"The Medal of Honor." Americana No. Six of a Series from Hammermill Paper Company, 1966. U.S. Fidelity and Guaranty Co. Decorations and Medals, Army of the U.S. Baltimore, 1942 U.S. Fidelity and Guaranty Co. Decorations and Medals, U.S. Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. Baltimore, 1942. Friederich, Rudolf. Medal of Honor Collection. Highland Mills, N. Y. McAndrews, Eugene V. Medal of Honor Collection, Baltimore, Md. McAndrews, Eugene V. "Medal of Honor Scrapbooks of newspaper clippings of MH Winners." 3 vols. McAndrews, Eugene V. "Valor From the Big Sky Country: Montana's Medal of Honor Winners." Unpublished manuscript. PART VII.—GUIDE TO ILLUSTRATIONS (Sketches Prepared by Roy Scarfo) CIVIL WAR MITCHELL RAIDING PARTY.—The first Medals of Honor awarded following enactment of the law which established the decoration went to 19 Union Army volunteers of the raiding party sent by General Mitchell in April 1862, to sabotage the vital Confederate rail link between Atlanta and Chattanooga. Disguised as civilians, the raiders captured the locomotive General at Big Shanty, Ga., 200 miles deep in enemy territory. Under close pursuit by the Confederates, the party fled north, attempting to burn bridges and destroy track along the way, but after 90 miles, the "Great Locomotive Chase" came to an end. In a few days, all of the raiders were captured and eight were tried and executed. On March 25, 1863, six of the party arrived in Washington after parole from a Confederate prison, and these six men were the first to be presented with Medals of Honor by Secretary of War Stanton. Medals were subsequently awarded to 13 other members of the raiding party, some posthumously. INDIAN CAMPAIGNS IRWIN, BERNARD J. D.-Although not cited until 1894, chronologically the first deed of heroism to be accorded an Army Medal of Honor was that performed by Assistant Surgeon Irwin on February 13 and 14, 1861, at Apache Pass, Ariz. A detachment of troops from the Seventh Infantry Regiment was cut off from its base and surrounded by hostile Indians. Upon learning that the besieged forces included a number of wounded, Assistant Surgeon Irwin volunteered to lead a small relief party to their aid. In a bold attack, the troops defeated the Indians and effected the rescue of their hard-pressed comrades. WAR WITH SPAIN CHURCH, JAMES ROBB-On June 24, 1898, during the heavy jungle fighting that marked the American campaign in Cuba, Assistant Surgeon Church performed acts of heroism for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. While attending to the needs of the wounded, Church "voluntarily and unaided carried several seriously wounded men from the firing line to a secure position in the rear, in each instance being subjected to a very heavy fire and great exposure and danger." PHILIPPINE INSURRECTION (Page 375) KILBOURNE, CHARLES E.-Having acquired the Philippine Islands as a result of the War With Spain, the United States spent a number of years quelling the Philippine Insurrectionists. On February 5, 1899, during one of the many engagements that marked this long and arduous struggle, First Lieutenant Kilbourne, in the face of a rapid fire and in full view of the enemy only 250 yards away, climbed a telegraph pole and carefully repaired a broken wire, thereby restoring vital communication with the front. CHINA RELIEF EXPEDITION-BOXER REBELLION (Page 391) TITUS, CALVIN P.-In August 1900, American troops, along with troops from four other nations, entered China to rescue their nationals besieged in the embassies of the walled city of Peking. During the attack upon the city, Musician Titus answered, "I'll try, Sir," to his commander's call for a volunteer to scale the 30-foot wall. Without assistance from ropes or ladders, Titus made his way to the top where he was subjected to enemy fire, but his heroic deed proved the feasibility of an assault over the wall. MEXICAN CAMPAIGN (VERA CRUZ) (Page 411) GAUJOT, JULIEN E.-Unsettled conditions in Mexico during the early years of the 20th century resulted in a number of border incidents involving the U.S. Army. The only Medal of Honor awarded in these actions was presented to Captain Gaujot who, on April 13, 1911, fearlessly and alone "crossed the field of fire to obtain the permission of the rebel commander to receive the surrender of the surrounded forces of the Mexican Federals and escort such forces, together with five Americans held as prisoners, to the American line.' WORLD WAR I YORK, ALVIN C.-Corporal York, later to become the immortal "Sergeant York," received the Medal of Honor for his deeds of October 8, 1918, in France. After his platoon had suffered heavy casualties, York assumed command and led seven men in a daring assault upon an enemy machine gun nest that had been pouring deadly and incessant fire upon the platoon. York's spectacular marksmanship and audacious leadership completely demoralized the enemy, and the nest was taken, together with four officers, 128 men, and several guns. MEDALS OF HONOR AWARDED TO THE UNKNOWNS (Page 481) On Armistice Day, 1921, the Medal of Honor was pinned to the flagdraped coffin of the American Unknown Soldier by President Harding during services at the Arlington National Cemetery. A special bill was passed by Congress permitting the award to an unknown as "typifying the gallantry and intrepidity, at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, of our beloved heroes who made the supreme sacrifice in the World War." Medals of Honor were also awarded by special legislation to the Unknown Soldiers of Belgium, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Romania. WORLD WAR II MURPHY, AUDIE L.-Near Holtzwihr, France, on January 26, 1945, Second Lieutenant Murphy jumped on a burning tank destroyer and manned its machine gun against two companies of attacking enemy infantry supported by six tanks. Alone and exposed to fire from three sides, Murphy was wounded in the leg, but continued firing and brought the attack to a halt, thereby saving his company from possible encirclement and destruction. KOREAN CONFLICT CHARLTON, CORNELIUS H.-Sergeant Charlton was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions of June 2, 1951, in Korea. During an attack on a heavily defended enemy hill position, Sergeant Charlton assumed command of his platoon and led three charges that carried to the crest of the ridge. There, he observed a remaining stronghold on the reverse slope, and although severely wounded, charged it alone, routing its defenders with a devastating fire. He sustained further wounds which resulted in his death. VIETNAM CONFLICT (1964 Through 1973) (Page 807) YOUNG, GERALD O.-Captain Young was commanding a helicopter in a rescue team to aid ground troops in imminent danger of death or capture. After two helicopters had been shot down by heavy enemy weapons, Captain Young was advised to abandon the rescue mission. Ignoring intense enemy fire and great personal danger, Captain Young nevertheless chose to remain until all survivors were aboard. As it then took off, his helicopter was destroyed by ground fire and burst into flames. Disregarding serious burns, Captain Young rescued one of the wounded and then evaded enemy fire for 17 hours, declining to accept rescue until hostile forces had withdrawn. O |