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Today’s Badass: Luther H. Story (Medal of Honor)

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Luther Story was born on July 20, 1931, in Buena Vista, Georgia. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on October 21, 1948, and after completing Basic Training and Advanced Training as an Infantryman, PFC Story served with Company A, 9th Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington, until July 1950, when he deployed with his unit to Pusan, South Korea, at the beginning of the Korean War. CPL Story was killed in action near Agok, South Korea, on September 1, 1950, but he was officially listed as Missing in Action until he was declared dead on September 1, 1953. His remains have never been returned, but he does have a cenotaph marker at Andersonville National Cemetery near Andersonville, Georgia.LutherHStoryRibbons

His Medal of Honor Citation reads:

Pfc. Story, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. A savage daylight attack by elements of 3 enemy divisions penetrated the thinly held lines of the 9th Infantry. Company A beat off several banzai attacks but was bypassed and in danger of being cut off and surrounded. Pfc. Story, a weapons squad leader, was heavily engaged in stopping the early attacks and had just moved his squad to a position overlooking the Naktong River when he observed a large group of the enemy crossing the river to attack Company A. Seizing a machine gun from his wounded gunner he placed deadly fire on the hostile column killing or wounding an estimated 100 enemy soldiers. Facing certain encirclement the company commander ordered a withdrawal. During the move Pfc. Story noticed the approach of an enemy truck loaded with troops and towing an ammunition trailer. Alerting his comrades to take cover he fearlessly stood in the middle of the road, throwing grenades into the truck. Out of grenades he crawled to his squad, gathered up additional grenades and again attacked the vehicle. During the withdrawal the company was attacked by such superior numbers that it was forced to deploy in a rice field. Pfc. Story was wounded in this action, but, disregarding his wounds, rallied the men about him and repelled the attack. Realizing that his wounds would hamper his comrades he refused to retire to the next position but remained to cover the company’s withdrawal. When last seen he was firing every weapon available and fighting off another hostile assault. Private Story’s extraordinary heroism, aggressive leadership, and supreme devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and were in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the military service.

FTE Brand and Wounded Wear Join Forces

We here at Front Toward Enemy Brand believe heroes do exist. We love this country and we love those who have sacrificed life and limb so that we may live free. I am proud to announce FTE Brand has joined forces with Wounded Wear, a non-profit organization created to assist these brave individuals and bring awareness to their sacrifices.

Wounded Wear’s mission is to raise the national awareness of the sacrifice of wounded warriors, their families, and the families of fallen service members. In support of this mission Wounded Wear advocates on behalf and facilitates opportunities for those who have sacrificed so much, as well as providing free fashionable clothing kits and modifications to wounded warriors that empower them to rediscover the hero within.

FTE Brand has added the Wounded Wear logo to the right sleeve of our I’m No Hero shirt. We will also donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each of these special shirts to Wounded Wear in support of their mission to help wounded warriors and the families of the fallen.

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Today in Badass History: Stanley T. Adams, US Army, Medal of Honor

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Stanley “Stan” Taylor Adams (May 9, 1922 – April 19, 1999) was a US Army officer who received the U.S. military’s highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Korean War. A native of Kansas, Adams fought in World War II as an enlisted soldier. He was sent to Korea as a sergeant soon after the outbreak of war there, and was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading a bayonet charge against a numerically superior force in early 1951. Commissioned as an officer shortly after receiving the medal, Adams continued to serve into the Vietnam War, eventually retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

Early life and World War II

Born in De Soto, Kansas, on May 9, 1922, Adams joined the Army from nearby Olathe in 1942. During World War II, he was wounded in action while fighting in North Africa and Italy.

Korean War

After World War II, he served in Japan as part of the Allied occupation force. In July 1950, shortly after the onset of the Korean War, he was sent to South Korea as a sergeant first class with Company A of the 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Division.

In late January 1951, the Eighth Army, of which Adams’ unit was a part, launched a counteroffensive against Chinese troops which had begun pushing the United Nations forces southward months earlier. Company A established a position south of Seoul near Sesim-ni on February 3, and Adams’ platoon set up an outpost on a ridge 200 yards (180 m) forward of the rest of the company. At about 11:00 that night, enemy troops assaulted and pushed back the companies to either side of Company A, leaving the unit surrounded on three sides. Two hours later, in the early morning of February 4, Adams’ forward platoon was attacked by about 250 soldiers. After 45 minutes under intense machine gun and mortar fire, the platoon withdrew to the main company position.

