Medal of Honor

Celebrating the Passing of a Hero ~ Nicholas Oresko

Published by Papa Giorgio

Via The Blaze

Nicholas Oresko, 96, an Army master sergeant who was badly wounded as he single-handedly took out two enemy bunkers during the Battle of the Bulge in 1945, died Friday night at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, hospital officials announced Saturday….

…The Bergen Record reported that several veterans and young members of various branches of the military stayed with Oresko in his final days after a friend wrote about his health problems on a Facebook page and noted that Oresko had no immediate family still living.

Two Stories of Sacrifice Beyond measure: `Medal of Honor` Holder, Ty Carter; and `Victoria Cross` Holder, Benjamin Roberts-Smith

Published by Papa Giorgio

Via the Washington Times

….After serving for four years in the Marine Corps, Sgt. Carter enlisted in the Army in 2008, according to his official biography. He currently is serving as a staff noncommissioned officer with the 7th Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.

He has also received a Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, representing multiple awards, and the Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, his bio says.

Sgt. Carter is the 12th service member to receive the military’s highest award for valor in combat for actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Sgt. Clinton Romesha, who served at the Keating outpost with Sgt. Carter and other members of Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, received the Medal of Honor in February for his involvement in the same October 2009 action, which he also survived.

Never forget these families ARE the measure of a man, and the sacrifice — the ultimate sacrifice — these families make shall never go unforgotten!


In my book, both are “Fathers of the Year!”

Not only thanking our guys, but other nations heroes as well. This comes via FireArm Blog:

The Australian Father’s Day Council has named Corporal Benjamin Roberts-Smith, VC, MG, Australian Army sniper and Victoria Cross recipient, ”Father Of The Year”.

Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith will on Monday be dubbed the 2013 Father of the Year for his devotion to his family and contribution to country.

The Brisbane-based Victoria Cross recipient, 34, has twin three-year-olds, Eve and Elizabeth.

Cpl Roberts-Smith accepted the award on behalf of all the parents who have sacrificed time away from loved ones to serve in the Australian Defence Force.

…continuing

Roberts-Smith was awarded the Victoria Cross in 2010 when he drew the fire of an insurgent ambush when his patrol was pinned down by machine gunners, he then stormed a Taliban position killing two machine gunners.

As he approached the structure, Corporal Roberts-Smith identified an insurgent grenadier in the throes of engaging his patrol. Corporal Roberts-Smith instinctively engaged the insurgent at point-blank range resulting in the death of the insurgent. With the members of his patrol still pinned down by the three enemy machine gun positions, he exposed his own position in order to draw fire away from his patrol, which enabled them to bring fire to bear against the enemy. His actions enabled his Patrol Commander to throw a grenade and silence one of the machine guns. Seizing the advantage, and demonstrating extreme devotion to duty and the most conspicuous gallantry, Corporal Roberts-Smith, with a total disregard for his own safety, stormed the enemy position killing the two remaining machine gunners.

His act of valour enabled his patrol to break-in to the enemy position and to lift the weight of fire from the remainder of the troop who had been pinned down by the machine gun fire. On seizing the fortified gun position, Corporal Roberts-Smith then took the initiative again and continued to assault enemy positions in depth during which he and another patrol member engaged and killed further enemy. His acts of selfless valour directly enabled his troop to go on and clear the village of Tizak of Taliban. This decisive engagement subsequently caused the remainder of the Taliban in Shah Wali Kot District to retreat from the area.