Medal of Honor Podcast

Sergeant First Class Webster Anderson served in the Army in Vietnam. He lost two legs and an arm defending his position near Tam Ky, but his resilience and bravery encouraged his men, led to victory, and earned him the Medal of Honor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Privates First Class Charles D. Barger and Jesse N. Funk both served in World War I as Stretcher Bearers in the U.S. Army. After hearing that two wounded officers were pinned down under heavy fire in No Man’s Land, Barger and Funk leaped into action and raced through heavy fire to save them both. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Major Horace Seaver Carswell Jr. was tasked with piloting a surprise single-plane bombing mission against a convoy of 14+ Japanese ships. Carswell hit his targets, but his B-24 suffered severe damage in the process. Down one parachute, he ordered his men to bail out and leave him behind. He attempted to crash land, but wasn’t able to gain enough altitude and crashed into a mountainside. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his exemplary Sacrifice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Corporal James Allen served in the Union Army, and fought in many famous battles including Bull Run, Gettysburg, and Chancellorsville without ever seeing the inside of the hospital. During the Battle of Crampton’s Gap, Allen was separated from the rest of his division, and faced a squad of Confederates. He charged, prompting them to retreat. Allen then realized that they must think he has a squad behind them, because they’d never retreat with only one man in pursuit. Leaning into this, he hopped over a wall, landed amongst the 14 enemies, and convinced them to surrender. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for this impressive trick. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sergeant David Bruce Bleak served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and was assigned to the Army Medical Service. As he and a patrol of 20 men attempted to capture Hill 499, Sergeant Bleak continuously administered aid while killing four enemies with his bare hands and one with a trench knife, protecting a fellow soldier from a grenade blast, and carrying another down the hill down to safety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sergeant Jose M. Lopez was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the Battle of the Bulge. Carrying and operating a heavy machine gun that was meant to be manned by at least three men, Lopez moved from position to position, defending his company from the German attack. He killed over 100 enemies and is credited with being nearly solely responsible for saving his company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Master Sergeant Raul Perez “Roy” Benavidez spent his adolescence working a series of odd jobs in Cuero, TX before enlisting in the National Guard in 1952. He would later join the Army and earn his Green beret before being deployed to Vietnam. It was here that he earned the Medal of Honor for risking his own life to rescue wounded soldiers and recover the body of a fallen soldier and the classified information he was carrying. You can find Benavidez’s autobiographical books about his experiences here: Medal of Honor The Three Wars of Roy Benavidez Medal of Honor: One Man’s Journey From Poverty and Prejudice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cold, underequipped, and out positioned, Private Martinez led the way up tundra mountains through Japanese defenses on the Alaskan island of Attu. As he readied to destroy the final bunker, Martinez was killed, but turned the battle around for his fellow soldiers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The last man to leave his sinking ship, Rear Admiral Antrim and his sailors could only run for so long before being captured and imprisoned as POW. Faced with cruelty and brutality from guards everyday, Antrim stood up for his fellow POWs and was awarded the Medal of Honor for saving another’s life in the prison camp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On a raid in a Taliban compound, Master Sergeant Petry was wounded in both legs when an enemy grenade landed by his wounded comrade. Without thinking twice, Petry saved his friend by throwing the grenade back and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his self-sacrifice. You can read Petry's Medal of Honor Citation on the National Medal of Honor Museum website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Flying over a thousand miles to his target, 2ndLt Hughes’s B-24 Liberator took heavy fire from enemy flak, yet continued with the mission of bombing burning enemy oil fields. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After enlisting for a second time, Corporal Joseph Vittori was sent to the Republic of Korea at the beginning of the Korean War. Alone in a position of his company’s defense, Vittori held off hundreds of enemy fighters to the death, and was awarded the Medal of Honor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Corporal Roberts’ tank sank into 10 feet of water, his first instinct was to save his gunner, knowing only one of them could escape. Because of his self sacrifice, Roberts was awarded the Medal of Honor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

