Latest news with #CongressionalMedalofHonor
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Gallup war hero exhibit on display at National Medal of Honor Museum
May 25—The only thing on U.S. Army Cpl. Hiroshi Miyamura's mind when he was facing certain death in Korea was his troops. Miyamura was a machine-gun squad leader with the U.S. Army's Company H, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division when the enemy threatened to overrun his position near Taejon-Ni in April 1951. When he thought his soldiers could be killed, Miyamura said in a 2019 interview, he decided to withdraw "never thinking anything other than trying to protect my men." Giving cover to his men, Miyamura wielded a bayonet and machine gun and engaged in hand-to-hand combat against the Chinese before being captured and spending over two years in a prisoner of war camp. He would be given the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions, though he did not learn about it until after he was released from the camp in 1953. "Hiroshi's surprise was almost a physical thing," Scripps-Howard staff writer Jim Lucas wrote in the Aug. 20, 1953, article published in the Albuquerque Tribune. "His eyes widened and his chin trembled." "What!" Miyamura said. Over 70 years later, his story is being told in an exhibit at the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, which opened in March. "It was probably one of the greatest honors you can feel, to have your dad displayed in front of the public," Hiroshi Miyamura's son, Pat Miyamura, said in a recent phone interview. 'I was more or less by myself' Hiroshi "Hershey" Miyamura was born on Oct. 6, 1925, in Gallup, the son of Japanese immigrants (Gallup now has a high school named after him). He served in the U.S. Army's 442nd Regimental Combat Team in World War II, after the federal government lifted restrictions on Japanese Americans serving in the war. Following his discharge in 1946, Miyamura enlisted with the Army Reserve. When the Korean War began, he was called to active duty and became a squad leader in the Third Infantry Division. Months later, on April 24, 1951, his life would change forever. On that night, his men were in a defensive position near Taejon-Ni when the Chinese attacked. Miyamura jumped from his shelter wielding a bayonet and killed about 10 people. Returning to his position, he administered first aid and directed their evacuation. After another assault, Miyamura got to a machine gun and fired until it was empty. He then bayoneted his way through enemy soldiers to a second gun emplacement. Miyamura ordered his men back while he remained to cover their movement. He killed more than 50 Chinese combatants before his ammunition ran out again, according to his medal citation. "I was more or less by myself," Miyamura said in the Scripps-Howard article. He was retreating when he ran into a Chinese soldier who threw a grenade at him. Miyamura kicked it back before it blew up, injuring him. He kept moving until he stumbled into barbed wire where he was captured. "When last seen, he was fighting furiously against an overwhelming number of enemy soldiers," the citation said. "Cpl. Miyamura's indomitable heroism and consummate devotion to duty reflect the upmost glory on himself and uphold the illustrious traditions of the military service." Miyamura was released as prisoner on Aug. 20, 1953, after the armistice was signed. Two months later, Oct. 27, 1953, he received the Medal of Honor from President Dwight D. Eisenhower. "It seems impossible that human beings could stand up to the kind of punishment they received and deliver the kind of service they have," Eisenhower said during the ceremony. "There are so many Americans that do not know what the medal represents or what any soldier or service woman or man does for his (or her) country," Miyamura said in a Congressional Medal of Honor Society Living History video. "I hope one of these days they will learn of the sacrifices that a lot of these men and women have made for this country." 'We can be inspired' Miyamura is one of 341 people featured in the National Medal of Honor Museum, which has a ring of honor listing all 3,528 recipients. The medal dates back to 1861. These people not only answered the call of duty, but they served under extraordinary circumstances "and we can be inspired by those stories," National Medal of Honor Museum President and CEO Chris Cassidy said. Along with his Medal of Honor, Miyamura's exhibit includes unopened letters from his wife, Terry Miyamura, after he was taken prisoner. It also has an opened letter to her, saying in part to "Please take care of yourself, it won't be much longer. If the people back home want peace there is nothing that can prevent it." Pat Miyamura said his father, who died at the age of 97 in Phoenix just after Thanksgiving in 2022, did not want to talk about his experiences in Korea. It wasn't until Miyamura visited with other veterans over the years that Pat Miyamura said he learned more about the man who nearly died saving his fellow soldiers in April 1951 and the importance of the medal he earned. "To see and hear their stories, you're in awe of them," Pat Miyamura said. "To know what these recipients have gone through to deserve their medals is kind of sobering and emotional."
