Congressional Medal of Honor Winners From Mississippi Contributed by: Ann Allen Geoghegan ****************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm ****************************************************************** http://www.usgwarchives.net ******************************************************************* The following Mississippians have received the Armed Forces' highest award - the Congressional Medal of Honor - for gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty ... Civil War - Union Lt. Col. John C. Black, US Army Born: 27 January 1839, Lexington,Holmes County, Miss. On December 7, 1862, after two other regiments had been driven back, Lt. Col. Black was severely wounded at the head of his regiment while charging and capturing the enemy battery. A native of Mississippi, Black fought for the Union Army. Landsman Wilson Brown, US Navy On board the USS Hartford in Mobile Bay on December 31, 1864, while attacking Ft. Morgan, rebel gunboats, and the ram Tennessee, Brown was knocked unconscious by a shell burst. Regaining consciousness, he promptly returned to his position and performed his duties, although four of the six men at his station had been killed or wounded by enemy fire. A native Mississippian, Brown fought for the Union Navy. He was one of the first African-American Recipients of the Medal of Honor. Martin Freeman May. 18, 1814 - Sep. 11, 1894 Pascagoula, Jackson County, Mississippi Rank and Organization: Pilot, U.S. Navy. Entered Service At: Louisiana. Born: 18 May 1814, Germany. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864. As pilot of the flagship, U.S.S. Hartford, during action against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ram Tennessee, in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. With his ship under terrific enemy shellfire, Freeman calmly remained at his station in the maintop and skillfully piloted the ships into the bay. He rendered gallant service throughout the prolonged battle in which the rebel gunboats were captured or driven off, the prize ram Tennessee forced to surrender, and the fort successfully attacked. Indian Wars Corporal Charles Albert Bessey, of the Third U.S. Cavalry, earned the Medal of Honor on January 13, 1877, for his action during the Indian Wars. During a routine escort at Elkhorn Creek, Wyoming Territory, Bessey learned of a recent attack on nearby herders by a group of Indians. With four others and himself, the group was ambushed by a band of 14 hostile Cheyenne. Although he and two of his men became wounded, the Indians were forced to retreat. It wasn't until 23 years later that Bessey would receive the Medal of Honor for his valiant service to his men. The wound that Corporal Bessey received would eventually lead to his death in 1909 of kidney failure. Spanish-American War HEARD, JOHN W. Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 3d U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Mouth of Manimani River, west of Bahia Honda, Cuba, 23 July 1898. Entered service at: Mississippi. Birth: Mississippi. r)ate of issue: 21 June 1899. Citation: After 2 men had been shot down by Spaniards while transmitting orders to the engine-room on the Wanderer, the ship having become disabled, this officer took the position held by them and personally transmitted the orders, remaining at his post until the ship was out of danger. 2nd Lt. Ira Clinton Welborn US Army 2nd Lt. Welborn voluntarily left shelter near Santiago, Cuba, and went, under fire, to the aid of a private in his company who was wounded during the Spanish-American War on July 2, 1898. WWI Lt. Cmdr. James J. Madison, US Navy Lt. Cmdr. Madison, commanding officer of the USS Ticonderoga, was severely wounded during an attack by an enemy submarine on October 4, 1918. In spite of his wounds, Madison had himself placed in a chair on the bridge and continued to direct the fire and maneuver the vessel. Although the Ticonderoga was sunk after a prolonged and gallant resistance, Madison's bravery saved thirty-two of the two hundred and thirty-six on board. WWII WILSON, LOUIS HUGH, JR. Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, Commanding Rifle Company, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division. Place and date: Fonte Hill, Guam, 25-26 July 1944. Entered service at: Mississippi. Born: 11 February 1920, Brandon, Miss. