Medal of Honor Recipient: Sergeant Lawrence David Peters

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company M, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place and date: Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam, 4 September 1967. Entered service at: Binghamton, N.Y. Born: 16 September 1946, Johnson City, N.Y.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader with Company M. During Operation SWIFT, the marines of the 2d Platoon of Company M were struck by intense mortar, machinegun, and small arms fire from an entrenched enemy force. As the company rallied its forces, Sgt. Peters maneuvered his squad in an assault on any enemy defended knoll. Disregarding his safety, as enemy rounds hit all about him, he stood in the open, pointing out enemy positions until he was painfully wounded in the leg. Disregarding his wound, he moved forward and continued to lead his men. As the enemy fire increased in accuracy and volume, his squad lost its momentum and was temporarily pinned down. Exposing himself to devastating enemy fire, he consolidated his position to render more effective fire. While directing the base of fire, he was wounded a second time in the face and neck from an exploding mortar round. As the enemy attempted to infiltrate the position of an adjacent platoon, Sgt. Peters stood erect in the full view of the enemy firing burst after burst forcing them to disclose their camouflaged positions. Sgt. Peters steadfastly continued to direct his squad in spite of 2 additional wounds, persisted in his efforts to encourage and supervise his men until he lost consciousness and succumbed. Inspired by his selfless actions, the squad regained fire superiority and once again carried the assault to the enemy. By his outstanding valor, indomitable fighting spirit and tenacious determination in the face of overwhelming odds, Sgt. Peters upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Medal of Honor Recipient: First Sergeant David Roche

Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company A, 5th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Cedar Creek, etc., Mont., 21 October 1876 to 8 January 1877. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 27 April 1877.

Citation: Gallantry in action.

Medal of Honor Recipient: First Lieutenant George W. Ford

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, Company E, 88th New York Infantry. Place and date: At Sailors Creek, Va., 6 April 1865. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 10 May 1865.

Citation: Capture of flag.

Medal of Honor Recipient: Private First Class Lloyd C. Hawks

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Carano, Italy, 30 January 1944. Entered service at: Park Rapids, Minn. Born: 13 January 1911, Becker, Minn. G.O. No.: 5, 15 January 1945.

Citation: For gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. On 30 January 1944, at 3 p.m., near Carano, Italy, Pfc. Hawks braved an enemy counterattack in order to rescue 2 wounded men who, unable to move, were Iying in an exposed position within 30 yards of the enemy. Two riflemen, attempting the rescue, had been forced to return to their fighting holes by extremely severe enemy machinegun fire, after crawling only 10 yards toward the casualties. An aid man, whom the enemy could plainly identify as such, had been critically wounded in a similar attempt. Pfc. Hawks, nevertheless, crawled 50 yards through a veritable hail of machinegun bullets and flying mortar fragments to a small ditch, administered first aid to his fellow aid man who had sought cover therein, and continued toward the 2 wounded men 50 yards distant. An enemy machinegun bullet penetrated his helmet, knocking it from his head, momentarily stunning him. Thirteen bullets passed through his helmet as it lay on the ground within 6 inches of his body. Pfc. Hawks, crawled to the casualties, administered first aid to the more seriously wounded man and dragged him to a covered position 25 yards distant. Despite continuous automatic fire from positions only 30 yards away and shells which exploded within 25 yards, Pfc. Hawks returned to the second man and administered first aid to him. As he raised himself to obtain bandages from his medical kit his right hip was shattered by a burst of machinegun fire and a second burst splintered his left forearm. Displaying dogged determination and extreme self-control, Pfc. Hawks, despite severe pain and his dangling left arm, completed the task of bandaging the remaining casualty and with superhuman effort dragged him to the same depression to which he had brought the first man. Finding insufficient cover for 3 men at this point, Pfc. Hawks crawled 75 yards in an effort to regain his company, reaching the ditch in which his fellow aid man was lying.

