Medal of Honor: Stories of Courage

When a veteran needs medical treatment far from home, where does their family stay? For 15 years, Jennifer Deluca has helped answer that question through Fisher House Boston. JR Martinez sits down with the recipient of the Citizen Honors Service Act Award, selected by Medal of Honor recipients themselves, to discuss her mission, the families she's helped, and why keeping loved ones together can make all the difference. To learn more about Jen’s work at Fisher House Boston, or to make a donation to support them, visit Fisherhouseboston.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the early hours of February 3, 1943, the USS Dorchester was hit by a German torpedo in the icy waters off Greenland. As soon as they realized there weren’t enough life jackets to go around, four Army chaplains – a Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi, and two Protestant ministers – took off their own and gave them to terrified soldiers, urging them to save themselves. We end this season with one of the most moving stories in military history: the ultimate sacrifice of George Fox, Alexander Goode, John Washington, and Clark Poling, the immortal four chaplains. Connect with the team: Follow Pushkin on social @pushkinpods Follow JR Martinez @iamjrmartinez Follow Meredith Rollins @meredithkrollins Email the team: medalofhonor@pushkin.fm Episode resource: No Greater Glory: The Four Immortal Chaplains and the Sinking of the Dorchester in World War II by Dan Kurzman (Random House, 2004) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joshua Chamberlain had never planned to be a soldier; he wanted to be a minister or a teacher. And yet, when the Civil War began, he felt it was his duty to enlist. He soon became a commander. And in Gettysburg, on a rocky hill called Little Round Top, he gave the order that helped the Union win the battle and made him a legend. But the courage Chamberlain showed in the months and years after this famous moment may be even more impressive. Binge the full season of Medal of Honor, ad-free, with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up and save on the Medal of Honor show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. Use the code MOH25 for 25% off an annual subscription. Connect with the team! Follow Pushkin on social @pushkinpods Follow JR Martinez @iamjrmartinez Follow Meredith Rollins @meredithkrollins Email the team: medalofhonor@pushkin.fm Episode resources: On Great Fields: The Life and Unlikely Heroism of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain by Ronald C White (Random House, 2023) Autobiography of Joshua Chamberlain: The…

In 1968, Clarence Sasser was a young combat medic thrust into a nightmare. During a reconnaissance mission in Vietnam, his company was ambushed in a rice paddy. Despite being shot in the leg and unable to walk, Sasser spent the next several hours crawling through the mud, doing his best to care for his fellow soldiers. It would be decades before he was ready to talk about what he saw and heard. Binge the full season of Medal of Honor, ad-free, with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up and save on the Medal of Honor show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. Use the code MOH25 for 25% off an annual subscription. Connect with the team! Follow Pushkin on social @pushkinpods Follow JR Martinez @iamjrmartinez Follow Meredith Rollins @meredithkrollins Email the team: medalofhonor@pushkin.fm Episode resource: AMEDD Center of HIstory & Heritage interview with Clarence Sasser, 3/23/1987 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1951, Joseph Rodriguez and his unit were on a ridge in Korea, pinned down by gunfire. There was seemingly no way out. But Rodriguez had something to steady him. Tucked inside his helmet were letters from his girlfriend back home, Rose. He grabbed a handful of grenades and sprinted up the hill to take on the enemy himself. What happened next would change both his and Rose’s lives forever. Binge the full season of Medal of Honor, ad-free, with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up and save on the Medal of Honor show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. Use the code MOH25 for 25% off an annual subscription. Connect with the team! Follow Pushkin on social @pushkinpods Follow JR Martinez @iamjrmartinez Follow Meredith Rollins @meredithkrollins Email the team: medalofhonor@pushkin.fm Episode resources: “A War Hero Speaks,” published in the California Civil Defense, February 25, 1952 Medal of Honor by Peter Collier et al (Artisan Books, 2011) America’s Heroes, edited by James H Willbanks (ABC-CLIO, 2011) See…

