Congressional Medal of Honor
Not many serice members ever receive this medal, as most who do receive it posthumously! What does this medal represent to all who wear it? It represents the ultimate sacrifice which goes above and beyond the call of normal military duty. It represents the ultimate sacrifice that family members, military units, and nations make to preserve the Constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights, and our Declaration of Independence. The Medal of Honor (MOH) represents all that is good in a military member, regardless of the adversities they experience during combat situations. And, it typically represents the reality that one human life was sacrificed to God, Family, and Country that many human lives could be saved from the grip of death!
As our nations highest military award, any service member wearing this medal is honored by all military personnel with a hand salute, regardless of their rank. May all Americans also give honor to those in uniform for their service to our nation for one day they too may find themselves in a situation where they may need to sacrifice one life to preserve many lives. God Bless America... and those who proudly serve her!
READ more about the Medal of Honor.
Medal of Honor...
Standing up for the US Constitution and Freedom!
There are always sacrifices to be made in the "heat of battle," and while each sacrifice takes its eternal toll on family members, other military personnel, community, and nation it is inevitable that some military service members will go beyond the call to duty for God, Family and Country. PFC Charles George was such an individual and on behalf of Cynthia Breyfogle, the Medical Center Director of the VA Hospital cordially invited family and other veterans to attend a ceremony honoring Private First Class Charles George, Medal of Honor recipient. Jack Greve, the Past District 25 Commander of the American Legion, and I attended that ceremony, during which time the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians presented the VA Medical Center with a life-size bronze statue of PFC George. The ceremony took place in the garden in front of the CLC entrance of the Charles George VA Medical Center, Asheville, North Carolina, on September 24, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.
Neither Past Commander Greve nor I knew PFC George or any of his family, yet as veterans of the military and members of the American Legion District 25, it was our honor to support this occasion with our presence. The ceremony was dignified, the day was sunny and pleasant, and the attendance was great. Not many veterans have the opportunity to honor a Medal of Honor recipient and I was taken back by the conduct and solemn attitude of all in attendance. It felt as though PFC George was truly in our presence for one could feel his presence in the atmosphere of love for his ultimate sacrifice. God bless all we give of themselves so whole-heartedly and with remorse.
David Zachary,
Webmaster and Assistant-Chaplain
PFC Charles George
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Songnae-dong, Korea, 30 November 1952. Entered service at: Whittier, N.C. Born: 23 August 1932, Cherokee, N.C.G.O. NO.: 19, 18 March 1954.
Citation: PFC George, a member of Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy on the night of 30 November 1952. He was a member of a raiding party committed to engage the enemy and capture a prisoner for interrogation. Forging up the rugged slope of the key terrain feature, the group was subjected to intense mortar and machine gun fire and suffered several casualties. Throughout the advance, he fought valiantly and, upon reaching the crest of the hill, leaped into the trenches and closed with the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. When friendly troops were ordered to move back upon completion of the assignment, he and 2 comrades remained to cover the withdrawal. While in the process of leaving the trenches, a hostile soldier hurled a grenade into their midst. PFC George shouted a warning to 1 comrade, pushed the other soldier out of danger, and, with full knowledge of the consequences, unhesitatingly threw himself upon the grenade, absorbing the full blast of the explosion. Although seriously wounded in this display of valor, he refrained from any outcry which would divulge the position of his companions. The 2 soldiers evacuated him to the forward aid station and shortly thereafter he succumbed to his wound. PFC George's indomitable courage, consummate devotion to duty, and willing self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself and uphold the finest traditions of the military service.
READ the official citation here.
Life-size bronze statue of PFC Charles George
located at the VA Medical Center, Asheville, NC