Medal of Honor Recipient: Second Lieutenant Henry Seymour Hall

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, Company G, 27th New York Infantry; and Captain, Company F, 121st New York Infantry. Place and date. At Gaines Mill, Va., 27 June 1862. At Rappallannock Station, Va., 7 November 1863. Entered service at: New York. Birth: New York. Date of issue: 17 August 1891.

Citation: Although wounded at Gaines Mill, Va., he remained on duty and participated in the battle with his company. At Rappahannock Station, Va., while acting as aide, rendered gallant and prompt assistance in reforming the regiments inside the enemy's works.

Medal of Honor Recipient: Corporal James Day

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a squad leader serving with the Second Battalion, Twenty-Second Marines, Sixth Marine Division, in sustained combat operations against Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukya Islands from 14 to 17 May 1945. On the first day, Corporal Day rallied his squad and the remnants of another unit and led them to a critical position forward of the front lines of Sugar Loaf Hill. Soon thereafter, they came under an intense mortar and artillery barrage that was quickly followed by a ferocious ground attack by some forty Japanese soldiers. Despite the loss of one-half of his men, Corporal Day remained at the forefront, shouting encouragement, hurling hand grenades, and directing deadly fire, thereby repelling the determined enemy. Reinforced by six men, he led his squad in repelling three fierce night attacks but suffered five additional Marines killed and one wounded, whom he assisted to safety. Upon hearing nearby calls for corpsman assistance, Corporal Day braved heavy enemy fire to escort four seriously wounded Marines, one at a time, to safety. Corporal Day then manned a light machine gun, assisted by a wounded Marine, and halted another night attack. In the ferocious action, his machine gun was destroyed, and he suffered multiple white phosphorous and fragmentation wounds. He reorganized his defensive position in time to halt a fifth enemy attack with devastating small arms fire. On three separated occasions, Japanese soldiers closed to within a few feet of his foxhole, but were killed by Corporal Day. During the second day, the enemy conducted numerous unsuccessful swarming attacks against his exposed position. When the attacks momentarily subsided, over 70 enemy dead were counted around his position. On the third day, a wounded and exhausted Corporal Day repulsed the enemy's final attack, killing a dozen enemy soldiers at close range. Having yielded no ground and with more than 100 enemy dead around his position, Corporal Day preserved the lives of his fellow Marines and made a significant contribution to the success of the Okinawa campaign. By his extraordinary heroism, repeated acts of valor, and quintessential battlefield leadership, Corporal Day inspired the efforts of his outnumbered Marines to defeat a much larger enemy force, reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Medal of Honor Recipient: Staff Sergeant Jimmy G. Stewart

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 18 May 1966. Entered service at: Ashland, Ky. Born: 25 December 1942, West Columbia, W. Va.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Early in the morning a reinforced North Vietnamese company attacked Company B, which was manning a defensive perimeter in Vietnam. The surprise onslaught wounded 5 members of a 6-man squad caught in the direct path of the enemy's thrust. S/Sgt. Stewart became a lone defender of vital terrain--virtually 1 man against a hostile platoon. Refusing to take advantage of a lull in the firing which would have permitted him to withdraw, S/Sgt. Stewart elected to hold his ground to protect his fallen comrades and prevent an enemy penetration of the company perimeter. As the full force of the platoon-sized man attack struck his lone position, he fought like a man possessed; emptying magazine after magazine at the determined, on-charging enemy. The enemy drove almost to his position and hurled grenades, but S/Sgt. Stewart decimated them by retrieving and throwing the grenades back. Exhausting his ammunition, he crawled under intense fire to his wounded team members and collected ammunition that they were unable to use. Far past the normal point of exhaustion, he held his position for 4 harrowing hours and through 3 assaults, annihilating the enemy as they approached and before they could get a foothold. As a result of his defense, the company position held until the arrival of a reinforcing platoon which counterattacked the enemy, now occupying foxholes to the left of S/Sgt. Stewart's position. After the counterattack, his body was found in a shallow enemy hole where he had advanced in order to add his fire to that of the counterattacking platoon. Eight enemy dead were found around his immediate position, with evidence that 15 others had been dragged away. The wounded whom he gave his life to protect, were recovered and evacuated. S/Sgt. Stewart's indomitable courage, in the face of overwhelming odds, stands as a tribute to himself and an inspiration to all men of his unit. His actions were in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and the Armed Forces of his country.

