The quiet hero : the untold Medal of Honor story of George E. Wahlen at the battle for Iwo Jima

This powerful story documents the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of extraordinary navy corpsman George Wahlen. After decades of silence, this survivor of one of World War II's most horrific battles divulges the gritty details of his incredible experiences. Upon landing with a company of 250 marines, Wahlen fought alongside them. Under repeated grenade and mortar fire himself, Wahlen refused evacuation, preferring to aid those he perceived to be in greater danger. Witnesses of his heroics remain dumbfounded he survived, and while his incredible feats of bravery saved countless marines, the intensity of the battle left few men of the company unscathed—they suffered the highest killed-in-action ratio of any marine company during a single battle in U.S. history. The significance of his story lies in the historic context of the battle for Iwo Jima; while many remember the iconic flag-raising photograph captured during this conflict, few realize the battle was the most costly of World War II for America. After receiving a Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman in 1945, Wahlen has been the quintessential quiet hero, refusing the adulation usually bestowed on nationally recognized veterans. Preliminaries......Page 1 Contents......Page 7 FOREWORD......Page 9 INTRODUCTION......Page 11 PREFACE......Page 14 1 D-DAY, FEBRUARY 19,1945......Page 18 2 BIRTH TO BOOT CAMP......Page 20 3 SAILOR TO MARINE......Page 27 4 TRAINING TO TRAINING......Page 33 5 HAWAII IS HELL......Page 46 6 FINDING GOD......Page 58 7 OPERATION DETACHMENT......Page 65 8 D-DAY, FEBRUARY 19,1945......Page 71 9 D DAY AFTERNOON......Page 82 10 D 1 AND D 2 THE FIRST CASUALTY......Page 91 11 D 3 THIS LOUSY STINKING ISLAND......Page 101 12 D 4 A SHIFT IN MOMENTUM......Page 109 13 D 5 AND D 6 THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM......Page 117 14 D 7 A M THE CRUCIBLE......Page 123 15 D 7 P M MY JOB NO MORE NO LESS......Page 133 16 D 8 REGIMENTAL RESERVE......Page 143 17 D 9 DIG AND HOLD......Page 147 18 D 10 TAKING HILL 362A......Page 151 19 D 11 CAUGHT FROM BEHIND......Page 157 20 D 12 THE FINAL ACT OF HEROISM......Page 165 21 EVACUATION......Page 176 22 FROM PATIENT TO PILL PUSHER......Page 181 23 HOME AND DISCHARGE......Page 191 24 POST WWII......Page 195 EPILOGUE FROM METTLE TO MEDAL......Page 206 APPENDIX A TWO NAVY CROSSES FOR A MEDAL OF HONOR......Page 208 APPENDIX B TIMELINE......Page 214 IN MEMORIAM......Page 216 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 217 HELPFUL TERMS......Page 221 NOTES AND SOURCES......Page 225 PHOTOGRAPH IMAGE CREDITS......Page 230 INDEX......Page 232 This powerful story documents the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of extraordinary navy corpsman George Wahlen. After decades of silence, this survivor of one of World War II's most horrific battles divulges the gritty details of his incredible experiences. Upon landing with a company of 250 marines, Wahlen fought alongside them. Under repeated grenade and mortar fire himself, Wahlen refused evacuation, preferring to aid those he perceived to be in greater danger. Witnesses of his heroics remain dumbfounded he survived, and while his incredible feats of bravery saved countless marines, the intensity of the battle left few men of the company unscathed#x97;they suffered the highest killed-in-action ratio of any marine company during a single battle in U.S. history. The significance of his story lies in the historic context of the battle for Iwo Jima; while many remember the iconic flag-raising photograph captured during this conflict, few realize the battle was the most costly of World War II for America. After receiving a Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman in 1945, Wahlen has been the quintessential quiet hero, refusing the adulation usually bestowed on nationally recognized veterans In 1945, President Harry Truman decorated George Wahlen with the Medal of Honor to recognize his bravery on Iwo Jima. Wahlen's medal citation reads like a rejected John Wayne movie script too grand to be believed. Those who witnessed his heroics remain dumbfounded he survived. For over 60 years, he has been the quintessential quiet hero. After decades of silence, Bob Dole (foreword) and Senator Orrin Hatch (introduction) help tell this incredible untold story The Medal of Honor is our nation's most prestigious military award. During World War II, few recipients of this medal survived to tell their story. George E. Wahlen was decorated with the Medal of Honor after his heroic efforts saved countless lives at the battle for Iwo Jima. Witnesses of his heroics remain dumbfounded he survived. After over 60 years of silence, his story is finally told The Quiet Hero: The Untold Medal of Honor Story of George E. Wahlen at the Battle for Iwo Jima КНИГИ ;ВОЕННАЯ ИСТОРИЯ Издательство: American Legacy MediaАвтор(ы): Gary W. ToynЯзык: EnglishГод издания: 2006Количество страниц: 240ISBN: 978-0-9761547-1-6Формат: pdf (e-book)Размер: 8.43 mb RAPIDили IFOLDER 0 Hunkered down on the island of Iwo Jima, George Wahlen and his unit, ("F" Company, 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division) waited anxiously for orders to advance.