These Stories of Valor are part of an ongoing oral history program of the Honor Project to ensure the experiences of our combat wounded and those who gave their all in the service of America are remembered for generations to come.
In January of 2004, then-PFC Johnson’s unit’s missions were largely comprised of security runs, accompanying officers during their travels. On one such mission near Mosul, Johnson was serving as a rear gunner when her Humvee encountered an IED (improvised explosive device). She had been struck in the side of the neck with shrapnel, leaving a gaping, fist-sized wound which just missed a major artery – she was only 19 years old at the time.
Read MoreOn September 6, 1969, SPC Edward Gerasimowicz had finished patrolling with his dog and was in camp when the warning sirens sounded and “Rockets in the air” blared out.
Read MoreThomas "TC" Smith enlisted in the U.S. Army on January 9, 1967, and served for more than 25 years, including tours in Vietnam, Germany, Fort Hood, Fort Bragg, Washington, D.C., and the Philippines. Three years after being commissioned, on May 9, 1971, Smith was flying as a co-pilot of a OH-58A on a “last light” visual reconnaissance scouting mission in the vicinity of the U-Mihn Forest (aka “the Delta).
Read MoreA graduate of Avilla (Indiana) High School, Huelsenbeck was drafted into the U.S. Army in July 1966, assigned to Battery C, 1st Battalion, 44th Artillery Regiment and sent to Vietnam.
In July 1967, 20-year-old Huelsenbeck's was operating a “Duster,” an armored open turret tank with twin-mounted 40-millimeter cannons, in support of U.S. Marine operations in the Vietnam.
Read MoreKenneth Howe was drafted in the U.S. Army in March 1968 and became a member of the 4th Infantry Division. One year later, on March 4, 1969, SP4 Howe’s company had secured Hill 947 when they came under attack by North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Regulars.
Read MoreWashington Sanchez was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, through the ROTC program at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. At the time of his commissioning, he was the school’s only Distinguish Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) graduate and the recipient of a Regular Army Commission in April 1964. Nineteen months later, in November 1965, then-Lieutenant Sanchez was wounded while serving as a Forward Observer with an Airmobile Company of the 1st Cavalry Division.
Read MoreOn January 30, 1971, the Cpl Aguirre’s platoon had just left the base and were relocating to a couple of hill tops. Upon arriving, Cpl. Aguirre’s patrol was tasked with securing the hill tops. Because he was short, Aguirre had several other Marines in front of him. While the six other Marines passed down trail, Aguirre stepped on a booby trap, releasing the trip wire. The next thing Cpl. Aguirre knew he was in the chopper to Da Nang.
Read MoreDuring his service in the Vietnam War, Army Specialist 4 Wyant lost his life on February 9, 1968, through hostile action, including multiple fragmentation wounds, during fighting near Cam Lou Nam Near Song Deim Binh River, South Vietnam, Quang Nam province.
Read MoreMcHenry’s family would later learn that he had kept a burning aircraft aloft long enough to allow his crew to bail out to eventually be rescued. He and his cockpit crew crashed in enemy territory. It took another three years before their remains could were recovered.
Read More“The only times I was away from my company was on a ROR to Hong Kong, and when I was wounded and spent time on the Hospital Ship Sanctuary, and at the Da Nang Naval Hospital. I was wounded for the second time in August 1967 and returned my company in late September 1967.”
Read MoreU.S. Army Private First Class David S. James was wounded in action on August 4, 1970 in the Republic of Vietnam while serving as a member of the Special Training Advisory Group with Company B, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 50th Infantry.
Read MoreA member of the 7th Armored Division, Company C, 31st Tank Battalion, Davis’ service included fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. On October 28, 1944, during fighting in Holland, Davis’ tank was shelled and caught fire. The attack resulted in him, suffering burns and the loss of a kidney. After the being wounded, Davis was taken to a hospital in Paris for treatment.
Read MoreIn 1944, on his tenth mission, while flying a bombing run over Germany his plane came in the under attack from the Lufwaffe. While firing at the enemy. CMSgt. Oliver was struck by enemy fire. Despite being wounded, CMSgt Oliver continued to return fire. During the firefight, the crew’s pilot was killed and the co pilot was wounded.
Read MoreOn September 11, 1944, Private First Class Bailey, a member of the Medical Detachment, 362nd Infantry Regiment, was wounded at North Apennines, near Florence, Italy. Along with his Purple Heart, PFC Bailey was awarded several medals including the European-African Middle Eastern Theater and two Bronze Stars.
Read MoreReflecting on his service years later, Navarro said, “You just never forget the time in Vietnam. There is always something that brings you back. I got PTSD and my wounds to remind me of this time in my life. I am in touch with some of my brothers that were there that night.”
Read MoreRickey Wittner was a crewman on a CH-47 Chinook that was shot down on July 10,1970. At the time of the accident, the chinook was hovering over a load of empty fuel blivets when it took RPG in aft plyon.
Read MoreIn February 1944, while fighting in the Battle of Anzio, which lasted from January 22, 1944 to June 5, 1944, Pfc Biles.
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