In 1951, Joseph Rodriguez and his unit were on a ridge in Korea, pinned down by gunfire. There was seemingly no way out. But Rodriguez had something to steady him. Tucked inside his helmet were letters from his girlfriend back home, Rose. He grabbed a handful of grenades and sprinted up the hill to take on the enemy himself. What happened next would change both his and Rose’s lives forever. Binge the full season of Medal of Honor, ad-free, with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up and save on the Medal of Honor show page on Apple Podcasts or at Pushkin. Use the code MOH25 for 25% off an annual subscription. Connect with the team! Follow Pushkin on social @pushkinpods Follow JR Martinez @iamjrmartinez Follow Meredith Rollins @meredithkrollins Email the team: medalofhonor@pushkin.fm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Pittman was legally blind in his right eye—a condition that should have kept him away from the front lines of the Vietnam War. But Pittman wasn't a man who took "no" for an answer. After sneaking his way into the U.S. Marines, he found himself on a trail in the jungle, single-handedly trying to save his brothers in arms. From a "medical disqualification" to a legendary stand with a machine gun, Richard Pittman’s story proves that true courage starts with the belief that you belong in the fight. Binge the full season of Medal of Honor, ad-free, with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up and save on the Medal of Honor show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. Use the code MOH25 for 25% off an annual subscription. Connect with the team! Follow Pushkin on social @pushkinpods Follow JR Martinez @iamjrmartinez Follow Meredith Rollins @meredithkrollins Email the team: medalofhonor@pushkin.fm Episode resources: US Marines in Vietnam: An Expanding War, 1966 by Jack Shulimson (Department of the Navy, 1982)…

Malcolm Gladwell sits down with journalist and author Sebastian Junger to discuss his book “Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging.” After spending years embedded with American soldiers in Afghanistan, Junger found himself wondering: why do so many veterans struggle most not during war, but after returning home? Junger’s most recent book is “In My Time Of Dying.” He also has a substack called Tribe with Sebastian Junger. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you saw a suicide bomber moving toward your friends, would you have the courage to run toward him? That is the choice Florent “Flo” Groberg made on a dusty road in Afghanistan. In just eight seconds, he identified the threat, tackled the bomber, and saved countless lives. And yet, Flo says he still wishes he had run faster. Binge the full season of Medal of Honor, ad-free, with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up and save on the Medal of Honor show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. Use the code MOH25 for 25% off an annual subscription. Connect with the team! Follow Pushkin on social @pushkinpods Follow JR Martinez @iamjrmartinez Follow Meredith Rollins @meredithkrollins Email the team: medalofhonor@pushkin.fm Episode resource: 8 Seconds of Courage: A Soldier's Story from Immigrant to the Medal of Honor by Flo Groberg and Tom Sileo (Simon & Schuster, 2017) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Admiral Richard Byrd was one of the most famous explorers of the 20th century. He received the Medal of Honor for a risky flight to the North Pole. But soon after his death, the whispers began. Did he actually make it there? Or did he turn back early? Binge the full season of Medal of Honor, ad-free, with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up and save on the Medal of Honor show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. Use the code MOH25 for 25% off an annual subscription. Connect with the team! Follow Pushkin on social @pushkinpods Follow JR Martinez @iamjrmartinez Follow Meredith Rollins @meredithkrollins Email the team: medalofhonor@pushkin.fm Episode resources: Race to the Top of the World: Richard Byrd and the First Flight to the North Pole by Sheldon Bart (Regnery History Press, 2013) To the Pole: The Diary and Notebook of Richard E Byrd, 1926-1927 edited by Raimund E Goerler (Ohio State University Press, 1998) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When World War II broke out, Japanese Americans, including George "Joe" Sakato and his family, were treated as threats. But Sakato still joined the Army because he wanted to protect the United States and its people. And on a hill in eastern France, he launched a one-man charge that defied military logic and changed the tides of the battle. His story is an incredible tale of loyalty and friendship against impossible odds. Binge the full season of Medal of Honor, ad-free, with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up and save on the Medal of Honor show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. Use the code MOH25 for 25% off an annual subscription. Connect with the team! Follow Pushkin on social @pushkinpods Follow JR Martinez @iamjrmartinez Follow Meredith Rollins @meredithkrollins Email the team: medalofhonor@pushkin.fm Episode resources: Honor Before Glory: The Epic World War II Story of the Japanese American GIs Who Rescued the Lost Battalion by Scott McGaugh (Grand Central Publishing, 2016) “442nd Regimental…

