Medal of Honor Recipient Articles

Medal of Honor: William F. Lyell, Korean War Date of Action, August 31, 1951

In the steep, blood-soaked hills of Korea, courage was measured in seconds—and Corporal William F. Lyell spent his last moments giving every one of them for his men. When pinned down by fierce enemy fire, Lyell led from the front.

MOH

Medal of Honor: Master Sergeant Ernest R. Kouma Korean War, August 31–September 1, 1950

In one of the most desperate early days of the Korean War, one American tank commander stood his ground alone against overwhelming odds. Master Sergeant Ernest R. Kouma fought for over nine hours, facing waves of North Korean attacks.

MOH

Medal of Honor: Kenneth Ambrose Walsh World War II — Solomon Islands 15 & 30 August 1943

Against overwhelming odds in the skies over the Pacific, 1st Lt. Kenneth A. Walsh fought with unyielding ferocity. Outnumbered many times over, he refused to yield, bringing down enemy aircraft until his own plane could no longer stay aloft.

MOH

Medal of Honor: John J. McVeigh World War II, 29 August 1944 — Brest, France

A Knife Against the Counterattack In the dark hedgerows of France, one man’s defiance turned the tide of battle. Armed with only a trench knife, Sergeant McVeigh charged the enemy head-on, sacrificing his life so his squad could hold the line.

MOH

Medal of Honor: Wreck of the USS Memphis: Courage in the Face of the Sea, August 29, 1916

On August 29, 1916, the armored cruiser USS Memphis was smashed against the reefs of Santo Domingo by towering waves. Amid the wreck and chaos, three men stayed at their posts below decks—earning the Medal of Honor in a battle against the sea.

MOH

Medal of Honor: Lance Corporal José Francisco Jiménez, Vietnam War, August 28, 1969

A fearless Marine from Mexico City, José Francisco Jiménez led his men into the heart of a deadly ambush with unshakable resolve. His final act of courage cost him his life but saved countless others, leaving behind a legacy of honor and sacrifice.

MOH

Medal of Honor: Lee R. Hartell, Korean War, August 27, 1951

“Pinned down and mortally wounded, Lt. Lee R. Hartell refused to yield. With his last breath, he called in devastating artillery fire that saved his company from being overrun on a Korean ridgeline.”