Medal of Honor Recipient Articles

Medal of Honor: Robert E. Gerstung – World War II – December 19, 1944

With his squad destroyed around him and enemy fire smashing into his position, one machine gunner fought on alone—moving from gun to gun and covering a withdrawal under relentless fire.

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Medal of Honor: Eugene Bennett Fluckey – World War II – December 1944 to February 1945

In mined, uncharted coastal waters, one submarine commander drove straight into the heart of a guarded enemy anchorage—crippling a fleet and escaping through sheer nerve and mastery.

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Medal of Honor: Harvey C. Barnum, Jr. – Vietnam War – December 18, 1965

With his company cut off, its commander dying, and fire sweeping the ground around him, one young Marine officer took command under fire and turned a collapsing fight into victory.

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Medal of Honor: Bernard P. Bell – World War II – December 18, 1944

Against overwhelming enemy strength, one squad leader turned a battered schoolhouse into a fortress—holding it through days of bombardment and assault by sheer will and fire.

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Medal of Honor: Thomas Eadie – Peacetime Heroism – December 18, 1927

When a fellow diver became trapped 102 feet below the surface, one sailor descended into darkness—knowingly risking his own life to save another.

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Medal of Honor: William A. Soderman – World War II – December 17, 1944

Alone with a bazooka at a frozen crossroads, one infantryman stood his ground again and again—stopping tank assaults until his final rocket was fired and his body finally gave way.

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Medal of Honor: Jose M. Lopez – World War II – December 17, 1944

As German tanks and infantry surged forward, one machine gunner carried his weapon from flank to flank—standing alone again and again to hold back an entire enemy advance.