Free Republic

Mens' double trap event; 1 Peter Wilson 2 DAHLBY Hakan 3 MOSIN Vasily

When Olympic medalists return to the United States, they're in high demand. Everyone, from Michael Phelps to a bronze medalist in judo will be sitting for television interviews, talking to newspapers, going to assemblies at local schools and celebrating with friends, family and young athletes. They'll also draw some unwanted interest from everyone's favorite bureaucrats: the IRS. Medalists will have to pay hefty taxes for standing on the podium in London. It's not the value of the medal itself that will require a separate line on this years tax returns, it's the tax on the prize money that comes with...

RUSH: It's the little things. I don't mean to be redundant or repetitive. Yesterday in the White House, it was time for the president to present the Medal of Freedom to this year's recipients. And one of the recipients... It's the little things like this, folks. one of the recipients of the Medal of Freedom was a woman by the name of Huerta, Dolores Huerta. Do any of you know her? The mention of the name Dolores Huerta, does it mean anything, H-u-e-r-t-a. Let's listen to President Obama presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Dolores Huerta.

Jubilee Medal of St. Benedict  The medal of St. Benedict is a very powerful sacramental with exorcizing properties; the exorcism is written right on it. First a little history: St. Benedict of Nursia, Italy (A.D. 480-543), the twin brother of St. Scholastica, is considered to be the Father of Western monasticism, and his "Rule of St. Benedict" came to be the basis of organization for many religious orders (his own Order has its cradle at Monte Cassino, Italy, about 80 miles South of Rome). At any rate, in order to understand the symbology of the Medal, you must know of...

God Almighty. I am having a really, really hard time with this. The Medal of Freedom The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with the comparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States. It recognizes those individuals who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."[3] The award is not limited to U.S. citizens and, while it is a civilian award,...

This was absolutely awful. Barack Obama made another horrible mistake today. The president visited the 10th Mountain Division today and congratulated them on their service. Then he told the soldiers that he had given the Medal of Honor to Jared Monti who came back from Iraq alive. Jared Monti was actually killed in Iraq in 2006. How sad. “First time I saw 10th Mountain Division, you guys were in southern Iraq. When I went back to visit Afghanistan, you guys were the first ones there. I had the great honor of seeing some of you because a comrade of yours,...

A Nepalese soldier in the British army has been given a top bravery award by Queen Elizabeth II for his heroics in Afghanistan, where he single-handedly saw off more than 30 Taliban fighters. Corporal Dipprasad Pun, 31, said he thought he was going to die and so had nothing to lose in taking on the attackers who overran his checkpoint. He was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC), which is given in recognition of acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy. Pun fired more than 400 rounds, launched 17 grenades and detonated a mine to repel the...

Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry is someone you should know. Petry will be awarded the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions in Afghanistan on May 26, 2008 – just more than three years ago – when he lost his right hand and suffered shrapnel wounds after he tossed a live grenade away from himself to protect platoon members during combat operations.

Barack Obama announced on Wednesday that he will honor billionaire investor Warren Buffett with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the country's highest civilian honor. It is given to people who have made "especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or... (continued)

Tomorrow marks an anniversary that calls for no celebration, rather a quiet remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001. I guess I could write a long column about remembrance, service to country, or our “war” on terrorism. I’m sure you’re tired of hearing about Quoran burning by the crazy minister in Florida who has managed to hold the media hostage with his threats and rants. I really don’t feel like writing any of that. 9 years after that fateful day, we as a Nation have somehow moved far away from the events of that day. Although we never forget,...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 8, 2010 – World War II-era Coast Guardsman Harry Milton Daube, 88, the last living survivor of the sinking of the USS Leopold, was presented the Purple Heart Medal during a June 4 ceremony at his home in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Coast Guard Senior Chief Petty Officer Michael Jensen pins a Purple Heart Medal onto the chest of World War II-era Coast Guardsman Harry Milton Daube, 88, during a June 4, 2010 ceremony at Daube’s home in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Daube is the last living survivor of the sinking of the USS Leopold during World...

