Stories of Real and Inspirational Men

[BigBear]

Thought we could start a thread on inspirational men and those who deserve some honor. No comments needed. Just post their stories.

http://postgazette.com/pg/10123/1055098-53.stm


Of the 16,000 participants from 47 states and 12 countries who crossed five bridges over three rivers in the Pittsburgh Marathon, two stood out.
They were Green Beret officers, bib numbers 3748 and 3749, tethered together by a shoestring and their bond as brothers-in-arms.

One's shirt identified him as a blind runner with this message on his back: "I Will Never Quit." His comrade's shirt listed him as a guide and had a related part of the Soldier's Creed: "I Will Never Leave A Fallen Comrade."

"We're all about accomplishing the mission. Once we start something, we have to finish it," said Capt. Ivan Castro, the only blind officer in the U.S. Army Special Forces.

Nearly four years ago, while serving with the 325th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division, he was wounded so badly by a mortar shell that doctors doubted he would survive.

In a battle against insurgents outside of Baghdad during which two of his men were killed, shrapnel tore through the captain. His arm was broken, his trigger finger was blown off, both lungs collapsed and, in addition to traumatic brain injury, he lost sight in both eyes.

At some point in an arduous recovery, Capt. Castro summoned up the internal traits that made him volunteer to join the Army and volunteer again for the Airborne and Special Forces. He got back up to do what soldiers do every day -- run, run and run some more.

"It was tough. It was painful. But I wasn't going to let it put me out of the fight," he said. "The fact that I survived meant I was given a second chance. I can't dwell on what I lost. I still had my legs, my arms, my heart. I wear my uniform proudly. I want to live my life to the fullest, as if there's no tomorrow. Call me crazy, but we're trained to run into the fight while human nature says to run away. I still want to make it up that hill."

This was the ninth marathon, not counting a couple of 50-mile races, that he has run with his boss, Lt. Col. Fred Dummar of the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion at Fort Bragg, N.C.

About 80 active duty personnel from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard ran the race, and there were more than 100 military volunteers staffing the marathon.

The military presence is part of National Military Appreciation Month and the Pittsburgh chapter of Our Community Salutes, which this week is honoring all those who have served or who have enlisted to serve.

Col. Dummar held the loop of the white string in his right hand, and Capt. Castro held a loop in his left hand. Tugs and nudges on the string guided the blind runner around turns and away from curbs. But as they stride, it almost looks as if they're running a three-legged race.

"I'm just along for the ride. The spirit and motivation are his," said Col. Dummar.

The two officers, both 41, saluted and stood at attention when the National Anthem was played prior to the starting gun. Then they were off, two men on a personal journey of 4 hours and 26 minutes.

[BigBear]

Courage. You're a 19 year old kid. You're critically wounded and dying in the jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam.

It's November 11, 1967 at LZ (landing zone) X-ray.

Your unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 yards away, that your CO (commanding officer) has ordered the MedEvac helicopters to stop coming in.

You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and you know you're not getting out. Your family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you'll never see them again. As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.

Then - over the machine gun noise - you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter. You look up to see a Huey coming in. But ... It doesn't seem real because no MedEvac markings are on it.

Captain Ed Freeman is coming in for you.

He's not MedEvac so it's not his job, but he heard the radio call and decided he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway.

Even after the MedEvacs were ordered not to come. He's coming anyway.
He drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 3 of you at a time on board. Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses and safety.

And, he kept coming back!! 13 more times!! Until all the wounded were out. No one knew until the mission was over that the Captain had been hit 4 times in the legs and left arm.

He took 29 of you and your buddies out that day. Some would not have made it without the Captain and his Huey.

Medal of Honor Recipient, Captain Ed Freeman, United States Air Force,
died on August 20, 2008 at the age of 70, in Boise, Idaho .

May God Bless and Rest His Soul.

http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae49/DaddyX_13/Ed-Freeman-MOH.jpg
Medal of Honor
Winner Captain Ed Freeman

[Pistol Packing Preacher]

Courage. You're a 19 year old kid. You're critically wounded and dying in the jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam.

It's November 11, 1967 at LZ (landing zone) X-ray.

Your unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 yards away, that your CO (commanding officer) has ordered the MedEvac helicopters to stop coming in.

You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and you know you're not getting out. Your family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you'll never see them again. As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.

Then - over the machine gun noise - you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter. You look up to see a Huey coming in. But ... It doesn't seem real because no MedEvac markings are on it.

Captain Ed Freeman is coming in for you.

He's not MedEvac so it's not his job, but he heard the radio call and decided he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway.

Even after the MedEvacs were ordered not to come. He's coming anyway.
He drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 3 of you at a time on board. Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses and safety.

And, he kept coming back!! 13 more times!! Until all the wounded were out. No one knew until the mission was over that the Captain had been hit 4 times in the legs and left arm.

He took 29 of you and your buddies out that day. Some would not have made it without the Captain and his Huey.

Medal of Honor Recipient, Captain Ed Freeman, United States Air Force,
died on August 20, 2008 at the age of 70, in Boise, Idaho .

May God Bless and Rest His Soul.

http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae49/DaddyX_13/Ed-Freeman-MOH.jpg
Medal of Honor
Winner Captain Ed Freeman

I Salute!!!

[sniper7]

very cool stories!

