Congressional Medal of Honor

I haven't read the entire thread but I'm sure y'all have figured out that its the congressional gold medal not the MoH. Regardless it is a high honor and you should be proud of your grandmother for leading the way for female pilots.

 

Wow. You got one hell of a grandmother!!!!

 

Ya I dont think she is getting the MOH that kinda of thing isnt just handed out, also the last and ONLY women to recieve this award was in 1865 her name was Dr. Mary E. Walker, so in other words the MOH under most circumstances is given for combat valor and combat action. So ya just thought I would throw that out there.

 

Congrats to your Grandmother, I have visited the MOH web page for a college paper I wrote for WWII history and found some amazing things out. It takes a tremendous mount of courage. Not to toot my own whistle, but I have been in Iraq. I admit it was an easy deployment, actually. We recieved indirect fire from a 107mm chinese rocket and was awarded the combat action badge. this is something i refuse to wear because I feel the way it was earned cheapens the awrd for those who actually got engadge by enemy. I actually feel embarased about telling the story.

 

Might as well give a MOH to his Grandmother. They gave one to MacArthur for a lot less then what she did. He got one for just being MacArthur.

MacARTHUR, DOUGLAS

Rank and organization: General, U.S. Army, commanding U.S. Army Forces in the Far East. Place and date: Bataan Peninsula, Philippine Islands. Entered service at: Ashland, Wis. Birth: Little Rock, Ark. G.O. No.: 16, 1 April 1942.

Citation:

For conspicuous leadership in preparing the Philippine Islands to resist conquest, for gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against invading Japanese forces, and for the heroic conduct of defensive and offensive operations on the Bataan Peninsula. He mobilized, trained, and led an army which has received world acclaim for its gallant defense against a tremendous superiority of enemy forces in men and arms. His utter disregard of personal danger under heavy fire and aerial bombardment, his calm judgment in each crisis, inspired his troops, galvanized the spirit of resistance of the Filipino people, and confirmed the faith of the American people in their Armed Forces.

 

You forgot to mention how he sneaked out of the phillipines late at night and escaped to the south while his men made the Bataan death march.....

(Nine months and I'm retired too...)

 

Awesome! We got a MOH ceremony today here

 

And he opposed the awarding of the medal to General Jonathan Wainwright who he left behind to finish the fight and who was to spend more then three years of deprivation, abuse and torture at the hands of the Japanese as a POW.

General MacArthur in regards to the proposed MOH for General Wrainwright:

"The citation proposed does not represent the truth....As a relative matter award of the Medal of Honor to General Wainwright would be a grave injustice to a number of general officers of practically equally responsible positions who not only distinguished themselves by fully as great personal gallantry thereby earning the DSC but exhibited powers of leadership and inspiration to a degree greatly superior to that of General Wainwright thereby contributing much more to the stability of the command and to the successful conduct of the campaign. It would be a grave mistake which later on might well lead to embarrassing repercussions to make this award."

Yet he had no problem accepting his.

 

You were actually right. My grandmother was a WASP (women airforce service pilot), she was not actually in the military. The Congressoinal Medal of Honor is the only millitary service I believe. She received the Congressional Gold Medal, which is the civilian equivlant/the highest award that a civilian can recieve. Still exciting nonetheless, heres a story on her.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/news-article.aspx?storyid=153041

 

Wow! Congrats to her!

 

Sorry trtripoli. I wasn't trying to hijack your thread. That is really a cool grandma you got there. Has she told you any first hand stories from her flying days that you could post here?

 

unfortunately no. My grandfather was a pilot for the miliatary, and both him or my grandmother just say no comment when you ask them about any experiences they have had. They'll only talk about what their duties were, but not anything too specific.

And I wouldn't worry too much about it, it's a tacomaworld tradition to hijack

 

Here is an article with pics.

http://www.fayobserver.com/Articles/2010/03/11/982553

 

WOW, congrats!