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of a rifle company attached to the 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Fonte Hill, Guam, 25-26 July 1944. Ordered to take that portion of the hill within his zone of action, Capt. Wilson initiated his attack in mid-afternoon, pushed up the rugged, open terrain against terrific machinegun and rifle fire for 300 yards and successfully captured the objective. Promptly assuming command of other disorganized units and motorized equipment in addition to his own company and 1 reinforcing platoon, he organized his night defenses in the face of continuous hostile fire and, although wounded 3 times during this 5-hour period, completed his disposition of men and guns before retiring to the company command post for medical attention. Shortly thereafter, when the enemy launched the first of a series of savage counterattacks lasting all night, he voluntarily rejoined his besieged units and repeatedly exposed himself to the merciless hail of shrapnel and bullets, dashing 50 yards into the open on 1 occasion to rescue a wounded marine Iying helpless beyond the frontlines. Fighting fiercely in hand-to-hand encounters, he led his men in furiously waged battle for approximately 10 hours, tenaciously holding his line and repelling the fanatically renewed counterthrusts until he succeeded in crushing the last efforts of the hard-pressed Japanese early the following morning. Then organizing a 17-man patrol, he immediately advanced upon a strategic slope essential to the security of his position and, boldly defying intense mortar, machinegun, and rifle fire which struck down 13 of his men, drove relentlessly forward with the remnants of his patrol to seize the vital ground. By his indomitable leadership, daring combat tactics, and valor in the face of overwhelming odds, Capt. Wilson succeeded in capturing and holding the strategic high ground in his regimental sector, thereby contributing essentially to the success of his regimental mission and to the annihilation of 350 Japanese troops. His inspiring conduct throughout the critical periods of this decisive action sustains and enhances the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. 2nd Lt. Van T. Barfoot, US Army On May 23, 1944, while his platoon was heavily engaged in an assault near Carano, Italy, 2nd Lt. Barfoot crawled to a machine gun nest and neutralized it with a hand grenade, killing two and wounding three enemy soldiers. Before the day was over, Barfoot had singlehandedly destroyed three machine gun nests, a tank, a field artillery piece, and had killed or captured twenty enemy soldiers. He then assisted two seriously wounded comrades to safety over a half-mile away. Pfc. James H. Diamond, US Army During a six-day period in May 1945, Pfc. Diamond killed numerous Japanese snipers, assisted in evacuating his wounded comrades under heavy fire, and secured an abandoned vehicle to transport casualties. He then ran through a hail of enemy fire to secure an abandoned machine gun. Though mortally wounded upon reaching the gun, Diamond succeeded in drawing sufficient fire on himself so that the remaining members of the patrol could reach safety. Pvt. Robert T. Henry, US Army Attempting the destruction of a nest of enemy machine guns near Luchem, Germany, in December 1944, Pvt. Henry sprinted alone with his rifle and hand grenades across open terrain toward the enemy emplacement. Henry was mortally wounded by machine gun fire, but continued his singlehanded attack and forced the enemy to flee. TSgt. Jake W. Lindsey, US Army During an enemy counterattack near Hamich, Germany, on November 16, 1944, TSgt. Lindsey destroyed two machine gun nests, forced withdrawal of two tanks, and effectively halted enemy flanking patrols. Although painfully wounded, Lindsey later engaged eight Germans in hand-to-hand combat, killing three, capturing three, and causing the other two to flee. Cpl. James D. Slaton, US Army As lead scout of an infantry squad positioned near Oliveto, Italy, Cpl. Slaton began a deadly assault on September 23, 1943, moving over open ground and under constant fire, killing numerous enemy gunners. Slaton immobilized three enemy machine gun nests during the onslaught, enabling his platoon to withdraw to covered positions and again take the initiative. Pfc. Jacklyn H. Lucas, US Marine Corps While creeping through a treacherous ravine on Iwo Jima in February 1945, Pfc. Lucas and three comrades were savagely attacked with rifle fire and grenades. Lucas hurled himself on one grenade and pulled another under him, absorbing the entire force of both explosions in order to shield his companions from the concussion and flying fragments. Korea Pfc. Jack G. Hanson, US Army Pfc. Hanson, a machine gunner with the 1st Platoon, Company F, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations. The company, in defensive positions on two strategic hills separated by a wide saddle, was ruthlessly attacked at approximately 0300 hours, the brunt of which centered on the approach to the divide within range of Pfc. Hanson's machinegun. In the initial phase of the action, 4 riflemen were wounded and evacuated and the numerically superior enemy, advancing under cover of darkness, infiltrated and posed an imminent threat to the security of the command post and weapons platoon. Upon orders to move to key terrain above and to the right of Pfc. Hanson's position, he voluntarily remained to provide protective fire for the withdrawal. Subsequent to the retiring elements fighting a rearguard action to the new location, it was learned that Pfc. Hanson's assistant gunner and 3 riflemen had been wounded and had crawled to safety, and that he was maintaining a lone-man defense. After the 1st Platoon reorganized, counterattacked, and resecured its original positions at approximately 0530 hours, Pfc. Hanson's body was