U.S. Army Korean War heroes PFC. Anthony Kaho’ohanohano and PFC. Henry Svehla will receive Medals of Honor May 2, 2011
Two U.S. soldiers will receive posthumous Medals of Honor for their actions during the Korean War.
Private First Class Anthony Kaho’ohanohano and Private First Class Henry Svehla will be recognized with the Medal of Honor for braving certain death and painful wounds to charge and repel overwhelming enemy forces during the war. Stars and Stripes
PFC. Anthony T. Kaho’ohanohano and PFC. Henry Svehla will receive the medals from President Barack Obama at a White House ceremony on May 2.
Kaho’ohanohano served in the Korean War and is a recipient of Distinguished Service Cross, the Army’s second-highest military award.
Kaho’ohanohano was a private first class serving with Company H, 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division during the Korean War. He was in charge of a machine-gun squad near Chup’a-ri, Korea, on Sept. 1, 1951.
As his unit, Company H, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, fell back under superior enemy numbers he ordered his squad to move to a more defensible position and provide covering fire for the retreating forces, according to a White House news release.
“He then gathered a supply of grenades and ammunition and returned to his original position to face the enemy alone – delivering deadly accurate fire into the ranks of the onrushing enemy. When his ammunition was depleted, he engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until he was killed. His heroic stand so inspired his comrades that they launched a counterattack that completely repulsed the enemy,”
“His last words were ‘I’ve got your back,’ and he went out and did his job,” his younger brother David Kaho’ohanohano, 77, of Hawaii told Stars and Stripes. “Nowadays, you don’t have too many heroes, and he was one of the big heroes in our family.”
Kaho’ohanohano’s sister, Elaine Kaho’ohanohano, and another brother, Eugene Kaho’ohanohano, will be at the White House ceremony.
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| PFC. Henry Svehla |
Private First Class Henry Svehla will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions in combat on June 12, 1952, while serving as a rifleman with Company F, 32d Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea.
Coming under heavy fire and with his platoon’s attack beginning to falter, Private First Class Svehla leapt to his feet and charged the enemy positions, firing his weapon and throwing grenades as he advanced. Disregarding his own safety, he destroyed enemy positions and inflicted heavy casualties. When an enemy grenade landed among a group of his comrades, without hesitation and undoubtedly aware of the extreme danger, he threw himself on the grenade. During this action, Private First Class Svehla was mortally wounded.
Private First Class Henry Svehla’s sisters, Dorothy Mathews and Sylvia Svehla will join the President at the White House to commemorate their brother’s example of selfless service and sacrifice.
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