LTJG Koelsch was one of two Navy pilots to receive the Medal of Honor during the Korean War. Flying his helicopter deep into enemy territory, he attempted to rescue a downed Marine pilot and resisted capture after being shot down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When PFC Austin’s observation post was spotted and overrun, his only instinct was to save his fellow Marines. Austin sacrificed his life to save another Marine from a deadly grenade, and then took a bullet for him. Because of his sacrifice, Austin was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2ndLt Sudut received a battlefield commission during the Korean War and twice cleared a bunker alone that was stopping his platoon’s attack on a hill. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chief Boatswain’s Mate James Williams served as a patrol boat commander in the Vietnam War, intercepting enemy boats on the Mekong River. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for fighting through an ambush against over 50 armed enemy boats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An escaped slave, Color Sergeant Smith fought in the American Civil War’s Western Theater and Sherman’s March. When his regiment’s color sergeant was killed in battle, Smith grabbed the colors and inspired his men despite the fierce enemy fire. Nearly 140 years after the battle, Smith was awarded the Medal of Honor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ken and the Medal of Honor podcast team would like to thank you all for your support as listeners. Stay tuned tomorrow for a rerelease of a special episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On a classified assignment, CMSgt Etchberger’s radar site came under heavy attack from NVA forces. Etchberger was awarded the Medal of Honor for saving his fellow airmen at the cost of his own life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Specialist 4 Larry Dahl originally joined the Army as a truck driver, but when the enemy started ambushing convoys, he became a gunner too, serving on a truck named “Brutus.” Dahl was awarded the Medal of Honor for jumping on a grenade and saving the lives of his truck’s crew during an ambush. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the end of a months-long battle to capture Okinawa, Cpl Bush and his Marines charged a mountain stronghold when an enemy grenade landed among them. Without hesitation, Bush jumped on it, saving their lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When his unit’s entire leadership was wiped out during the Argonne offensive, Capt Chiles took command of his battalion, advancing through a creek against heavy fire. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for commanding his unit despite a mortal wound from a sniper, refusing to leave until the unit was in good hands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PFC Obregon was a fireman-turned-ammo carrier who saved a wounded Marine in the battle for Seoul. With an enemy platoon approaching, he shielded his fellow Marine’s body from fire at the cost of his own life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First Sergeant Kaufman couldn’t say no to a fight. After being shot in the arm, rendering it useless, and being separated from his men, Kaufman captured an enemy machine gun position despite only having one working arm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A member of the all-Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Technical Sgt. Tanouye led his men through enemy machine gun and small arms fire to seize the vital Hill 140. Tanouye securing Hill 140 on the German main line of resistance allowed the Allies to advance. Tanouye was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2000. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2ndLt Zussman was one of the three Jewish Americans to receive a Medal of Honor in World War II. With only one working tank, Zussman scouted enemy positions alone to direct his tank’s fire, capturing the French town of Noroy-Le-Borg and taking dozens of prisoners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With his company commander killed in an ambush, and Marines isolated from the rest of the battalion, Colonel Barnum took over the company and defeated the enemy. Barnum used attack helicopters on enemy positions and evacuated his dead and wounded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Marines counterattacked to regain a vital outpost in the mountains of Korea, MCHM Charette shielded a wounded Marine’s body from a grenade blast. When his medical bag was destroyed, Charette bandaged wounded Marines with whatever he could get his hands on, even shreds of his own uniform. Charette was the only sailor who survived to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Korea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A first generation Croatian American, Major Cukela was known for his fighting skill. Alone with a rifle, bayonet, and grenades, Cukela flanked a machine gun bunker firing upon his company, killing or capturing all of the enemy soldiers. Cukela was awarded two Medals of Honor for his actions, one from the Army, and one from the Navy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During a patrol with several high ranking commanders, Captain Groberg noticed a suspicious individual following his group. Groberg realized the individual was a suicide bomber and pushed him away. After three years recovering from the blast, Groberg was awarded the Medal of Honor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of four Marines on his tractor to make it to the beach alive, SSgt. Bordelon leveled four enemy machine gun bunkers using improvised explosives and saved wounded Marines. Severely wounded himself, Bordelon covered Marines as they landed before being killed by machine gun fire. Bordelon’s actions helped secure the beachhead and he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An escaped slave, Color Sergeant Smith fought in the American Civil War’s Western Theater and Sherman’s March. When his regiment’s color sergeant was killed in battle, Smith grabbed the colors and inspired his men despite the fierce enemy fire. Nearly 140 years after the battle, Smith was awarded the Medal of Honor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During WWII, one day before the landing at Tarawa, Captain Cromwell’s submarine was severely damaged by a Japanese destroyer. Forced between losing all his men as they took water or risking capture, Cromwell scuttled the ship with himself in it, keeping the Japanese from learning about Tarawa or the Allies’ ULTRA intelligence program. Cromwell was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ernest Janson went AWOL from the Army and joined the Marines under a false name: Charles Hoffman. Eight years later, at the legendary Battle of Belleau Wood, Hoffman’s actions awarded him the Medal of Honor when he single handedly charged a German machine gun squad from attacking his Marines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Master Sergeant Raul Perez “Roy” Benavidez spent his adolescence working a series of odd jobs in Cuero, TX before enlisting in the National Guard in 1952. He would later join the Army and earn his Green beret before being deployed to Vietnam. It was here that he earned the Medal of Honor for risking his own life to rescue wounded soldiers and recover the body of a fallen soldier and the classified information he was carrying. You can find Benavidez’s autobiographical books about his experiences here: Medal of Honor The Three Wars of Roy Benavidez Medal of Honor: One Man’s Journey From Poverty and Prejudice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2ndLt O’Brien fought in the Korean War’s First Battle of the Hook. After the PVA seized a key hill near the 38th Parallel, O’Brien led an attack through mortar and artillery fire to win it back. