I would love to see the list, but the link just goes to the news letters.  Is there another link?





-----Original Message-----
From: Fern <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Fri, Mar 25, 2011 11:12 am
Subject: [VA-ROOTS] American History at it's finest


March 25 is Medal of Honor Day  -  Click on the link at the bottom of this page 
o check the names of all Medal of honor winners from the Civil war to present. 
Above and beyond the call of duty. You hear it in corporate conference rooms, 
n football fields, maybe even after whipping up a gourmet meal. It's one of 
mericans' favorite phrases to recognize people who surpass our expectations. 
he saying is so common, in fact, that it's easy to forget where it originated.
Conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and 
eyond the call of duty." Those words accompany the presentation of the Medal of 
onor, the nation's highest military decoration. On the medal itself, the same 
entiment is captured in one word: valor.
Medal of Honor recipient, retired U.S. Army Col. Jack Jacobs gives the featured 
peech at USAA's 2010 Memorial Day ceremony. Jacobs is introduced by Stephen 
peakes, USAA executive vice president, Enterprise Strategy & Planning Group.
n 2007, Congress passed a resolution to create an annual National Medal of 
onor Day, to help all Americans recognize and pay respect to the tremendous 
ravery of our service members, whose commitment first inspired the words "above 
nd beyond."
A Day to Be Thankful
ongress chose March 25 for Medal of Honor Day to commemorate the first-ever 
resentation of the award in 1863, during the Civil War. Pvt. Jacob Parrot was 
he first to receive the medal that day, followed by several others of his 
ellow soldiers. The group had risked their lives in a daring plot to capture a 
ocomotive and destroy bridges and train tracks, disrupting Confederate supply 
ines. They were captured and held as POWs for four months before their release, 
n a swap for Confederate prisoners.
In the 150 years since 1861 when President Abraham Lincoln signed the law 
roviding for a Medal of Honor, more than 3,400 Medals of Honor would be 
estowed upon heroic service members from every military branch. Before World 
ar II, the medal could be awarded for bravery not involving direct contact with 
nemy forces. Such was the case for Navy diver William Badders, who in 1939 
eceived the decoration for rescuing crewmen of the sinking submarine U.S.S. 
qualus.
But most Medals of Honor have been earned in battle (464 in World War II alone). 
ome fearless deeds were recognized almost immediately, like Pvt. Leonard Mason, 
ho single-handedly cleared a Japanese bunker despite being shot multiple times, 
llowing his platoon to complete an important mission. Others took longer, like 
or 22 Asian-American service members (including current Sen. Daniel Inouye) who 
ought valiantly in WWII Europe, and had their awards upgraded to the Medal of 
onor in the year 2000. 
Service and Sacrifice
ith each passing conflict, the criteria for receiving the honor have grown 
ncreasingly demanding, recognizing only the most selfless acts performed with 
ittle regard for personal safety. For that reason, the medal is often bestowed 
osthumously.
Army Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta, the most recent to be honored in 2010, defied the 
dds. After an ambush by Afghan insurgents, Giunta braved intense enemy fire to 
escue a wounded comrade who had been captured. Though his fellow soldier would 
ater succumb to his injuries, Giunta became the first living Medal of Honor 
ecipient since the Vietnam War.
Undoubtedly, most who have lived to receive the medal have accepted it with 
ittersweet sentiments. They have proved their heroism, but have done so in the 
ace of tragedy.
For that, they are worthy of our greatest admiration, as are those who never 
eft the field of battle. On Medal of Honor Day, we at USAA remember and salute 
hem.
The official citation of every Medal of Honor recipient since 1863 is available 
t Medal of Honor Citations. 


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