This weekend’s New York Times Sunday Magazine contains a fascinating article that hits quite close to home for me. Centered around the story of a 25-year-old Marine who — despite horrific wounds — had the presence of mind and courage to scoop a live grenade under his body to save the lives of his comrades, the article asks a simple question: Why is the military awarding so few medals of honor? Are we less courageous now? Or is the military stifling valor awards in a labyrinthine bureaucracy dominated by rear echelon second-guessers? The numbers are stunning: Despite its symbolic...

Lt. Comdr. John McCloy, recipient of two Medals of Honor, was born 30 January 1876 at Brewster, N.Y. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy 7 March 1903, was warranted boatswain 30 July 1903 and commissioned ensign 1 July 1917. He received his first Medal of Honor “for distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy in battles of the 13th, 20th, 21st, and 22d of June 1900, while with the relief expedition of the Allied Forces in China.” His second Medal of Honor was awarded to him “for distinguished conduct in battle and extraordinary heroism; engagement of Vera Cruz, April...

Oh brother. Gen. Stanley McChrystal is wanting a new medal to be awarded to U.S. Soldiers for showing "Courageous Restraint" - not killing civilians. In the report, CNN Reporter Barbara Starr said she asked one soldier what he thought about it, and he just "rolled his eyes." He told her they are already trained to be disciplined and not kill civilians and sees no reason for a medal like this.

WASHINGTON, March 11, 2010 – The first female military pilots received the Congressional Gold Medal yesterday at a ceremony in the Capitol. Betty Wall Strohfus, a Women Airforce Service Pilot from Minnesota, sings the national anthem during a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, March 10, 2010. More than 200 WASPs attended the event, many of them wearing their World War II-era uniforms. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Almost 70 years ago, the Women Airforce Service Pilots were disbanded with little fanfare. This ceremony was a way to...

An Army search dog that has saved the lives of scores of British soldiers in Afghanistan is to receive the canine equivalent of the Victoria Cross. Yet as a puppy he was a badly behaved rebel in danger of being put down until intensive Army training turned him into the gutsy canine described by his handler, Sergeant Dave Heyhoe, as the best military dog he has served alongside. Now Treo is to be honoured with the Dickin Medal from the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals for his conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. It will be placed around his neck...

Daring soldier was awarded Medal of HonorBy Adam Bernstein Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, November 18, 2009 Lewis L. Millett, 88, a career Army officer who was briefly and somewhat misleadingly court-martialed for desertion during World War II and went on to receive the Medal of Honor for leading a bayonet charge during the Korean War, died Nov. 14 at a veterans hospital in Loma Linda, Calif. He had congestive heart failure. Col. Millett, who sported a red handlebar mustache, cut an audacious and unconventional path during his 35 years of military service. He led daring attacks in two wars...

In 1940, Lewis L. "Red" Millett, a 17 year old native of Mechanic Falls, Maine, dropped out of high school and joined the Army Air Corps in order to fight the increasing fascist threat in Europe. But when President Roosevelt stated that the U.S. would not be entering the war, Millett decided to become a deserter and head to Canada - not to avoid combat, but to seek it out as part of the Canadian army. He was sent to London where he served as an anti-aircraft gunner during the Nazi's "Blitz" bombing campaign. "I deeply believe that if you're...

Medal of Honor recipient Lewis Millett of Idyllwild died Saturday morning at Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center in Loma Linda. He was 88. .... According to his Medal of Honor Citation, then-Capt. Millett distinguished himself "above and beyond the call of duty in action" in Korea, after he and his men came under heavy enemy fire on Feb. 7, 1951. He ordered and led a bayonet counterattack up the hill, killing enemy soldiers in hand-to-hand assault during which he was wounded by a grenade blast. But by early afternoon, his company had taken the hill. He was presented...

Women have served in military conflict, in one position or another, since the American War of Independence. Now, women are in most, if not all parts of the US Military. Many have been awarded honors for their bravery and service. But only one has earned the right to wear the Medal of Honor.