Ace of Spades HQ

April 11, 2013

Medal of Honor Recipient Army Chaplain (Capt.) Emil J. Kapain
— Dave in Texas

This was linked in the sidebar but I think deserves a nod here. This MOH was awarded posthumously today, for his actions and courage during the battle of Unsan, Korean War, November 1950.

"As Chinese Communist forces encircled (3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry during the battle of Unsan,) Kapaun moved fearlessly from foxhole to foxhole under enemy direct fire in order to provide comfort and reassurance to the outnumbered Soldiers. When the Chinese commandos attacked the battalion command post, Kapaun and other members of the headquarters withdrew 500 meters across a nearby river, but Kapaun returned to help the wounded, gathering approximately 30 injured men into the relative protection of a Korean dugout."
The narrative goes on to describe how the battalion became entirely surrounded by enemy forces. It recounts how Kapaun spent the next day, Nov. 2, repeatedly rescuing the wounded from "no-man's land outside the perimeter."
As the battalion's position became hopeless, "Kapaun rejected several chances to escape, instead volunteering to stay behind and care for the wounded." At dusk, he made his way back to the dugout.
"Among the injured Americans was a wounded Chinese officer," it continues. "As Chinese infantry closed in on their position, Kapaun convinced him to negotiate for the safety of the injured Americans."
The narrative then describes how, after Kapaun's capture, he intervened to save the life of a fellow Soldier who was "lying in a nearby ditch with a broken ankle and other injuries. As Chinese soldiers prepared to execute" the Soldier, "Kapaun risked his own life by pushing the Chinese soldier aside" thereby saving the Soldier's life.

He marched north to a POW camp with his fellow soldiers, and died there the next May.

via xbradtc

The full citation is below. The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to

Chaplain (Captain) Emil J. Kapaun
United States Army

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Chaplain Emil J. Kapaun distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 3d Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy at Unsan, Korea, from November 1-2, 1950. On November 1, as Chinese Communist Forces viciously attacked friendly elements, Chaplain Kapaun calmly walked through withering enemy fire in order to provide comfort and medical aid to his comrades and rescue friendly wounded from no-man's land. Though the Americans successfully repelled the assault, they found themselves surrounded by the enemy. Facing annihilation, the able-bodied men were ordered to evacuate. However, Chaplain Kapaun, fully aware of his certain capture, elected to stay behind with the wounded. After the enemy succeeded in breaking through the defense in the early morning hours of November 2, Chaplain Kapaun continually made rounds, as hand-to-hand combat ensued. As Chinese Communist Forces approached the American position, Chaplain Kapaun noticed an injured Chinese officer amongst the wounded and convinced him to negotiate the safe surrender of the American Forces. Shortly after his capture, Chaplain Kapaun, with complete disregard for his personal safety and unwavering resolve, bravely pushed aside an enemy soldier preparing to execute Sergeant First Class Herbert A. Miller. Not only did Chaplain Kapaun's gallantry save the life of Sergeant Miller, but also his unparalleled courage and leadership inspired all those present, including those who might have otherwise fled in panic, to remain and fight the enemy until captured. Chaplain Kapaun's extraordinary heroism and selflessness, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 3d Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, the 1st Cavalry Division, and the United States Army.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 05:49 PM | Comments (109)
Post contains 656 words, total size 4 kb.

1 Wow. True heroism.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at April 11, 2013 05:50 PM (IDSI7)

2 Read about him a few years ago. A true hero.

Posted by: logprof at April 11, 2013 05:51 PM (+iA5G)

3 This is the most amazing man I had never heard of until today. Where do we find such men?

Posted by: Lilredhen at April 11, 2013 05:51 PM (AsF7r)

4 This is the most amazing man I had never heard of until today. Where do we find such men? Posted by: Lilredhen at April 11, 2013 09:51 PM (AsF7r) Rest assure, the Military is full of other men and women you have never heard of and will never hear of, who do their Duty to keep America safe. And they would also give that last full measure if called upon, not out of any heroic impulse, but because that is their job and those are their buddies they serve with and who's backs they have.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 11, 2013 05:56 PM (jE38p)

5 3 This is the most amazing man I had never heard of until today. Where do we find such men?

Posted by: Lilredhen at April 11, 2013 09:51 PM (AsF7r)

I'm going to bet it will never be anyone from the Center for American Progress.

