Wednesday Hero - Admiral Oscar Badger II

  Admiral Oscar Badger II68 years old from Washington, D.C.
June 26, 1890 - November 30, 1958



During his 41 years of service, Admiral Oscar Badger II saw action in the U.S. occupation of Veracruz as well as both World Wars. He was awarded four Legion of Merit awards, the Navy Cross as well as the Medal Of Honor.




You can read more about Oscar Badger II here and here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so that we may get to enjoy our freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

Wounded Warrior Project - Because So Many Have Come Back With Injuries, Both Seen And Unseen

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

D-Day June 6, 1944

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVU75AZ5gJU

"Dot-Dot-Dot-Dash, Dot-Dot-Dot-Dash" - listen to the opening timpani as it beats the Morse Code for the letter "V" for Victory. Today is the 67th anniversary of the landings on the Normandy beaches -- D-Day. Paul Anka's song about D-Day, June 6, 1944, celebrates the invincibility of the Great Generation that landed, fought and won there. The three parts of this beautiful arrangement -- the first ever to portray musically what actually happened on those beaches that day -- recall the dogged unparalleled preparation, the 4,720 casualties of Omaha Beach and then the breakthrough. Eleven months later the war in Europe was over.

Wednesday Hero - Lt. Cmndr. Rufus Herring

This post was suggested by Michael


Lt. Cmndr. Rufus Herring74 years old from Roseboro, North Carolina
Commander: USS LCI(L)-449 / LCI(G)-449
June 11, 1921 - January 31, 1996

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of LCI (G) 449 operating as a unit of LCI (G) Group EIGHT, during the preinvasion attack on Iwo Jima on 17 February 1945. Boldly closing the strongly fortified shores under the devastating fire of Japanese coastal defense guns, Lieutenant (then Lieutenant, Junior Grade,) Herring directed shattering barrages of 40-mm. and 20-mm. gunfire against hostile beaches until struck down by the enemy's savage counterfire which blasted the 449's heavy guns and whipped her decks into sheets of flame. Regaining consciousness despite profuse bleeding he was again critically wounded when a Japanese mortar crashed the conning station, instantly killing or fatally wounding most of the officers and leaving the ship wallowing without navigational control. Upon recovering the second time, Lieutenant Herring resolutely climbed down to the pilot house and, fighting against his rapidly waning strength, took over the helm, established communication with the engine room and carried on valiantly until relief could be obtained. When no longer able to stand, he propped himself against empty shell cases and rallied his men to the aid of the wounded; he maintained position in the firing line with his 20-mm guns in action in the face of sustained enemy fire and conned his crippled ship to safety. His unwavering fortitude, aggressive perseverance and indomitable spirit against terrific odds reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant Herring and uphold the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.





You can read more about Lt. Cmndr. Herring here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero - Lt. Col. Jerry Coleman

This post was suggested by Michael



  Lt. Col. Jerry Coleman89 years old from San Diego, California
VMSB-341, VMA-323
September 14, 1924 - January 5, 2014

Not only was Jerry Coleman a pro-baseball player, playing for the Yankees from 1949 to 1957, but he was also a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marines. Coleman postponed his entry in to the MLB to join the Marines. He flew 120 missions in WWII and Korea and earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses and thirteen Air Medals.






You can read more about Lt. Col. Coleman here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero - SSgt. William Guarnere

This post was suggested by SJ



  SSgt. William Guarnere90 years old from Philadelphia, Penn.
Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
April 28, 1923 - March 8, 2014







SSgt. William "Wild Bill" Guarnere passed away three weeks ago at the age of 90. SSgt. Guarnere was part of Easy Company, made famous by the HBO mini-series "Band Of Brothers". During his three years of service, SSgt. Guarnere saw action throughout Europe, including being part of the invasion of Normandy on D-Day. He was awarded the Silver and Bronze stars, the Purple Heart and the French Liberation Medal.






