Medal of Honor Recipient: Private John Duffey
Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 4th
Massachusetts Cavalry. Place and date: At Ashepoo River, S.C., 24 May 1864. Entered
service at: ------. Birth: New Bedford,
Mass. Date of issue: 21 January 1897.
Citation:
Volunteered as a member of a boatcrew which went to the rescue of a large
number of Union soldiers on board the stranded steamer Boston, and with great gallantry assisted in
conveying them to shore, being exposed during the entire time to a heavy fire
from a Confederate battery.
Medal of Honor Recipient: First Sergeant John Kirk
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company L, 6th
U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Entered
service at: ------. Birth: York, Pa. Date of issue: 25 August 1870.
Citation:
Gallantry in action.
Medal of Honor Recipient: First Lieutenant Henry B. Freeman
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 18th U.S.
Infantry. Place and date: At Stone River, Tenn., 31 December 1862. Entered service at: Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Birth: Mount Vernon, Ohio. Date of issue: 17 February 1894.
Citation: Voluntarily
went to the front and picked up and carried to a place of safety, under a heavy
fire from the enemy, an acting field officer who had been wounded, and was
about to fall into enemy hands.
Medal of Honor Recipient: Staff Sergeant Archer T. Gammon
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S.
Army, Company A, 9th Armored Infantry Battalion, 6th Armored Division. Place
and date: Near Bastogne, Belgium, 11 January 1945. Entered service at: Roanoke, Va.
Born: 11 September 1918,
Chatham, Va. G.O. No.: 18, 13
February 1946.
Citation: He charged 30 yards through hip-deep snow
to knock out a machinegun and its 3-man crew with grenades, saving his platoon
from being decimated and allowing it to continue its advance from an open field
into some nearby woods. The platoon's advance through the woods had only begun
when a machinegun supported by riflemen opened fire and a Tiger Royal tank sent
88mm. shells screaming at the unit from the left flank. S/Sgt. Gammon,
disregarding all thoughts of personal safety, rushed forward, then cut to the
left, crossing the width of the platoon's skirmish line in an attempt to get
within grenade range of the tank and its protecting foot troops. Intense fire
was concentrated on him by riflemen and the machinegun emplaced near the tank.
He charged the automatic weapon, wiped out its crew of 4 with grenades, and,
with supreme daring, advanced to within 25 yards of the armored vehicle, killing
2 hostile infantrymen with rifle fire as he moved forward. The tank had started
to withdraw, backing a short distance, then firing, backing some more, and then
stopping to blast out another round, when the man whose single-handed
relentless attack had put the ponderous machine on the defensive was struck and
instantly killed by a direct hit from the Tiger Royal's heavy gun. By his
intrepidity and extreme devotion to the task of driving the enemy back no
matter what the odds, S/Sgt. Gammon cleared the woods of German forces, for the
tank continued to withdraw, leaving open the path for the gallant squad
leader's platoon.
Medal of Honor Recipient: Private First Class Gary W. Martini
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S.
Marine Corps, Company F, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. place
and date: Binh Son, Republic
of Vietnam, 21 April 1967. Entered
service at: portland,
Oreg. Born: 21 September
1948, Lexington,
Va.
Citation: For conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of
duty. On 21 April 1967,
during Operation UNION* elements of Company F, conducting offensive operations
at Binh Son, encountered a firmly entrenched enemy force and immediately
deployed to engage them. The marines in Pfc. Martini's platoon assaulted across
an open rice paddy to within 20 meters of the enemy trench line where they were
suddenly struck by hand grenades, intense small arms, automatic weapons, and
mortar fire. The enemy onslaught killed 14 and wounded 18 marines, pinning the
remainder of the platoon down behind a low paddy dike. In the face of imminent
danger, Pfc. Martini immediately crawled over the dike to a forward open area
within 15 meters of the enemy position where, continuously exposed to the
hostile fire, he hurled hand grenades, killing several of the enemy. Crawling
back through the intense fire, he rejoined his platoon which had moved to the
relative safety of a trench line. From this position he observed several of his
wounded comrades Lying helpless in the fire-swept paddy. Although he knew that
1 man had been killed attempting to assist the wounded, Pfc. Martini raced
through the open area and dragged a comrade back to a friendly position. In
spite of a serious wound received during this first daring rescue, he again
braved the unrelenting fury of the enemy fire to aid another companion Lying
wounded only 20 meters in front of the enemy trench line. As he reached the
fallen marine, he received a mortal wound, but disregarding his own condition,
he began to drag the marine toward his platoon's position. Observing men from
his unit attempting to leave the security of their position to aid him,
concerned only for their safety, he called to them to remain under cover, and
through a final supreme effort, moved his injured comrade to where he could be
pulled to safety, before he fell, succumbing to his wounds. Stouthearted and
indomitable, Pfc. Martini unhesitatingly yielded his life to save 2 of his
comrades and insure the safety of the remainder of his platoon. His outstanding
courage, valiant fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty reflected the
highest credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service. He
gallantly gave his life for his country.
Medal of Honor Recipient: Sergeant George Loyd
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company I, 7th U.S.
Cavalry. Place and date: At Wounded Knee Creek, S. Dak., 29 December 1890. Entered service at:
------. Birth: Ireland.