Medal of Honor Recipient: First Sergeant James L. Morris

Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company C, 8th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: Near Fort Selden, N. Mex., 8-11 July 1873. Entered service at:------. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 12 August 1875.

Citation: Services against hostile Indians.

Medal of Honor Recipient: Watertender William Adolphus Crouse

I am honored a reader of this blog has sent me two personal letters written by William Crouse...Letter #2 is below (unedited and in the exact format sent to me - which I find to be part of its charm). Letter #1 was posted on April 26th.

Thank you Robert (relative of William's)
---------------------

The letter:

The following letter from William Crouse who is serving his country with Dewey and is on the ship “Concord”, was received by his brother Amos, of Fannettsburg, a few days ago.

Manila, Philippine Islands, Jan., 23, 1899.

Dear Bro: Your letter was received a few days ago, always glad to hear from home and to learn that you are getting along all right. I suppose you are having cold weather back in Penna. Now. Wish we had some of it here. We are almost roasted. Another 10 months here will just about finish us, the heat is so great.

We are continually on the watch with steam up ready to move at a moments notice. This is caused by the insurgents being unruly. They want us to leave the Island. Aguinaldo says they will fight. He has about 30,000 troops around Manila and refuses to lay down their arms. It may not come to a fight, yet we have to be on the watch and ready to move to a good position in case they attack the city.

I don’t wonder much at the Filipinos making a kick. They were promised reforms by our government; but instead they are getting worse treatment than they received from the Spanish. The Spanish scale of taxation is still carried out by our people, and Gen. Otis has introduced some reforms that are very offensive to the natives. He has stopped cock fighting and gambling. These being their principal pleasures they are very sore about it. Five years from now might be long enough to bring about reforms on that line among this people. Better commence such reforms at home among our enlightened folks first.

If this winds up in a fight. I believe the U.S. troops will be fighting nations here for the next 20 years. It will be a regular Indian warfare.

I have been to Ilo Ilo and Canton since I last wrote you. Canton is second largest city in China, it contains 1,600,000 in the city and 30,000 more live in sand pans, or small boats on the river. The city is 90 miles up the river from Hong Kong and lies in a beautiful, level country. Stopped there 15 days. Ilo Ilo is on the island of Panay one of our group. It is the next largest seaport in these islands, and is 360 miles south of Manila. The Spanish were still in possession when we were there, but the Fillipinos have taken it since. The “Baltimore” and three transports with soldiers went down to take it. They have not landed yet.

“Mr. Crouse closes his letter by making inquiry about his old associates around Fannettsburg. And persons who are now grown into manhood and womanhood he seems to have still in his mind as little boys and girls as they were when he used to be among them”.

Medal of Honor Recipient: Sergeant Fred. S. Hay

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company I, 5th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Upper Wichita, Tex., 9 September 1874. Entered service at:------. Birth: Scotland. Date of issue: 23 April 1875.

Citation: Gallantry in action.

Medal of Honor Recipient: Sergeant Major Augustus Barry

Rank and organization: Sergeant Major, 16th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: Unknown, 1863-65. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 28 February 1870.

Citation: Gallantry in various actions during the rebellion.

Medal of Honor Recipient: Watertender William Adolphus Crouse

I am honored a reader of this blog has sent me two personal letters written by William Crouse...Letter #1 is below (unedited and in the exact format sent to me - which I find to be part of its charm).  Letter #2 will be posted next week.

