211102 Sentinel, Medal of Honor

mobile theme

The medal of honor is the highest award in this nation's military.

I thought that as we approach Veterans Day this year, this post would be most appropiate in the lead up to November 11.
The medal of honor is not readily handed out today or ever in history of our nation. There are recipents as far back as 1861. I have seen videos of modern recipients and they seem to always be humble men and they claim they were just doing their duty. How wonderful is that? A man never knows his capability until he faces a life or death situation, overcomes fear and does his duty for his country and his brothers in arms. One of the most well known recipients of the Medal of Honor was Audie Murphy for single handedly pushing back a full scale German attack in Italy during WW-2.

He like all of the other recipients did his duty in a horrific situation. A funny thing to me is that Audie was turned down for service in WW-2 by the Marine Corps and the Navy. Had they only known, I know they would have wanted him.

I watched a show a few days ago with an old actor by the name of Charles Durning playing a medal of horor winner who through advanced age was not functioning well mentally. Charles was not a medal of honor winner, but he was actually in the invasion of Normandy on Omaha Beach, the most horrific beach of all five invasion beaches. He was shot in the hip and carried the bullet there the rest of his life. He spent a long time in an army hospital and was released in time to be in the battle of the bulge in 1944. He was briefly captured by the German army during the battle at Malmedy where the Germans massacured a large number of U.S. army soldiers they had captured. Durning was one of a few who escaped during that slaughter and survived. He ended the war with 3 purple hearts and a Silver Star. The Silver Star is the third highest military award for combat. Sadly for the enlisted men in the army and marine corps their brave achievements in the face of danger are often downgraded by the officer corps, perhaps because they don't want a lot of enlisted soldiers and marines to outshine officers. That is a sad thing for me to contemplate, but it is believed to be true.
The pictures below are Durning in WW-2 and much later recognition for his bravery and dedicated service.

There are few like him and fewer like Audie Murphy. May they both rest in peace.

Veteran's Day, November 11 was originally called Armistice Day until 1954. It is on the 11th of November because hostilities ended with Germany during WW-1 at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month. November has Thanksgiving Day and Veteran's Day, I hope the American public will be thankful for why both days are celebrated.