Corporal Alvin C York, from the 82nd
Division, fearlessly engaged the numerically
superior German force at Chatel-Chehery,
France, on 8 October 1918 – just a month
before the armistice was signed. His
citation reads: “...After his platoon had
suffered heavy casualties and three other
noncommissioned officers had become
casualties, Corporal York assumed
command. Fearlessly leading seven men, he
charged with great daring toward a machine
gun nest, which was pouring deadly and
incessant fire upon his platoon. In this
heroic feat the machine gun nest was taken,
together with four officers and 128 men and
several guns.”
Valor is found across the times as well
as across the ranks, as World War II 2nd
Lieutenant Robert Craig, from the 3rd
Infantry Division, demonstrated. According
to his citation, 2nd Lieutenant Craig
volunteered to defeat an enemy machine
gun that three other officers before him
could not. He quickly located the gun
outside of Favoratta, Sicily, but without
cover, he and his men found themselves
vulnerable to approximately 100 enemies.
“Electing to sacrifice himself so that his
platoon might carry on the battle, he
ordered his men to withdraw... while he
drew the enemy fire to himself. With no
hope of survival, he charged toward the
enemy until he was within 25 yards of them.
Assuming a kneeling position, he killed five
and wounded three enemy soldiers. While
the hostile force concentrated fire on him,
his platoon reached the cover of the crest.
2nd Lieutenant Craig was killed by enemy
fire, but his intrepid action so inspired his
men that they drove the enemy from the
area, inflicting heavy casualties on the
hostile force.”
UNITED STATES
MARINE
CORPS
MAJOR
JOHN L CANLEY
Sergeant Major John L. Canley will receive
the Medal of Honor for his actions from
January 31 to February 6, 1968, while
assigned to Company A, First Battalion, First
Marines in the Republic of Vietnam. While
serving as Company Gunnery Sergeant,
he fought off multiple enemy attacks as his
company moved along a highway toward
Hue City to relieve friendly forces who were
surrounded. On several occasions, despite
his own wounds, he rushed across fireswept
terrain to carry wounded Marines to
safety. When his commanding officer was
severely wounded, he took command and
led his company into Hue City. While in
command of the company for three days, he
led attacks against multiple enemy-fortified
positions while exposing himself to enemy
fire to carry wounded Marines to safety.
On 6 February, at a hospital compound,
he twice scaled a wall in full view of the
enemy to aid wounded Marines and carry
them to safety. Then-Gunnery Sergeant
Canley’s heroic actions saved the lives of
his teammates.
UNITED STATES
NAVY
MASTER CHIEF SPECIAL
WARFARE OPERATION
BRITT K SLABINSKI
138 The TRUMP RALLY Publication