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Honoring fallen servicemembers ahead of Memorial Day
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — Ahead of Memorial Day, veterans and other volunteers are honoring our nation's heroes. More than 500 flags were placed at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in New Cumberland at graves of servicemembers. They're veterans from the Civil War to the present day and include two Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. 'It's bad weather, but they go through worse than this,' Richard Zeigler, commander at the American Legion Post 143. 'So it's still an honor, even though it's raining, to come out here and recognize them.' The flags will stay at the graves for about a month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Local hero being honored with his own play
(WBRE/WYOU)— The last days of a local military hero are being relived on stage. One of our region's most well-known and respected veterans is soon to be honored near his hometown. 28/22 News reporter Gianna Galli is here give you an look inside of the play. Police department honors their fallen officers She has a look at a patriotic play returning to our area and the tribute it pays to a very decorated solider. Lackawanna County native and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Gino Merli is being remembered for his heroic efforts in war on a September night decades ago. A local chapter of the largest Italian American service organization is hosting a play paying tribute to the veteran from Peckville. 'The last thoughts of Gino Merli,' are still being remembered. The World War Two veteran was 18-years-old when he enlisted in the United States Army. Serving for two years, he took part in the invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, but it was his heroism on a September night in 1944 in Belgium that will soon be relived in Scranton. Merli played dead when his position was overrun by German soldiers. When they moved, the machine-gunner at the time repositioned and killed more than a dozen enemy soldiers. This Memorial Day holiday a one-man play hosted by the Scranton Chapter of UNICO National is honoring the Pennsylvania patriot. 'It honors Gino Merli and through him all of our veterans both living and dead in north eastern pennsylvania. Gino Merli is their local hero,' voiced Charlie SpanoMember, Scranton Chapter of UNICO National. In 2002, Merli passed away at age 78 in his Peckville home. Interested in honoring the local hero on Thursday, May 22, the play will be seen inside Lackawanna College's Peoples Security Bank Auditorium. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Medal of Honor recipient recalls Vietnam for students at local Catholic school
GIRARD, Ohio (WKBN) – Girard's Medal of Honor recipient shared the story of his service with students at St. Rose Catholic School. Kenneth David addressed sixth through eighth grade students during an assembly Friday. David told the students about his actions during the Vietnam War, which led to him being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The students listened attentively as he also talked about his experience in Washington, D.C. when he was awarded the medal from then President Joe Biden. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Vietnam POW's South Dakota homecoming
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Some of the most vivid images of the Vietnam War included the emotional return of American prisoners of war held captive by North Vietnam. The scene unfolded multiple times in South Dakota during the course of the war. Air Force Colonel Leo Thorsness arrived at the Sioux Falls airport in 1973 after spending six years in the notorious North Vietnamese prison known as the Hanoi Hilton. By then, the recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor was already planning a career in politics. Hibachi Grill open for business amid federal investigation 'My goal is to someday be a senator for the state of South Dakota. I'm going to be working awfully hard just a few weeks after being out of the military, the first time I'll have the opportunity to talk politics,' Thorsness said in 1973. During his captivity, Thorsness' wife joined other military spouses across the country in a letter-writing campaign calling on North Vietnam to release all American POW's. 'All we want is the return of our husbands and sons, we represent no radical elements,' Gaylee Thorsness said in 1970. The fate of American POWs was also a priority in Congress. 'I don't think we can use the prisoner of war issue as a political football. I think too many politicians are doing that nowadays. Our objective should be to try to bring them home, instead of just talking about them,' Rep. Jim Abourezk, (D), South Dakota, said in 1971. Air Force Lt. Colonel Willis Forby returned home in 1973 after spending 7 and a half years as a prisoner of war. 'Five of those years, no one knew he was a prisoner; he was listed as missing in action.' 'I think the most important thing that kept up my strength and courage was just keeping faith in God and my country, the United States of America,' Forby said in 1973. That same year, a new POW-MIA flag was raised for the first time over the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre. A daily reminder of the many Americans who still had yet to come home. Leo Thorsness would go onto pursue that career in politics, including unsuccessful campaigns against Senator George McGovern and Congressman Tom Daschle. He later moved to Washington state, where he served in the state legislature. Thorsness died in 2017. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