Thank you Robert (relative of William's)
----------------------------
William Crouse
"A FRANKLIN COUNTY BOY
Was with Dewey on Board the Concord – William Crouse, His Name

Amid the excitement and rejoicing over Dewey’smagnificent victory at Manila, Franklin Countians will be interested to learn that a native of the county took part in the battle. William Crouse left his home in Fannettsburg in 1886. After working for four years in various parts of the west and south as a printer in Kansas City, and a miner in Mexico, and Colorado, he went to California and in November, 1890, enlisted in the United States navy, as a printer on board the “San Francisco”. His first trip was to Chili during the Chilean war where he witnessed the battle of Placilla, which resulted in a victory for the Congressional forces. His ship, the “San Francisco” returned to California in the fall of 1891. After a winter (91-92) at Honolulu the “San Francisco” was ordered on a fifteen thousand mile trip to take part in the naval review at New York. Crouse’s time being nearly expired about the time of the review, he was sent back to Mare’s Island, California, by way of Panama. He re-enlisted in “93, on the Charleston,” and on that boat made his first trip to China, arriving there in the fall of ’94. The “Charleston” remained in the Orient during the Chinese-Japanese war. Mr. Crouse witnessed all the important naval battles of the struggle and on the “Charleston” entered Wei-Hai-Wei the day it surrendered to the Japanese. The “Charleston” was disabled about this time and lay at Nagasaki, Japan, for about ten months awaiting repairs. Upon his return to California, in the Summer of “96, Crouse re-enlisted for a second time, was assigned to duty on board the “Concord”, and after a trip to Alaska, started the second time for China, in January, ’98. The last letter received from him, at his home, was written in March last, in which he says: “They are preparing to fight the Spanish”, but seemed to think the war scare, rather a joke.

His friends are now anxiously awaiting definite news from Dewey, as it has been reported that the “Concord” was damaged in the fight. Mr. Crouse’s mother, Mrs. Susan Baer, lives with her daughter, Mrs. Henderson, at 487 Broad Street, Chambersburg. His brother, Amos, lives at Fannettsburg, and John at Willow Hill. He is thirty-three years of age, and has served eight years continuously in the navy.

Amos Crouse has in his possession twenty pieces of money of as many different Oriental nations sent from time to time by his sailor brother.

Medal of Honor Recipient: Chief Warrant Officer Michael J. Novosel

Rank and organization: Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Army, 82d Medical Detachment, 45th Medical Company, 68th Medical Group. Place and date: Kien Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 2 October 1969. Entered service at: Kenner, La. Born: 3 September 1922, Etna, Pa.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. CWO Novosel, 82d Medical Detachment, distinguished himself while serving as commander of a medical evacuation helicopter. He unhesitatingly maneuvered his helicopter into a heavily fortified and defended enemy training area where a group of wounded Vietnamese soldiers were pinned down by a large enemy force. Flying without gunship or other cover and exposed to intense machinegun fire, CWO Novosel was able to locate and rescue a wounded soldier. Since all communications with the beleaguered troops had been lost, he repeatedly circled the battle area, flying at low level under continuous heavy fire, to attract the attention of the scattered friendly troops. This display of courage visibly raised their morale, as they recognized this as a signal to assemble for evacuation. On 6 occasions he and his crew were forced out of the battle area by the intense enemy fire, only to circle and return from another direction to land and extract additional troops. Near the end of the mission, a wounded soldier was spotted close to an enemy bunker. Fully realizing that he would attract a hail of enemy fire, CWO Novosel nevertheless attempted the extraction by hovering the helicopter backward. As the man was pulled on aboard, enemy automatic weapons opened fire at close range, damaged the aircraft and wounded CWO Novosel. He momentarily lost control of the aircraft, but quickly recovered and departed under the withering enemy fire. In all, 15 extremely hazardous extractions were performed in order to remove wounded personnel. As a direct result of his selfless conduct, the lives of 29 soldiers were saved. The extraordinary heroism displayed by CWO Novosel was an inspiration to his comrades in arms and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.