Photo By Sgt. Mitch Armbruster | Capt. Frank C. Bauman reads the awards to the crowd before presenting them to the...... read more read more
Servicemembers deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, found inspiration in the messages of Medal of Honor recipients who sacrificed their time to visit Soldiers.
Retired Marine Capt. John J. McGinty III and retired Sgt. 1st Class Gary L. Littrell, visited Logistical Support Area Anaconda to speak to Soldiers and airmen about their experiences.
Both men addressed a crowd of Servicemembers at the east side Morale, Recreation and Welfare building. They discussed their experiences on the battlefield along with issues that face all servicemembers during their enlistments or after their commitments are completed.
Take full advantage of your benefits, McGinty suggested. He advised servicemembers to look into getting the most out of their benefits when they return home.
These men reflected on how their experiences visiting servicemembers made them feel.
"It makes us feel good and I'm doing everything that I can to be a part of it, to come out here and be with the men and women that are putting their lives on the line for us," McGinty said.
"You can retire from the military but you will never get the military out of your blood.
Whatever opportunity that I get to visit our servicemembers, regardless of the branch or location, especially in country here and in Afghanistan, it makes me feel younger and it makes me feel good to see the men and women with a smile on their faces when we show up," Littrell said.
"Soldiers say, "Thank you for taking the time to visit us" and our response is 'thank you for allowing me to come over." Any time that we can come over and say thank you for a job well done means so much to us," Littrell said.
"I hope there is an impact when we talk to the soldiers," McGinty said.
Littrell was born on Oct. 26, 1944 in Henderson, Ky.
He earned his citation while serving as a light weapons infantry advisor with the 23rd Battalion, 2nd Ranger Group, Republic of Vietnam Army.
Littrell and the battalion came under heavy mortar fire and the battle lasted four days. Littrell directed artillery and air support by day and marked the unit's location by night, despite heavy concentrated enemy fire.
He moved to points around their position that were seriously threatened by enemy fire to redistribute ammunition, strengthen faltering defenses, cared for the wounded and shouted encouragement to the Vietnamese soldiers he was working with in their own language.
Littrell's actions over the course of those four days showed his desire to accomplish the mission and keep his fellow Soldiers alive.
McGinty was born on Jan. 21, 1940 in Boston, Mass.
His platoon came under heavy small arms, automatic weapons and mortar fire from an enemy regiment. McGinty's 32-man platoon fought off waves of attacking enemy soldiers.
Two squads became separated during the fight and McGinty charged through intense automatic weapons and mortar fire to reach their position finding 20 men wounded and the medical corpsman killed.
He reloaded magazines and weapons with ammunition for the wounded men and directed their fire on the enemy.
Although he was wounded, he cared for his disabled men.
The enemy tried to outflank his position but McGinty was able to kill five of them with his pistol. He was able to adjust artillery and air strikes to end the enemy siege, which left an estimated 500 enemy bodies on the battlefield.
McGinty's heroism and leadership inspired his men to resist the repeated attacks of the enemy.
He said that fear is something that affects you during these types of situations.
"It's absolutely terrifying. The trick is to never show fear. It was the hardest thing to do, to keep cool," McGinty said. "You folks have a tougher war to fight. The enemy is more elusive than the ones that we had to fight."
Littrell and McGinty illustrated their experiences, but most of all they inspired servicemembers to remember that the work being done in Iraq and Afghanistan is not in vain.
| Date Taken: | 11.18.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 11.18.2005 11:06 |
| Story ID: | 3778 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 22 |
This work, Medal of Honor recipients visit LSA Anaconda, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
