These Stories of Valor are part of an ongoing oral history program of the Honor Project to ensure the experiences of our combat wounded and those who gave their all in the service of America are remembered for generations to come.
As a young Marine in Vietnam the first time I heard that sound a young hero died and soon a mother cried. Boys became men or died. Fear turned to courage, you were there to fight for your country, but you would die fighting for your brother standing next to you. That was your new world. For Marines 13 months was your tour.
Read MoreHe recalled, “We were on a tiger patrol and at about midnight we arrived in this field on the outskirts of the town. There was a small farm house across the road and a little Catholic chapel. We were just standing there, and across the courtyard the Germans opened up on us…”
Read MoreIn July 2004, while on a routine patrol in West Baghdad, the vehicle Sgt. Manyoma’s was traveling in was right next to a suicide car bomber as it exploded. As the smoke cleared, Harrison heard the enemy engaging with AK-47s. Manyoma sprang into action, providing first aid to his medic and then returning fire to hold off the enemy.
Read MoreU.S. Army Sergeant Randy McConnell is one of the Army's most decorated veterans of all time, having earned seven Purple Hearts, two Silver Stars, a Bronze Star for Valor and an Army Commendation Medal for Valor in Vietnam.
Read MoreSGM Truitt Breazeale served in the U.S. Army for 54 years - 32 years of active duty and 22 years teaching high-school Army JROTC. His service included tours at Forts Benning, Jackson, Riley, Bragg and Greely. He had three tours in Korea, two tours in Vietnam and a short time in Germany.
Read MoreOn May 25, 1970, Chambers unit had just been resupplied and the platoon was directed to take the perimeter around the top of the hill. Chambers was walking right point (lead) when the platoon walked into an ambush halfway up the hill.
Read MoreIn Afghanistan, in 2013, then-Capt. Taylor Walsh was exercising alone on the inside perimeter road of his coalition base, just before sunrise, when he found an insurgent trying to sneak through a gate.
Read MoreU.S. Army PFC. Richard Poles served in Company F, 407th Infantry Regiment, 102nd Infantry Division "OZARKS" - He was wounded on April 11, 1945.
Read MoreU.S. Marine Corps SGT C.M. Padgett, Purple Heart Recipient - Operation Iraqi Freedom
Read MoreU.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Peter M. Gorczewski (Ret.) grew up in Woodburn, Oregon, and served five tours in Vietnam while attached to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. During his deployments, SGM Gorczewski earned two Bronze Stars with combat Vs and seven Purple Hearts. He later was awarded the Legion of Merit.
Read MoreIn July 1969, then-Corporal Camarillo was serving as part of the 101st Airborne Division in the A Shau Valley in Vietnam when he was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). The blast struck Camarillo under his throat, on the right side of his chest, and damaged both his ears and eyes.
Read MoreIn April 1970, while on patrol in the Vietnam jungle, SGT Carrillo’s unit was ambushed from an enemy bunker that was previously unknown to them. During the attack, Carrillo suffered a gunshot wound to the back of his head.
Read MoreRobert Sodergren served on active duty for three years, from 1965 to 1968, including time with the 101st Airborne Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. During Operation Junction City, SSG Sodergren was on a recon patrol when he was ambushed. During the attack, Sodergren suffered a shrapnel wound to the head.
Read MoreIn 2010 he served as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. It was during that deployment, while in Logar Province with the 1-91 Cavalry, 173rd Combat Airborne Brigade, when SSG Livingston’s platoon came under enemy mortar fire.
Read MoreA twenty-three-year veteran of U.S. Army, Steven Zerger enlisted in November 1965 and served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971. In April 1971, while stationed in the A Shau Valley, Zerger was wounded during an enemy ambush.
Read MoreTroy Green enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in May 1989 and served for 27 years, 15 of those years on active duty.
Read MoreOn the night of August 11, 1969, three days after arriving at LZ Becky, SPC Little’s unit came under heavy mortar and rocket attack. During the course of the fighting, at approximately 3:00 a.m., while Little was serving as the Fire Direction Control for a three-gun, 155 mm howitzer unit in A Battery, his position was hit by a barrage of mortars and RPGs that destroyed all three guns and Control station.
Read MoreJohn Hurley enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in February 1969. On January 6, 1970, while a member of 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division stationed at LZ Ross the base became overrun by North Vietnamese who were masquerading as Marines.
Read MoreOliver Hickok first enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in June of 1956 at the age of 17, eventually being stationed in Japan and then Hawaii, before finishing his time in Alabama. In December 1960, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and attended boot camp at Paris Island.
Read More
