By Spc. Anthony Bryant
14th Public Affairs Detachment
Retired Army Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions in March 1966 during the Vietnam War, walks toward the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum Sept. 16, 2017. (Photo by Spc. Anthony Bryant)
PUEBLO — The Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum, designed to honor the men and women who served during World War II, occupies land on what was the Pueblo Army Air Base. Inside the main hangar, “Peachy,” a Boeing B-29 Superfortress four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber, dominates the exhibition floor.
Together, “Peachy,” various aircraft and staged mannequins provide scenes frozen in time for museum visitors to walk through history and get lost in the cavernous space. The quiet chatter of visitors echo off the now flightless war planes that silently represent what once was.
Above flies the Stars and Stripes joined by the flags of the U.S. armed forces. The low-key meet and greet Sept. 16, 2017, at the museum contrasts with the magnitude of the service given by the Medal of Honor recipients who met with the community, Fort Carson Soldiers, service members, cadets and other guests. The Pueblo Home of Heroes Association hosted the Medal of Honor Society Convention Sept. 12, 2017, through Sept. 16, 2017.
Former Army 1st Lt. Brian M. Thacker, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions March 31, 1971, during the Vietnam War, shakes hands with an Army Junior ROTC cadet at the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum Sept. 16, 2017. (Photo by Spc. Anthony Bryant)
The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force for U.S. service members, which is generally presented to the recipient by the president of the U.S.
“This event was more relaxed than previous years, but it was amazing. There are only 72 living Medal of Honor recipients and 46 were in Pueblo,” said Matt Albright, Medal of Honor convention communications chair.
Recent recipients Retired Capt. Florent Groberg, former Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha, and Staff Sgt. Ty Carter, who all earned the Medal of Honor for heroic actions while serving in the 4th Infantry Division, were among those who attended the convention.
Groberg earned the medal while leading a personal security detachment for senior leaders Aug. 8, 2012, in Kunar provice, Afghanistan. Groberg put himself between an approaching individual and the group and then noticed an abnormal bulge underneath the individual’s clothing. After confirming the bulge was a suicide vest, Groberg pushed the individual outside of the perimeter of the formation before he could detonate the explosives detonated, killing four members of the formation and wounded numerous others, to include Groberg.
Army Junior ROTC cadets from Pueblo County High School and Pueblo West High School stand at parade rest while awaiting the arrival of Medal of Honor recipients at the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum Sept. 16, 2017. (Photo by Spc. Anthony Bryant)
Romesha and Carter received the Medal of Honor for their actions Oct. 3, 2009, while serving at Combat Outpost Keating in the Nuristant Province, Afghanistan. They were awakened to an attack of an estimated 300 enemy fighters occupying high ground on all sides of the oupost. Romesha, who was injured in the battle, led the fight to protect the bodies of fallen Soldiers, provide cover to those Soldiers seeking medical assistance, and reclaim the American outpost that would later be deemed “tactically indefensible.” Carter, who was a specialist at the time, ran a gauntlet of enemy fire to resupply ammo to fighting positions. He picked off numerous enemy with his sharpshooting and risked his life to carry an injured Soldier to cover, despite his own injuries from rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) rounds.
The most recent recipient of the Medal of Honor, Former Spc. 5 James C. McCloughan, combat medic, was also in attendance. The former combat medic was presented the award by President Donald J. Trump July 31, 2017, 48 years after his brave actions in the Vietnam War.
In May 1969, McCloughan ran into an open field through heavy fire to rescue a wounded comrade. He then led two Americans to the safety of a trench while being wounded by shrapnel from an RPG. He ignored a direct order to stay back and braved an enemy assault while moving into the “kill zone” on four more occasions to extract wounded comrades.
Retired Army Maj. James A. Taylor, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions in Nov. 1967 during the Vietnam War, autographs a booklet for an Army ROTC cadet during a meet and greet at the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum Sept. 16, 2017. (Photo by Spc. Anthony Bryant)
McCloughan’s story of running into fields to rescue fellow Soldiers struck a chord with Sgt. 1st Class Victor Miranda, combat medic, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div.
“I am humbled to meet these heroes and to be able to shake their hands, get their signatures and be able to recognize what they do … it’s an honor,” said Miranda.
Retired Master Sgt. Ronald E. Rosser, forward observer, was awarded the Medal of Honor as a corporal for his actions Jan. 12, 1952, during the Korean War, when he assaulted enemy positions on a hill three times, returning to friendly lines to resupply after each assault. Rosser singlehandedly killed at least 13 of the enemy that day. He exhausted his ammunition after the third assault and accompanied the withdrawing platoon. Rosser made several trips across open terrain, while under enemy fire, to extract men more seriously injured than himself.
“In combat, you don’t get a second chance,” said Rosser. “Pay attention to what you’re supposed to be doing. … We’re a band of brothers; we take care of each other.”
Rosser and other Medal of Honor recipients shared their stories to the cross-generational crowd, who walked quietly through history in a space that is loud with the past.
Visit https://www.army.mil/features/#valor for more information on Army Medal of Honor recipients.