During World War I, Navy Lieutenant Edouard Izac was plucked from a lifeboat by a German submarine, where, for weeks, he lived among his captors. After secretly gathering intelligence on the movements of the German fleet, Izac knew this information could change the course of the war and had to be given to the Allies. But first, he had to get out of Germany. He would hurl himself out of a moving train, trek 120 miles through the mountains, and swim across the Rhine, but he would never, ever give up. Binge the full season of Medal of Honor, ad-free, with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up and save on the Medal of Honor show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. Use the code MOH25 for 25% off an annual subscription. Connect with the team! Follow Pushkin on social @pushkinpods Follow JR Martinez @iamjrmartinez Email the team: medalofhonor@pushkin.fm Episode resources: Escape by Dwight R Messimer (Naval Institute Press, 1994) Prisoner of the U-90 by Edouard Victor Isaacs (Houghton Mifflin, 1919) “Oral…

In 1968, in the dense jungles of Vietnam, a team of Green Berets was pinned down by an overwhelming North Vietnamese Army force. Their last hope was a young Air Force pilot named James Fleming. Despite being low on fuel and facing a wall of enemy fire, Fleming refused to turn back. The rescue mission seemed destined to fail, but a split-second decision would earn Fleming the nation’s highest military honor. Binge the full season of Medal of Honor, ad-free, with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up and save on the Medal of Honor show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. Use the code MOH25 for 25% off an annual subscription. Connect with the team! Follow Pushkin on social @pushkinpods Follow JR Martinez @iamjrmartinez Email the team: medalofhonor@pushkin.fm Episode resources: “SOG Combat in Cambodia: Under the Gun at Tango Five-One” by Randy Harrison, Soldier of Fortune Magazine, August 1982 Green Hornets: The History of the U.S. Air Force 20th Special Operations Squadron by Wayne Mutza (Schiffer Military…

What turns an ordinary person into a legend? Host and Army veteran J.R. Martinez returns with stories of split-second decisions that changed the course of history. Hear about harrowing escapes from prisoner-of-war-camps, daring flights to the farthest reaches of the globe, miraculous rescues, and acts of self sacrifice that will never be forgotten. These stories are about what it takes to become a hero and what happens after. Binge the full season of Medal of Honor, ad-free, with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up on the Medal of Honor show page in Apple or at Pushkin.fm/plus and use the code MOH25 for 25% off an annual subscription. This season, you’ll hear the stories of: James Fleming: the Vietnam pilot who flew a helicopter into a death trap to save his men Edouard Izac: the WWI sailor who escaped a U-boat and a moving train to deliver enemy secrets George Sakato: the Japanese-American soldier who turned grief into a one-man army for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team Richard Byrd: the world’s most famous…

To mark Veterans Day, host J.R. Martinez sits down with producer Ryan Sweikert to talk about what he’s learned from the stories of veterans who have received the Medal of Honor, how to talk to veterans about their service, and the moments that shaped his life, both in the service and afterward. Medal of Honor Season 3 is coming on May 27th, 2026. In the meantime, we want to hear from you. We’ve put together a listener survey. Tell us what you love about the show. What we can improve on. Stories you think we've missed. To take the survey, follow this link: bit.ly/mohsurvey See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chosin Reservoir was one of the most brutal battles of the Korean War, with overwhelming enemy forces and deadly weather. Into that fight came Captain Carl Sitter, a pudgy guy who wasn’t even supposed to be there. His inspiring leadership in the face of terrible odds came down to one thing: faith. We’re committed to making Medal of Honor even better, and you can help! Leave your feedback for the show by filling out our listener survey at http://bit.ly/mohsurvey Episode's bibliography: O'Donnel, Patrick K. “Give Me Tomorrow.” Grand Central Publishing, October 25, 2011. https://www.amazon.com/Give-Me-Tomorrow-Greatest-Story/dp/0306820447. Sterner, C. Douglas, Pamla M. Sterner, Dwight Jon Zimmerman, and Scott Baron. “Beyond Belief: True Stories of American Heroes that Defy Belief.” Independently Published, November 16, 2021. https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Belief-Stories-American-Heroes/dp/B09M57XDCV. Hardy, Gordon. “Above and beyond: a history of the Medal of Honor from the Civil War to Vietnam by…

