National Medal of Honor Museum

It is National Military Appreciation Month! This month and always we give thanks for the brave individuals of the U.S. Armed Forces. Their dedication and service to our nation secure the freedoms we enjoy each day. Thank you to all who serve.

The National Medal of Honor Museum is proud to partner with WWE in preserving and amplifying the legacies of our nation's #MedalofHonor recipients. Together, we are on a mission to inspire America!

On the South Lawn of the White House, Private Michael Valente, accompanied by his family, was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Herbert Hoover on September 27, 1929. Nearly eleven years earlier on September 29, 1918, Private Valente, as part of Company D, 107th Infantry, 27th Division, was engaged in action and pinned down by enemy machine gun fire east of Ronssoy, France. With disregard for his own safety, Valente and another soldier charged the machine gun nest, killing two German soldiers and capturing five others. Spotting another machine gun, they charged again and eliminated the position, then proceeded into an enemy’s trench, killed another two enemy soldiers, and captured 16 more. Wounded soon after, Valente was sent to the rear to recover after this feat of heroism. As Valente later remembered, “It didn’t seem so brave putting an end to those machine guns…They just had to be knocked off the map.” In the image depicted, Valente reads his Medal of Honor presentation certificate surrounded by his wife and children on the White House lawn. Read his #MedalofHonor citation here: https://lnkd.in/g8mYfs7g

On this day in 2008, two Americans, Ron Shurer and Matthew O. Williams, earned the #MedalofHonor for their heroic actions during more than six continuous hours of fighting during the Battle of Shok Valley as part of Operation Commando Wraith. Their goal was to kill or capture Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin, an Afghani militia that had controlled the valley for decades. The original plan for a surprise attack on the fortress was scrapped when a suitable landing zone could not be found. Instead, friendly forces were dropped into a nearby river and forced to climb up from there. This allowed the enemy time to launch an ambush from the high ground. Six and a half hours after the battle began, two members of the assault were killed and nine seriously wounded, and an estimated 100 enemy fighters were dead or captured. Read their #MedalofHonor citations here: https://lnkd.in/gMr7GY2M https://lnkd.in/gh6jhMSQ

Petty Officer Michael Monsoor was born on this day in 1981. He earned his #MedalofHonor in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006, an action which cost him his life. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions that took place at Ar Ramadi, Iraq on September 29, 2006. As a member of a combined SEAL and Iraqi Army Sniper Overwatch Element, Monsoor was tasked with providing early warning and stand-off protection from a rooftop in an insurgent-held sector of Ar Ramadi, Iraq. While the SEALs vigilantly watched for enemy activity, an insurgent threw a hand grenade from an unseen location, which bounced off Petty Officer Monsoor’s chest and landed in front of him. He threw himself onto the grenade to absorb the force of the explosion with his body, saving the lives of his two teammates. Read his #MedalofHonor citation here: https://lnkd.in/gRTkWS6N

Join us in celebrating the birthday of Sergeant Major Thomas "Pat" Payne, who received the #MedalofHonor for his heroic actions during a nighttime hostage rescue in Kirkuk Province, Iraq. Payne is one of our nation's 63 living recipients today. His full citation reads: "Sergeant First Class Thomas P. Payne distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity, above and beyond the call of duty, on October 22, 2015, during a daring nighttime hostage rescue in Kirkuk Province, Iraq, in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. Sergeant Payne led a combined assault team charged with clearing one of two buildings known to house the hostages. With speed, audacity, and courage, he led his team as they quickly cleared the assigned building, liberating 38 hostages. Upon hearing a request for additional assaulters to assist with clearing the other building, Sergeant Payne, on his own initiative, left his secured position, exposing himself to enemy fire as he bounded across the compound to the other building from which entrenched enemy forces were engaging his comrades. Sergeant Payne climbed a ladder to the building’s roof, which was partially engulfed in flames, and engaged enemy fighters below with grenades and small arms fire. He then moved back to ground level to engage the enemy forces through a breach hole in the west side of the building. Knowing time was running out for the hostages trapped inside the burning building, Sergeant Payne moved to the main entrance, where heavy enemy fire had thwarted previous attempts to enter. He knowingly risked his own life by bravely entering the building under intense enemy fire, enduring smoke, heat, and flames to identify the armored door imprisoning the hostages. Upon exiting, Sergeant Payne exchanged his rifle for bolt cutters, and again entered the building, ignoring the enemy rounds impacting the walls around him as he cut the locks on a complex locking mechanism. His courageous actions motivated the coalition assault team members to enter the breach and assist with cutting the locks. After exiting to catch his breath, he reentered the building to make the final lock cuts, freeing 37 hostages. Sergeant Payne then facilitated the evacuation of the hostages, even though ordered to evacuate the collapsing building himself, which was now structurally unsound due to the fire. Sergeant Payne then reentered the burning building one last time to ensure everyone had been evacuated. He consciously exposed himself to enemy automatic gunfire each time he entered the building. His extraordinary heroism and selfless actions were key to liberating 75 hostages during a contested rescue mission that resulted in 20 enemies killed in action. Sergeant First Class Payne’s gallantry under fire and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Special Operations Command, and the United States Army."

