Medal of Honor recipient Jack Jacobs returns to Vietnam and faces his former foe (Video)

Pham Phi Hung and Jack Jacobs,in Cao Lanh, Vietnam
Photo credit: Jack Jacobs

Medal of Honor Recipient, Col. Jack Jacobs U.S. Army (Retired) recounts his journey back to Vietnam in a recent article and excellent video series on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams:  Going back to a terrifying place where a young man grew old: Col. Jack Jacobs returns to the site of a ferocious Mekong Delta battle.

Col. Jacobs writes:

"I was an adviser to a Vietnamese infantry battalion, fighting our way through the Tet offensive. One morning, we were caught in the open by more than 250 Viet Cong in prepared positions. Most of us became casualties in the initial seconds of the engagement, and it took us the rest of the day to fight our way out. (Jacobs was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions that day. Read the official citation)."

"I had been meaning to return for ages, but I never stumbled across the opportunity. For me, as for many others, it was almost as if Vietnam wasn’t a real place and existed only as a faint memory. But a few months ago, I returned to stand at the place where, in the short time of a couple of hours, I had grown old."

Read more of Jack Jacob's article on NBC news: Part 1

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

In part two of the series, MOH recipient Col. Jack Jacobs meets the Viet Cong commander who led a deadly ambush of his battalion.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Jacobs is a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions during the Vietnam War.

Read some of Jack Jacob’s blogs from his trip back to Vietnam on Newsvine.

He also recently wrote a memoir: "If Not Now, When?: Duty and Sacrifice in America's Time of Need"

World War II MOH Bob Maxwell gets high school diploma at 90 years old (Video)

MOH recipient Robert Dale Maxwell

Medal of Honor recipient and World War II hero, Robert Dale Maxwell has just now received his high school diploma at 90 years old.

He graduates with the class of 2011 at Bend (OR) Senior High School.

After seventh grade, Maxwell was taken out of school to work on his family's farm in Kansas, during the Great Depression.

"It was just accepted in those days, when a boy was old enough to do a man's work, that's what he did," Maxwell said.

After his service he went on to receive his GED and even taught at Bend High School in the 1950's.

Maxwell joined the Army in 1942, and by September 7, 2024 was serving as a technician fifth grade in the 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. On that day, near Besançon in eastern France, Maxwell smothered the blast of an enemy hand grenade with his body to protect those around him. He survived his wounds and seven months later, on April 6, 1945, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.

He is Oregon’s only Medal of Honor recipient.

"We're the ones honored, yet because of his humility, he feels honored," said Principal H.D. Wedell.

"In some ways, I feel like it's a diploma that I haven't earned," Maxwell said. "But, then I look back over the 73 years behind me, and I guess I have accumulated enough knowledge and skills to say that I've learned."

Read more of the article here: 90-year-old receives his high school diploma

Medal of Honor recipient Col. Lewis Lee Millett medals stolen

Col. Lewis Lee Millett Sr.

According to an article posted on June 10, 2025 in The Press-Enterprise, War hero's medals stolen from storage unit:

The family of the late Col. Lewis Lee Millett Sr., who died in 2009 at age 88 and received the Medal of Honor, four Purple Hearts, the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver and Bronze stars, among others, is searching for some of the colonel's medals that were stolen from a storage unit.

In April, all of his commendations except the Medal of Honor and Purple Hearts were stolen from a storage unit near Sanderson Avenue and Wentworth Drive in Hemet, in Riverside Country, California.

According to the article: “Also stolen were medals awarded to Millett by Canada and France, his bayonet collection, an Indian war saber, World War II uniforms and his family's paintings.”

Most of the medals and other items were put in storage to avoid fire danger at their Idyllwild home, but his family kept the Medal of Honor and Purple Hearts close by at home.

The storage unit was one of three in Hemet that authorities say were burglarized by the same man: Nicholas Keys, 29, of Hemet, who pleaded guilty this week to one count of burglary.