Seeing that the opposing force could only be routed by close quarters fighting, Adams led 13 men from his platoon in a bayonet charge against approximately 150 enemy soldiers. He continued to fight in hand-to-hand combat for nearly an hour, despite being shot in the leg and knocked off his feet four times by grenades, until the hostile force began to retreat. When orders came for his battalion to withdraw, he stayed behind to provide covering fire. Adams was subsequently promoted to master sergeant and awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle. The medal was formally presented to him by President Harry S. Truman in a July 5, 1951, ceremony at the White House.

Later years

Shortly after receiving the Medal of Honor, Adams was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He retired in 1970 as a lieutenant colonel. He died in the veterans home on April 19, 1999, aged 76, and was buried at Willamette National Cemetery.

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Adams’ official citation reads:

M/Sgt. Adams, Company A, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy. At approximately 0100 hours, M/Sgt. Adams’ platoon, holding an outpost some 200 yards ahead of his company, came under a determined attack by an estimated 250 enemy troops. Intense small-arms, machine gun, and mortar fire from 3 sides pressed the platoon back against the main line of resistance. Observing approximately 150 hostile troops silhouetted against the skyline advancing against his platoon, M/Sgt. Adams leaped to his feet, urged his men to fix bayonets, and he, with 13 members of his platoon, charged this hostile force with indomitable courage. Within 50 yards of the enemy M/Sgt. Adams was knocked to the ground when pierced in the leg by an enemy bullet. He jumped to his feet and, ignoring his wound, continued on to close with the enemy when he was knocked down 4 times from the concussion of grenades which had bounced off his body. Shouting orders he charged the enemy positions and engaged them in hand-to-hand combat where man after man fell before his terrific onslaught with bayonet and rifle butt. After nearly an hour of vicious action M/Sgt. Adams and his comrades routed the fanatical foe, killing over 50 and forcing the remainder to withdraw. Upon receiving orders that his battalion was moving back he provided cover fire while his men withdrew. M/Sgt. Adams’ superb leadership, incredible courage, and consummate devotion to duty so inspired his comrades that the enemy attack was completely thwarted, saving his battalion from possible disaster. His sustained personal bravery and indomitable fighting spirit against overwhelming odds reflect the utmost glory upon himself and uphold the finest traditions of the infantry and the military service.

Medal Of Honor Recipient, John McGinty, Dies in Beaufort, SC

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Medal of Honor recipient and retired Marine Capt. John James McGinty III has died in Beaufort, S.C. He was 73.

McGinty received the nation’s highest valor award for his actions during the Vietnam War in a July 18, 1966, battle that resulted in nearly 500 enemy dead.

While pulling rear security for 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, which was withdrawing after being besieged for three days, his platoon came “under heavy small-arms, automatic weapons and mortar fire from an estimated enemy regiment,” according to his citation.

Then-Sgt. McGinty responded by rallying his platoon’s men to fend off wave after wave of enemy attacks over a four-hour period.

During a particularly vicious assault, two of his unit’s squads were separated from the rest of the platoon. McGinty responded by charging across fire-swept terrain, braving both machine guns and mortars, to reach the cut off squads.

“Finding 20 men wounded and the medical corpsman killed, he quickly reloaded ammunition magazines and weapons for the wounded men and directed their fire upon the enemy,” his citation reads.

Despite sustaining his own painful wounds, he continued shouting encouragement to fellow Marines and directing their fire “so effectively that the attacking horde were beaten off.”

When a determined enemy attempted to outflanked his position, he personally killed five with his .45-caliber 1911 pistol. On the verge of being overrun, he redirected artillery fire to within 50 yards of his position.

“The destructive firepower routed the enemy, who left an estimated 500 bodies on the battlefield,” his citation reads.

Upon returning to the United States, McGinty served as a drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. until his promotion to second lieutenant in August of 1967, according to the United States Marine Corps History Division.

McGinty who first enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1957, before entering active duty the following year, went on to serve through retirement in 1976.

