Medal of Honor Podcast

Despite being the son of immigrants and having teachers struggle to pronounce his name, Hiroshi Miyamura saw himself as fully American. Miyamura would eventually serve in multiple military conflicts and demonstrate extraordinary bravery in defeating a wave of enemy soldiers during the Korean War. Hiroshi was captured there, and was secretly awarded the Medal of Honor while a POW. He received the medal upon his release. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Born into a large family in Oviedo, FL, Alwyn Cashe’s military career began in the early 2000’s. He was deployed to Iraq in 2005 as a member of the 3rd Infantry Division. When one of the unit’s vehicles was hit by an IED, Cashe went to extraordinary lengths to save members of his party, suffering grievous injuries in the process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Originally enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve, Hector Cafferata Jr found himself called to active duty at the outbreak of the Korean War. His unit was tasked with defending a hill at the critical Toktong Pass, where Cafferata fought to protect his fellow Marines from a wave of enemy soldiers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Paul Bobo joined the Marine Corps Reserve not long after graduating college and soon found himself in Vietnam. He earned the Medal of Honor defending his company from an enemy ambush as they patrolled along the North Vietnam border. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Howard led a long career as a pilot, serving in multiple branches of the military and across several conflicts. His flying skills quickly led him to become a squadron leader and Ace. Howard won the Medal of Honor in 1944 defending American bombers from German attacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Henry Johnson enlisted in the Army in 1917 and became one of the first American heroes of WWI. While in France, Johnson saved the life of his comrade by single handedly fighting off a wave of enemy soldiers. Though he returned home a hero, he faced difficulties finding work and accessing healthcare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lt Col George A. Davis, Jr. served in the Army Air Corps during WWII and Korea, flying over 250 missions and becoming an ACE. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for attacking a vastly superior enemy formation during the Korean War. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Captain Eddie Rickenbacker served as a pilot in WWI. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for destroying two enemy aircraft in a one-versus-seven dogfight behind enemy lines. He also was awarded eight Distinguished Service Crosses for his other aerial victories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this week, Hershel Woody Williams, the last surviving WWII Medal of Honor recipient, passed away. His heroism was vital to American efforts in the Battle of Iwo Jima. Learn more about Williams here: "75 years ago, a farm boy became a Medal of Honor hero with a flamethrower at Iwo Jima", Task & Purpose "Battle of Iwo Jima's Last Living Medal of Honor Recipient Still Working for Military Families", Military.com Williams' bio, Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation Medal of Honor citation, Congressional Medal of Honor Society Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Harold Gonsalves sacrificed his own life for the sake of his fellow Marines and their mission at the Battle of Okinawa. He was the only Latino Marine to earn the Medal of Honor during World War II. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Holocaust-survivor and Hungarian immigrant Tibor Rubin received the Medal of Honor for his incredible resilience as a prisoner of war in Korea. Despite saving the lives of up to 40 fellow prisoners, he served under an anti-Semitic sergeant who blocked his nomination for the Medal four separate times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The standard bearer for his unit, Joseph De Castro carried the Union Flag into the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. He was the first Latino to receive the Medal of Honor for his role in the Battle of Gettysburg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Sakato's courageous solo charge up a German-held hill during World War II inspired his platoon to follow and complete their mission, capturing more than 30 enemy soldiers. Initially awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Sakato's award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 2000 along with 21 other veterans of Asian descent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Chapman, the first airman since Vietnam to be awarded the medal, earned his Medal of Honor during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Corporal Rodolfo (Rudy) Hernandez received the Medal of Honor for his heroism in Korea, after he was launched a solo attack armed only with a bayonet and a few grenades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Though he hated the term "conscientious objector", Corporal Desmond Doss was the first in history to receive the Medal of Honor. He refused to shoot or even to carry a weapon, but served as a medic and saved dozens of lives in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. His story was told in the 2017 Oscar-winning film "Hacksaw Ridge", played by actor Andrew Garfield. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first Black American to earn the Medal of Honor, William Harvey Carney nearly died at Fort Wagner in the Civil War - but he never once let the Union flag touch the ground. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The only US Senator so far to receive both the Medal of Honor and the President Medal of Freedom, Senator Daniel Inouye lost his right arm fighting in World War II. He went on to serve nine terms in the Senate and was the highest-ranking Senator at the time of his death in 2012. Read the AUSA's graphic novel about Sen. Inouye for a gripping retelling and illustration of his story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PFC Olive earned the Medal of Honor for his selfless act of bravery in Vietnam. At only 18 years old, he sacrificed his own life to save four of his fellow soldiers. He was the first Black soldier to receive the Medal of Honor during Vietnam. PFC Olive also earned a mention in the recent Spike Lee film, Da 5 Bloods - the character Otis says, "I would be the first cat in line if there was a film about a real hero, you know, one of our blood. Somebody like Milton Olive." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

M.Sgt. Juan Negrón fought with the Borinqueneers, an all-Puerto Rican regiment, in Korea. He did not originally receive the Medal of Honor, but was one of the 24 veterans to whom President Obama awarded the medal in 2014 - veterans who should have received it in the first place, but had been overlooked due to their race or religion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker is the only woman to ever receive the Medal of Honor. She fought her whole life to become a surgeon, to serve her country, and to achieve full rights for women. She refused to wear women's clothing and even testified before Congress on behalf of women's suffrage, but was never fully recognized for her groundbreaking work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first Native American to receive the Medal of Honor since the 1880s, Lt. Col. Childers served in World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam. He earned the Medal of Honor for his bravery at Oliveto, Italy in 1943. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The last surviving Marine to have received the Medal of Honor during World War II, Woody Williams' heroism was vital to American efforts in the Battle of Iwo Jima. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

William "Pits" Pitsenbarger flew in helicopter rescue missions to treat and evacuate wounded soldiers and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his selfless actions near Cam My, Vietnam in 1966. Pitsenbarger's heroism was the subject of the recent film The Last Full Measure, starring Sebastian Stan, Christopher Plummer, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jeremy Irvine as Pitsenbarger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before Audie Murphy was a 1950s Hollywood star, he earned a Medal of Honor for his bravery in Germany during World War II. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Chapman, the first airman since Vietnam to be awarded the medal, earned his Medal of Honor during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jacob Parrott received the first Medal of Honor ever awarded for his participation in the Great Locomotive Chase during the Civil War. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices