Civil War officer's heroism earns Medal of Honor

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE

WASHINGTON (AP) — After an act of Congress and years of lobbying by descendants and admirers, a Union Army officer who made the ultimate sacrifice more than 150 years ago will be recognized for his heroism when President Barack Obama grants him the nation's highest commendation for battlefield valor.

Obama on Monday was bestowing the Medal of Honor on 1st Lt. Alonzo H. Cushing, who was killed in July 1863 during the three-day Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle is often described as the turning point of the Civil War, in which the North prevailed over a breakaway South.

Congress granted an exemption so Cushing could receive the medal, since recommendations normally must be made within two years of the act of heroism, and the medal presented within three.

Obama will also present medals to a pair of Vietnam War soldiers also granted congressional exemptions: Army Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins and Army Spc. Donald P. Sloat.

FULL story at link.



This undated photo provided by the Wisconsin Historical Society shows First Lt. Alonzo H. Cushing. President Barack Obama is bestowing the nation{2019}s highest military honor on the Union Army officer who was killed more than 150 years ago in the Battle of Gettysburg. Cushing died in July 1863 while standing his ground against Pickett{2019}s Charge. Congress had to grant an exemption for Cushing, since recommendations for a Medal of Honor must be made within two years of an act of heroism. (AP Photo/Wisconsin Historical Society)


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140915/us--obama-medal_of_honor-b09809616e.html

[joshcryer]

1. Nice bit of history, Feingold pushed this effort.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alonzo_Cushing

[msanthrope]

2. Something so poetic about this medal....Pickett's charge being the beginning

of the end for the values of the South.

[joshcryer]

4. So true, Cushing fought while his intestines were falling out.

An heroic effort by the Unionists, and a really important part of our history. It's no wonder Feingold was one of the Senators to support this.

[msanthrope]

5. BS hide on the other thread, btw....nt

[denbot]

3. Not suprising that a previous award attempt was stripped by Sen Webb R-VA

Webb was still fighting the Civil War, what a dick.

Cushing's brother Howard was killed fighting my tribe, the Chiricahua Apache.

[Johnyawl]

6. Webb is a Democrat

[denbot]

8. Your F'ing kidding..

My bad, I just assume dickish moves are made by republicans.

[Johnyawl]

9. Webb is kind of an odd duck...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Webb

[VScott]

7. Even Rambo wouldn't have survived and lived to tell this story.

Despite wounds, Medal of Honor recipient killed up to 175 enemies, saved comrades

(CNN) -- As many as 175 enemy troops killed, 18 wounds from enemy fire, 38 hours of battle, 48 hours evading the North Vietnamese troops in the bush -- and one tiger. Those are the numbers behind Sgt. Maj. Bennie Adkins' Medal of Honor, an award he will receive from President Obama in a White House ceremony Monday.

Adkins, of Opelika, Alabama, is being honored for his actions in Vietnam's A Shau Valley more than 48 years ago. Then a 32-year-old sergeant first class, Adkins was among a handful of Americans working with troops of the South Vietnamese Civil Irregular Defense Group at Camp A Shau when the camp was attacked by a large North Vietnamese and Viet Cong force on March 9, 1966, according to an Army report.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/15/us/adkins-medal-of-honor/index.html?hpt=hp_t2