Posted by: Ammo Dump at April 11, 2013 05:56 PM (YYyqq)

6 I should add that Baraka is not fit even to be mentioned in the same sentence as Fr. Kapaun.

Posted by: logprof at April 11, 2013 05:57 PM (+iA5G)

7 Christ, as others have said, where did we find such men? And it seems like the current pool of equally brave and selfless men is shallow indeed, especially when it comes to our current politicians... God save the United States.

Posted by: GuyfromNH at April 11, 2013 05:57 PM (kbOju)

8 Impressive, heroic & a number of other adjectives, but yet sad RIP good man

Posted by: Misanthropic humanitarian fka irishacres at April 11, 2013 05:57 PM (HVff2)

9 I was pleasantly surprised tonight that ABC news ran a story about this. Guess they hoped somehow it would make "The One" look good?

Posted by: Billy Bob, pseudo intellectal at April 11, 2013 05:57 PM (wR+pz)

10 I can't think of anything to say, except he clearly deserved the Medal of Honor.

Posted by: rickl at April 11, 2013 06:00 PM (sdi6R)

11 wow, amazing guy

Posted by: chemjeff at April 11, 2013 06:00 PM (BBWjt)

12 It's a shame President Lead From Behind had to be the one to bestow the honor.

Posted by: garrett at April 11, 2013 06:00 PM (eO7uQ)

13 It's a shame President Lead From Behind had to be the one to bestow the honor. Posted by: garrett at April 11, 2013 10:00 PM (eO7uQ) Amen to that. Just back from the NYV meet-up and a good time was had by all

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 11, 2013 06:01 PM (jE38p)

14 oops that NYC meet-up

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 11, 2013 06:02 PM (jE38p)

15 He's been named a "Servant of God" by the Church. First title on the road to official Sainthood. His reputation for heroism and faith during the Korean War was amazing.

Posted by: VKI at April 11, 2013 06:02 PM (TKoA3)

16 Thank you for a new thread.

Posted by: zsasz at April 11, 2013 06:02 PM (MMC8r)

17
I just pulled up MSN.

A crying girl, with the head line "gun control bill clears first hurdle in senate."

We are a nation of assholes and they are not worthy of this Capt.

Sickening.

This is USSR stuff folks. Look it up.

That's where this is headed.

Posted by: Rev Dr. E Buzz Peers Morgon at April 11, 2013 06:05 PM (HQml1)

18 But wasn't he a Christian extremist hater???

Posted by: steevy at April 11, 2013 06:07 PM (9XBK2)

19 He's been named a "Servant of God" by the Church. First title on the road to official Sainthood. His reputation for heroism and faith during the Korean War was amazing.

Posted by: VKI at April 11, 2013 10:02 PM (TKoA3)

From what I understand he's got a seriously good shot at it, too. St Emil, kind of has a ring to it. Patron Saint of Infantry, maybe? Do we already have one of those? Bannion?

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at April 11, 2013 06:07 PM (yh0zB)

20 Catholic?Even worse,so basically Al Quaeda according to the current US Army thinking.

Posted by: steevy at April 11, 2013 06:09 PM (9XBK2)

21 It's a shame President Lead From Behind had to be the one to bestow the honor. I'm sure many on the Left have as much love for honoring a Catholic priest as they did for Margaret Thatcher. I'm sure that President EmptySuit and his advisors had qualms about giving it to a racistsexisthomophobereligioushater.

Posted by: zsasz at April 11, 2013 06:09 PM (MMC8r)

22 Patron Saint of Infantry, I thought that was a guy named " Close Air Support"?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 11, 2013 06:09 PM (jE38p)

23 Amazing story of courage, faith, and integrity. I pray he is busily praying for this country.

Another Medal of Honor winner from the Korean War - Ted Rubin. He was also marched off to a POW camp. He survived the Nazis and joined the US Army. And then survived another POW camp while helping his fellow soldiers.

http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/rubin/citation/printable.html

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at April 11, 2013 06:09 PM (o9mAc)

24 A very good read, article originally published by National Review,

"Ministers of War: The amazing chaplaincy of the U.S. military"

An excerpt:
"Courage is really fear that's said its prayers," says Father Vincent J. Inghilterra, a top Army colonel and Catholic priest who has been a military chaplain for 34 years. "The truth is, there's no way we can do anything without a deep spiritual life and dependence on God. When you're a soldier, you are there alone, you're very mortal, you have a mission and you don't know if you're going to survive. We chaplains bring the presence of God into every situation, so that wherever our soldiers find themselves, they are not devoid of God."