Date of issue: 16 April 1891.
Citation: Bravery, especially after having been severely wounded through the
lung.
Medal of Honor Recipient: Ordinary Seaman Luke M. Griswold
Rank and organization: Ordinary Seaman, U.S.
Navy. Born: 1837, Massachusetts.
Accredited to: Massachusetts.
G.O. No.: 59, 22 June 1865.
Citation: Served on board the U.S.S. Rhode Island which was engaged in saving
the lives of the officers and crew of the Monitor, 30 December 1862. Participating in the
hazardous rescue of the officers and crew of the sinking Monitor, Griswold,
after rescuing several of the men, became separated in a heavy gale with other
members of the cutter that had set out from the Rhode Island, and spent many
hours in the small boat at the mercy of the weather and high seas until finally
picked up by a schooner 50 miles east of Cape Hatteras.
Medal of Honor Recient: Major Robert Edward Galer
Rank and organization: Major, U.S.
Marine Corps, Marine Fighter Sqdn. 244. Place: Solomon Islands Area. Entered
service at: Washington.
Born: 23 October 1913,
Seattle, Wash.
Other Navy awards: Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross.
Citation: For
conspicuous heroism and courage above and beyond the call of duty as leader of
a marine fighter squadron in aerial combat with enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands
area. Leading his squadron repeatedly in daring and aggressive raids against
Japanese aerial forces, vastly superior in numbers, Maj. Galer availed himself
of every favorable attack opportunity, individually shooting down 11 enemy
bomber and fighter aircraft over a period of 29 days. Though suffering the
extreme physical strain attendant upon protracted fighter operations at an altitude
above 25,000 feet, the squadron under his zealous and inspiring leadership shot
down a total of 27 Japanese planes. His superb airmanship, his outstanding
skill and personal valor reflect great credit upon Maj. Galer's gallant
fighting spirit and upon the U.S. Naval Service.
Medal of Honor Recipient: Sergeant James W. Robinson Jr.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S.
Army, Company C, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place and
date: Republic of
Vietnam, 11 April 1966. Entered service
at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 30 August 1940, Hinsdale, Ill.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of
his life above and beyond the call of duty. Company C was engaged in fierce
combat with a Viet Cong battalion. Despite the heavy fire, Sgt. Robinson moved
among the men of his fire team, instructing and inspiring them, and placing
them in advantageous positions. Enemy snipers located in nearby trees were
inflicting heavy casualties on forward elements of Sgt. Robinson's unit. Upon
locating the enemy sniper whose fire was taking the heaviest toll, he took a
grenade launcher and eliminated the sniper. Seeing a medic hit while
administering aid to a wounded sergeant in front of his position and aware that
now the 2 wounded men were at the mercy of the enemy, he charged through a
withering hail of fire and dragged his comrades to safety, where he rendered
first aid and saved their lives. As the battle continued and casualties
mounted, Sgt. Robinson moved about under intense fire to collect from the
wounded their weapons and ammunition and redistribute them to able-bodied
soldiers. Adding his fire to that of his men, he assisted in eliminating a
major enemy threat. Seeing another wounded comrade in front of his position,
Sgt. Robinson again defied the enemy's fire to effect a rescue. In so doing he
was himself wounded in the shoulder and leg. Despite his painful wounds, he
dragged the soldier to shelter and saved his life by administering first aid.
While patching his own wounds, he spotted an enemy machinegun which had
inflicted a number of casualties on the American force. His rifle ammunition
expended, he seized 2 grenades and, in an act of unsurpassed heroism, charged
toward the entrenched enemy weapon. Hit again in the leg, this time with a
tracer round which set fire to his clothing, Sgt. Robinson ripped the burning
clothing from his body and staggered indomitably through the enemy fire, now
concentrated solely on him, to within grenade range of the enemy machinegun
position. Sustaining 2 additional chest wounds, he marshaled his fleeting
physical strength and hurled the 2 grenades, thus destroying the enemy gun
position, as he fell dead upon the battlefield. His magnificent display of
leadership and bravery saved several lives and inspired his soldiers to defeat
the numerically superior enemy force. Sgt. Robinson's conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity, at the cost of his life, are in keeping with the finest traditions
of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon the 1st Infantry Division and
the U.S. Armed Forces.
Medal of Honor Recipient: Sergeant John Thompson
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company G, 1st U.S.
Cavalry. Place and date: At Chiricahua Mountains, Ariz., 20 October 1869. Entered service at: New York, N.Y.
Birth: Scotland.
Date of issue: 14 February
1870.
Citation: Bravery in action with Indians.
Medal of Honor Recipient: Gunner's Mate James Horton
Rank and organization: Gunner's Mate, U.S.
Navy. Born: 1838, Massachusetts.
Accredited to: Massachusetts.
G.O. No.: 59, 22 June 1865.
Citation: Served as gunner's mate on board the U.S.S. Montauk, 21 September 1864. During
the night of 21 September, when fire was discovered in the magazine lightroom
of the vessel, causing a panic and demoralizing the crew, Horton rushed into
the cabin, obtained the magazine keys, sprang into the lightroom and began
passing out combustibles, Including the box of signals in which the fire
originated.
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.