American Heroes Challenge Weekly
For The Week of Sunday March 23 - Monday March 31
This is the first time I am putting a selection of daily articles together, scheduled to email out every Tuesday. These are leadership stories for the week, meant to motivate you in your own life and to provide examples of masculinity, courage and leadership for today’s American men.
March 23 - Edward Carter - Medal of Honor- US Army - World War II
Edward Carter earned the Medal of Honor on this day in 1945. The Medal was bestowed posthumously in 1996.
A missionaries' son, Carter grew up in India and Shanghai, China, was fluent in four languages and fought in China against the Japanese and in Spain for the republican cause before going the US Army in 1942.
Carter volunteered for the infantry during the Battle of the Bulge and earned the Medal for actions near Speyer, Germany. Sadly, Carter was later denied reenlistment in 1949 over fears of communist sympathies because of his service with the Abraham Lincoln brigade in Spain. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
March 24 - Harry Martin - Medal of Honor - Marine Corps - World War II
Harry Martin earned the Medal of Honor posthumously on Iwo Jima when he rallied his Marines on the night of March 24-25, 1945, to defeat the last banzai charge of the war, days after the island had been declared secured.
March 25 - Stephen Doane - Medal of Honor - US Army - Vietnam
Stephen Doane earned the Medal of Honor posthumously in Vietnam, on this day forty-six years ago, when he destroyed an enemy bunker while also absorbing the grenade blast himself, allowing his pinned down platoon to maneuver out of the ambush area and save wounded Americans. Honor and remember him!
Doane, a native of Beverly, Massachusetts and Albany, New York, was 21 years old when he was killed in action, and he is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
March 26 - Douglas Dickey - Medal of Honor - Marine Corps - Vietnam
Douglas Dickey earned the Medal of Honor posthumously on this day in Vietnam, when he threw himself on a Viet Cong grenade to save the lives of his fellow Marines. He was from Greenville, Ohio and was 21 years old when he was killed in action. Honor and remember him!
March 27 - Clinton Hedrick - Medal of Honor - US Army - World War II
Clinton Hedrick earned the Medal of Honor posthumously in Germany, when he charged through enemy fire during Operation: Varsity to defeat numerous enemy groups, and then covered the withdrawal of Americans after being ambushed. Honor and remember him
March 28 - Daniel Matthews - Medal of Honor - Marine Corps - Korea
Daniel Matthews earned the Medal of Honor posthumously in Korea when he single-handedly attacked an enemy machine gun post that was preventing the evacuation of a wounded Marine. Honor and remember him!
March 29 - National Vietnam Veterans’ Day
Today is National Vietnam Veterans’ Day. Thank one if you know one.
March 30 - Ronald Reagan Assasination Attempt
Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt, inspiring the nation with his leadership and courage. He joked with the surgeons as they wheeled him into surgery, saying, “please tell me you are all Republicans.”
March 31 - Brian Miles Thacker - Medal of Honor - US Army - Vietnam
Brian Miles Thacker earned the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War, when he rallied his men to fight off an NVA attack on his firebase.
Thacker was serving as a forward observer with a small force of South Vietnamese soldiers when they came under attack by a much larger North Vietnamese force. Despite being heavily outnumbered, he directed artillery fire and helped repel multiple attacks. When the situation became hopeless, he voluntarily stayed behind to cover the retreat of his comrades, ensuring their safety at great personal risk. He managed to evade capture and was later rescued.
For his bravery and selflessness, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard Nixon.