Posted by: Malcolm Lowery at April 11, 2013 06:10 PM (aDwsi)

25 24 A very good read, article originally published by National Review,

Ooops, link http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles4/DreherChaplains.php

Posted by: Malcolm Lowery at April 11, 2013 06:11 PM (aDwsi)

26 Storm from the mid-west now working it's way over the ridge. Tornado/Thunderstom warnings.

Posted by: Malcolm Lowery at April 11, 2013 06:12 PM (aDwsi)

27 And Ted Rubin was at Unsan also.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at April 11, 2013 06:13 PM (o9mAc)

28 Do we already have one of those? Bannion? St. Michael St. George for Cavalry St. Barbara for Artillery.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 06:14 PM (7tVNd)

29 Giants walked, and continue to walk, among us.

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at April 11, 2013 06:14 PM (GEICT)

30 So, new show on HistoryHD, about deer hunting apparently. Name of it is "Chasing Tail". Clever, but History? Really? Why not Discovery?

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at April 11, 2013 06:15 PM (yh0zB)

31 29 I wish they would step on more of the little evil bastards that outnumber them though.

Posted by: steevy at April 11, 2013 06:15 PM (9XBK2)

32 Nevergiveup! Tell us all about the meet up. Would love to be a fly on the wall!

Posted by: 'Ette in training at April 11, 2013 06:15 PM (zvxqj)

33 Okay, just doing some research on the Medal of Honor. Anyone else think it's a little off that the Spanish-American War has 110 recipients, while the Korean War has only 15?

Not to take anything away from the recipients from the earlier war, but there must have been a lot of heroism in Korea that has gone unrecognized, no?

Posted by: logprof at April 11, 2013 06:15 PM (+iA5G)

34 St. Michael St. George for Cavalry St. Barbara for Artillery. Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 10:14 PM (7tVNd) ---------------------------------------------------------- St Pancake for Bulldozers. I'm sorry.... That just never gets old.

Posted by: Truck Monkey at April 11, 2013 06:16 PM (jucos)

35 Just a pet peeve, these MOH/PH guys aren't winners, they're recipients

Posted by: Lilredhen at April 11, 2013 06:16 PM (AsF7r)

36 St. Michael

St. George for Cavalry

St. Barbara for Artillery.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 10:14 PM (7tVNd)

Well damn. Gotta be patron saint of something. POW's maybe?

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at April 11, 2013 06:16 PM (yh0zB)

37 Oh never mind, there was apparently some "Korean Expedition" in the 19th century I got confused with the Koren War, which has 135 recipients.

Carry on.

Posted by: logprof at April 11, 2013 06:17 PM (+iA5G)

38 I'm sorry.... That just never gets old. It never does.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 06:17 PM (7tVNd)

39 Tell us all about the meet up. Would love to be a fly on the wall! Any fat chicks reeking of cat urine taking notes in the corner?

Posted by: toby928© at April 11, 2013 06:17 PM (QupBk)

40 St. Sebastian - Patron saint of soldiers.

Posted by: elizabethe at April 11, 2013 06:17 PM (qPCAa)

41 Well damn. Gotta be patron saint of something. POW's maybe? He needs to be a saint first.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 06:18 PM (7tVNd)

42 Nevergiveup! Tell us all about the meet up. Would love to be a fly on the wall! Posted by: 'Ette in training at April 11, 2013 10:15 PM (zvxqj) I good time was had by all. Meet JJ Sefton in person and Heralder, and of course CBD just to mention some of the regulars. Good to be around other right thinking people.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 11, 2013 06:18 PM (jE38p)

43 It seems St. Dismas is the patron saint for prisoners.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at April 11, 2013 06:19 PM (o9mAc)

44 Any fat chicks reeking of cat urine taking notes in the corner? Posted by: toby928Â© at April 11, 2013 10:17 PM (QupBk) Nope but then I had my eye on this one Red Headed Irish Waitress

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 11, 2013 06:19 PM (jE38p)

45 St. Sebastian - Patron saint of soldiers. Depends on who is making the list. St. Sebastian is the patron on athletes.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 06:19 PM (7tVNd)

46 St. Alfonzo's pancake breakfast.....oops my bad

Posted by: Misanthropic humanitarian fka irishacres at April 11, 2013 06:19 PM (HVff2)

47 Patron Saint of Infantry, maybe? Do we already have one of those? Bannion?

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at April 11, 2013 10:07 PM (yh0zB)

--What about St. Martin of Tours?