Today, we remember the extraordinary life and service of U.S. Army Sergeant Gary Beikirch, whose heroic actions during the Vietnam War on this day in 1970 would ultimately earn him the #MedalofHonor. Born in Rochester, New York, on August 29, 1947, Beikirch's early life was marked by challenges and adversity. Raised by his mother and separated from his father at a young age, he grew up moving frequently, attending 11 schools before settling with relatives in Greece, New York. Determined to make a difference, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967, driven by a deep-seated desire to serve others. Deployed to Vietnam in 1969, Beikirch served as the chief medical officer of Detachment B-24, Company B, stationed at Special Forces Camp Dak Seang. It was during the defense of this camp on April 1, 1970, that his courage and selflessness were truly put to the test. Despite sustaining severe injuries that left him temporarily paralyzed, Beikirch selflessly saved numerous wounded men amid heavy enemy force. Following his heroic actions in Vietnam, Beikirch's life took a new direction as he transitioned to civilian life. Despite facing significant challenges, including the difficult transition from military to civilian life, Beikirch remained steadfast in his commitment to serving others. After finding solace in his faith and serving as a minister, he later embraced a newfound purpose and spent the rest of his life dedicated to helping veterans and children. As a guidance counselor for over three decades, he provided invaluable support and mentorship to countless individuals, while also finding his own healing through helping others. In addition to his work as a counselor, Beikirch was instrumental in establishing the Veterans Outreach Center in Rochester, New York, furthering his impact on the lives of veterans in need. His tireless dedication to his fellow servicemen and women earned him the respect and admiration of all who knew him. Beikirch's legacy of selfless service and unwavering dedication continues to inspire us today.

This Easter, we recognize the military chaplains who have served our nation through various combats and ultimately earned the #MedalofHonor. Military chaplains have been an integral part of the United States military since its founding. While their primary role was to serve the spiritual, moral, and physical needs of their units, nine chaplains received the Medal of Honor for going “above and beyond the call of duty” in combat. Join us in honoring their remarkable courage and dedication. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gM6s7Z7V These chaplains include Lieutenant Vincent Capodanno, Chaplain Francis B. Hall, 1st Lieutenant James Hill, Captain Emil Kapaun, Captain Charles Liteky, Lieutenant Commander Joseph O’Callahan, Major Charles Watters, Chaplain Milton Lorenzo Haney, and Chaplain John Whitehead. (Pictured: Father Vincent Capodanno)

Today, we honor U.S. Marine Corps Second Lt. John Bobo, who posthumously received the #MedalofHonor for his actions on this day in 1967 during the Vietnam War where he served with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force. As his company worked to establish night ambush sites in the treacherous terrain of Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, they were suddenly besieged by a reinforced North Vietnamese company supported by heavy automatic weapons and mortar fire. In the chaos of battle, Bobo swiftly organized a hasty defense, moving from position to position to encourage his outnumbered Marines. Displaying remarkable initiative and resourcefulness, Bobo retrieved a rocket launcher from among his fallen comrades and directed its fire with precision into the heart of the enemy onslaught. Even when an exploding mortar round grievously wounded him, severing his right leg below the knee, he steadfastly refused evacuation.

The National Medal of Honor Museum is proud to partner with Black Rifle Coffee Company in preserving and amplifying the legacies of our nation’s #MedalofHonor recipients. Together, we are on a mission to inspire America! 🇺🇸