Enslaved on a plantation in South Carolina, Robert Blake had little chance for freedom. Then came a surprise battle, a bold choice, and a new mission in life: serving in the U.S. Navy. Robert’s heroism would make him the first Black sailor to receive the Medal of Honor. But what happened next is… a total mystery. We’re committed to making Medal of Honor even better, and you can help! Leave your feedback for the show by filling out our listener survey at http://bit.ly/mohsurvey Episode bibliography: Reidy, Joseph P. “Black Men in Navy Blue During the Civil War.” Navy and Marine, 2001. https://www.navyandmarine.org/ondeck/1862blackinblue.htm Jowdy, Laura. “Who Was Robert Blake? The Mystery of a Black Medal of Honor Recipient.” Congressional Medal of Honor Society, March 6, 2025 https://www.cmohs.org/news-events/medal-of-honor-recipient-profile/who-was-robert-blake-the-mystery-of-a-black-medal-of-honor-recipient/. Frazier, Herb. “Little-known Civil War hero once enslaved on South Santee.” Charleston City Paper,…

On a moonlit mountaintop in Afghanistan, Salvatore Giunta ran through a hailstorm of bullets to save a fellow soldier– his best friend– from capture. It was a heroic decision, but Sal didn’t see it that way. This is the story of an extraordinary band of brothers– and how Sal learned to live with what he did. We’re committed to making Medal of Honor even better, and you can help! Leave your feedback for the show by filling out our listener survey at http://bit.ly/mohsurvey Episode bibliography: Giunta, Salvatore and Joe Layden. Living with Honor: A Memoir. Threshold Editions, December 4, 2012. https://www.amazon.com/Living-Honor-Memoir-Salvatore-Giunta/dp/1451691467. Junger, ​​Sebastian. “Into the Valley of Death.” Vanity Fair, January 2008. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2008/01/afghanistan200801. Edwards, Elisabeth. “Korengal Valley: Why the Region Is Nicknamed the ‘Valley of Death’.” War History Online, Oct 24, 2022. https://www.warhistoryonline.com/articles/korengal-valley.html. See…

Dan Daly has been described as “America’s Fightin’est Marine,” who shouted that famous phrase, “Come on you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” Here, we explore Dan’s legendary (and crazy) adventures– and how his incredible bravery helped shape the modern Marine Corps. We’re committed to making Medal of Honor even better, and you can help! Leave your feedback for the show by filling out our listener survey at http://bit.ly/mohsurvey Episode bibliography: Dieckmann, Edward. Dan Daly: Reluctant Hero. Marine Corps Gazette, November 1960. https://archive.org/details/sim_marine-corps-gazette_1960-11_44_11/page/24/mode/2up Roberts, Charley. "Devil Dog" Dan Daly: America's Fightin'est Marine. McFarland, November 4, 2021. https://www.amazon.com/Devil-Dog-Dan-Daly-Fightinest/dp/1476686769 O’Connell, Aaron. Keystone Battle Brief: The Boxer Rebellion, China 1900. Marine Corps History Division, United States Marine Corps University, 2019.…

The Congressional Space Medal of Honor is awarded to those who go above and beyond– at the farthest edges of our frontier. Judy Resnick was one of our country’s first women astronauts, but what makes her a hero is something else: her willingness to face death in the name of serving a greater good. Special thanks to the NASA History Office, Performance Initiative Podcast, and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. We’re committed to making Medal of Honor even better, and you can help! Leave your feedback for the show by filling out our listener survey at http://bit.ly/mohsurvey Episode bibliography: Higginbotham, Adam. “Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space.” Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster, May 14, 2024. https://www.amazon.com/Challenger-Story-Heroism-Disaster-Space/dp/198217661X. Mullane, Mike. “Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut.” Scribner, February 6, 2007. https://www.amazon.com/Riding-Rockets-Outrageous-Shuttle-Astronaut/dp/0743276833.…