found lying in front of his emplacement, his machinegun ammunition expended, his empty pistol in his right hand, and a machete with blood on the blade in his left hand, and approximately 22 enemy dead lay in the wake of his action. Pfc. Hanson's consummate valor, inspirational conduct, and willing self-sacrifice enabled the company to contain the enemy and regain the commanding ground, and reflect lasting glory on himself and the noble traditions of the military service. Pfc. Mack A. Jordan, US Army On November 15, 1951, 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 machinegun 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 machinegun 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. MSgt. Hubert L. Lee, US Army February 1951 - M/Sgt. Lee, a member of Company I, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. When his platoon was forced from its position by a numerically superior enemy force, and his platoon leader wounded, M/Sgt. Lee assumed command, regrouped the remnants of his unit, and led them in repeated assaults to regain the position. Within 25 yards of his objective he received a leg wound from grenade fragments, but refused assistance and continued the attack. Although forced to withdraw 5 times, each time he regrouped his remaining men and renewed the assault. Moving forward at the head of his small group in the fifth attempt, he was struck by an exploding grenade, knocked to the ground, and seriously wounded in both legs. Still refusing assistance, he advanced by crawling, rising to his knees to fire, and urging his men to follow. While thus directing the final assault he was wounded a third time, by small-arms fire. Persistently continuing to crawl forward, he directed his men in a final and successful attack which regained the vital objective. His intrepid leadership and determination led to the destruction of 83 of the enemy and withdrawal of the remainder, and was a vital factor in stopping the enemy attack. M/Sgt. Lee's indomitable courage, consummate valor, and outstanding leadership reflect the highest credit upon himself and are in keeping with the finest traditions of the infantry and the U.S. Army. Sgt. John A. Pittman, US Army November 26, 1950 - Sgt. Pittman, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. He volunteered to lead his squad in a counterattack to regain commanding terrain lost in an earlier engagement. Moving aggressively forward in the face of intense artillery, mortar, and small-arms fire he was wounded by mortar fragments. Disregarding his wounds he continued to lead and direct his men in a bold advance against the hostile standpoint. During this daring action, an enemy grenade was thrown in the midst of his squad endangering the lives of his comrades. Without hesitation, Sgt. Pittman threw himself on the grenade and absorbed its burst with his body. When a medical aid man reached him, his first request was to be informed as to how many of his men were hurt. This intrepid and selfless act saved several of his men from death or serious injury and was an inspiration to the entire command. Sgt. Pittman's extraordinary heroism reflects the highest credit upon himself and is in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the military service. 2nd Lt. Henry A. Commiskey, US Marine Corps September 20, 1950 - For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a platoon leader in Company C, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Directed to attack hostile forces well dug in on Hill 85, 1st Lt. Commiskey, spearheaded the assault, charging up the steep slopes on the run. Coolly disregarding the heavy enemy machinegun and small arms fire, he plunged on well forward of the rest of his platoon and was the first man to reach the crest of the objective. Armed only with a pistol, he jumped into a hostile machinegun emplacement occupied by 5 enemy troops and quickly disposed of 4 of the soldiers with his automatic pistol. Grappling with the fifth, 1st Lt. Commiskey knocked him to the ground and held him until he could obtain a weapon from another member of his platoon and killed the last of the enemy guncrew. Continuing his bold assault, he moved to the next emplacement, killed 2 more of the enemy and then led his platoon toward the rear nose of the hill to rout the remainder of the hostile troops and destroy them as they fled from their positions. His valiant leadership and courageous fighting spirit served to inspire the men of his company to heroic endeavor in seizing the objective and reflect the highest credit upon 1st Lt. Commiskey and the U.S. Naval Service. Vietnam LCpl. Roy Mitchell Wheat, US Marine Corps August 11, 1967 - For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. L/Cpl. Wheat and 2 other marines were assigned the mission of providing security for a Navy construction battalion crane and crew operating along Liberty Road in the vicinity of the Dien Ban District, Quang Nam Province. After the marines had set up security positions in a tree line adjacent to the work site, L/Cpl. Wheat reconnoitered the area to the rear of their location for the