Posted by: logprof at April 11, 2013 06:20 PM (+iA5G)

48 Wish we were all neighbors instead of friends in a box.

Posted by: 'Ette in training at April 11, 2013 06:20 PM (zvxqj)

49 48 Wish we were all neighbors instead of friends in a box. Posted by: 'Ette in training at April 11, 2013 10:20 PM (zvxqj) Where you at Ette?

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at April 11, 2013 06:20 PM (GEICT)

50 Wish we were all neighbors instead of friends in a box. Posted by: 'Ette in training at April 11, 2013 10:20 PM (zvxqj) yeah, but then we'd probably leave your toilet seat up and piss you off ( so to speak)

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 11, 2013 06:21 PM (jE38p)

51 I'm less adorable in person.

Posted by: toby928© at April 11, 2013 06:21 PM (QupBk)

52 I met some Chosin Few guys at a vet's ceremony a few years ago. Growing up, we had a guy who was on the Lady Lex when it sank, 2 other marines from WWII, another guy was a Navy fighter pilot in Korea...another guy was in Italy, we used to play with the kraut helmet he brought back....we had all these heroes around and we took it for granted.

Posted by: USS Diversity at April 11, 2013 06:22 PM (5wHPS)

53 Depends on who is making the list. St. Sebastian is the patron on athletes. Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 10:19 PM (7tVNd) soldiers and athletes and archers too. It's all good. He was a soldier, after all.

Posted by: elizabethe at April 11, 2013 06:22 PM (qPCAa)

54 --What about St. Martin of Tours?[/I Patron of Logisticians. I have a St. Martin medallion I received from the Association of Quartermasters.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 06:22 PM (7tVNd)

56 Living In A Box, another 80's classic video!

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 11, 2013 06:22 PM (ZshNr)

57 37 The "hermit kingdom" was known for mistreating and murdering shipwreck survivors(like Japan during it's closed period)The US was just one of several world powers that launched punitive expeditions to punish them.

Posted by: steevy at April 11, 2013 06:22 PM (9XBK2)

58 BC1981.... I am a Katy, Tx resident....transplanted from Lafayette, LA....Oilfield trash, don't cha know!

Posted by: 'Ette in training at April 11, 2013 06:22 PM (zvxqj)

59 ""Chaplain Kapaun, with complete disregard for his personal safety and unwavering resolve, bravely pushed aside an enemy soldier preparing to execute Sergeant First Class Herbert A. Miller.""

Right, our guys seem to always get executed, but making terrorists wear their underwear on their head in Abu Ghraib was world ending.

Posted by: Berserker at April 11, 2013 06:22 PM (FMbng)

60 He needs to be a saint first.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 10:18 PM (7tVNd)

I'm just planning ahead here. Take for example St Brigid. Patron saint of mariners. And kids born out of wedlock. Little planning would have gone a long ways here.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at April 11, 2013 06:23 PM (yh0zB)

61 St. Leonard is the patron saint of pows

Posted by: phoenixgirl at April 11, 2013 06:23 PM (GVxQo)

62 My best friend from high school is the current commander of 3/8 Cav, and as such, attended the ceremony today. Says he was in awe of the (at least) four other MoH recipients at the ceremony, as well as the other soldiers and fellow prisoners who attended.

Posted by: xbradtc at April 11, 2013 06:23 PM (O0L6N)

63 15 He's been named a "Servant of God" by the Church. First title on the road to official Sainthood. His reputation for heroism and faith during the Korean War was amazing. Posted by: VKI at April 11, 2013 10:02 PM (TKoA3) I'm not Catholic or even especially religious, but wow, that's really cool.

