Month: August 2020

  MAJ JOHN L. SMITH Marine Fighter Squadron 223 Solomon Islands area August-September 1942 While serving as commanding officer of Marine Fighting Squadron 223, Maj. Smith repeatedly led his squadron against a, greatly superior enemy force inflicting devastating losses; Maj Smith, PERSONALLY splashed 16 enemy fighters between 21 August and 15 September 1942. Smith’s Squadron … Continue reading 21 August

SGT. JOHN D. HAWK Co E, 359th Infantry, 90th ID Chambois, France 20 August 1944 Sgt Hawk was manning a Machine gun defending a key point in the encirclement which created the Falaise Pocket. An enemy counterattack by a strong force of tanks and infantry put his position in jeopardy but Hawk’s garage of accurate … Continue reading 20 August

MAJ. STEPHEN W. PLESS VMD-6, Mag-36 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Quang Nai, RVN 19 August 1967   Major (then Capt.) Pless was serving as a helicopter gunship pilot attached to Marine Observation Squadron 6 in action against enemy forces. During an escort mission Maj.  Pless was monitoring the emergency frequency and heard a call that … Continue reading 19 August

SGT CLYDE THOMASON U.S. Marine Corps Raiders Japanese-held island of Makin 17-18 August 1942 Clyde Thomason enlisted in the Marines in Savannah, Georgia In December of 1934 and served in China. He honorably discharged in 1939. You know what they say about “Once a Marine…” When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor Thomason immediately re-enlisted in the … Continue reading 18 August

Pfc WILLIAM A. SODERMAN Co K, 9th Inf, 2d ID Rocherath, Belgium 17 December 1944 Pfc Soderman was armed only with a bazooka as he defended a key road junction near Rocherath, during the German Ardennes counteroffensive. Enemy artillery took his Loader/Asst gunner but Soderman heard enemy armor approaching so he played possum and waited … Continue reading 17 August

Jack (the Dog) 102nd Pennsylvania Volunteers. Various Battlefields 1861 - 1864 Jack, a simple “Fire Dog”, went to war when the men of his fire company enlisted in the 102nd Pennsylvania Volunteers. Jack was wounded in battle but recovered and returned to his unit only to be captured in a future engagement. Jack is reported to have … Continue reading 16 August

SGT. JAMES P. CONNOR 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Cape Cavalaire, France 15 August 1944 Operation Dragoon took place 2 months after D-Day but was permeated with the same level of heroics and sacrifice. When 7th Infantry hit “Red Beach” they were met with a hail of lead and steel that gave the landing zone’s … Continue reading 15 August

CPL. LESTER HAMMOND JR. Co. A, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. Kumwha, Korea 14 August 1952 Cpl. Hammond was serving as a radio operator for a 6 man reconnaissance patrol. They were approx. 4 klicks into enemy-held territory when they were ambushed and surrounded by a vastly superior enemy force. The patrol engaged then tried to … Continue reading 14 August

HM3 JOHN E. KILMER Navy Corpsman Serving with 3rd Bn, 7th Marines “Bunker Hill”, Korea. 13 Aug 1952 While serving as a Combat Medic (Corpsman) with a Marine rifle company, his company was defending a tactically important piece of high ground well forward of the forward edge of the battle area. Kilmer’s unit was under … Continue reading 13 August

SP/4 Leonard L. Alvarado Co D, 2nd Bn, 12th Cav, 1st Cav Div Phuoc Long Province, RVN 12 Aug 1969 SP/4 Alvarado and a small reaction force was moving through dense jungle to relieve another platoon when Alvarado detected enemy movement and opened fire. Despite his quick response, the squad was pinned down by the … Continue reading 12 August