Medal of Honor

Daniel K. Inouye served during World War II in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. During an attack on a German ridge in San Terenzo, Italy, Inouye was badly injured and lost his right arm to a rifle grenade attack. He later received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Italy. After the war, he became a lawyer and was active in Hawaiian politics. He became Hawaii’s first representative to the House and then a U.S. senator.

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Mikio Hasemoto from Hawaii, who posthumously received a Medal of Honor for heroism in World War II.

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Robert T. Kuroda from Hawaii, who posthumously received a Medal of Honor for his actions during World War II.

19-year-old Michael Crescenz was killed in action in Vietnam, the only Philadelphian serving in Vietnam awarded the Medal of Honor. Philadelphia’s VA Medical Center was renamed in his honor in 2014.

On National Medal of Honor Day, today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Charles Coolidge, one of two living Medal of Honor recipients from World War II.

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, SC, is named after a 19-year-old Marine who gave his life in Vietnam to save his fellow servicemembers. A new portrait honors his memory.

Air Force Veteran Charles E. Yeager served in World War II and the Vietnam War. Yeager became the first man to break the sound barrier on Oct. 14, 1947, flying the experimental Bell X-1.

On Feb. 23, 1945, five days after the initial assault on the island of Iwo Jima, Marines took control of the high ground and planted a flag atop Mt. Suribachi. Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams and Navajo Code Talker Thomas H. Begay recall what it was like to see the Stars and Stripes fly high over the island.

Military movies can often remind Veterans of their service. They can also bring up painful memories of the past.

Air Force Veteran and Silver Star recipient John Pighini is someone who knows both sides of this issue. He recently worked as a technical adviser on a major motion picture that showcased the bravery of service members, but also brought up a painful past. These movies can sometimes show Veterans dealing with their own struggles: anger, paranoia, edginess, regret and survivor’s guilt.

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Air Force Veteran William H. Pitsenbarger, a Medal of Honor recipient featured in the upcoming movie “The Last Full Measure.”

Gary Gordon was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions performed during the Battle of Mogadishu, which was portrayed in Black Hawk Down.

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran William Shemin, who received a Medal of Honor fighting in the Aisne-Marne Offensive during World War I.