J. R. Martinez interviews an old friend of his — Captain Charlie Plumb, a U.S. Navy fighter pilot who was shot down in Vietnam and spent six years in the infamous prison The Hanoi Hilton, right next to Medal of Honor recipient Bud Day. Charlie talks about living with guilt and finding forgiveness, even in the most unexpected place imaginable. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shot down over Vietnam, Bud Day escaped from a prison camp and ran barefoot and wounded through the jungle. What happened to him over the next five long years is a brutal testament to his strength and heroism. And what his wife did while she waited for his return is proof of the power of hope– and love. We’re committed to making Medal of Honor even better, and you can help! Leave your feedback for the show by filling out our listener survey at http://bit.ly/mohsurvey Episode bibliography: Coram, Robert. “American Patriot: The Life and Wars of Colonel Bud Day.” Back Bay Books, June 2, 2008. https://www.amazon.com/American-Patriot-Life-Wars-Colonel/dp/0316067393. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When President Harry Truman put the Medal of Honor around Macario Garcia’s neck, this heroic soldier wasn’t even an American citizen. Born in Mexico, Macario volunteered to serve in World War II– fearlessly running towards danger. But it’s the courage he showed when he returned to America that would cement his place in history. We’re committed to making Medal of Honor even better, and you can help! Leave your feedback for the show by filling out our listener survey at http://bit.ly/mohsurvey Episode bibliography: Bailey, Robert and Katherine Bailey. “Seize Occupy and Defend.” Lulu.com, May 19, 2014. https://www.amazon.com/Seize-Occupy-Defend-Robert-Bailey/dp/1312175680. Olivas, Michael A. The "Trial of the Century" that Never Was: Staff Sgt. Macario Garcia, the Congressional Medal of Honor, and the Oasis Cafè. University of Houston Law Center, 2008. https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1278&context=ilj. Rivas-Rodríguez, Maggie and Emilio Zamora. “Beyond the Latino World War II…

If you were alive between 1918 and 1940, it is absolutely certain that you would have heard of Alvin York’s famous exploits in World War One. But would you know the truth about the man, and about what he did one desperate day on the battlefield? Chances are you’d only know part of his story. But the tale behind his actual heroism is far more interesting, and far more human. We’re committed to making Medal of Honor even better, and you can help! Leave your feedback for the show by filling out our listener survey at http://bit.ly/mohsurvey Episode bibliography: Gregory, James Patrick Jr. Unraveling the Myth of Sgt. Alvin York: The Other Sixteen. Texas A&M University Press, December 26, 2022. https://www.amazon.com/Unraveling-Myth-Sgt-Alvin-York/dp/1648430759 Nelson, James Carl. The York Patrol: The Real Story of Alvin York and the Unsung Heroes Who Made Him World War I's Most Famous Soldier. William Morrow, February 23, 2021. https://www.amazon.com/York-Patrol-Unsung-Heroes-Soldier/dp/0062975889. Perry, John.…

As a proud member of the Cherokee Nation, Dwight Birdwell was determined to fight for the country he loved. And his actions on the first day of the Tet Offensive in Vietnam are stuff of legend. But Dwight’s story is also about survival: not just what it takes to live through a terrible battle, but how that survival changes you– forever. We’re committed to making Medal of Honor even better, and you can help! Leave your feedback for the show by filling out our listener survey at http://bit.ly/mohsurvey Episode bibliography: Birdwell, Dwight W., and Keith William Nolan. A Hundred Miles of Bad Road: An Armored Cavalryman in Vietnam. Presidio Press, June 1, 1997. https://www.amazon.com/Hundred-Miles-Bad-Road-Cavalryman/dp/0891416285 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When fighter pilot Jefferson DeBlanc survived being shot at in a crazy dogfight over the Solomon Islands in World War Two, his adventure was only beginning. What happened after he parachuted out of his burning plane is a story of grit, blind optimism, and against-all-odds survival. We’re committed to making Medal of Honor even better, and you can help! Leave your feedback for the show by filling out our listener survey at http://bit.ly/mohsurvey Episode bibliography: DeBlanc, Jefferson. The Guadalcanal Air War: Col. Jefferson DeBlanc's Story. Pelican Publishing, April 15, 2008. https://www.amazon.com/Guadalcanal-Air-War-Jefferson-DeBlancs/dp/1589805879 Torres, Rivers. “Jefferson DeBlanc and the Air Battle for Guadalcanal.” The National WWII Museum, July 10, 2024. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/jefferson-deblanc-and-air-battle-guadalcanal Lord, Walter. “Ordeal At Vella Lavella.” American Heritage, June 1997. https://www.americanheritage.com/ordeal-vella-lavella Kwai, Anna Annie. Solomon…