Since Keys' arrest, a few mementos have been recovered, but not the medals.” “The theft of military medals is rare because they are difficult to sell, said Riverside National Cemetery Director Dean Moline. The recognitions are serialized and usually engraved with the recipient's name."

"What (the family) wanted were the medals," Wisehart said. "Everything we recovered was miscellaneous stuff, and not exactly what they were looking for."

Tracing the medals could prove difficult, police said. Millett Jr. and fellow veteran friends are scouring the Internet looking for possible sales.

"It's stolen valor as far as I'm concerned," Millett Jr. said. "Anyone who would steal someone else's medals is disgraceful to his heroism and his sacrifice."

He was given the Medal of Honor -- the highest military decoration the United States bestows -- for a Feb. 7, 1951, charge during the Korea War. According to the citation, Millett led a bayonet counterattack up a hill, killing enemy soldiers in hand-to-hand assault where they took the position. During the battle, he was wounded in a grenade blast.

Millett retired in 1973, after serving along with his son in Vietnam when Saigon fell, his son said. During the war, he acted as a hostage to bring the North Vietnamese Army to the U.S. during negotiations, Millett Jr. said.

Moline, director of the Riverside National Cemetery, said he had only heard of war medals being stolen twice during his career.

"Most honest people wouldn't buy them unless it comes from the person themselves," Moline said. "I don't see how there's a market for honest collectors."

The theft of Millett's medals shows a lack of respect for all veterans who served and sacrificed for their country, Moline said.

Anyone with information about the missing medals may call Hemet police at 951-765-2400.

Missing:

Distinguished Service Cross: Second-highest honor given by the Army for valor, extreme gallantry and risk of life in combat.

Silver Star: Third-highest decoration in any branch of the U.S. military; given for valor in the face of the enemy.

Legion of Merit: Recognizes exceptionally meritorious conduct.

Bronze Star: Awarded for bravery, acts of merit or meritorious service.

Croix de Guerre: A French award to U.S. forces for valor.

Not stolen:

Medal of Honor: The highest award given during combat, bestowed by the president for bravery and heroism.

Purple Heart (four): Awarded for being wounded or killed in action.

Sources: U.S. Army, Department of Defense


Read the rest of the article here

Poem:

Lewis Millett wrote the following poem in memory of soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice, especially his youngest son, and the 347 people who were killed returning from a peacekeeping mission in the Sinai.


A SOLDIER’S PRAYER - by Col. Lewis L. Millett

I’ve fought when others feared to serve.

I’ve gone where many failed to go.

I’ve lost friends in war and strife, who valued duty over the love of life.

I’ve shared the comradeship of pain

I’ve searched these lands for men that we’ve lost.

I’ve sons who’ve served our land of liberty who’d fight to see that other lands are free.

I’ve seen the weak forsake humanity.

I’ve heard fakers praise our enemy.

I’ve seen challenged men stand ever bolder.

I’ve seen the duty, the honor, the sacrifice of the soldier.

Now, I understand the meaning of all lives,

The lives of comrades of not so long ago.

So to you who answered duties siren call, may

God bless you my son, may God bless you all.

NOTE:

The story about Col. Millett's is not unusual. Family members of Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt. Homer L. Wise of Stamford, CT are searching for all of his medals including the Medal of Honor, the Silver Star, three bronze stars, three purple hearts and ten other decorations.

Sgt. Wise died in 1974 and news reports published over the years in the Stamford (CT) Advocate revealed that the last known location of Sgt. Wise's medals were in the collection of the renowned military medal collector Evans Kerrigan.

Mr. Kerrigan in one of the newspaper's articles is quoted as saying he gave the medals to a Stamford veteran Edward Page for safe keeping. Mr. Page died in 1998. His widow has no recollection that her husband had Sgt. Wise’s medals. Any information regarding the location of these medals would be greatly appreciated.

