PFC WILLIAM J. JOHNSTON G Co. 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division Padiglione, Italy 17 February 1944 While standing sentry, PFC Johnston spotted then singlehandedly engaged an attacking force of approximately 80 Germans, inflicting 25-plus casualties and forcing them to withdraw. Johnston spent the rest of the day manning his position, while the advancing Germans focused, … Continue reading 17 February
16 February
PSG ELMELINDO R. SMITH C Co., 2d Bn, 8th Inf Regt, 4th ID Republic of Vietnam 16 February 1967 When PSG (then SSG) Smith’s reconnaissance patrol was engaged by intense machinegun fire hemming the platoon down on three sides, PSG Smith organized his men into a hasty defensive perimeter. The enemy added mortar and rocket … Continue reading 16 February
15 February
LTJG NATHAN G GORDON Pilot in Command PBY Patrol Acft. - Black Cat Squadron Bismarck Sea, South Pacific. Vicinity of Vitu Islands The Black Cats were stealth PBYs that used the darkness as cover for attacks on Japanese ships and Zeros in the dead of night. The flat-black PBYs were almost invisible in the night … Continue reading 15 February
14 February
WT1 ELMER CHARLES BIGELOW Water Tender, DD-992 USS Fletcher Off the coast of Corregidor 14 February 1945 U.S.S. Fletcher was engaging enemy positions off Corregidor Island in the Philippines, 14 February 1945. Water Tender First Class Bigelow was at his station topside when Fletcher was struck by an artillery round. Bigelow, jumped into action … Continue reading 14 February
13 February
PFC MANUEL, PÉREZ JR. A Co. 511th Parachute Infantry, 11th Airborne Div. Fort William McKinley, Luzon, Philippine Islands 13 February 1945 A Co. attacked a heavily fortified sector defending the approach to Japanese held, Fort William McKinley on Luzon. Perez went forward to establish the locations of enemy pillboxes. While scouting out the location of … Continue reading 13 February
12 February
SGT CHARLES R. LONG M Co. 38th INF. RGMT, 2d ID Hoengsong, Korea 12 February 1951 Company M was holding a defensive perimeter on Hill – 300 when they were attacked by a numerically superior hostile force at approximately 0300 hours. Co. M was quickly overwhelmed by the massive assault and were ordered to withdraw. … Continue reading 12 February
11 February
2Lt EDWARD C. DAHLGREN E, 142d Infantry, 36th ID Oberhoffen, France 11 February 1945 A platoon from E Co. ended up surrounded and cut off from the main body of US forces near Oberhoffen, France. 2Lt Dahlgreen, (Sgt at the time) mustered his platoon and set out to rescue the surrounded Americans, As his … Continue reading 11 February
10 February
MAJ GEORGE ANDREW DAVIS JR. 334th Fighter Sqdrn 4th Fighter Group, 5th Air Force Over Sinuiju-Yalu River area, Korea 10 February 1952 Flying second in command of a formation of four F-86 Saber Jets on combat patrol near the Manchurian border, the element leader encountered a malfunction and ran out of oxygen. He was forced … Continue reading 10 February
9 February
PFC JOSEPH J. CICCHETTI Co, A, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division South Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands 9 February 1945 PFC Cicchetti was with troops held in reserve during an operation against a well entrenched Japanese force holding the Manila Gas works, having converted the industrial site into a hardened fortress. The Imperial Army positions were … Continue reading 9 February
8 February
CPL PAUL B. HUFF 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion. 101st Airborne Div Attached to British 1st Airborne Rgt. Near Carano, Italy 8 February 1944 Cpl. Huff volunteered to lead a 6-man reconnaissance patrol to determine the location and strength of the enemy position that was pummeling the exposed right flank of his company. Their movement was … Continue reading 8 February
Warrior's Daily Inspiration Calendar 