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions, during a ceremony at the White House in 1953. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

LT Capodanno spent 10 years as a priest before becoming a Navy Chaplain and deploying to Vietnam. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for saving Marines and sailors without regard for his own safety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After immigrating from Austria, Specialist Sabo served his new home by joining the US Army and deploying to Vietnam and Cambodia in 1970. On a mission to interdict enemy supply lines, Sabo fought off an ambush, saved a wounded soldier, and sacrificed his life to destroy an enemy bunker. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor 42 years later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Monsoor was born in Long Beach, CA, and followed in his father’s footsteps to serve in the military. As a SEAL during the Global War on Terror, Monsoor was frequently deployed to the Middle East. While in Iraq in 2006, Monsoor sacrificed his own life to save his fellow SEALs, an act for which he received the Medal of Honor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A childhood immigrant, LT COL Al “Doc” Rascon became an Army medic and deployed to Vietnam. During a firefight,Rascon saved the lives of many soldiers by bringing them back to safety and absorbing grenade blasts. Rascon was so wounded he was given last rites, but recovered, continued to serve, and was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2000. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Private First Class Fernando Luis García Ledesma was born in Utuado, Puerto Rico before enlisting in the Marines in 1951. García was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine regiment and eventually deployed to fight in the Korean War. While engaged with forces from China’s People's Volunteer Army, García gave his life to protect his fellow Marines, for which he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Born in Alabama in 1921, Henry Erwin enlisted in the Army Reserve in his early twenties. Erwin was assigned to a bombardment squadron and deployed to the Pacific in World War II. During one harrowing bombing run, Erwin suffered severe injuries while saving his aircraft and all those aboard. His actions earned him the Medal of Honor, but left him with grave injuries that required multiple surgeries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ken and the Medal of Honor podcast team are taking some time off for the holidays. New episodes will return on January 2nd. Thank you for your support and Happy Holidays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Commander John H. Balch was born just before the turn of the 20th century in Kansas, were he studied at Kansas State University before joining the Navy. Balch was sent to fight in France as the US entered World War I. His efforts during pivotal engagements during the war earned him many military decorations, including the Medal of Honor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before enlisting in the military, Melvin Morris lived out a humble childhood on his grandparent’s farm in Okmulgee, OK. Morris’s career began in the National Guard, and ultimately led to him serving in an Army Special Forces unit in Vietnam. It was there that Morris earned the Medal of Honor by rescuing injured comrades and retrieving classified information from the enemy’s grasp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Captain Francis Brown Wai was the son of a Chinese immigrant and Native Hawaiian who, despite intending to work with his father in real estate, eventually enlisted in the National Guard. He served in the US invasion of the Japanese-occupied Philippines in World War II, where he gave his life in combat. Wai was awarded a posthumous Distinguished Service Cross, which was eventually upgraded to the Medal of Honor after a congressionally-directed review found that many Asian Americans did not receive fair consideration at the time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Born in 1841, Alonzo Hereford Cushing was raised in Fredonia, NY and graduated from West Point in 1861. He would go on to fight in some of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War against the Confederates. Cushing’s valiant actions would help to turn the tide during Pickett’s Charge in the Battle of Gettysburg, and eventually earn him the Medal of Honor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Daly was born in Glen Cove, NY in 1873 and first saw combat during the Boxer Rebellion. He later fought in Haiti during the Banana Wars, and at the Battle of Belleau Wood in World War I. His bravery in these conflicts earned him two Medals of Honor, a privilege which only two Marines have received. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before enlisting in the Army, Randy Shugart spent most of his childhood on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania. Shugart would eventually be deployed to Somalia as part of Operation Gothic Serpent. His actions while on a mission there would eventually serve as the inspiration for the book, and later movie, Black Hawk Down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices