During wartime, people are sometimes put into a position where their true nature comes to light. Under heavy fire from the enemy or faced with certain death, some people rise to the occasion to put their cause and others before themselves. Whether it's leading a charge or risking your life to help someone that's wounded, these are things that can't be taught. These are known as acts of valor and are what turns an average person into a hero. Heroes don't do it for the recognition or the medal, but because they knew it was the right thing to do. Now, take a look to see some of the most impressive acts of valor during wartime, and the actions of these individuals in the name of their cause and helping others.
Audie Murphy Was One Of The Most-Decorated Soldiers In World War II
Audie Murphy was a young, small, and boyish-looking soldier who is credited with the killing, capturing or wounding of 240 Germans during World War II. His actions in combat led him to climb the ranks of the military quickly, eventually becoming one of the most decorated soldiers of World War II. He even earned the Medal of Honor after Murphy mounted an abandoned and burning tank destroyer and held off the Germans with a machine gun.
Even wounded during the fight, he stalled the Germans long enough for the Allied to launch a counterattack. After the war, he returned home and began a successful acting career, even starring as himself in the film To Hell and Back.
Desmond Doss Was A Conscientious Objector
Desmond Doss was a United States Army Corporal who served as a combat medic in World War II. However, being a conscientious objector, he refused to carry a rifle although willingly went into battle. He was twice awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his actions in Guam and the Philippines.
Yet, he is most remembered for his heroism during the Battle of Okinawa where he saved 75 American Soldiers without defending himself with a weapon. For his heroic deeds and the lives he saved, he received the Medal of Honor, making him the first conscientious objector to ever do so.
Noor Inayat Khan Was One Of Britain's First War Heroines
Noor Inayat Khan was a descendant of Indian Royalty who fought for the British during World War II. However, she did not fight for just for her country, but in opposition of fascism. In 1940, she joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force where she became a wireless radio operator and a Special Operations Executive.
Being the lone radio operator for four months, she delivered information from occupied France to Britain until she was betrayed by a double agent. She was then subjected to horrific torture, never giving up any information until she was finally executed at a concentration camp in 1944. She was posthumously awarded the George Cross, the highest civilian decoration in the UK.
Witold Pilecki Willingly Entered Auschwitz To Gain Intelligence
Witold Pileckli was a Polish cavalry officer, intelligence agent, and resistance leader. He served as a captain in the Polish Army during the Polish-Soviet War, Second Polish Republic, and World War II. While serving in World War II, Pilecki volunteered for a mission to be imprisoned in the Auschwitz concentration camp in order to gather intelligence and later escape. During his time at Auschwitz, he organized a resistance movement and informed the Western Allies about the death camps as early as 1941.
Escaping after nearly two and a half years in imprisonment, he was later arrested in 1947 by Stalin's secret police and executed on made-up charges. He has been since been considered one of the greatest war heroes of all times for his bravery and action.
Frank Luke Only Flew For 30 Hours
Frank Luke was an American fighter ace during World War I, ranking as the second-most successful pilot of the war. He was credited with 18 victories during his short career as a pilot in the war. With a reputation for being particularly reckless, he was known for going after the heavily defended German observation balloons.
In just 30 hours of flight over ten missions in nine days, he managed to shoot down fourteen enemy balloons along with four aircraft. Unfortunately, he was shot down in a field by Murvaux, France on September 28, 1918. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the first airman to ever earn the medal.
Deborah Sampson Pretended To Be A Man
During the American Revolutionary War, Deborah Sampson was a Massachusettes woman who disguised herself for two years in order to fight with the Continental Army. She is one of the few women with a documented military record of combat experience during the war. She served for 17 months under the name Robert Shirtliff of Uxbridge Massachusetts.
She was wounded numerous times in combat and once even pulled a bullet out of her own leg in order to avoid being discovered. However, she was eventually identified by a doctor treating her for a fever. She was honorably discharged from the military in 1783. Her future husband would be the first male to ever receive a widow's pension.
