Today’s Medal of Honor Moment for 23 July

Medal of Honor recipient Tibor Rubin, courtesy the CMOHS. These legendary warriors walk among us, and most people have no idea what a warrior Grandpa was…
There are seven Medals awarded for actions on this day. The Medal took a break from the Civil War and didn’t stand to until the War with Spain.

HEARD, JOHN W.

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 3d U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Mouth of Manimani River, west of Bahia Honda, Cuba, 23 July 1898. Entered service at: Mississippi. Birth: Mississippi. Date of issue: 21 June 1899. Citation: After 2 men had been shot down by Spaniards while transmitting orders to the engine-room on the Wanderer, the ship having become disabled, this officer took the position held by them and personally transmitted the orders, remaining at his post until the ship was out of danger.

The Medal is awarded next during WWI, starting with more sailors getting the Medal for what would now be covered by the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism not involving combat.

BRADLEY, WILLIS WINTER, JR.

Rank and organization: Commander, U.S. Navy. Born: 28 June 1884, Ransomville, N.Y. Appointed from: North Dakota. Citation: For extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving on the U.S.S. Pittsburgh, at the time of an accidental explosion of ammunition on that vessel. On 23 July 1917, some saluting cartridge cases were being reloaded in the after casemate: through an accident an explosion occurred. Comdr. Bradley (then Lieutenant), who was about to enter the casemate, was blown back by the explosion and rendered momentarily unconscious, but while still dazed, crawled into the casemate to extinguish burning materials in dangerous proximity to a considerable amount of powder, thus preventing further explosions.

GRAVES, ORA

Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 26 July 1896, Los Animas, Colo. Accredited to: Nebraska. G.O. No.: 366, 1918. Citation: For extraordinary heroism on 23 July 1917, while the U.S.S. Pittsburgh was proceeding to Buenos Aires, Argentina. A 3-inch saluting charge exploded, causing the death of C. T. Lyles, seaman. Upon the explosion, Graves was blown to the deck, but soon recovered and discovered burning waste on the deck. He put out the burning waste while the casemate was filled with clouds of smoke, knowing that there was more powder there which might explode.

The next holders of the Medal earn theirs during WWII. Back to New Guinea. Continue reading “Today’s Medal of Honor Moment for 23 July”

Today’s Medal of Honor Moment for 22 July

Medal of Honor recipient Donald R Lobaugh. Courtesy the CMOHS.

There are seven Medals awarded for actions on this day in our martial history.  The Medal opens the dance in it’s usual place, the Civil War, with four Medals from the Battle of Atlanta, in 1864, including the “Fighting Chaplain,” Milton Haney.

SPRAGUE, JOHN W.

Rank and organization: Colonel, 63d Ohio Infantry. Place and date: At Decatur, Ga., 22 July 1862 [Sic] [This date should be 1864 and is incorrect in the official source – The Armorer]. Entered service at: Sandusky, Ohio Born: 4 April 1817, White Creek, N.Y. Date of issue: 18 January 1894. Citation: With a small command defeated an overwhelming force of the enemy and saved the trains of the corps.

FORCE, MANNING F.

Rank and organization: Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers. Place and date: At Atlanta, Ga., 22 July 1864. Entered service at: Cincinnati, Ohio. Born: Washington, D.C. 17 December 1824. Date of issue: 31 March 1892. Citation: Charged upon the enemy’s works, and after their capture defended his position against assaults of the enemy until he was severely wounded.

HANEY, MILTON L.

Rank and organization: Chaplain, 55th Illinois Infantry. Place and date: At Atlanta, Ga., 22 July 1864. Entered service at: Bushnell, Ill. Birth: Ohio. Date of issue: 3 November 1896. Citation: Voluntarily carried a musket in the ranks of his regiment and rendered heroic service in retaking the Federal works which had been captured by the enemy.

SANCRAINTE, CHARLES F.

Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 15th Michigan Infantry. Place and date: At Atlanta, Ga., 22 July 1864. Entered service at: Monroe, Mich. Born: 1840, Monroe, Mich. Date of issue: 25 July 1892. Citation: Voluntarily scaled the enemy’s breastworks and signaled to his commanding officer in charge; also in single combat captured the colors of the 5th Texas Regiment (C.S.A.).

Continue reading “Today’s Medal of Honor Moment for 22 July”

Today’s Medal of Honor Moment for 21 July

Medal of Honor recipient William F Dean Sr. Courtesy the CMOHS.

Per usual, we open with the Civil War – 10 Medals for Bull Run and one for the Atlanta Campaign.

AMES, ADELBERT

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 5th U.S. Artillery. Place and date: At Bull Run, Va., 21 July 1861. Entered service at: Rockland, Maine. Birth: East Thomaston, Maine. Date of issue: 22 June 1894. Citation: remained upon the field in command of a section of Griffin’s Battery, directing its fire after being severely wounded and refusing to leave the field until too weak to sit upon the caisson where he had been placed by men of his command.

COOKE, WALTER H.

Rank and organization: Captain, Company K, 4th Pennsylvania Infantry Militia. Place and date. At Bull Run, Va., 21 July 1861. Entered service at:——. Birth: Norristown, Pa. Date of issue: 19 May 1887. Citation: Voluntarily served as an aide on the staff of Col. David Hunter and participated in the battle, his term of service having expired on the previous day.