Medal of Honor is back with Season Two! Join new host J.R. Martinez, a U.S. Army veteran whose life was profoundly changed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2003. J.R., introduced by Malcolm Gladwell, shares his journey of finding purpose through storytelling and previews the compelling stories of heroism in this season. Season Two explores a range of historical conflicts, from the Civil War, where we encounter the first Black sailor to receive the Medal of Honor, to the Boxer Rebellion and the remarkable Marine Daniel Daly, a recipient of two Medals of Honor. We also want to hear from you! Send us your personal story of courage, or highlight someone else’s bravery. Email us at medalofhonor@pushkin.fm. You might hear your stories on future episodes of Medal of Honor, or see them on our social channels @pushkinpods. Get early, ad-free access to episodes of Medal of Honor by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm. Pushkin+ subscribers can access ad-free episodes, full audiobooks, exclusive binges,…

March 25th was designated by Congress as a day of recognition and gratitude for those who have demonstrated extraordinary heroism and courage. Today marks one hundred and sixty two years since the very first medal of honor was ever awarded to Jacob Wilson Parrott, a private from the 33rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry’s Company K. We are celebrating the day by thinking back on some of the incredible heroes we covered in our last season. We will continue to tell those stories in our second season coming up in May. In the meantime, we also want to hear from you! Send us your personal story of courage, or highlight someone else’s bravery. You might hear your stories on future episodes of Medal of Honor, or see them on our social channels. Email us at medalofhonor@pushkin.fm. We’ll see you all back here in May. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malcolm chats with Meredith Rollins, the writer behind the series, to talk about what they both learned from the Medal of Honor recipients featured this season. They also share moments that didn’t make the cut, what surprised them, what made them cry– and the surprising influence of Medal of Honor moms. If you have questions or comments you would like Meredith to answer, you can email her at meredith.rollins@pushkin.fm or send us a message on any of our social media accounts @pushkinpods. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Chapman is the first member of the Air Force to receive the Medal of Honor since Vietnam. John’s story takes us to a freezing, snowy mountain range in Afghanistan on March 4th, 2002, where he deployed with SEAL Team 6 during Operation Anaconda. His bravery in the pre-dawn hours that day teaches us something vital about heroism: It means being willing to risk everything… even if no one can see you do it. Special thanks to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the Defense Visual Information Distributions Service. The appearance of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert E. Bush is one of the youngest recipients of the Medal of Honor. At only 18, Bob found himself at the Battle of Okinawa, the bloodiest and fiercest battle of World War II’s Pacific theater. But Bob wasn’t the only teenager at that battle. Both the Japanese and US military had young soldiers and medics in dangerous – and lethal – situations at the frontlines. Bob’s story is about what it means to fight when you are still so young. How it shapes the people who survive. And what their legacy is to their country and to future generations. Special thanks to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the worst days of the Vietnam war, Marine captain Jay Vargas led a group of young fighters called the Magnificent Bastards into the Battle of Dai Do. His actions during that three-day period are some of the most heroic – and horrific – we’ll hear about this season. What Jay lived through during those bloody, sleepless days would stay with him forever…but would take decades for him to talk about. On this episode, we confront the grip of PTSD, the power of veterans’ stories, and the way one man’s journey saved lives both on and off the battlefield. Special thanks to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Citizen’s Medal of Honor was first awarded in 2008 to recognize ordinary Americans whose actions “epitomize the concept of ‘service beyond self’ … ‘above and beyond’” their call of duty, whatever it may be. Molly Hudgens' duty was as a guidance counselor at Sycamore Middle School, in Tennessee, where in 2016 she came face to face with a potential school shooter – and managed to talk him out of it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tibor Rubin’s story continues. As a young man, Tibor joined the U.S. Army, and he was sent to fight during the Korean