John Basilone is One Of The Most Famous Heroes Of World War II
John Basilone was a United States Marine Corps Gunnery sergeant during World War II. During the Guadalcanal Campaign, he received the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Battle for Henderson Field. During the battle, on October 24, 1942, the Japanese began a frontal attack with around 3,000 Japanese soldiers. Eventually, only he and two other Marines were left, and under Basilone's command held off the attack by Japanese force for a full two days.
In February, 1945, he was killed in action on the first day of the invasion of Iwo Jima after single-handedly destroying a block house and leading a tank through a minefield. For this, he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
Jacqueline Cochran Paved The Way For Female Pilots
Jacqueline Cochran was a pioneer in American aviation, as well as one of the most prominent racing pilots of her generation. During World War II, she helped to develop the Women Air Force Service Pilots, where she trained endlessly during World War II.
Because of her flying abilities and actions in World War II, she received the Distinguished Service Medal in 1945, the first woman civilian ever to earn such an honor. She then joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a lieutenant colonel, where she received her Air Force Command Pilot Wings, and three Distinguished Flying Cross medals.
George Henry Thomas Was A Southern Unionist During The Civil War
After serving in the Mexican-American War, George Henry Thomas decided to stay with the United States Army and serve as a Union General during the Civil War. Although he was from Virginia, a state that joined the Confederate States of America, he felt that his alliance remained with the United States. He was one of the first generals to win a major victory in the war at Mill Springs in Kentucky.
Furthermore, his defense at the Battle of Chickamauga in 1863 earned him the nickname of "the Rock of Chickamauga." Throughout the war, he won many pivotal battles, however, his military successes are rarely discussed, as he was overshadowed by generals such as Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman.
Lydia Darragh Warned George Washington Of A Surprise Attack
During the American Revolution, after taking Philadelphia, British soldiers ordered Lydia Darragh to let them use her house for meetings. Darragh along with her family convinced the soldiers to let her family stay in their home, although her youngest children were sent to relatives. On December 2, 1777, the officers held a secret meeting, ordering the Darragh's to stay in their rooms. Lydia hid in a closet and heard of a suprise attack on Washington's troops on December 4, at Whitemarsh.
Using her role as the homemaker as an excuse to leave, Lydia managed to make it to a known patriot tavern where she warned the Continentals about the surprise attack. This gave Washington enough time to prepare his troops for the attack.
John Rabe Was One Of The Few Nazi's Considered A Hero
Before World War II, the Germans sent businessmen and army commanders to China in order to train the Chinese military. John Rabe was one of these businessmen, as well as a member of the Nazi party. During his stay in China, the Japanese attacked in 1937, which is now known as the Nanjing Massacre.
During the Massacre, he helped establish the Nanking Safety Zone which sheltered over 200,000 Chinese civilians from slaughter. To this day, he is referred to as one of the few individuals of the Nazi party that is remembered for a heroic deed even though World War II hadn't started yet.
Richard Bong Was "The Ace-Of-Aces"
During World War II, Major Richard Bong earned the title of "The Deadliest Pilot of World War II" and "The Ace-of-Aces" after taking down his 40th enemy plane during his military career. For his military successes, he was awarded the Medal of Honors, and was chosen to test the Army Air Force's first-ever jet, the P-80.
Unfortunately, on the same day that the United States dropped the atomic bomb of Hiroshima, the P-80 stalled and Bong was forced to bail out an a low altitude, killing him. On top of his heroic actions during wartime, he was also known for his aerial stunts such as doing loops around the Golden Gate Bridge or flying extremely low over cities.
Hiroo Onoda Was Still fighting World War II 29 Years After It Had Ended
After being dropped of in the jungle of the Philippines during World War II, Hiroo Onoda and his men continued waging war for 29 after the war had ended, never believing the war was over. Incredibly loyal to his country and cause, any information sent to him that the war has ended, he had considered to be enemy propaganda and continued fighting.
Then, in 1974, a traveler stumbled upon Onoda and his men who tried to convince him the war had ended. Onodoa said he would only believe the news from a superior officer. Authorities soon contacted Onoda and relieved him from duty. He was pardoned for the crimes he had committed thinking the world was still at war.