HARTRANFT, JOHN F.

Rank and organization: Colonel, 4th Pennsylvania Militia. Place and date: At Bull Run, Va., 21 July 1861. Entered service at: Norristown, Pa. Born: 16 December 1830, New Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pa. Date of issue: 26 August 1886. Citation: Voluntarily served as an aide and participated in the battle after expiration of his term of service, distinguishing himself in rallying several regiments which had been thrown into confusion. Continue reading “Today’s Medal of Honor Moment for 21 July”

Today’s Medal of Honor Moment for 20 July

Medal of Honor recipient Gilbert G Collier. Courtesy the CMOHS.

We open with the Civil War, the Battle of Peachtree Creek, part of the Atlanta Campaign. A flag capture, a flag rescue, some conspicuous coolness (and he wasn’t even a rock star), some reckless bravery, and a touch of “leave no man behind.”

BUCKLEY, DENNIS

Rank and organization: Private, Company G, 136th New York Infantry. Place and date: At Peach Tree Creek, Ga., 20 July 1864. Entered service at: Avon, N.Y. Birth: Canada. Date of issue: 7 April 1865. Citation: Capture of flag of 31st Mississippi (C.S.A.).

CROSIER, WILLIAM H. H.

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company G, 149th New York Infantry. Place and date: At Peach Tree Creek, Ga., 20 July 1864. Entered service at: Skaneateles, N.Y. Birth: Skaneateles, N.Y. Date of issue: 12 January 1892. Citation: Severely wounded and ambushed by the enemy, he stripped the colors from the staff and brought them back into the line.

HAPEMAN, DOUGLAS

Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, 104th Illinois Infantry. Place and date: At Peach Tree Creek, Ga., 20 July 1864. Entered service at: Ottawa, Ill. Born: 15 January 1839, Ephratah, Fulton County, N.Y. Date of issue: 5 April 1898. Citation: With conspicuous coolness and bravery rallied his men under a severe attack, re-formed the broken ranks, and repulsed the attack.

SHANES, JOHN

Rank and organization: Private, Company K, 14th West Virginia Infantry. Place and date: At Carters Farm, Va., 20 July 1864. Entered service at:——. Birth: Monomgalis County, W.Va. Date of issue: 31 January 1896. Citation: Charged upon a Confederate field-piece in advance of his comrades and by his individual exertions silenced the piece.

WILLIAMS, WILLIAM H.

Rank and organization: Private, Company C, 82d Ohio Infantry. Place and date: At Peach Tree Creek, Ga., 20 July 1864. Entered service at: Miami County, Ohio. Birth: Hancock County, Ohio. Date of issue: 19 June 1894. Citation: Voluntarily went beyond the lines to observe the enemy; also aided a wounded comrade.

Continue reading “Today’s Medal of Honor Moment for 20 July”

Some more of that gun stuff in the basement….

Springfield Armory BM-59 built with Berretta parts on an SA receiver, and our G43.

This pic was taken after I had been fondling our Gew43 and adding a few bits it had lost over the years – barrel nut, dust cover, cleaning rod, and putting in new (shooter) springs because the originals are, well, tired. It has a matching bolt and receiver, but some anomalies. I’m pretty sure it is a parts gun (and was presented and sold as such) but it’s interesting all the same. A August 1944 Berlin-Lubecker-Maschinenfabrik rifle (DUV ’44) with a ’43 dated stock and barrel. I was skeptical of the stock, as it has been roughly handled by bubba in a fashion typical of people counterfeiting new-made stocks, but found proper marks under the buttplate. Oddly, it has a relatively rare “set trigger” usually reserved for sniper/sharpshooter rifles, yet had the mounting rail for the scope ground off – believed to be a factory-done mod when the rifle didn’t shoot well enough to be a sniper, but was still suitable for issue. Things were getting crazy there that last year of the war, so who knows?

She shoots well enough for me in terms of accuracy, and with new springs probably more reliably, now.

That’s our Springfield Armory BM-59 in the background. Built as a “Parachutist” model with a folding stock, she’s unwieldy and uncomfortable to shoot with her folding stock. Since I no longer jump out of airplanes, I put her in a wood stock for bangsticking, and put her back in her fancy furniture for display.

Today’s Medal of Honor Moment for 19 july

Medal of Honor recipient John G Gertsch. Courtesy the CMOHS.

Again, we open with the Civil War

DODDS, EDWARD E.

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company C, 21st New York Cavalry. Place and date: At Ashbys Gap, Va., 19 July 1864. Entered service at: Rochester, N.Y. Birth: Canada. Date of issue: 11 June 1896. Citation: At great personal risk rescued his wounded captain and carried him from the field to a place of safety.

Now we move on to the Philippine Insurrection.

BYRNE, BERNARD A.

Rank and organization: Captain, 6th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Bobong, Negros, Philippine Islands, 19 July 1899. Entered service at: Washington, D.C. Birth: Newport Barracks, Va. Date of issue: 15 July 1902. Citation: Most distinguished gallantry in rallying his men on the bridge after the line had been broken and pushed back.

Then, on to World War I Continue reading “Today’s Medal of Honor Moment for 19 july”