Medal of Honor: Kaho'ohanohano

Note that this soldier killed 13 enemies in melee, wielding an entrenching shovel...

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ANTHONY T. KAHO'OHANOHANO
UNITED STATES ARMY

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Private First Class Anthony T. KAHO'OHANOHANO, Company H, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above the call of duty in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Chupa-ri, Korea, on 1 September 1951. On that date, Private First Class KAHO'OHANOHANO was in charge of a machine-gun squad supporting the defensive positioning of Company F when a numerically superior enemy force launched a fierce attack. Because of the enemy's overwhelming numbers, friendly troops were forced to execute a limited withdrawal. As the men fell back, Private First Class KAHO'OHANOHANO ordered his squad to take up more defensible positions and provide covering fire for the withdrawing friendly force. Although having been wounded in the shoulder during the initial enemy assault, Private First Class KAHO'OHANOHANO gathered a supply of grenades and ammunition and returned to his original position to face the enemy alone. As the hostile troops concentrated their strength against his emplacement in an effort to overrun it, Private First Class KAHO'OHANOHANO fought fiercely and courageously, delivering deadly accurate fire into the ranks of the onrushing enemy. When his ammunition was depleted, he engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until he was killed. Private First Class KAHO'OHANOHANO's heroic stand so inspired his comrades that they launched a counterattack that completely repulsed the enemy. Upon reaching Private First Class KAHO'OHANOHANO's emplacement, friendly troops discovered 11 enemy soldiers lying dead in front of the emplacement and two inside it, killed in hand-to-hand combat. Private First Class KAHO'OHANOHANO's extraordinary heroism and selfless devotion to duty are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 7th Infantry Division, and the United States Army. 

For the Fallen

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

 They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

 --For the Fallen, Laurence Binyon

Lest we forget.

Bishnu Shrestha

A retired Gurkha soldier named Bishnu Shrestha was on a train when 40 men, armed with knives, swords and guns, began robbing the passengers. He sat tight while they took his wallet; but when the thugs grabbed the next passenger, an 18 year old girl, and began cutting her clothes off, the soldier stood up, pulled out his kukri, and went to work. In twenty minutes he killed three bandits, disabled eight, and chased the rest off the train.
His regiment has un-retired him and promoted him, and the Indian government is giving him a cash bounty in addition to several medals. Ayo Gorkhali!

Salvatore Giunta

Staff Sergeant Giunta was awarded the Medal of Honor today. He is the first living person to receive it since the Vietnam War, although there have been nine posthumous awards. The citation reads:

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

Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, on October 25, 2007. While conducting a patrol as team leader with Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, Specialist Giunta and his team were navigating through harsh terrain when they were ambushed by a well-armed and well-coordinated insurgent force. While under heavy enemy fire, Specialist Giunta immediately sprinted towards cover and engaged the enemy. Seeing that his squad leader had fallen and believing that he had been injured, Specialist Giunta exposed himself to withering enemy fire and raced towards his squad leader, helped him to cover, and administered medical aid. While administering first aid, enemy fire struck Specialist Giunta’s body armor and his secondary weapon. Without regard to the ongoing fire, Specialist Giunta engaged the enemy before prepping and throwing grenades, using the explosions for cover in order to conceal his position. Attempting to reach additional wounded fellow soldiers who were separated from the squad, Specialist Giunta and his team encountered a barrage of enemy fire that forced them to the ground. The team continued forward and upon reaching the wounded soldiers, Specialist Giunta realized that another soldier was still separated from the element. Specialist Giunta then advanced forward on his own initiative. As he crested the top of a hill, he observed two insurgents carrying away an American soldier. He immediately engaged the enemy, killing one and wounding the other. Upon reaching the wounded soldier, he began to provide medical aid, as his squad caught up and provided security. Specialist Giunta’s unwavering courage, selflessness, and decisive leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to his platoon’s ability to defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow American soldier from the enemy. Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta’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, Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, and the United States Army.

Marines

Supposedly overheard by  pilot flying from Europe to Dubai:

Iranian Air Defense Site: "Unknown Aircraft, you are in Iranian airspace. Identify yourself."

Aircraft: "This is a United States aircraft. I am in Iraqi airspace."

Air Defense Site: "You are in Iranian airspace. If you do not depart our airspace, we will launch
interceptor aircraft."

Aircraft: "This is a United States Marine Corps FA-18 fighter. Send them up. I'll wait."

Breaking two squares

On July 23, 1812, two Anglo-German cavalry brigades, total 1800 men, attacked 4000 French infantry at Garcia Hernandez in Spain. The French formed battalion squares, which usually was sufficient to defend against enemy horsemen. In this battle, however, the King's German Legion dragoons pressed their attack so closely that when the French fired, a mortally wounded horse caromed into the square, knocking men over and opening a gap. A German captain rode into the opening, his troopers followed, and the square broke. A second battalion saw this disaster, faltered under the KGL's attack, and also broke. Anglo-German losses were about 55 killed and 65 wounded; French losses were 200 killed and wounded, 1400 captured.

Hoo Ah, Jeremy Wise!

Feb 20, 1974 - Dec 30, 2009

Killed by a suicide bomber attack on FOB Chapman, Khost, Afghanistan.

Enlisted 2001, reported to BUD/S Training 2002, graduated with Class 244. Served with SEAL Team Four from 2004 to 2009. Left the Navy in 2009 and was working for the government as a contractor when he deployed back to Afghanistan. He and his wife were also new members of our church, although I hadn't met him.

"Jeremy was a solid operator and a brother all could count on. His enthusiasm technology, his motivation to learn something new daily, and his constant dedication to team success made him a valuable asset to everyone. His lightheartedness always put a smile on your face, made the good times better, and the bad times more tolerable." The Navy has advisors who try to ensure that sailors going on deployment have their finances organized; when Jeremy deployed, the advisor called because Jeremy was sending so much to charities that the advisor thought it was a typo.

There were over 600 at the memorial service, including over 100 SEALs. At one point in the service, they all stood, and then called out "Hoo ah, Jeremy Wise!", after which there was silence. 

From the order of service for the memorial:

Lo, there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning. Lo, they do call to me, they bid me take my place among them, in the Halls of Valhalla, where the brave may live forever.

Veteran's Day

From TomB: Lest We Forget