Jack Churchill Used A Longbow And Broadsword During World War II
Nicknamed "Fighting Jack Churchill" and "Mad Jack," Jack Churchill was a British Army officer during World War II. However, he didn't rely on rifles and tanks to defeat his enemies, he preferred to charge into battle playing his bagpipes, wielding a longbow and a Scottish broadsword. He was known for his motto "Any officer who goes into action without his sword is improperly dressed."
At one point, he was captured and held in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, only to escape and continue his military escapades wherever help was needed. Mad Jack struck fear into the hearts of his enemies and made quite the name for himself throughout the war.
Alvin York Rose To The Occassion
During World War I, Alvin York was a known pacifist fighting with the United States Army. However, when all of his superior officers were killed in an attempt to go behind German lines and take out a German machine gun position, he took control. He led the remaining men over the lines where he captured 35 machine guns, killing at least 25 enemy soldiers, and capturing 132.
York was immediately promoted to sergeant for his heroism, received the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Medal of Honor. Rumors of his actions spread and he became an international celebrity among other allied nations and one of the most decorated soldiers of World War I.
James Stockdale Could Not Be Broken
During the Vietnam War, James Stockdale's A-4 Skyhawk jet was shot down over North Vietnam in 1965. He was then taken as a Prisoner of War where he spent the next seven and a half years at Hao La Prison, better known as the "Hotel Hanoi." As the senior Naval officer, he was a primary organizer of a prisoner resistance, enforcing a code of conduct for all prisoners in regard to torture, behavior, and secret communications.
He was beaten and tortured regularly while also being denied medical attention. At times, when he was to be paraded around for propaganda, he intentionally disfigured himself so that he couldn't be used. For his sacrifice and dedication to the cause, he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1976.
Henry Johnson
While fighting in World War I, Henry Johnson fought in the black regiment known as the Harlem Hellfighters. During a raid in the Argonne Forest, he suffered 21 wounds and rescued fellow soldiers while simultaneously fighting off an enemy raid. His actions and bravery during battle led him to earn the nickname "Black Death."
However, his discharge papers left out that he was ever injured, so he was denied disability pay and the Purple Heart, which was well deserved. His passed away at 32 years old, however, his legacy lives on, as his son, Herman Johnson, served with the Tuskegee Airmen.
James L. Day Was A True Soldier During The Battle Of Okinawa
American general and hero James L. Day fought in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. However, he earned the Medal of Honor after distinguishing himself during the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. During the battle, he fought off hordes of Japanese soldiers almost single-handedly. He even left his position on numerous occasions to bring back the wounded, only to return to the fight.
Being relieved from fighting after a full three days, it was reported that there were well-over 100 enemy corpses surrounding the foxhole that he was defending. For his valor, he was awarded the Medal of Honor and the Silver Star.
Virginia Hall Was The First Woman Sent Behind Enemy Lines
During World War II, Virginia Hall was described by the Gestapo as "the most dangerous of all Allied spies." She was constantly being hunted down, and could easily be given away by her prosthetic leg. She was the first female operative of Britain's Special Operations Executive to be sent behind enemy lines into France to work as an Allied spy.
She worked as a spy for three years until she was forced to escape for her life on foot through the Pyrenees Mountains. After reaching safety, she asked to go back into France as a wireless radio operator, where she reported German troop movements until joining the CIA in 1951.
Lewis L. Millett Served In Three Different Wars
Captain Lewis L. Millett of the United States Army served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War throughout his military career. However, one of his most notable acts of valor occurred during the Korean War when he led a bayonet charge against a fortified North Korean stronghold. Upon reaching his destination, he successfully stabbed two enemies with his bayonet and managed to throw grenades into the enemies position to wipe them out.
During the fight, he was wounded, although he refused to leave the battleground until they had successfully secured the position. For his bravery during his military career, he was presented with a Medal of Honor, Distinguished Silver Cross, and the Silver Star.
