The United States Congress has designated March 25th of each year as National Medal of Honor Day, a day dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients. (Public Law 101-564) Conceived in the State of Washington, this holiday should be one of our most revered. Unfortunately, all too many Americans are not even aware of its existence.
The date of March 25th was chosen to highlight this special day because it was on March 25, 1863, that the first Medals of Honor were presented to six members of Andrews’ Raiders, all soldiers from Ohio.
Below are a few of the Medal of Honor recipients stories, as produced and recorded by Ken Rogge for Veterans Radio.
For more information related to honoring this special day in your community, visit HomeofHeroes.com.
Medal of Honor Readings
Private Jacob Parrott
Private Jacob Parrott
US Army
Civil War
Hometown – Kenton, OH
Landsman John Henry Lawson
Landsman John Henry Lawson
US Navy
Civil War
Hometown – Philadelphia, PA
Sgt First Class Paul Ray Smith
Sgt First Class Paul Ray Smith
US Army
Iraqi Freedom
Hometown – Tampa, FL
PFC Ross A McGinnis
PFC Ross A. McGinnis
US Army
Iraqi Freedom
Hometown – Knox, PA
First Lieutenant William Rufus Shafter
First Lieutenant (Infantry) William Rufus Shafter
US Army
Civil War
Hometown – Galesburg, MI
Captain Seymour W. Terry
Captain Seymour W. Terry
US Army
WWII
Hometown – Little Rock, AR
Corporal Benito Martinez
Corporal Benito Martinez
Army
Korea
Ft. Hancock, TX
PFC Charles Heyward Barker
PFC Charles Heyward Barker
Army
Korea
Hometown – Pickens County, SC
Second Lieutenant Darwin Keith Kyle
Second Lieutenant Darwin Keith Kyle
US Army
Korea
Hometown – Racine, WV
Sgt First Class Donald Raymond Moyer
Sgt First Class Donald Raymond Moyer
US Army
Korea
Hometown – Keego Harbor, MI
Colonel George Everett "Bud" Day
Colonel George Everett “Bud” Day
US Air Force
Vietnam
Hometown – Sioux City, IA
Sgt Daniel Matthews
Sergeant Daniel Paul Matthews
US Marine Corps
Korea
Hometown – Van Nuys
Sgt Sammy Lee Davis
Sergeant Sammy Lee Davis
Army
Vietnam
Hometown – Indianapolis, IN
Cmdr (Chaplain) Joseph Timothy O’Callahan
CMDR (Chaplain) Joseph Timothy O’Callahan
US Naval Reserve
WWII
Hometown – Boston, MA