You can read more about SSgt. Guarnere here and here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero - Lt. Milton Ricketts

This post was suggested by Michael



  Lt. Milton Ricketts28 years old from Baltimore, Maryland
USS Yorktown (CV-5)
August 5, 1913 - May 8, 1942



For extraordinary and distinguished gallantry above and beyond the call of duty as Officer-in-Charge of the Engineering Repair Party of the U.S.S. Yorktown in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea on 8 May 1942. During the severe bombarding of the Yorktown by enemy Japanese forces, an aerial bomb passed through and exploded directly beneath the compartment in which Lt. Ricketts' battle station was located, killing, wounding or stunning all of his men and mortally wounding him. Despite his ebbing strength, Lt. Ricketts promptly opened the valve of a near-by fireplug, partially led out the fire hose and directed a heavy stream of water into the fire before dropping dead beside the hose. His courageous action, which undoubtedly prevented the rapid spread of fire to serious proportions, and his unflinching devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.






You can read more here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero - Medal of Honor

This post was suggested by Sarah







Yesterday marked the end of a 12-year review by the Pentagon when 24 soldiers from WWII to Vietnam, who were denied the award they earned, finally received their Medals Of Honor.

Spc. 4 Santiago J. Erevia
Staff Sgt. Melvin Morris
Sgt. 1st Class Jose Rodela
Sgt. Candelario Garcia
Spc. 4 Leonard L. Alvarado
Staff Sgt. Felix M. Conde-Falcon
Spc. 4 Ardie R. Copas
Spc. 4 Jesus S. Duran
Cpl. Joe R. Baldonado
Cpl. Victor H. Espinoza
Sgt. Eduardo C. Gomez
Pfc. Leonard M. Kravitz
Master Sgt. Juan E. Negron
Master Sgt. Mike C. Pena
Pvt. Demensio Rivera
Pvt. Miguel A. Vera
Sgt. Jack Weinstein
Private Pedro Cano
Pvt. Joe Gandara
Pfc. Salvador J. Lara
Sgt. William F. Leonard
Staff Sgt. Manuel V. Mendoza
Sgt. Alfred B. Nietzel
1st Lt. Donald K. Schwab


























You can find more information here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero - Maj. Edward Cragg

This post was suggested by Michael



Maj. Edward Cragg24 years old from Greenwich, Connecticut
80th Fighter Squadron
September 8, 1919 - December 26, 1943



Maj. Edward "Porky" Cragg was a triple Ace in WWII with 15 confirmed kills who was shot down over Papua New Guinea and listed as MIA.






You can read more about Maj. Cragg here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero - Capt. Edwin A. Shuman III

This post was suggested by Michael



Capt. Edwin A. Shuman III 82 years old from Annapolis, Maryland
Attack Squadron 35
Oct. 7, 1931 - Dec. 3, 2013


Edwin Shuman, III, a retired Navy pilot, and former POW who was held for five years in Vietnam, passed away two months ago. He had flown 18 missions over Vietnam when plane was shot down north of Hanoi. He and his navigator were both captured.




You can read more about Capt. Shuman here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero - Sgt. Greg N. Riewer

  Sgt. Greg N. Riewer30 years old from Frazee, Minnesota
2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division
March 23, 2007



Sgt. Greg N. Riewer, 28, of Frazee, was killed while on patrol March 23, 2007 in Fallujah with soldiers from the Bemidji-based Company A, 2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry, when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb, the Guard said.
"The loss of Sgt. Riewer is a tragedy," Maj. Gen. Larry Shellito, the adjutant general of Minnesota, said in a statement. "He was proudly serving his state and nation in a combat zone when he was taken from us."






You can read more about Sgt. Riewer here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero - Tlingit Code Talkers

This post was suggested by Kathi


  Tlingit Code Talkers We all know about the Navajo Code Talkers, but chances are you've never heard of the Tlingit Code Talkers from Alaska. During a ceremony on November 20, they were finally recognized for the contribution in the war with Congressional Gold Medals.

You can read more about the Tlingit Code Talkers here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time WhenThere Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here



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