The story of U.S. Army Surgeon Dr. Mary Walker brings to light the history of the Medal of Honor, why we award it, and who deserves it. On Medal of Honor Day, it’s important to remember this medal represents the highest levels of valor and sacrifice that few could emulate. The research I uncovered while …
The Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) included 1,074 female pilots who served during World War II as U.S. federal civil service employees attached to the U.S. Army Air Force. WASPs freed male pilots for combat and transported every type of military aircraft, towed targets for live anti-aircraft practice, simulated strafing missions and delivered cargo. In …
U.S. Navy Ensign Jane Kendeigh In my book, Flamethrower, I share how surprised wounded Marines were to see U.S. Navy Ensign Jane Kendeigh, the first flight nurse to land on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Kendeigh was the first woman on an evacuation flight in an active battlezone. But she wasn’t the first woman on Iwo Jima. …
USMC PFC. Samuel Tom Holiday – Navajo code talker – Served with Headquarters & Service Company, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division on Saipan, Iwo Jima, Northern Mariana Islands and Marshall Island – Awarded the Purple Heart and other commendations – Received the Congressional Silver Medal in 2001 Samuel Tom Holiday was one of the …
Professor Wilhelmina “Minnie” Vautrin – Former president of Ginling College, University of Nanking – Turned the college into a refugee center – Saved hundreds of women and children during the Rape of Nanking – Personally confronted Imperial Japanese soldiers – Posthumously awarded China’s Emblem of the Blue Jade During the Nanking Massacre, American Professor Minnie …
USMC Captain Donald Macaulay Beck – Company commander of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Marines, 3d MarDiv on Iwo Jima – Earned a Silver Star and Purple Heart on Guam and a Bronze Star with V on Iwo Jima USMC Capt. Donald Macaulay Beck (shown here as a 2nd lieutenant in 1941) was Hershel “Woody” …
USMC Tech. Sgt. Frederick “DIck” Dashiell – War correspondent and former Associated Press editor – Assigned to the 3rd Marine Division on Iwo Jima – Wrote 81 front line reports on a battered portable typewriter in a foxhole Frederick K. “Dick” Dashiell left his job as an editor for the Associated Press to report on …
USMC Lt. General Holland “Howlin’ Mad” Smith – Father of modern amphibious warfare – Assistant commandant of the Marine Corps (1939) – Served with the 1st Marine Brigade, 1st Marine Div, V Amphibious Corps – Commanding general, Fleet Marine Force (1944) – Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Purple Heart, Croix de Guerre USMC Lt. Gen. Holland …
USMC Gunnery Sgt. Keith Renstrom Earned two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars, both with “V” device for valor His men called him “a Marine’s Marine” Led 2nd platoon of F Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th MarDiv during the battle for Tinian USMC Gunnery Sgt. Keith Renstrom was a devoted Mormon who upheld his …
USMC Major General Graves B. Erskine – Graduated from high school at 15 as class valedictorian – Led the 3rd Marine Div during Battle of Iwo Jima – Orchestrated amphibious warfare operations – Received Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Combat “V”, Purple Heart USMC Maj. Gen. Graves B. Erskine commanded …