[Beprepared]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciYk-UwqFKA

[mudmanmike]

Wow is all I can say[Beer]

[Elhuero]

Don't forget Bruce Crandall

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_P._Crandall


For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Major Bruce P. Crandall distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism as a Flight Commander in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). On 14 November 1965, his flight of sixteen helicopters was lifting troops for a search and destroy mission from Plei Me, Vietnam, to Landing Zone X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley. On the fourth troop lift, the airlift began to take enemy fire, and by the time the aircraft had refueled and returned for the next troop lift, the enemy had Landing Zone X-Ray targeted. As Major Crandall and the first eight helicopters landed to discharge troops on his fifth troop lift, his unarmed helicopter came under such intense enemy fire that the ground commander ordered the second flight of eight aircraft to abort their mission. As Major Crandall flew back to Plei Me, his base of operations, he determined that the ground commander of the besieged infantry battalion desperately needed more ammunition. Major Crandall then decided to adjust his base of operations to Artillery Firebase Falcon in order to shorten the flight distance to deliver ammunition and evacuate wounded soldiers. While medical evacuation was not his mission, he immediately sought volunteers and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, led the two aircraft to Landing Zone X-Ray. Despite the fact that the landing zone was still under relentless enemy fire, Major Crandall landed and proceeded to supervise the loading of seriously wounded soldiers aboard his aircraft. Major Crandall's voluntary decision to land under the most extreme fire instilled in the other pilots the will and spirit to continue to land their own aircraft, and in the ground forces the realization that they would be resupplied and that friendly wounded would be promptly evacuated. This greatly enhanced morale and the will to fight at a critical time. After his first medical evacuation, Major Crandall continued to fly into and out of the landing zone throughout the day and into the evening. That day he completed a total of 22 flights, most under intense enemy fire, retiring from the battlefield only after all possible service had been rendered to the Infantry battalion. His actions provided critical resupply of ammunition and evacuation of the wounded. Major Crandall's daring acts of bravery and courage in the face of an overwhelming and determined enemy are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army

[mudmanmike]

WIEDORFER, PAUL J
It was Christmas day 1944 and snow and ice covered the ground. Against all odds Pvt. Paul Wiedorfer charged 150 yards in open terrain and single handedly overpowered two German machinegun nests and forced six of the enemy surrender to him. Mr. Wiedorfer is now 89 years old. Please take a moment to read the citation of a hero.


"So I thought, somebody's got to do something. And all of a sudden I said, 'Goddammit, let's see if we can get that nest.' I remember slipping, falling and the good Lord was with me and I got it. I got two of 'em."
Paul J. Wiedorfer

Rank: Staff Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company G
Division: 318th Infantry, 80th Infantry Division
Born: Baltimore, Md.
Departed: No
Entered Service At: Baltimore, Md.
G.O. Number: 45
Date of Issue: 06/12/1945
Place / Date: Near, Chaumont, Belgium, 25 December 1944

http://www.humanevents.com/images/MOH_NEWSLETTER_ARTICLE%20picture.jpg He alone made it possible for his company to advance until its objective was seized. Company G had cleared a wooded area of snipers, and 1 platoon was advancing across an open clearing toward another wood when it was met by heavy machinegun fire from 2 German positions dug in at the edge of the second wood. These positions were flanked by enemy riflemen. The platoon took cover behind a small ridge approximately 40 yards from the enemy position. There was no other available protection and the entire platoon was pinned down by the German fire. It was about noon and the day was clear, but the terrain extremely difficult due to a 3-inch snowfall the night before over ice-covered ground. Pvt. Wiedorfer, realizing that the platoon advance could not continue until the 2 enemy machinegun nests were destroyed, voluntarily charged alone across the slippery open ground with no protecting cover of any kind. Running in a crouched position, under a hail of enemy fire, he slipped and fell in the snow, but quickly rose and continued forward with the enemy concentrating automatic and small-arms fire on him as he advanced. Miraculously escaping injury, Pvt. Wiedorfer reached a point some 10 yards from the first machinegun emplacement and hurled a handgrenade into it. With his rifle he killed the remaining Germans, and, without hesitation, wheeled to the right and attacked the second emplacement. One of the enemy was wounded by his fire and the other 6 immediately surrendered. This heroic action by 1 man enabled the platoon to advance from behind its protecting ridge and continue successfully to reach its objective. A few minutes later, when both the platoon leader and the platoon sergeant were wounded, Pvt. Wiedorfer assumed command of the platoon, leading it forward with inspired energy until the mission was accomplished.

[Elhuero]

John William Finn
July 23, 1909 – May 27, 2010


For extraordinary heroism, distinguished service, and devotion above and beyond the call of duty. During the first attack by Japanese airplanes on the Naval Air Station, Kanoehe Bay, on 7 December 1941, Lieutenant Finn promptly secured and manned a 50-caliber machine gun mounted on an instruction stand in a completely exposed section of the parking ramp, which was under heavy enemy machine-gun strafing fire. Although painfully wounded many times, he continued to man this gun and to return the enemy's fire vigorously and with telling effect throughout the enemy strafing and bombing attacks and with complete disregard for his own personal safety. It was only by specific orders that he was persuaded to leave his post to seek medical attention. Following first-aid treatment, although obviously suffering much pain and moving with great difficulty, he returned to the squadron area and actively supervised the rearming of returning planes. His extraordinary heroism and conduct in this action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

[BigBear]

http://media.causes.com/604250?p_id=115263835&%3Bs=fb_feed&ref=nf (http://media.causes.com/604250?p_id=115263835&%3Bs=fb_feed&ref=nf)


and: (of course)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Hathcock

[Elhuero]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDnrLv6z-mM


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GphmdhLMGE&feature=related

[BigBear]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDnrLv6z-mM


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GphmdhLMGE&feature=related


Outstanding... I teared up.