Please contact the Homer L. Wise Memorial Committee at [email protected].

Medal of Honor recipient Paul Bucha keynote speaker at Veteran Symposium

MOH recipient Paul Bucha Photo: Eugenie Diserio

Vietnam veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Paul Bucha was the keynote speaker at the New Canaan (CT) High School’s Annual Veterans Symposium on May 27,2025 that honored 80 veterans from every branch of the military.

From Eugenie Diserio’s article, Veterans Honored at NCHS Symposium in the New Canaan Patch:

"Medal of Honor recipients are no different than other people who believe in a better world," Bucha explained. "They refused to accept death and instead challenged destiny to change things."

"The lesson," he said, "is each of us has the potential to change this world."

Bucha and many of his fellow veterans of the Vietnam War were not welcomed nor thanked when they returned home. Today his mission is to insure veterans in combat or not receive the respect and thanks they deserve for their service.

"Never again will we allow a nation to forget," he said.

Principal Tony Pavia, who organized the event stated:

"These are heroes you have in front of you today, all of these people at the same age as you, left their homes to go to parts unknown," he said.

Pavia asked the students to remember what this weekend is all about -- to honor people who gave their lives for our country.

The ceremony also featured a performance by the U.S. Marine Corps Band from Parris Island.

Pavia said he brought in the Parris Island Marine Corps Band to honor the 80 veterans who came to the event. The band played a medley of the songs from each branch of the military. The veterans stood up when their song was played.

After the ceremony Mr. Bucha signed copies of the book, "Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty."

MOH recipient Paul Bucha and New Canaan High School Principal, Tony Pavia are both members of the Homer L. Wise Memorial Committee, which is in the process of raising funds to erect a bronze statue in Stamford, CT of Master Sergeant Homer L. Wise awarded the Medal of Honor on June 14, 1944. Sergeant Wise was one of the most decorated infantrymen of World War II.

Please visit the website to learn more about the extraordinary story of this humble hero at The Homer L. Wise Memorial Committee

Read the rest of the article on The New Canaan Patch

Photo credit: Eugenie Diserio, About Town, New Canaan Patch

President Obama to Award Medal of Honor to Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry

Last week it was announced that Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry would soon receive the Medal of Honor. Although there have been nine recipients of this award from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Petry is only the second to have survived the combat action that earned him America's highest award for combat heroism.

During the combat action, Petry was shot through both legs. Fighting off the pain, he continued to engage a determined and aggressive enemy in an intense firefight. A live enemy grenade landed near two of Petry's fellow soldiers. Rather than diving for cover, Petry, ignoring his wounds, grabbed the grenade and tossed it away in order to protect his comrades-in-arms. As the grenade was leaving his hand, it exploded, blowing off Petry's right hand and causing other injuries. His quick and heroic action prevented the injury and possible death of his two buddies.

On July 12th, President Barack Obama will award Sergeant First Class Leroy Arthur Petry, U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry. Sergeant First Class Petry will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions during combat operations against an armed enemy in Paktya, Afghanistan in May, 2008. He will be the second living, active duty service member to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. Sergeant First Class Petry’s wife, Ashley, and other family members will join the President at the White House to commemorate his example of selfless service.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND: Leroy Arthur Petry was born on July 29, 1979. He is a native of Santé Fe, New Mexico and enlisted in the United States Army in September 1999. He attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Sergeant First Class Petry is currently assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment and attached to Special Operations Command (SOCOM) with duty at Joint Base Lewis McChord as a liaison for the SOCOM Care Coalition where he tracks and monitors injured Rangers returning from the Theater of Operations to the initial place of care to home station care.

Sergeant First Class Petry has completed multiple combat tours to Afghanistan and Iraq totaling 28 months of deployment.

His military decorations include: two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, National Defense Service Medal, three Army Good Conduct Medals, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Combat Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Combat Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, to name a few.