72 years ago today conscientious objector Desmond Doss receives Medal of Honor

Discussion in 'Warfare / Military' started by longknife, Oct 13, 2016.

  1. longknife

    longknife New Member

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  2. APACHERAT

    APACHERAT Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I knew two CO's who served in Vietnam. One was an Army medic and the other was a Navy corpsman who served with a Marine rifle company.
     
  3. DoctorWho

    DoctorWho Well-Known Member

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    The part about being a Conscientious objector was never about refusing to serve Our Nation, it was about Objecting to the killing of others, in order to Serve Our Nation, hence, many volunteered to serve in non combat related Duty, I always respected that point of view.

    Please do try to be more accurate in such statements.
     
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  4. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

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    Vietnam Army medic to get well-deserved Medal of Honor...
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    Trump to Award Medal of Honor to Alabama Veteran
    21 Sep 2017 | WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will award the Medal of Honor to a retired Army medic from Alabama who risked his life several times to provide medical care to his comrades during the Vietnam War, the White House announced Wednesday.
     
  5. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

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    Two more Vietnam MoH's awarded...
    [​IMG]
    Trump Signs Bill Approving Medal of Honor for Battle of Hue Marine
    30 Jan 2018 - The Medal of Honor has been authorized for Marine "Gunny" John L. Canley.
    See also:

    A Marine's Heroic Sacrifice During the Tet Offensive
    On Sunday morning, Feb. 4, 1968, Marine Corps Sgt. Alfredo Cantu "Freddy" Gonzalez and his buddies were striding uneasily through Hue City, as the Tet Offensive raged like a forest fire all across the Vietnamese countryside. Tet took U.S. military commanders by total surprise, because it was a holiday for the Vietnamese—their New Year.
     
  6. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

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    Final Heroic Moments That Earned John Chapman the Medal of Honor...
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    Video Shows Final Heroic Moments That Earned John Chapman the Medal of Honor
    9 Aug 2018 - The USAF has released video highlights from an overhead aircraft that shows the final moments of Tech Sgt. John Chapman
     
  7. tkolter

    tkolter Well-Known Member

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    A relative was a medic in Vietnam and he always packed a pistol figuring he was a soldier and well a target and needed to protect his charges in a pinch but he served with CO's and never felt disrespect for them, another was a medical chopper pilot and had balls of steel to land in hot LZ's to pick up the wounded and got shot three times but kept it up even wounded. I have as a civilian the utmost respect for anyone in uniform its the politicians I have issues with not our brave fighting men and women and those who serve who are CO's and do their duty in services to support us in wartime. This includes the Merchant Marines and other important areas.
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2018
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  8. APACHERAT

    APACHERAT Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    While both Army medics and Marine combat Navy corpsmen rate a pistol I never once saw a medic or corpsman in Vietnam packing a pistol for obvious reasons...pistols are sniper bait.

    It was common for a new "butter bar" to show up in-country and he checked out a M-1911 from the armory but not an M-16. You had to pull the 2nd looie to the side and point out do you see any corpemen wearing a pistol ?

    He responds "No"

    Then you had to explain to him that pistols are sniper bait and when Charley sees anyone wearing a pistol while not carrying a M-16, blooper or M-60 it's assumed he's someone important like an officer.

    My last seven months in-country I rated a pistol and never once checked one out from the armory. I just stuck with the M-16.
    Pistols are sniper bait.
    It's another of couple of pounds you have to carry out in the bush.
    It's another additional weapon that has to be cleaned and it takes longer to field strip a M-1911 and clean it than a M-16 or M-14.
     
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  9. tkolter

    tkolter Well-Known Member

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    It wasn't a military issue pistol he carried a derringer, two barrels with .38 rounds, in a pocket with the permission of his CO. He used it once to save his life and two wounded soldiers when a enemy soldier showed up and was hostile. He wasn't a fool carrying a open pistol is bad, you can't see it on you its good, and in truth many enemy wouldn't shoot medics they were also required to treat enemy soldiers so weren't honorable targets still there was no assurances. And generally if he needed a rifle that bad he could usually get one easily enough.
     
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  10. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

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    New Details Reveal Airman John Chapman's Heroism at Roberts Ridge...
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    New Details Reveal Airman John Chapman's Heroism at Roberts Ridge
    22 Aug 2018 - Tech. Sgt. John Chapman ran out of a bunker on the Takur Ghar mountaintop for the second time, intentionally risking fire from heavily armed enemy fighters.


    See also:

    'Top Gun' Sequel Filming Aboard Aircraft Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln
    22 Aug 2018 - The highway to the danger zone will run through Hampton Roads, VA.
     

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