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Beyond the Call of Duty Spotlights
The Medal of Honor in WWII
Honoring the
“common Americans” who performed in uncommon ways, this
dramatic exhibition opened in conjunction with the
International Conference on WWII. Medal of Honor
recipients Walter Ehlers, Jack Lucas and Hershel “Woody”
Williams were featured speakers at the Conference and
attended the exhibition opening.
Created by the National WWII Museum in collaboration
with The Medal of Honor Foundation, the exhibition
educates and inspires visitors with the true stories of
American Servicemen who, often at the cost of their own
lives, exemplified the American Spirit. Highlights of
the exhibition include personal accounts in video
interviews and fascinating artifacts from the Medal
recipients.
Among those featured in the exhibition are Vernon Baker,
who was awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary
heroism in action near Viareggio, Italy. An excerpt from
his citation reads: “Then Second Lieutenant Baker
demonstrated outstanding courage and leadership in
destroying enemy installations, personnel and equipment
during his company's attack against a strongly
entrenched enemy in mountainous terrain. When his
company was stopped by the concentration of fire from
several machine gun emplacements, he crawled to one
position and destroyed it…Continuing forward, he
attacked an enemy observation post and killed two
occupants. With the aid of one of his men, Lt. Baker
attacked two more machine gun nests, killing or wounding
the four enemy soldiers occupying these positions. He
then covered the evacuation of the wounded personnel of
his company by occupying an exposed position and drawing
the enemy's fire. On the following night Lt. Baker
voluntarily led a battalion advance through enemy mine
fields and heavy fire toward the division objective.
Second Lieutenant Baker's fighting spirit and daring
leadership were an inspiration to his men and exemplify
the highest traditions of the Armed Forces.
Jack Lucas received the Medal of Honor “For conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 1st
Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division, during
action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima… While
creeping through a treacherous, twisting ravine which
ran in close proximity to a fluid and uncertain
frontline on D-plus-1 day, Pfc. Lucas and three other
men were suddenly ambushed by a hostile patrol which
savagely attacked with rifle fire and grenades. Quick to
act when the lives of the small group were endangered by
two grenades which landed directly in front of them,
Pfc. Lucas unhesitatingly hurled himself over his
comrades upon one grenade and pulled the other under
him, absorbing the whole blasting forces of the
explosions in his own body in order to shield his
companions from the concussion and murderous flying
fragments. By his inspiring action and valiant spirit of
self-sacrifice, he not only protected his comrades from
certain injury or possible death but also enabled them
to rout the Japanese patrol and continue the advance.
His exceptionally courageous initiative and loyalty
reflect the highest credit upon Pfc. Lucas and the U.S.
Naval Service. “
This exceptional exhibition will be on view through
January 7, 2007
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