Posted by: rickl at April 11, 2013 06:24 PM (sdi6R)

64 & St. Walter

Posted by: phoenixgirl at April 11, 2013 06:24 PM (GVxQo)

65 St. Maurice of the Theban Legion is the patron saint of infantry. Also soldiers in general (though I'm fond of St. Michael for that,) the Swiss guard, sword makers, arms makers, and anyone who carries a weapon. And apparently there's an Honorary Order of St. Maurice which is an honorary military society dedicated to the infantry community. Cool. But it's a big old Church, and the infantry can never have too many patrons!

Posted by: VKI at April 11, 2013 06:24 PM (TKoA3)

66 Take for example St Brigid. Patron saint of mariners. And kids born out of wedlock. Coincidence??! I think not.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 06:24 PM (7tVNd)

67 I met some Chosin Few guys at a vet's ceremony a few years ago. Growing up, we had a guy who was on the Lady Lex when it sank, 2 other marines from WWII, another guy was a Navy fighter pilot in Korea...another guy was in Italy, we used to play with the kraut helmet he brought back....we had all these heroes around and we took it for granted. Posted by: USS Diversity at April 11, 2013 10:22 PM (5wHPS) ONe of my patients is a little old guy who plays for the other team if you get my meaning, but you'd never guess he was a ball turret gunner on a B-17 in WW2. Heroes one and all.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 11, 2013 06:24 PM (jE38p)

68 uh, Bannion? close call.

Posted by: elizabethe at April 11, 2013 06:25 PM (qPCAa)

69 48 Wish we were all neighbors instead of friends in a box. Posted by: 'Ette in training at April 11, 2013 10:20 PM
=======

By now a Daisy Cutter would have been 'accidentally' deployed.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 11, 2013 06:26 PM (aDwsi)

70 uh, Bannion? close call. Close, but no cigar.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 06:27 PM (7tVNd)

71 Question for you mil guys. What if someone said they didn't want to be presented the MoH by TFG? What would happen?

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at April 11, 2013 06:27 PM (GEICT)

72 An actress who worked with Audie Murphy told an interesting story about him(I forget her name,she was a minor actress).She was riding with Audie and some teenagers gave him the finger and drove off.He got a .45 out of the glove compartment and started after them.She calmed him down and he apologized to her.Man,those kids would have shit their pants if they knew who they messed with.

Posted by: steevy at April 11, 2013 06:27 PM (9XBK2)

73 Coincidence??!

I think not.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 10:24 PM (7tVNd)

yeahhhhhh...

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at April 11, 2013 06:27 PM (yh0zB)

74 Question for you mil guys. What if someone said they didn't want to be presented the MoH by TFG? What would happen? Something like this.... "no one asked you what you wanted, son. Now shut the fuck up and do the ceremony"

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 06:28 PM (7tVNd)

75 St. Maurice is patron saint of infantrymen, according to some.

Logprof, one reason more MoH were awarded in earlier wars is that there simply were not any other medals to award.

With the eventual establishment of the service crosses, the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star, etc., the bar has been raised for the MoH.

Posted by: xbradtc at April 11, 2013 06:29 PM (O0L6N)

76 Real heroes when they receive an award like the Medal of Honor will say the award is not for them. The award is for all those who never got the chance to come home. So they will accept the award to honor their deceased buddies. The President is just the gizmo that puts the ribbon around their neck.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at April 11, 2013 06:30 PM (o9mAc)

77 "no one asked you what you wanted, son. Now shut the fuck up and do the ceremony" Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 10:28 PM (7tVNd) "With all due respect, Sir, No Sir." Besides, aren't a lot of these guys awarded the MoH years after action? Aren't they out at that point?

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at April 11, 2013 06:30 PM (GEICT)

Question for you mil guys. What if someone said they didn't want to be presented the MoH by TFG? What would happen?

Something like this....

"no one asked you what you wanted, son. Now shut the fuck up and do the ceremony"

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 10:28 PM (7tVNd)

==============

Legend has it Randy Shughart's father told Clinton what a piece of shit he is.

Posted by: USS Diversity at April 11, 2013 06:31 PM (5wHPS)

79 Besides, aren't a lot of these guys awarded the MoH years after action? Aren't they out at that point? Read Anna's post. That's the real deal. Survivors guilt will be what keeps you there.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 06:32 PM (7tVNd)

80
Logprof, one reason more MoH were awarded in earlier wars is that there simply were not any other medals to award.

With the eventual establishment of the service crosses, the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star, etc., the bar has been raised for the MoH.

