Medal of Honor recipients visit Soldiers in Iraq

Photo By Spc. Jason Jordan | CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq -- Medal of Honor recipients Gary Littrell and John McGinty III, visit Soldiers of the 1/10th Mountain Division Oct. 30 to tell of their heroic actions in an attempt to boost the Soldiers' morale. Here, Soldiers study the design of the Medal of Honor, after recipient Littrell takes his medal of his neck and passes it around to the Soldiers in the room.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

11.07.2005

Courtesy Story

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Pfc. Jason Jordan
1/10th Mountain Division PAO

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq -- "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty."

These words prelude the citation that is read for Medal of Honor recipients.

Soldiers of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division had the opportunity Oct. 30 to meet two of the men who have heard those words read in their honor.

Retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Gary Littrell and retired Marine 2nd Lt. John McGinty III visited Operation Iraqi Freedom 3 Soldiers to talk about the Medal of Honor and boost the Soldiers" morale.

"We were asked last year if we could send some representatives from our society to Afghanistan and Iraq to meet with Soldiers," said Littrell, president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. "The response and enthusiasm of the Soldiers were so overwhelming that we were asked again to come back this year."

The two met with Soldiers from each battalion of the 1st BCT, and attended a luncheon with them at the Blizzard Inn dining facility.

"I am so proud to be here today among these Soldiers. It is honestly doing more for my morale than I think I am doing for yours," McGinty said. "I see no less bravery and honor among the Soldiers today than I did years ago. The 10th Mountain Division Soldiers are a great bunch, and it makes me proud to be an American citizen."

The Soldiers listened to accounts of each MOH recipient's combat action and later had the chance to ask questions.

"These guys were closer to action and danger than most of us will ever be," said Spc. Michael Simpson, B Company, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment. "They stayed brave and risked their lives to save others in the kind of situations you only see in the movies."

Littrell was serving as an adviser to the 23rd Battalion, 2nd Ranger Group of the South Vietnamese Army when his battalion came under intense enemy mortar attacks and several ambushes starting on April 4, 1970.

Over the course of four days, Littrell redirected the battalion's fire, called in air support by day and marked enemy locations by night " all while redistributing ammunition and shouting words of encouragement to the Vietnamese in their own language.

"We got caught in a bad situation that day," Littrell said. "I didn't feel like a hero. I just felt like I had a job to do. I think I was only a sergeant doing his job on that hill. That's all."

McGinty was with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam in July 1966. His MOH citation describes how his platoon was providing rear security to protect the withdrawal of his battalion from a position in which they had been under attack for three days.

The battalion came under heavy small arms, automatic weapons and mortar fire from the enemy. With each wave of attack that assaulted his platoon during a four-hour battle, McGinty rallied his men to beat off the enemy.

In one particular assault, two squads became separated from the rest of the platoon. McGinty charged through intense enemy fire to reach the squads, where he found 20 men wounded and the medical corpsman dead. McGinty reloaded ammunition for the wounded, and directed their fire at the enemy.

McGinty killed five of the enemy at point-blank range when they attacked again, and then directed artillery fire to within 50 yards of his position -- which helped route the enemy.

When asked if he knew that he was committing heroic acts that day, McGinty replied, "I never considered myself a hero, and I don't to this day. I acted upon instinct and training that day. Ten of my fellow Marines died that day. I don't wear this star for me, I wear it for them."

The visit made a distinct impression on the Iraq-based troops.

"You see people like these men, and talk to them " men who have displayed courage during life-and-death situations " and it motivates you," said Spc. Daniel Nieto, 1st Bn., 87th Inf. "These men have seen war as ugly as it gets, but they are still happy to be here -- motivating us and encouraging us to drive on. It makes you feel differently about being here."

• Date Taken: 11.07.2005
• Date Posted: 11.07.2005 17:13
• Story ID: 3645
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