Valor of Many Stripes

The award of a military decoration does not define valor—it only recognizes it. Many acts of notable courage and self-sacrifice occur on the battlefield but are often obscured in the fog of battle or lost to history, unrecognized and unheralded.
The largely overlooked men and women in this volume did incredible things in dire circumstances. Although in some cases decorations were awarded—including several Medals of Honor—their stories remain unknown.

Scott Baron, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War and former law enforcement officer teaches United States history in Salinas, California.

Scott Baron
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 224
Bibliographic Info: 23 photos, bibliographies, index
Copyright Date: 2019
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7441-4
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3508-8
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Introduction 1
Kemp Tolley: The Man Who Almost Started World War II 3
Kermit Tyler: Pursuit Officer, Fort Shafter, Oahu, Hawaii Territory 8
Edwin P. Ramsey: The Last Horse Cavalry Charge in U.S. Military History 14
James R. Roosevelt: Second Marine Raider Battalion at Makin Island 24
Douglas Munro: Only Coast Guard Medal of Honor 39
Demas T. Craw and Pierpont M. Hamilton: Operation Torch 44
The Niland Brothers: Inspiration for Saving Private Ryan 55
The Borgstrom Brothers: Further Inspiration for Saving Private Ryan 60
The Stokes Twins: Awarded the Silver Star for the Same Action 65
Guy “Gabby” Gabaldon: The “Pied Piper of Saipan,” from Hell to Eternity 78
Eugene B. Fluckey: Only Sub Commander to “Torpedo” a Train 86
John C. “Jack” Lee, Jr.: Joint German American Force at the End of World War II 97
Operation Ginny II: Execution of 15 American Commandos 109
Matt Urban: Most Decorated Soldier in American History 124
Maynard H. “Snuffy” Smith: First Enlisted Airman Medal of Honor (Europe) 131
Joseph T. ­O’Callahan: Only Chaplain Awarded Medal of Honor in World War II 138
Silvestre S. Herrera: Medal of Honor Awarded to a Mexican National 144
Isadore S. Jachman: ­Native-Born German Who Won the Medal of Honor 148
Richard Nott Antrim: Only Medal of Honor Awarded to a POW During World War II 153
Roddie Edmonds: First U.S. Serviceman Named “Righteous Among the Nations” 164
Charles Valentine August: Twice a POW in the Same War 169
Virginia Hall: World War II’s Most Dangerous Spy 175
Moe Berg: Catcher, Scholar, Intelligence Officer 183
Bert Shepard: ­One-Legged Major League Pitcher 189
William Augustus Read, Jr.: Coconuts and the Navy Cross 195
Bruce Ward Carr: Departed in a Mustang, Returned in a ­Focke-Wulf 202
Chips: U.S. Army War Dog Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross 208
Index 215