Posted by: xbradtc at April 11, 2013 10:29 PM (O0L6N)

--Ah, that makes sense. And I'm glad teh bar has been raised for the Medal of Honor.

Posted by: logprof at April 11, 2013 06:32 PM (+iA5G)

81 ONT is up

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at April 11, 2013 06:32 PM (GEICT)

82 Something like this....

"no one asked you what you wanted, son. Now shut the fuck up and do the ceremony"

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 10:28 PM (7tVNd)

This. And the fact that the recipients are generally professional enough to be honored by the award regardless of the douchebag holding the ribbon.

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at April 11, 2013 06:32 PM (yh0zB)

83 Logprof, one reason more MoH were awarded in earlier wars is that there simply were not any other medals to award. With the eventual establishment of the service crosses, the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star, etc., the bar has been raised for the MoH. Posted by: xbradtc at April 11, 2013 10:29 PM (O0L6N) Well maybe, but the higher ups also went way to far the other way, and for a time, they did not present a MOH to a living Soldier, Sailor, or Marine and people in the Military were getting very very upset by that.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 11, 2013 06:32 PM (jE38p)

84 Legend has it Randy Shughart's father told Clinton what a piece of shit he is. Hopefully so.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 11, 2013 06:33 PM (7tVNd)

85 Legend has it Randy Shughart's father told Clinton what a piece of shit he is.

Posted by: USS Diversity at April 11, 2013 10:31 PM (5wHPS)

--I hope it's not limited to legend.

Posted by: logprof at April 11, 2013 06:33 PM (+iA5G)

86 For the Russians its Evgeny Rodianov. Google him. Brass Christian balls that kid.

Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at April 11, 2013 06:33 PM (MMBvc)

87 Besides, aren't a lot of these guys awarded the MoH years after action? Aren't they out at that point? Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at April 11, 2013 10:30 PM (GEICT) Your never really out

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 11, 2013 06:33 PM (jE38p)

88 Lt. Cmdr Mike Christian USN. Awarded 2 Silver Stars, 3 Bronze Stars, 4 Air Medals, Legion of Merit, and the Navy Commendation Medal. Survivor of the Hanoi Hilton. For making a US flag out of scraps he was severely beaten by the North Vietnamese guards.

On 1 February 1978 he resigned his commission in protest of President Carter granting the Vietnam draft dodgers amnesty. He died in 1983 in a house fire.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at April 11, 2013 06:36 PM (o9mAc)

89 67 I met some Chosin Few guys at a vet's ceremony a few years ago. Growing up, we had a guy who was on the Lady Lex when it sank, 2 other marines from WWII, another guy was a Navy fighter pilot in Korea...another guy was in Italy, we used to play with the kraut helmet he brought back....we had all these heroes around and we took it for granted.
Posted by: USS Diversity at April 11, 2013 10:22 PM (5wHPS)

ONe of my patients is a little old guy who plays for the other team if you get my meaning, but you'd never guess he was a ball turret gunner on a B-17 in WW2. Heroes one and all. Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 11, 2013 10:24 PM
=============

As a kid, I was surrounded by WWII and Korean vets. One fellow had *very* interesting stories to tell of time in a German POW camp. When a friend of mine and I were playing soldiers, the Korean war vet that lived next door walked over and showed us the proper way to toss grenades..., mud clods, in our case. I still have lunch with a guy who was a navigator on a B-29 in the pacific. A very good friend of mine was Henry 'Snake' Baker, who served with the Alamo Scouts behind enemy lines on Luzon. If you've ever seen "The Great Raid", that was The Scouts.

Astounding men, everyone of them. They were all quite young at the time. 20 somethings.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 11, 2013 06:38 PM (aDwsi)

90 Wife's uncle is a Nam vet, shot in the face during a jump. Nobody knows what unit he was in and I'm frankly afraid to ask him about it.

Posted by: USS Diversity at April 11, 2013 06:40 PM (5wHPS)

91 Oh yeah...., I forgot to mention another friend, Bill Talley. He spent about a year in the Hanoi Hilton. Required a good deal of surgery when he got home. Here are some details:
http://www.skyraider.org/skyassn/sartapes/icebag1/talley.htm

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 11, 2013 06:43 PM (aDwsi)

92 Well maybe, but the higher ups also went way to far the other way, and for a time, they did not present a MOH to a living Soldier, Sailor, or Marine and people in the Military were getting very very upset by that.

