WE may not Agree about Beer , we may not agree on Politics

[olevetonahill]

But I think WE CAN agree this is Cool .


http://www.wrensworld.com/audieeagle.jpg
Dusty old helmet, rusty old gun,
They sit in the corner and wait -
Two souvenirs of the Second World War
That have withstood the time, and the hate.
Mute witness to a time of much trouble.
Where kill or be killed was the law -
Were these implements used with high honor?
What was the glory they saw?
Many times I've wanted to ask them -
And now that we're here all alone,
Relics all three of a long ago war -
Where has freedom gone?

Freedom flies in your heart like an eagle.
Let it soar with the winds high above
Among the spirits of soldiers now sleeping,
Guard it with care and with love.
I salute my old friends in the corner,
I agree with all they have said -
And if the moment of truth comes tomorrow,
I'll be free, or By God, I'll be dead!
Poem by Audie Murphy
Medal of Honor Recipient
__________________

[StoopTroup]

http://www.audiemurphy.com/awards/moh_cert.jpg

[TUSooner]

But I think WE CAN agree this is Cool .


http://www.wrensworld.com/audieeagle.jpg
Dusty old helmet, rusty old gun,
They sit in the corner and wait -
Two souvenirs of the Second World War
That have withstood the time, and the hate.
Mute witness to a time of much trouble.
Where kill or be killed was the law -
Were these implements used with high honor?
What was the glory they saw?
Many times I've wanted to ask them -
And now that we're here all alone,
Relics all three of a long ago war -
Where has freedom gone?

Freedom flies in your heart like an eagle.
Let it soar with the winds high above
Among the spirits of soldiers now sleeping,
Guard it with care and with love.
I salute my old friends in the corner,
I agree with all they have said -
And if the moment of truth comes tomorrow,
I'll be free, or By God, I'll be dead!
Poem by Audie Murphy
Medal of Honor Recipient
__________________
What a piece of **** !!

And by **** I mean GOLD. :D Nice poem, Vet.

[Okla-homey]

Murphy was cool. But he was a :texan:

Here's one of our Okie-grown MOH heroes.

And I do mean "hero." IMHO, the word is tossed around too dang lightly nowadays.


MONTGOMERY, JACK C.

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 45th Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near, Padiglione, Italy, 22 February 1944. Entered service
at: Sallisaw, Okla. Birth: Long, Okla. G.O. No.: 5, 15 January 1945.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 22 February 1944, near Padiglione, Italy. Two hours before daybreak a strong force of enemy infantry established themselves in 3 echelons at 50 yards, 100 yards, and 300 yards, respectively, in front of the rifle platoons commanded by 1st Lt. Montgomery.

The closest position, consisting of 4 machineguns and 1 mortar, threatened the immediate security of the platoon position. Seizing an Ml rifle and several hand grenades, 1st Lt. Montgomery crawled up a ditch to within hand grenade range of the enemy. Then climbing boldly onto a little mound, he fired his rifle and threw his grenades so accurately that he killed 8 of the enemy and captured the remaining 4.

Returning to his platoon, he called for artillery fire on a house, in and around which he suspected that the majority of the enemy had entrenched themselves. Arming himself with a carbine, he proceeded along the shallow ditch, as withering fire from the riflemen and machinegunners in the second position was concentrated on him. He attacked this position with such fury that 7 of the enemy surrendered to him, and both machineguns were silenced. Three German dead were found in the vicinity later that morning.

1st Lt. Montgomery continued boldly toward the house, 300 yards from his platoon position. It was now daylight, and the enemy observation was excellent across the flat open terrain which led to 1st Lt. Montgomery's objective. When the artillery barrage had lifted, 1st Lt. Montgomery ran fearlessly toward the strongly defended position.

As the enemy started streaming out of the house, 1st Lt. Montgomery, unafraid of treacherous snipers, exposed himself daringly to assemble the surrendering enemy and send them to the rear.

His fearless, aggressive, and intrepid actions that morning, accounted for a total of 11 enemy dead, 32 prisoners, and an unknown number of wounded. That night, while aiding an adjacent unit to repulse a counterattack, he was struck by mortar fragments and seriously wounded. The selflessness and courage exhibited by 1st Lt. Montgomery in alone attacking 3 strong enemy positions inspired his men to a degree beyond estimation.

Postscript: The last 20 years of Montgomery's life, he quietly and generously drove a van with out pay, shuttling injured and sick veterans to, from and around the V.A. Hospital complex in Muskogee. Vets who benefitted from Jack's service in and around eastern Oklahoma say he was one the most self-effacing and humble guys they ever knew. The majority had no idea he had earned the MOH. To them, he was just a kind old man who helped them get to and from their appointments.

[GKeeper316]

when i was guarding the classroom building in infantry school (one of the many things you get to do while waiting for a training cycle to start) i used to just go up and down the wall of honor, where they had every single marine medal of honor awardee's citation hanging on the wall... used to spend hours just reading and re-reading those stories.