Category: Real Soldiers

Sgt. 1st Class David George, stationed in South Korea, came across a car accident while driving home one night. One person on the scene was trying to pull a victim from the wrecked car unsuccessfully. SFC George handed him his cell phone and told him to call for help while George extracted the injured person from the wreckage. Writes Stars & Stripes;

“Moments before the car burst into flames, George pulled the driver to safety,” [a 2nd Infantry Division statement] said.

“Luckily I was there. I am glad to be able to have assisted,” George — a Seattle resident and a Blackhawk helicopter crew chief with the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade — was quoted as saying.

First Sgt. Jason C. Brown said George’s heroic actions came as no surprise.

“It’s very typical of Sgt. 1st Class George to assist those in need on or off duty without hesitation.”

The White House announced today that they’ll be awarding the Medal of Honor to Army Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha, currently of Minot, North Dakota for his actions with Bravo Troop, 3d Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Combat Outpost Keating on October 3, 2009. The Military Times paraphrases the citation;

According to the citation accompanying Romesha’s Medal of Honor, the staff sergeant moved under intense enemy fire to reconnoiter the battlefield and seek reinforcements from the barracks before returning to action with the support of an assistant gunner, who is identified in “The Outpost” as Cpl. Justin Gregory.

Romesha “took out an enemy machine gun team and, while engaging a second, the generator he was using for cover was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, inflicting him with shrapnel wounds,” according to the citation.

Undeterred by his injuries, Romesha continued to fight, and upon the arrival of another soldier to aid him and with the assistant gunner, Romesha again “rushed through the exposed avenue to assemble additional soldiers.”

Romesha then mobilized and led a five-man team and returned to the fight.

“With complete disregard for his own safety, Romesha continually exposed himself to heavy enemy fire as he moved confidently about the battlefield, engaging and destroying multiple enemy targets, including three Taliban fighters who had breached the combat outpost’s perimeter,” according to the citation.

As the enemy attacked the COP with even “greater ferocity, unleashing a barrage of rocket-propelled grenades and recoilless rifle rounds,” Romesha “identified the point of attack and directed air support to destroy over 30 enemy fighters.”

When he learned that other soldiers at a distant battle position were still alive, Romesha and his team provided covering fire, allowing three of their wounded comrades to reach the aid station, according to the citation.

Romesha and his team also moved 100 meters under “withering fire” to recover the bodies of their fallen comrades.

Thanks to 509th Bob for the photo.

I just thought this was a cool story to share. Nucsnipe sends;

There I was riding home from work on the bike with my VFW riders colors on, traffic was slowing down, when I got passed by a jeep. Glanced at the license plate, CMOH state commemorative plate. Suddenly the jeep stops and as I come alongside the driver rolls down his window and says ” I want to give you something”. So he hands it over as we are still rolling along and says “Thanks for your service”. My mind at this time only working about half speed replies “Same to you”. He drives on and I put what he gave me in my vest pocket. So I stop at the VFW post on the way home and pull it out to look at it and my jaw hits the sidewalk.

(more…)

With the shooting that has happen many people are on edge. One father is doing something to try help bring back peace of mind.

Thanks to Stolen Valor for finding the link.

The folks who I mentioned last night in regards to the movie about the Chosin Reservoir sent us some information on LTC Don Carlos Faith Jr., Medal of Honor recipient and hero of the Chosin battle whose body was just identified and recovered this last October from the battlefield by the Joint Prisoners of War, Missing in Action Accounting Command (JPAC) field recovery team. Wiki says;

During a desperate drive south by convoy along the only road on December 1st, the 31st Regimental Commander, Colonel Allan D. MacLean was killed so the command of the entire regiment went to Faith. Later the same day, Faith led an attack again a CCF roadblock when he was wounded by a fragment grenade. Faith was loaded into the cab of a 2 1/2 Ton Truck and with Pfc. Russell L. Barney driving it was the only truck to get through the last roadblock. As Barney was driving they were struck by small arms fire by the CCF at which time Faith was hit again and died. At some point Barney had to abandon the truck leaving Faith’s body in the truck. Barney made it back to the safety of United Nations lines where he later reported his account. Like all the dead and wounded who were killed by the CCF and left with all the abandoned convoy vehicles, as none of the convoy vehicles made it to safety, Faith was listed as Missing in Action.

Later Faith’s classification was changed to Killed in Action Body not Recovered. After 62 years in this classification, Faith’s remains were recovered near the Chosin Reservoir by a Joint Prisoners of War, Missing in Action Accounting Command (JPAC) field recovery team. His remains were identified through DNA and reported to the public by Defense Prisoner Of War – Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) on October 11, 2012.

From his Medal of Honor citation;

Lt. Col. Faith, commanding 1st Battalion, distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty in the area of the Chosin Reservoir. When the enemy launched a fanatical attack against his battalion, Lt. Col. Faith unhesitatingly exposed himself to heavy enemy fire as he moved about directing the action. When the enemy penetrated the positions, Lt. Col. Faith personally led counterattacks to restore the position. During an attack by his battalion to effect a junction with another U.S. unit, Lt. Col. Faith reconnoitered the route for, and personally directed, the first elements of his command across the ice-covered reservoir and then directed the movement of his vehicles which were loaded with wounded until all of his command had passed through the enemy fire. Having completed this he crossed the reservoir himself. Assuming command of the force his unit had joined he was given the mission of attacking to join friendly elements to the south. Lt. Col. Faith, although physically exhausted in the bitter cold, organized and launched an attack which was soon stopped by enemy fire. He ran forward under enemy small-arms and automatic weapons fire, got his men on their feet and personally led the fire attack as it blasted its way through the enemy ring. As they came to a hairpin curve, enemy fire from a roadblock again pinned the column down. Lt. Col. Faith organized a group of men and directed their attack on the enemy positions on the right flank. He then placed himself at the head of another group of men and in the face of direct enemy fire led an attack on the enemy roadblock, firing his pistol and throwing grenades. When he had reached a position approximately 30 yards from the roadblock he was mortally wounded, but continued to direct the attack until the roadblock was overrun. Throughout the 5 days of action Lt. Col. Faith gave no thought to his safety and did not spare himself. His presence each time in the position of greatest danger was an inspiration to his men. Also, the damage he personally inflicted firing from his position at the head of his men was of material assistance on several occasions.

And now he’s at Arlington.

I read about this the other day, but I’ve been waiting for more details to come out. But Chief Tango sent us a link to the story of Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer who was apparently struck from behind with a beer bottle and then beaten while he was on the ground by at least three people;

Police said Thursday they arrested 18-year-old Kanissa’a Thompson and charged him with second-degree assault in the altercation, which occurred early Sunday at a facility called Red Barn Event Rental, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. The facility near Colombia, Ky., is used to host various events, from wedding receptions to class reunions.

WYMT-TV reports Meyer was injured badly enough that he was treated at a local hospital and released. The severity of the charge indicates that the victim was seriously injured, a State Police spokesman told the Herald-Leader.

Fox broadcast news is saying that he was knocked unconscious and woke up in the hospital. As if the guy hasn’t been dealt enough shit in his life. He contemplated suicide at one point. He kept charging into the battle where he earned the MOH to rescue his team, and even though they were already dead, he still managed to save the lives of several Americans and Afghans. If you haven’t read his book “Into the Fire” yet, you really should.