There have been two Medals awarded for actions on this day in history. The first Medal awarded for actions on this day didn't occur until 83 years after the first version of the Medal, the Naval one, was authorized in 1861. Even then, it was actually for a period of service covering a little over a month. The first Medal earned for a singular action on this day in history wasn't awarded until Korea.
WWII - Dick Bong downs 8 Japanese aircraft in one month.
Korea - Private First Class Jordan, one very tough soldier.
I find the phrase "the ruthless foe hurled explosives down the hill" just a little jarring, considering the ruthless foe in this piece was PFC Jordan!
WWII - Dick Bong downs 8 Japanese aircraft in one month.
BONG, RICHARD I. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army Air Corps. Place and date: Over Borneo and Leyte, 10 October to 15 November 1944. Entered service at: Poplar, Wis. Birth: Poplar, Wis. G.O. No.: 90, 8 December 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty in the Southwest Pacific area from 10 October to 15 November 1944. Though assigned to duty as gunnery instructor and neither required nor expected to perform combat duty, Maj. Bong voluntarily and at his own urgent request engaged in repeated combat missions, including unusually hazardous sorties over Balikpapan, Borneo, and in the Leyte area of the Philippines. His aggressiveness and daring resulted in his shooting down 8 enemy airplanes during this period.
Korea - Private First Class Jordan, one very tough soldier.
*JORDAN, MACK A.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company K 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Kumsong, Korea, 15 November 1951. Entered service at: Collins, Miss Born: 8 December 1928, Collins, Miss. G.O. No.: 3, 8 January 1953 Citation: Pfc. Jordan, a member of Company K, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. As a squad leader of the 3d Platoon, he was participating in a night attack on key terrain against a fanatical hostile force when the advance was halted by intense small-arms and automatic-weapons fire and a vicious barrage of handgrenades. Upon orders for the platoon to withdraw and reorganize, Pfc. Jordan voluntarily remained behind to provide covering fire. Crawling toward an enemy machine gun emplacement, he threw 3 grenades and neutralized the gun. He then rushed the position delivering a devastating hail of fire, killing several of the enemy and forcing the remainder to fall back to new positions. He courageously attempted to move forward to silence another machine gun but, before he could leave his position, the ruthless foe hurled explosives down the hill and in the ensuing blast both legs were severed. Despite mortal wounds, he continued to deliver deadly fire and held off the assailants until the platoon returned. Pfc. Jordan's unflinching courage and gallant self-sacrifice reflect lasting glory upon himself and uphold the noble traditions of the infantry and the military service.
I find the phrase "the ruthless foe hurled explosives down the hill" just a little jarring, considering the ruthless foe in this piece was PFC Jordan!
The ruthless foe refers to the Chinese. I was just observing that the ruthless one in this citation was Jordan.
That's all.