War, where he was captured and taken to a brutal prisoner of war camp. On multiple occasions, he saved many lives and acted with bravery to protect U.S. troops. His story is about more than courage and bravery. It’s about compassion. And the truth that, sometimes, hope is the most powerful defense we have. Special thanks to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the Buffalo Jewish Federation and the book "Single Handed: The Inspiring True Story of Tibor "Teddy" Rubin, Holocaust Survivor, Korean War Hero, and Medal of Honor Recipient". The appearance of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tibor Rubin is the only Holocaust survivor to win the Medal of Honor. Sent to a concentration camp at the age of 14, Tibor swore that if he lived, he would become an American GI. At 20, he joined the U.S. Army and shipped off to Korea. His acts of heroism on the battlefield were epic, and then he selflessly protected other soldiers at a brutal POW camp. His story is about more than courage and bravery. It’s about compassion. And the truth that, sometimes, hope is the most powerful defense we have. Special thanks to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the Buffalo Jewish Federation and the book "Single Handed: The Inspiring True Story of Tibor "Teddy" Rubin, Holocaust Survivor, Korean War Hero, and Medal of Honor Recipient". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Mary Walker was the first and only woman to have been awarded the Medal of Honor. She worked as a surgeon during the Civil War, saving the lives of Union soldiers. She crossed into dangerous enemy territory to take care of civilians in need. She was a prisoner of war. But her fight didn’t stop once the war was over. Throughout her life, Dr. Walker fought for equal rights, not just for women, but for everyone. She lived her life doing the right thing, no matter the cost. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every Medal of Honor action is, by definition, heroic. But the story of Alwyn Cashe is about a very specific element of heroism: Sacrifice. In 2005, Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe was stationed in Iraq with his platoon. He was known for how deeply he cared about his soldiers’ lives– and their safety. On a night in October, he proved how far he would go to protect them… risking his own life not once, but five incredible times. The appearance of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story of Douglas A. Munro’s heroism is told to every man and woman who joins the United States Coast Guard. In 1942, he led a dangerous rescue that saved an estimated 500 Marines from death on the island of Guadalcanal. He is the only member of the Coast Guard to have received the Medal of Honor. But Doug’s story isn’t just about his incredible heroic act. It’s also about a surprising kind of leadership with lessons for all of us. The appearance of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Henry Johnson, nicknamed Black Death, was one of the most famous American soldiers of World War I. He was part of the Harlem Hellfighters, the legendary all-Black U.S. Army unit, and awarded the French Croix de Guerre for single-handedly stopping an invading enemy force in the trenches. So how did he end up entirely forgotten? This is the story of one man’s inspiring fight – on and off the battlefield. Special thanks to Washington University in St Louis Missouri for sharing archival material from the documentary Men of Bronze by William Miles. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the waning days of the Vietnam War, two Navy SEALs were dropped into enemy territory for a routine scouting mission. But within hours, Michael Thornton and Thomas Norris would be battling to save their team – and each other – against terrible odds. What Michael Thornton did that day would become SEAL legend…and a lesson in the true nature of courage. Special thanks to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the Pritzker Military Museum & Library. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Launching on June 26, Medal of Honor: Stories of Courage is a new podcast telling the extraordinary tales of some of the United States’s military heroes. Every week, we'll dive into a different Medal of Honor recipient's life story. The Medal of Honor is awarded for bravery in combat that goes far above and beyond the call of duty – those acts of heroism and courage that save lives despite impossible risk. In our first season, you’ll hear stories about Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War to the Iraq War. We’ll think about what it is that makes a hero, the true nature of sacrifice, and what happens after you’ve become a hero. Medal of Honor: Stories of Courage is a co-production of iHeartMedia and Pushkin Industries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.