possible presence of guerrillas. He then returned to within 10 feet of the friendly position, and here unintentionally triggered a well concealed, bounding type, antipersonnel mine. Immediately, a hissing sound was heard which was identified by the 3 marines as that of a burning time fuse. Shouting a warning to his comrades, L/Cpl. Wheat in a valiant act of heroism hurled himself upon the mine, absorbing the tremendous impact of the explosion with his body. The inspirational personal heroism and extraordinary valor of his unselfish action saved his fellow marines from certain injury and possible death, reflected great credit upon himself, and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. Ed W. Freeman Born 20 Nov. 1927, Neely, Greene County, Mississippi. Captain Ed W. Freeman, United States Army, distinguished himself by numerous acts of conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary intrepidity on 14 November 1965 while serving with Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). As a flight leader and second in command of a 16-helicopter lift unit, he supported a heavily engaged American infantry battalion at Landing Zone X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam. The infantry unit was almost out of ammunition after taking some of the heaviest casualties of the war, fighting off a relentless attack from a highly motivated, heavily armed enemy force. When the infantry commander closed the helicopter landing zone due to intense direct enemy fire, Captain Freeman risked his own life by flying his unarmed helicopter through a gauntlet of enemy fire time after time, delivering critically needed ammunition, water, and medical supplies to the besieged battalion. His flights had a direct impact on the battle's outcome by providing the engaged units with timely supplies of ammunition critical to their survival, without which they would almost surely have experienced a much greater loss of life. After medical evacuation helicopters refused to fly into the area due to intense enemy fire, Captain Freeman flew 14 separate rescue missions, providing life-saving evacuation of an estimated 30 seriously wounded soldiers -- some of whom would not have survived had he not acted. All flights were made into a small emergency landing zone within 100 to 200 meters of the defensive perimeter where heavily committed units were perilously holding off the attacking elements. Captain Freeman’s selfless acts of great valor, extraordinary perseverance, and intrepidity were far above and beyond the call of duty or mission and set a superb example of leadership and courage for all of his peers. Captain Freeman’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States. Hilliard A. Wilbanks Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Air Force, 21st. Tactical Air Support Squadron, Nha Trang AFB, RVN. Place and Date: Near Dalat, Republic of Vietnam, 24 February 1967. Entered service at: Atlanta, Ga. Born: 26 July 1933, Cornelia, Ga. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. As a forward air controller Capt. Wilbanks was pilot of an unarmed, light aircraft flying visual reconnaissance ahead of a South Vietnam Army Ranger Battalion. His intensive search revealed a well-concealed and numerically superior hostile force poised to ambush the advancing rangers. The Viet Cong, realizing that Capt. Wilbanks' discovery had compromised their position and ability to launch a surprise attack, immediately fired on the small aircraft with all available firepower. The enemy then began advancing against the exposed forward elements of the ranger force which were pinned down by devastating fire. Capt. Wilbanks recognized that close support aircraft could not arrive in time to enable the rangers to withstand the advancing enemy, onslaught. With full knowledge of the limitations of his unarmed, unarmored, light reconnaissance aircraft, and the great danger imposed by the enemy's vast firepower, he unhesitatingly assumed a covering, close support role. Flying through a hail of withering fire at treetop level, Capt. Wilbanks passed directly over the advancing enemy and inflicted many casualties by firing his rifle out of the side window of his aircraft. Despite increasingly intense antiaircraft fire, Capt. Wilbanks continued to completely disregard his own safety and made repeated low passes over the enemy to divert their fire away from the rangers. His daring tactics successfully interrupted the enemy advance, allowing the rangers to withdraw to safety from their perilous position. During his final courageous attack to protect the withdrawing forces, Capt. Wilbanks was mortally wounded and his bullet-riddled aircraft crashed between the opposing forces. Capt. Wilbanks' magnificent action saved numerous friendly personnel from certain injury or death. His unparalleled concern for his fellow man and his extraordinary heroism were in the highest traditions of the military service, and have reflected great credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force. Burial: Fayette Methodist Cemetery, Fayette, Jefferson County, Mississippi, USA