Very true.

Posted by: xbradtc at April 11, 2013 06:43 PM (O0L6N)

93 In the words of the immortals...'"It's China-town". I'm currently kicking it in a country with no extradition. I hate democrats, and I hate RINO's. Bring it on haters!

Posted by: Cartman's _Evil_Twin at April 11, 2013 06:43 PM (H1vbu)

94 My uncle Quincy was a ball gunner in B-17s over Europe. He was one of the lucky ones, he started flying missions when they had full escort coverage from P-51s

Posted by: Dave in Texas at April 11, 2013 06:43 PM (pUqSw)

95 Dave, Nice to see ya! Im a Texas guy! I'm never there though! Ball gunner..that was a risky job for sure. My Daddy was a WWII vet and danced thru France and Germany. He killed anyone in his sights (Germans, Russians..used to be enemies, now fiends. You needed a scorecard to keep track of it). I talked to my ma the other night. She read me the riot act! She told me "who do think you are? You are dancing all around the world leaving a trail of bodies , like wilted flowers behind ya!" My laconic answer was.."Ma, I love ya...the seed never falls far from the tree." It's the only time in my life I seen that talkative woman speechless.

Posted by: Cartman's _Evil_Twin at April 11, 2013 07:03 PM (H1vbu)

Book and DVD on Servant of God Fr. Kapun are available from Ignatius Press, and I think there is a clip from the video you can view on their syte (ignatius.com.) Also if you like Fr. Kapun, check out Fr. Vincent Capodanno from the Vietnam war.

Posted by: Mamma B at April 11, 2013 07:26 PM (V3vec)

97 Okay, just doing some research on the Medal of Honor. Anyone else think it's a little off that the Spanish-American War has 110 recipients, while the Korean War has only 15? Not to take anything away from the recipients from the earlier war, but there must have been a lot of heroism in Korea that has gone unrecognized, no? Posted by: logprof at April 11, 2013 10:15 PM (+iA5G) The standards were a bit looser for the MoH at the time. Recall that there were several MsoH that were awarded during the Civil War that were later rescinded by an Army panel just after WWI. As an aside- look. We all know it's 'recipient', not 'winner'. Nobody sent in the appropriate number of box tops to earn one of these. But can we please stop with the outrage when someone says 'winner'? It's not intended as an insult. No one questions the heroism behind the action. Everyone realizes that you are not awarded an MoH for helping a little old lady across the street. I think most everyone draws themselves up a little taller in the presence that medal- as well they should. Usually, someone saying 'won' is in conjunction with an appropriate amount of awe. With that in mind, I think I can cut a little slack. A Smart Military Blog© should be able to do the same.

Posted by: Bill H at April 11, 2013 07:37 PM (3sZO1)

98 Dave Read ( if you havent)The Death of the Ball Turrett Gunner by Randall Jarrell Famous short poem; we read it at UT Pretty horrific ( not to mention Catch 22 - the book not the shit movie) That scene with the ball gunner was unforgettable. My parents were lucky just to be combat solfiers - my mom a combat nurse and my dad a combat grunt

Posted by: TejasJudio de la Frontera at April 11, 2013 07:44 PM (lD8ju)

99 Logprof, one reason more MoH were awarded in earlier wars is that there simply were not any other medals to award. With the eventual establishment of the service crosses, the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star, etc., the bar has been raised for the MoH. Posted by: xbradtc at April 11, 2013 10:29 PM (O0L6N) IIRC, for a while there the Purple Heart was it. Nothing else to award.

Posted by: Bill H at April 11, 2013 07:46 PM (3sZO1)

100 As long as they're awarding MOH's to priests, here's a nominee.

Maj. Aloysius P. McGonigal S.J. (United States Army detached to USMC)

http://www.virtualwall.org/dm/McgonigalAP01a.htm

It will never happen though. Fr. McGonigal, all 5'6" of him, legend has it, was possessed of a fearsome temper and was known to resort to his fists to make finer point of a proper respect for authority plainer to his students at Gonzaga Prep, once going so far as to deliver a concussion to a particularly deserving one.

During the Battle for Hue, it is said Fr. McGonigal did not strictly confine himself to ministering to the wounded Marines. At some point in the battle, and not at all in keeping with his non-combatant status, Fr. McGonigal had picked up an M-16 and was headed uphill when he took a communist round in the forehead. God's Marine and a U.S. Marine to the end.

