January 2010 - Argghhh!

There are four Medals awarded on this day. Three are non-combat naval life-saving Medals, a specific allowance Congress enacted in the original legislation, recognizing the dangers inherent in day-to-day life in the sea service. Today, that aspect is covered by the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for the sea services, the Airman's Medal for the Air Force, and the Soldier's Medal for the Army, each being the highest non-combat award for heroism involving risking your life. The fourth Medal is...

Depending on your proclivities... there's a nice picture of the Italian Centauro, there's a nice closeup of an Italian soldier... and then there's that *other* Italian soldier....

There are two Medals awarded for actions on this day, and none of them are posthumous. Which means, in a very real sense, the recipient of the award during WWII was a doubly lucky man, to survive the action, and to survive the aftermath.Civil War. Tidying up at Fort Fisher.NEAHR, ZACHARIAH C. Rank and organization: Private, Company K, 142d New York Infantry. Place and date: At Fort Fisher, N.C., 16 January 1865. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Canajoharie, N.Y. Date of issue: 11 September 1890...

Things have gotten a bit serious around here lately (and rightly so), what with Haiti, the MA Special Election (woo! HOO!), and the like...so I thought a short commercial break for aviators everywhere would be in order.

...to Congress....

There are seven Medals awarded for actions on this day, ranging from the Civil War to World War II, with combat and naval lifesaving Medals. One is posthumous.Civil War. Three more sailors getting Medals for the Fort Fisher campaign.ANGLING, JOHN Rank and organization: Cabin Boy, U.S. Navy. Born: 1850, Portland, Maine. Accredited to: Maine. G.O. No.: 59, 22 June 1865. Citation: Served on board the U.S.S. Pontoosuc during the capture of Fort Fisher and Wilmington, 24 December 1864 to 22 January 1865...

There are four Medals awarded for actions on this day. We open with a Buffalo Soldier and close with two heroes of the Pacific in WWII, both of who received their awards posthumously (though one with an asterisk).Indian Campaigns. Corporal Greaves was a Buffalo Soldier who helped establish the respect that native americans had for black soldiers - a respect the Army wouldn't accord them until President Truman essentially made them. GREAVES, CLINTONRank and organization: Corporal, Company C, 9th...

Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite. ******************** In today's From the Front: (Click on link to read stories highlighted below) At War: (Video) Father of C.I.A. Bomber Speaks Dan Cnossen: Can you ride a roller coaster on the 4-month anniversary of stepping on an IED? Family Matters Blog: Spouse Overcomes Reunion Hurdles Helmand...