In addition to the MoH, his decorations include the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal with two bronze stars, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

He will be buried at the Beaufort National Cemeteryat 1 p.m. Thursday, reports the Island Packet.

From marinecorpstimes.com

Tribute: David B. Champagne, Corporal (E-4), U.S. Marine Corps

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David Champagne was born on November 13, 1932, in Waterville, Maine. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on March 7, 1951, and after completing basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina, he served at Camp Pendleton, California, from June to August 1951. Cpl Champagne deployed to Korea in October 1951, where he served with A Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division until he was killed in action on May 28, 1952. He was buried at the Saint Francis Catholic Cemetery in Waterville, Maine. DavidBChampagneRibbons

His Medal of Honor Citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a fire team leader of Company A, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Advancing with his platoon in the initial assault of the company against a strongly fortified and heavily defended hill position, Cpl. Champagne skillfully led his fire team through a veritable hail of intense enemy machine gun, small-arms, and grenade fire, overrunning trenches and a series of almost impregnable bunker positions before reaching the crest of the hill and placing his men in defensive positions. Suffering a painful leg wound while assisting in repelling the ensuing hostile counterattack, which was launched under cover of a murderous hail of mortar and artillery fire, he steadfastly refused evacuation and fearlessly continued to control his fire team When the enemy counterattack increased in intensity, and a hostile grenade landed in the midst of the fire team, Cpl. Champagne unhesitatingly seized the deadly missile and hurled it in the direction of the approaching enemy. As the grenade left his hand, it exploded blowing off his hand and throwing him out of the trench. Mortally wounded by enemy mortar fire while in this exposed position, Cpl. Champagne, by his valiant leadership, fortitude, and gallant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death, undoubtedly saved the lives of several of his fellow marines. His heroic actions served to inspire all who observed him and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Tribute: Rodolfo P. Hernandez, Corporal, U.S. Army

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Rodolfo P. “Rudy” Hernandez, a Medal Of Honor recipient from the Korean war passed away on 21 December 2013 at the age of 82 at Womack Army Medical Center after battling cancer. Mr. Hernandez was awarded the Medal Of Honor for his actions near Wontong-ni, Korea, 31 May 1951.

Hernandez was assigned to Company G of the 2nd Battalion, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. His platoon was ordered to defend Hill 420, located near Wonton-ni. On May 31, 1951, his platoon was the object of a numerically superior enemy counterattack. A close-quarters firefight broke out when enemy troops surged up the hill and inflicted numerous casualties on the platoon. Hernandez was wounded during the attack, but was able to fire upon the rushing enemy troops. After his rifle ruptured, he continued attacking the enemy with his bayonet. His attack enabled his comrades to regroup and take back the hill.

A grenade explosion that blew away part of his brain knocked him unconscious. Hernandez, who had received grenade, bayonet, and bullet wounds, appeared dead to the first medic who reached him, Keith Oates. Oates realized, however, that Hernandez was still alive when he saw him move his fingers. Hernandez woke up a month later in a military hospital, unable to move his arms or legs or to talk.

On April 12, 1952, President Harry S. Truman bestowed upon Hernandez the Medal of Honor in a ceremony held in the White House Rose Garden. After many surgeries and physical therapy over a five-year period, Hernandez regained limited use of his right arm and learned to write with his left hand.

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His Medal of Honor Citation reads:

Cpl. Hernandez, a member of Company G, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy.

His platoon, in defensive positions on Hill 420, came under ruthless attack by a numerically superior and fanatical hostile force, accompanied by heavy artillery, mortar, and machinegun fire which inflicted numerous casualties on the platoon.

His comrades were forced to withdraw due to lack of ammunition but Cpl. Hernandez, although wounded in an exchange of grenades, continued to deliver deadly fire into the ranks of the onrushing assailants until a ruptured cartridge rendered his rifle inoperative.

Immediately leaving his position, Cpl. Hernandez rushed the enemy armed only with rifle and bayonet.

Fearlessly engaging the foe, he killed 6 of the enemy before falling unconscious from grenade, bayonet, and bullet wounds but his heroic action momentarily halted the enemy advance and enabled his unit to counterattack and retake the lost ground.

The indomitable fighting spirit, outstanding courage, and tenacious devotion to duty clearly demonstrated by Cpl. Hernandez reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the U.S. Army.