That part got sanitized out of the official story and means Fr. M had gotten all the awards he is ever going to. Still, it's a great story.

Posted by: AMDG at April 11, 2013 07:54 PM (u3N3z)

101 85 Legend has it Randy Shughart's father told Clinton what a piece of shit he is.
Posted by: USS Diversity at April 11, 2013 10:31 PM (5wHPS)
--I hope it's not limited to legend.

I had heard that it was the father of Jamie Smith, one of the Rangers killed in the battle. His father was a LRRP (which were Vietnam war Rangers) who lost his leg in VN.

Back to Korea, my wife's stepmother's father was a crazy old guy who was estranged from the rest of his family. He was clearly in need of help, but refused to seek it out. When he passed away, his obit mentioned that he had been awarded the Silver Star in Korea for action early on when our Army troops were being overrun. He was a medic and repeatedly went back up on a hill under intense fire to bring out wounded.

Regarding Patron Saints, why not let Fr. Kapaun be Patron Saint of the American Infantry? Screw the rest of the world.

Posted by: elliot at April 11, 2013 08:06 PM (8zGOf)

102 97
The standards were a bit looser for the MoH at the time. ..

***

There were a few looser standard ones in WWII as well. Admiral Isaac Kidd's being an especially good example. Read Kidd's citation and ask yourself, would Kidd not have been court martialed had he not done the things he was eventually decorated for?

Same thing with Theodore Roosevelt Jr.'s, and MacArthur's MOH. Roosevelt Jr., and MacArthur were both decorated for just doing their jobs. Though, in fairness, to MacArthur, his WWII MOH may have been intended to somewhat atone for his not getting the MOH he deserved for his very real valor in WWI.

Posted by: AMDG at April 11, 2013 08:14 PM (u3N3z)

103 90 Wife's uncle is a Nam vet, shot in the face during a jump. Nobody knows what unit he was in and I'm frankly afraid to ask him about it.

I am pretty sure there are only a handful of post WWII combat jumps recognized as such by the military. There were a few in Korea, Vietnam might only have one or two (by the 173rd IIRC), and then Grenada, Panama, and one by the 173rd (again) in Afghanistan. Of course, that only really covers mass jumps where the participants are allowed to wear a star over their wings.

I would bet that there were plenty that only a handful of people know about, whether the war was hot or cold.

Posted by: elliot at April 11, 2013 08:16 PM (8zGOf)

104 Correction: The Afghan jump was Rangers, the 173rd jumped in Iraq.

Posted by: elliot at April 11, 2013 08:19 PM (8zGOf)

105 If anyone needs evidence of God, a guy like this is it. For all the crap we are going through now, deeds like this exist in the mind of God and are therefore eternal. The garbage going on now has no real existence and will vanish in the light of eternity. Only truth is forever because the truth is reality itself.

Posted by: Peter at April 11, 2013 08:40 PM (KJjzd)

106 Pray for us, Fr. Emil.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 11, 2013 09:15 PM (bddKN)

107 Though, in fairness, to MacArthur, his WWII MOH may have been intended to somewhat atone for his not getting the MOH he deserved for his very real valor in WWI. Posted by: AMDG at April 12, 2013 12:14 AM (u3N3z) That, along with Fr. Kapaun's citation makes me believe an MoH can be awarded for cumulative action. So long as the acts are on the level of the good Father's, I personally have no problem with an award.

Posted by: Bill H at April 11, 2013 09:33 PM (3sZO1)

108 Chaplain Kapaun stands in sharp contrast to the leftist clergy that seem to be prevalent today.

Posted by: miamiharold at April 12, 2013 02:20 AM (WoAOp)

109 USS Diversity @ 52-
Back in the 70's when I was an EO2* our battalion had a SWC** who was a BM3*** on the Yorktown when it was sunk at Midway 1942. His family had no idea if he lived or died (casualty lists not available yet), until they saw the Movietone News at a theater one night. Ray was climbing a cargo net to board a destroyer.
For non-Navy
*Equipment Operator 2nd Class (E5)
**Chief Steelworker (E7)
***Bo'sun Mate 3rd Class (E4)

Posted by: EROWMER at April 12, 2013 06:59 AM (kxlCQ)

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