Black MOH awards

veteran’s corner

Tom Krabbenhoft

In closing with black history month I wanted to honor black Medal of Honor recipients. Effective fighting forces surpass religious, racial or economic status. Death and danger are equal to all.  93 black MOH recipients are forever enshrined in American history. Here is a couple.

William Harvey Carney- Who Denzel Washington loosely played in the movie Glory that starred Matthew Broderick. William was part of the historic 54th Massachusetts Black Infantry which fought bravely in the Civil War. 

When the color sergeant was shot down, this soldier grasped the flag, led the way to the parapet, and planted the colors thereon. When the troops fell back he brought off the flag, under a fierce fire in which he was twice severely wounded. One of the earliest KIAs of the Vietnam War. Sacrificed himself to save his comrades.

Private First Class Milton L. Olive III Medal of Honor Recipient

On October 22, 1965, 18-year-old PFC Olive unhesitatingly fell on an enemy grenade to save the lives of four of his fellow servicemen while pursuing the enemy through the jungles of Vietnam.

Pfc. Olive was a member of the 3d Platoon of Company B, as it moved through the jungle to find the Viet Cong operating in the area.

Although the platoon was subjected to a heavy volume of enemy gunfire and pinned down temporarily, it retaliated by assaulting the Viet Cong positions, causing the enemy to flee. As the platoon pursued the insurgents, Pfc. Olive and 4 other soldiers were moving through the jungle together when a grenade was thrown into their midst.

Pfc. Olive saw the grenade, and then saved the lives of his fellow soldiers at the sacrifice of his own by grabbing the grenade in his hand and falling on it to absorb the blast with his body.

National Medal of Honor day is March 23rd.

Breakfast this Sunday at the Moorhead American Legion. Plus a bloody Mary and Mimosa bar. Free will offering. Proceeds to benefit the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard. 830-12.

Anything else veterans related contact me at 11btwk@gmail.com.

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