heroes in service to their country.

The Medal of Honor was first established during the American Civil War, and has since been awarded to over 3,500 individuals for acts of valor and heroism. Recipients come from all branches of the U.S. military, and include soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen.

To be eligible for the Medal of Honor, an individual must have demonstrated "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty." This means that the act of valor must have been performed in the face of extreme danger, and must have been above and beyond what is normally expected of someone in that situation.

Many Medal of Honor recipients have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, while others have survived their heroic actions and gone on to live long and full lives. Regardless of the outcome, each recipient has demonstrated an extraordinary level of courage and selflessness that deserves to be recognized and celebrated.

In addition to honoring Medal of Honor recipients, Medal of Honor Day is also an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made by all members of the U.S. military. Whether they are serving at home or abroad, in peacetime or in war, our military men and women deserve our gratitude and respect for their unwavering dedication to protecting our nation's freedoms.

As we observe Medal of Honor Day, let us take a moment to remember the brave individuals who have earned this prestigious award, and to thank all members of the U.S. military for their service and sacrifice. Their bravery and dedication have helped to shape our nation's history, and we owe them a debt of gratitude that can never truly be repaid.

Semper Fi and God bless us… everyone… soldier, sailor, marine, airman, coast guardsman, military families and veterans!

NB: For those wondering why there isn’t a specific medal for the Marine Corps, as the “sister service” of the Navy, Marine recipients wear the Navy’s version of the Medal.
 
Given the numbers that have served during the Civil War and since, 3,500 is an incredibly teeny tiny number... as it should be.
 
I was privileged to meet three recipients of the MOH. Rear Admiral James Stockdale, LTJG Clyde Lassen, and CPT Roger Donlon (ranks indicate when MOH was awarded). The men were the most unassuming officers one could ever meet. Truly great people. CDR Lassen was the Executive Officer of HT-8 when I was a student. Lassen Hall is named in his honor at NAS Whiting Field. Helo winging ceremonies take place there.
 
... this is just a tribute to Colonel Nick Rowe who was assassinated in the Philippines. He was my Battalion Commander during the Camp Mackall phase of SFQC. Colonel and Mrs. Rowe used to visit us during training. He won the Silver Star.


ARSOF Icon: Colonel James N. 'Nick' Rowe

Colonel James N. 'Nick' Rowe: U.S. Army Special Operations Icon
arsof-history.org arsof-history.org
 
In my MOAA chapter we have retired Major Fred Ferguson. Fred is a character...a great gentleman, and a wise sage to my students. Although his sense of humor is sometimes a tad...rough.

One of my students, a "model gorgeous" young lady told him at a dinner that she wanted to join the navy. He said "what field?" She said "EOD sir!" He said: "Let me see your hands...wow, beautiful manicure, great bone structure, very attractive young lady...say goodbye to them if you go EOD!"

That's just Fred.

The back of his business card says: "One of the good old redneck Texas boys with the Yankee Medal."

I think the world of him, even if he did holler one night (in front of my cadets when we were in service dress uniform): "Colonel...Jeezus C...I've got more air medals than you have ribbons...slacker."
(he has 39 air medals, I have six air medals and 27 ribbons total.)
 
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We’ve had 22 corpsmen awarded the Medal of Honor. It’s actually 23 because the most recent, Master Chief Byers, was a corpsman before NSW converted all ratings to SO from the source ratings. He is identified as a special operations medic rather than a corpsman.

I’ve met five of them.
 
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