National Medal of Honor Day

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. It was first presented by President Abraham Lincoln on March 25, 1863. 
March 25, 2007 was the first official National Medal of Honor Day observed in the United States.



Recipients - Afghanistan

Army Specialist Salvatore Giunta
Marine Corporal Dakota Meyer
Army Staff Sergeant Robert James Miller
Army Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti
Navy Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy
Army Staff Sergeant Leroy Petry


Recipients - Iraq

Marine Corporal Jason Dunham
Army Specialist Ross A. McGinnis
Navy Master-at-Arms Second Class Michael A. Monsoor
Army Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith

One last look

Airman 1st Class Jeremy Quesada glances back to family and friends seeing him off at Hancock field in Syracuse N.Y., March 21, 2012. Quesada, assigned to the 174th Fighter Wing Security Forces, and 30 other airman from his unit are deploying to Afghanistan for six months. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ricky Best.

Soldier Survives Miracle Head Wound

Although this happens from time to time, it's always just amazing - and, a miracle.

Read "Miracle Soldier Survives Bullet to the Head" at Blackfive.

Godspeed Sergeant Jamie Jarboe

"...our broken brothers let us bring to the Mansions of the Lord."

After an 11-month battle, Jamie has gone to the Mansions of the Lord.


Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
- John 14:1-3


You may leave a message of condolence at Jamie and Melissa's Facebook page.



Previous:
Prayers for Sgt Jamie Jarboe
By His Side

By His Side

Image courtesy: Melissa Jarboe

Just read.

"There are no words that can describe what this last week has been like knowing that my husband and I would never have a life we always dreamed of," Melissa wrote. "Last Thursday Jamie was placed in a comfort care or hospice setting."

Wounded almost one year ago in Afghanistan, Jamie is now in hospice care. Our prayers continue and our hearts are breaking, even as we are grateful for the eleven months the Jarboe family has had together.

You may leave a message of support at Jamie and Melissa's Facebook page.

Update: Godspeed Sergeant Jamie Jarboe


Previous: Prayers for Sgt Jamie Jarboe

10 Silver Stars, 16 Purple Hearts awarded to First Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment

Photo: The 75th Ranger Regiment.

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - Scores of U.S. Army Rangers were recognized for extraordinary acts of courage Friday at Hunter Army Airfield.

10 Silver Stars, one of the highest awards for valor, and 16 Purple Hearts, honoring those wounded in action, were among the medals earned by almost 80 Rangers with the First Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. In a deployment last year, they conducted 900 missions and killed or captured more than 2,000, yet none of the Rangers seek singular recognition.

"It's for individual valorous achievement, but I think it is more of a collective achievement because we have had so many across the whole Battalion," said 1SG Michael Eiermann, 1/75 Ranger Battalion, Silver Star recipient.

Two Silver Stars were awarded posthumously to families of fallen Rangers.

Photo: The 75th Ranger Regiment.

Homecoming for a wounded combat medic

Ashley Jones walked part of the route, to the delight of the home crowd. Photo: NewsOn6.com.

Crowds Cheer As Cleveland War Hero, Amputee Walks Parade Route

By Brandi Ball, NewsOn6.com

CLEVELAND, Oklahoma -- Cleveland welcomed home a favorite daughter Saturday. U.S. Army Specialist Ashley Jones returned to a hero's welcome, including a parade in her honor.

The young Purple Heart recipient served in the Oklahoma National Guard's 45th Infantry Brigade in Afghanistan. She was in a convoy on December 18, 2011, when it was hit by an IED.

The parade began at 10 a.m. with Patriot Guard bikers, the Cleveland High School Band and military veterans escorting Jones down Broadway Street from Caddo to Pawnee Streets.

With a block to go in the parade route, the vehicle transporting Jones stopped in the street, and she walked on a prosthetic leg in front of the car and waved to supporters.

Amid loud cheers and a lot of tears, Jones walked the rest of the way, to where folks gathered to shake the hero's hand.

As Cleveland Mayor Ron Shipman presented Jones with a proclamation declaring it "Ashley Jones Day," he got a little choked up.

"When she came walking down Main Street it was a beautiful sight," he said. "It was just beautiful."

Saturday was also Jones' 21st birthday, so after the crowd recited the Pledge of Allegiance and the "Star Spangled Banner," it serenaded her with a chorus of "Happy Birthday."

In the IED explosion, Jones broke her back and pelvis, and her right leg was amputated at the knee. She has been recovering in a San Antonio military hospital.

Previous: Injured Medic rejoins Soldier she treated

My Friends on this Wall

Trailer from the documentary "Dealin', Battle of Wanat"

Fair Winds, Lex

We have lost another one of our own.

Retired Top Gun pilot US Navy Captain Carroll LeFon was killed yesterday when his F-21 Kfir jet crashed at Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada. To those of us in the milblog community, Captain LeFon was better known as Lex of the blog Neptunus Lex.

Lex loved his family, he loved writing, and he loved flying. He didn't want to spend the rest of his life "in a cube". He died passing on that love of flying to the next generation of pilots. He was a beloved husband, father, and son. He was a Patriot. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. May God hold and comfort them in their pain.

Godspeed, Lex. Our hearts are broken.


Others writing about Lex:
Chap
Sal
Taco
John
Pinch
Susan
Bill
Tim
UltimaRatioReg
Milblogging.com
Lia
Steve
Steeljawscribe
Bouhammer
Subsunk
Pinch at Blackfive
Grim
Jonn
Chuck
The Sniper
Mark
Kanani
Cassandra
Teresa
McQ
LCDR Benjamin “BJ” Armstrong
Navy Times
caltechgirl
FbL
JC at Tailhook
Soldiers' Angels
Boudicca
Lynnis
John

Wounded warriors conquer the surf

One of the San Diego Naval Medical Center's most successful therapy programs is their Warrior Athlete Surf Clinic. Watch Marine Carlos Garcia and Corpsman Stuart Fuke catch the waves.