Medal of Honor Recipient Articles

Medal of Honor: John Meagher – World War II, June 19, 1945

Firing from the hip, clothes torn by enemy fire, Meagher charged straight into a nest of resistance. He stormed the first pillbox, cutting down six enemy soldiers in a blinding burst of fire. Then, dodging bullets and grenades.

MOH

Medal of Honor: David McCampbell – World War II, June 19 & October 24, 1944

McCampbell didn’t just dominate the skies—he owned them. His fearless example became the gold standard of naval aviation and left a legacy still revered by every fighter pilot who straps in today.

MOH

Medal of Honor: Thomas A. Baker – World War II, June 19 to July 7, 1944

It began on June 19, 1944. Baker’s company was pinned down by enemy machine guns dominating a ridge. Without orders, Baker grabbed a bazooka, sprinted alone across 100 yards of open terrain, and obliterated the position.

MOH

Medal of Honor: Walter D. Ehlers – World War II, June 9–10, 1944

While others looked to their leaders for direction, Staff Sergeant Walter Ehlers was the direction—charging headlong into fire, alone, again and again. Not because he was told to, but because it had to be done.

MOH

Medal of Honor: Leon R. Vance Jr. – World War II, June 5, 1944

Clinging to life and nearly unconscious from blood loss, Vance tried to return to the sinking wreck to search for the missing crewman.

MOH

Medal of Honor: Donald E. Ballard – Vietnam War, May 16, 1968

As they prepared to move, an enemy soldier emerged from concealment, hurled a hand grenade that landed near the group, and opened fire.

MOH

Medal of Honor: Maximo Yabes – Vietnam War, February 26, 1967

Despite suffering painful wounds from grenade fragments and enduring relentless enemy fire, he remained in the bunker, providing suppressive fire to cover the command group’s retreat to a new position.