Originally enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve, Hector Cafferata Jr found himself called to active duty at the outbreak of the Korean War. His unit was tasked with defending a hill at the critical Toktong Pass, where Cafferata fought to protect his fellow Marines from a wave of enemy soldiers.

Hector Cafferata

Ken Harbaugh tells the stories of service members who have distinguished themselves through an act of valor. These stories from the Civil War to present day include recipients who were originally overlooked for the medal as well as those who were celebrated at the time.This podcast is made in partnership with The National Medal of Honor Museum.

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Today we are sharing an interview from our other show, Warriors In Their Own Words, which features Medal of Honor Recipient Earl Plumlee. Plumlee's story is almost unbelievable, and it's even more incredible hearing him tell it. We'll be back with another new episode of the Medal of Honor Podcast next week, but in the meantime, enjoy.

Feed Drop: An Insurgent’s Nightmare - MSG Earl Plumlee

Next week we'll be sharing an interview with MOH recipient Earl Plumlee, which was recorded for our other show, Warriors In Their Own Words. In preparation, today we're re-airing our Medal of Honor episode about Plumlee. His story is one of the most incredible we've heard, so it's really worth taking a listen.
MSG Plumlee’s Medal of Honor story is straight out of a movie. When enemies with suicide vests attacked his base in Afghanistan, Plumlee was out gunned and outmanned. He fought multiple insurgents with little ammo, and miraculously emerged from the fight with relatively minor injuries despite being under heavy fire.

Rerun: The Unbelievable Story - MSG Earl Plumlee

Private Dale Merlin Hansen served in the Marine Corps during World War II. On May 7th, 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, Hansen took matters into his own hands and crawled into an exposed, advanced position. He fired his rocket launcher, destroying an important Japanese pillbox before his weapon was broken by enemy fire. Finding a nearby rifle, he continued his advance, killing four enemies before it jammed. He then fought two more off with the butt of his weapon and took cover. From there, he was able to arm himself with several grenades and a new weapon. He advanced again, killing eight enemies and destroying a strong enemy mortar position all on his own.
Sadly, three days later, Hansen was mortally wounded by a sniper round while fighting at Dakeshi Ridge.
On May 30th, 1946, Private Dale Merline Hansen was posthumously awarded for his bravery and indomitable determination during the Battle of Okinawa.

A One-Man Advance: Pvt. Dale Merlin Hansen

Today we want to introduce you to a new podcast from Evergreen Podcasts called History Shorts.
Award-winning historian, author, and history professor Peter Zablocki shares his research into the little-known and hidden-in-plain-sight historical curiosities you probably never heard of. All in the little time you probably do not have. Our guest today is Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Jack H. Jacobs. His selfless acts under fire in Vietnam saved the lives of fellow soldiers and earned him the nation’s highest military honors. The story of Mr. Jacobs’ life before and after the defining event is one of resilience, leadership, and unwavering principles.

Feed Drop: History Shorts - Conversations: Col. Jack H. Jacobs

On January 31st, 1968, Specialist 5 Dwight W. Birdwell and his troop were ordered to respond to an NVA attack on Tan Son Nhut Air Base. When the arrived on scene, they were ambushed by over 1,000 soldiers from either side of the road. Birdwell’s troop immediately took heavy casualties, including Birdwell’s tank commander. Under heavy fire, Birdwell got him out of the tank, onto the ground, and to a safe position before commandeering the tank. Standing in the hatch half exposed, Birdwell used the tank, a .50 caliber machine gun, a m60 machine gun, and his m16 rifle to fend off the attackers. Eventually something exploded in front of him, destroying his machine gun and sending shrapnel into his face, chest, arms, and hands. He then gathered a few other soldiers and took cover in the ditch beside the road. He was ordered to evacuate via a helicopter due to his wounds, but he snuck off the other side of the aircraft in order to stay and keep fighting. He then helped treat other wounded soldiers and continued engaging the enemy until reinforcements arrived. Only then did he finally agree to be evac’ed. Birdwell’s bravery and leadership was crucial to the defense of Tan Son Nhut, and directly led to an American victory. This NVA attack was one of several that marked the beginning of the Tet Offensive, which became one of the bloodiest periods in the Vietnam War. 

Birwell’s commanding officer originally recommended him for the Medal of Honor, but that recommendation was sabotaged. In an act of racism, the events of January 31st were intentionally recorded incorrectly in order to prevent Birdwell from receiving the medal. Major chunks of Birdwell’s heroism were missing, and as a result, it was not originally upgraded.

Finally on July 5th, 2022, Dwight Birdwell was awarded the Medal of Honor for his leadership and tenacity under fire over 50 years prior. His other awards include two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and two Silver Stars.

﻿You can read Birdwell's Medal of Honor Citation on the National Medal of Honor Museum website.

Hector Cafferata

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