August 2009 - Argghhh!

The Medal doesn't make an appearance on 18 August until 1942 in the Pacific, with a Marine Raider on Makin and a very determined Army fighter pilot over New Guinea in 1943.*THOMASON, CLYDE Rank and organization: sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 23 May 1914, Atlanta, Ga. Accredited to: Georgia. Citation: For conspicuous heroism and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty during the Marine Raider Expedition against the Japanese-held island of Makin on 17-18 August 1942. Leading...

The Medal makes it's first appearance on this day in history during the China Relief Expediiton, in 1900. There are a slew of Medals, to twelve Marines and two sailors, covering the period from 28 June to 17 August, with most of them of the type that would be covered by different awards today - but back then, the Medal of Honor was the only award of its type. As is my convention, for Medals which cover more than one day, I list them on the last day of the covered period. This is also a rare day...

The live fire range, where the targets shoot back.Gunfight and Airstrike in Korengal valleyPhotos by U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Moeller 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment090813-A-1211M-004: KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan –Tech. Sgt. Joel McPherson, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., scans the Korengal valley’s steep hills for insurgents in Afghanistan’s Kunar province, August 13. Moments later, McPherson and fellow members of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat...

Early morning patrol in the Korengal valleyPhotos by U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Moeller 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment090813-A-1211M-001: KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Roberts, a native of Houston, scans the hills surrounding the Korengal valley in Afghanistan’s Kunar province, during an early morning patrol, Aug. 13. Roberts is a member of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, Colo...