Two major museums join forces to pay tribute in time for Memorial Day
NEW ORLEANS, May 15 -- In a joint event which may be the
first of its kind, The National World War II Museum and the USS Midway
Museum will honor the surviving World War II recipients of the
Congressional Medal of Honor. Entitled Beyond the Call of Duty, the gala
evening will be held on the flight deck of the USS Midway in San Diego on
May 24. The USS Midway was the longest-serving U.S. Navy aircraft carrier
in the 20th century. The National World War II Museum, located in New
Orleans, has been designated by the United States Congress as the country's
official Museum of the Second World War.
The Medal of Honor citation reads "For conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity at the risk of own life, above and beyond the call of duty." Of
the more than 16 million American men and women who served in uniform
during World War II, only 464 were awarded the nation's highest award for
valor in action against an enemy force. Thirty recipients are alive today.
Six of these Medal of Honor recipients will attend the San Diego event:
Vernon Baker, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Company C, 370th Regiment,
92nd Infantry Division.
A native of Wyoming, Baker was honored for his heroism in destroying
enemy installations in mountainous terrain near Viareggio, Italy in May,
1945. His was the first African-American unit to go into combat in World
War II.
Van R. Barfoot, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 157th Infantry, 45th
Infantry Division.
Barfoot, a Choctaw Indian from Mississippi, used his "tracking and
leadership skills, fearless and aggressive determination, and valor in the
face of pointblank fire" to inspire his fellow soldiers in the capture of a
new position near Carano, Italy in 1944. Barfoot chose to receive his Medal
of Honor in the field and is recognized as one of the most significant
Native American heroes of World War II.
Walter D. Ehlers, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, 18th Infantry, 1st
Infantry Division.
Ehlers fought alongside his brother Roland through battles in North
Africa and Sicily. Preparing for the Normandy invasion, the brothers were
assigned to different companies. On D-Day, Walter pulled comrades off Omaha
Beach and drew gunfire to himself to protect his squad members.
Demonstrating tremendous courage and strength of spirit through wounded
himself, Ehlers carried other wounded soldiers to safety. He declines to be
called a hero, stating that his brother is the true hero. Roland Ehlers was
killed when an enemy mortar hit his landing craft before landing on Omaha
Beach.
John Finn, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy
The oldest living Medal of Honor recipient and the first to receive the
award in World War II for bravery in the attack on Pearl Harbor, Finn was
awarded the Medal of Honor by Admiral Chester Nimitz for his "magnificent
courage in manning a machine gun in a completely exposed area." Although
hit by shrapnel 21 times, Finn continued to fire on the enemy and
single-handedly brought down a Japanese aircraft.
Charles P. Murray, Jr., First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company C, 30th
Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division.
Murray was honored for his single-handed attack against an overwhelming
German force near Kayserberg, France in December, 1944. Although wounded,
Murray's courageous actions stopped a counter-attack and helped establish
an advance position. Following a two-week hospitalization, he rejoined his
troops on the hill where he had left them. When he received the Medal of
Honor in ceremonies the following year, the entire 15,000-man 3rd Division
paraded in tribute.
Hershel W. Williams, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 21st Marines,
3rd Marine Division.
Following service in the invasion of Guam, "Woody" Williams landed on
Iwo Jima to face ruthless and fanatical enemy resistance. Inspired by the
sight of the American flag raised over Mount Suribachi, Williams led his
force with "unyielding determination and heroism in neutralizing enemy
forces." Only 17 of the 279 men who had hit the beach with Williams and his
company survived. He considers himself the caretaker of the Medal of Honor
for the Marines who did not come home from Iwo Jima.
These remarkable individuals will receive the most prestigious honor
given by each of the two Museums: The National World War II Museum will
present the American Spirit Award which recognizes the recipients'
unselfish contributions to community, state and nation, their leadership by
example, and their demonstration of the highest standards of integrity,
discipline and initiative. Previous honorees included former President
George H.W. Bush, former Secretary of State George Shultz, former Senator
Robert Dole, and The National World War II Museum's founder, historian
Stephen E. Ambrose, Ph.D. The USS Midway Museum will present the Midway
American Patriot Award which annually honors individuals whose lifetime
accomplishments epitomize the true meaning of patriotism, personal
sacrifice, and selfless service to America. Bob Hope was the award's
inaugural recipient in 2007.
New Orleans Participants to Flavor Gala Event
The National World War II Museum is bringing a uniquely New Orleans
flavor to the joint San Diego event. Noted Chef John Besh will create his
signature cuisine for the reception. Besh, who was on active duty with the
Marine Corps Reserves in Operation Desert Storm, is a recipient of the
prestigious James Beard Award, among many others. The Food Network
celebrity chef is the owner and Executive Chef of the celebrated Restaurant
August in New Orleans and proprietor of three additional restaurants. He
has been a champion of Louisiana's cultural and culinary heritage.
Irvin Mayfield is an exceptional and visionary jazz trumpeter,
composer, recording artist and bandleader who founded The New Orleans Jazz
Institute and New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and serves as Artistic Director.
The Grammy nominated and Billboard Award winning musician, who has been
appointed Cultural Ambassador for the City of New Orleans, will appear with
his All Stars Jazz Quintet.
Other noted participants include emcee Sam Donaldson who will share his
insights from nearly 40 years as an ABC News veteran; Admiral Timothy J.
Keating, USN, Commander of the United States Pacific Command; and former
California Governor Pete Wilson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The
National World War II Museum and Honorary Event Chair. Susan Anton will
perform the National Anthem and The Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band will
play for dancing.
Proceeds from Beyond the Call of Duty will benefit the educational
programs of the USS Midway Museum and The National World War II Museum.
Approximately 25,000 students visit Midway every year as its Education
Department is building new programs and scholarship opportunities to
benefit all K-12 San Diego-area students. The National World War II Museum
welcomes approximately 40,000 students to the Museum each year, in addition
to an expanding program of distance learning and videoconferencing which
reaches classrooms nationally and internationally.
Tickets and sponsorships are still available for the event which
promises to be a sellout. Tickets are $500 per person. For ticket and
sponsor information, call Norma Nicolls (619) 398-8294 or email
nnicolls@midway.org. Major sponsors of the evening include the Napierskie
Family, Wells Fargo, TriWest, T. Boone Pickens, The Stephen Bechtel
Foundation, David Murdock, San Diego Padres, Jack in the Box Foundation,
BAE Systems, Sempra Energy Foundation and more.
The USS Midway Museum opened in June 2004 and three years later was the
first museum in the nation to receive the Preserve America Presidential
Award in a Rose Garden ceremony. More than 3.3 million visitors have come
aboard, making Midway the most-visited floating ship museum in the country.
It has been called "the gold standard" of aircraft carrier museums by The
Boston Globe.
The National World War II Museum tells the story of the American
Experience in the war that changed the world -- why it was fought, how it
was won, and what it means today. Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day
Museum and now America's official National World War II Museum, the
destination cultural attraction has begun a $300 million capital expansion
which, when complete, will create a six-acre campus of exhibition pavilions
in downtown New Orleans. It has been recognized by USA Today as a
preeminent venue to experience military history.
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