Untold Stories: Heroic Medal of Honor Recipients

American leaders have made many mistakes, but one tribute can always be given: the American soldier has always been a hero.

Today, March 25, has been National Medal of Honor Day since 1991. It’s a day to honor each one of those heroic military men who “distinguishe[d] himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty” in various conflict situations against an enemy of the U.S. or a nation friendly to the U.S. I want to highlight just a few of those today.

Andrews’ Raiders—particularly Private Jacob Wilson Parrott—were the first Medal of Honor recipients, for their courage both during military operations and abusive imprisonment during the Civil War.  More recently, Sgt. Alfredo Gonzalez died after displaying extraordinary courage during the Vietnam War.

First Lt. Vernon J. Baker and his company were headed toward German stronghold Castle Aghinolfi (Italy) during WWII when he discovered a nearly hidden observation post, and killed the men inside. Baker then identified and took out the enemies in a well-camouflaged machine gun nest. Having killed another German who hurled a grenade, Baker continued exploring.

“[CMOHS] There he blasted open the concealed entrance of another dugout with a hand grenade, shot one German soldier who emerged after the explosion, tossed another grenade into the dugout and entered firing his sub-machine gun, killing two more Germans. As Lieutenant Baker climbed back out of the draw, enemy machine gun and mortar fire began to inflict heavy casualties among the group of 25 soldiers, killing or wounding about two-thirds of them. When expected reinforcements did not arrive, Captain Runyon ordered a withdrawal in two groups. Lieutenant Baker volunteered to cover the withdrawal of the first group, which consisted mostly of walking wounded, and to remain to assist in the evacuation of the more seriously wounded. During the second group’s withdrawal, Lieutenant Baker, supported by covering fire from one of his platoon members, destroyed two machine gun positions (previously bypassed during the assault) with hand grenades. In all, Lieutenant Baker accounted for nine enemy dead soldiers, elimination of three machine gun positions, an observation post, and a dugout. On the following night, Lieutenant Baker voluntar[il]y led a battalion advance through enemy mine fields and heavy fire toward the division objective.”

Baker received his Medal of Honor many years later, in 1997. It is never too late to honor our military heroes.

Read Parrott’s and Gonzalez’s exceptional stories on Substack.