Memorial Day, 2025

Since Memorial Day is specifically to remember those who gave their lives in service to this country, and since I like to recall Medal of Honor recipients on this day, I thought I'd just tell some of those who received it posthumously.

Freddie Stowers served in France during World War I. His company was advancing in the Ardennes region when the Germans faked surrender, then eliminated half of the company in a barrage of gunfire. Stowers marshaled the platoon he just inherited and led them to eliminate a German trench line. Then he took the remaining members and assaulted a second line. Stowers was shot twice, but urged his men to keep going. He died, but they took the trench line and the hill.

Here's one you might not expect. Ben Salomon served as a dentist in World War II. He was working in an aid station in Saipan in 1944 when the Japanese overran the front line and headed toward the station. Salomon ordered everyone out while he covered their retreat. When the Army returned to the scene, they found Salomon's body slumped over a machine gun with 98 dead Japanese in front of him. He had been shot 24 times before he died.

William Pitsenbarger served in Vietnam. He was in the Air Force as a Pararescue, risking his life nearly daily pulling fellow service members to safety. In 1966 he took part in an operation to evacuate a group of injured soldiers. He was lowered to the ground and secured 6 injured, then waited while they left to an aid station. When the returning copter took small arms fire, he waved them off. For 90 minutes he tended the wounded and dispersed ammunition then helped fend off the Viet Cong. He was killed by a sniper that night, but he managed to save 9 more soldiers before he died.

Over and over Americans have faced dire circumstances defending freedom and stood the test. Some died doing it. These gave selflessly and at great cost for something more than themselves. We could certainly use a reminder of this kind of attitude ... probably more than once a year.