Something to think about...I mean REALLY think about...

"Nuts" - The Five Best Responses to Surrender Ultimatums in History

War History online proudly presents this Guest Piece from Samuel B. Parker. Few things are more inspiring or compelling than stories of courage in the face

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Another Unfamous One...thank you for your service Arthur Pendleton!

Temple man recalls WWII experience

The day after the Japanese surprise military strike at an air base in Hawaii in 1941, Arthur Pendleton enlisted in the Marine Corps.“I had an old friend who was elderly at the time and he had been in the Marine Corps. He said that…

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Just saw this and had to share...we are truly blessed to still be able to hear these stories...the window of opportunity is closing quickly...follow the link below to order your signed copy today!

Captain Jerry Yellin, pilot of the last combat mission of World War II, will be signing copies of "The Last Fighter Pilot". Pre-order an autographed copy here, while they last: https://goo.gl/s6ZqFh. Limited quantity available.

What is the bravest recorded act of valour in most recent military times by a soldier of any country?

Joshua Phelps, 5 years - Artillery ( 88m + 11b = 13bravo)

Answered 23h ago · 

Upvoted by Richard Ashmore, Active Duty in the U.S. Navy for >20 years.

This is Master SGT Roy P Benavidez of the US Army's 5th Group Special Forces. He also served with MACV/SOG during Vietnam, and EARNED the Congressional Medal of Honor. (It's worth noting that it was NOT a posthumous award!!)

I have tried explaining this guy's RARE breed of heroism, and I always forget something. So here is his Medal of Honor citation:

ROY P. BENAVIDEZ

Rank and organization: Master Sergeant. Organization: Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group, Republic of Vietnam

Place and date: West of Loc Ninh on May 2, 1968

Entered service at: Houston, Texas June 1955

Born: August 5, 1935, DeWitt County, Cuero, Texas.

Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. BENAVIDEZ United States Army, distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions on 2 May 1968 while assigned to Detachment B56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam.

On the morning of 2 May 1968, a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopters of the 240th Assault Helicopter Company in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam to gather intelligence information about confirmed large-scale enemy activity. This area was controlled and routinely patrolled by the North Vietnamese Army. After a short period of time on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance, and requested emergency extraction. Three helicopters attempted extraction, but were unable to land due to intense enemy small arms and anti-aircraft fire.

Sergeant BENAVIDEZ was at the Forward Operating Base in Loc Ninh monitoring the operation by radio when these helicopters, of the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, returned to off-load wounded crew members and to assess aircraft damage. Sergeant BENAVIDEZ voluntarily boarded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt. Realizing that all the team members were either dead or wounded and unable to move to the pickup zone, he directed the aircraft to a nearby clearing where he jumped from the hovering helicopter, and ran approximately 75 meters under withering small arms fire to the crippled team.

Prior to reaching the team's position he was wounded in his right leg, face, and head. Despite these painful injuries, he took charge, repositioning the team members and directing their fire to facilitate the landing of an extraction aircraft, and the loading of wounded and dead team members. He then threw smoke canisters to direct the aircraft to the team's position. Despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy fire, he carried and dragged half of the wounded team members to the awaiting aircraft. He then provided protective fire by running alongside the aircraft as it moved to pick up the remaining team members. As the enemy's fire intensified, he hurried to recover the body and classified documents on the dead team leader.

When he reached the leader's body, Sergeant BENAVIDEZ was severely wounded by small arms fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in his back. At nearly the same moment, the aircraft pilot was mortally wounded, and his helicopter crashed. Although in extremely critical condition due to his multiple wounds, Sergeant BENAVIDEZ secured the classified documents and made his way back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out of the overturned aircraft, and gathered the stunned survivors into a defensive perimeter. Under increasing enemy automatic weapons and grenade fire, he moved around the perimeter distributing water and ammunition to his weary men, reinstilling in them a will to live and fight. Facing a buildup of enemy opposition with a beleaguered team, Sergeant BENAVIDEZ mustered his strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directed the fire from supporting gunships to suppress the enemy's fire and so permit another extraction attempt.

He was wounded again in his thigh by small arms fire while administering first aid to a wounded team member just before another extraction helicopter was able to land. His indomitable spirit kept him going as he began to ferry his comrades to the craft. On his second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed from behind by an enemy soldier. In the ensuing hand-to-hand combat, he sustained additional wounds to his head and arms before killing his adversary.

He then continued under devastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter. Upon reaching the aircraft, he spotted and killed two enemy soldiers who were rushing the craft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door gunner from firing upon them. With little strength remaining, he made one last trip to the perimeter to ensure that all classified material had been collected or destroyed, and to bring in the remaining wounded

Only then, in extremely serious condition from numerous wounds and loss of blood, did he allow himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft. Sergeant BENAVIDEZ' gallant choice to join voluntarily his comrades who were in critical straits, to expose himself constantly to withering enemy fire, and his refusal to be stopped despite numerous severe wounds, saved the lives of at least eight men. His fearless personal leadership, tenacious devotion to duty, and extremely valorous actions in the face of overwhelming odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States Army

William E Booth Jr...another Unfamous One

Bill Booth was a glider pilot stationed at Barkston Heath, probably as part of the 61st Troop Carrier Group. He took part in Operation 'Market Garden' in September 1944. He stayed in what became the US Air Force after the war, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He married Georgette Y Hartenstine, who had also served in the US Army Air Corps during the Second World War, and they had a son, William E Booth III. Their son would go on to join the US Air Force too. He married Doris Ann Klehm in 1972 and they had a son, Eric William Booth, in 1980.
For more information, visit The American Air Museum

We have just returned from Arnhem, visiting the former British Headquarters there, now a museum, the field where the paratroopers landed, the Airborne Cemetery, and the John Frost Bridge.  The full realization of what took place during Operation Market Garden is truly felt when visiting any one of these sites. We honor and remember those who perished, and those who survived.

Remembering another Unfamous One...

F/O George L. Amberg, 95th BG, 336th Bomb Squadron, 42-3462 "San Antonio Rose" bombardier, pictured here in class book (43-8) USAAF Flying School Big Spring, Texas 1943. He served in the same Bomb Group and Squadron as my father in Horham, England, however my father did not arrive at the base until March 1945.

Shot down by fighters on a mission to Brunswick, which was obscured by clouds, on 21 Feb 1944 in B-17F #42-3462 'San Antonio Rose' and crashed near Utrecht, Holland. Killed in Action (KIA). To read more visit...American Air Museum in Britain

Another Unfamous One...

Private First Class Frank Pomroy...click on his name to read his story
from the National WWII Museum