Smith – Iraq WarĪt the time of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Paul R. Nine more soldiers made it back to safety that day. His body was found with a rifle and medkit still clutched in hands. Later that night, Pitsenbarger was taken out by an enemy sniper. He policed ammunition and dispersed it to the active survivors, then joined them with a rifle to fend off Viet Cong. Pitsenbarger had remained with 20 who were left over, and when the returning helicopters took damage under small arms fire, Pitsenbarger waived them off.įor about 90 minutes, Pitsenbarger tended to the wounded with splints made out of vines and stretchers made out of saplings.
Six soldiers were loaded and flown to an aid station, and the crews returned to evacuate the rest of the men. Pitsenbarger was lowered onto the ground and secured the wounded. On April 11, 1966, Pitsenbarger was part of an operation involving two Huskies to rescue roughly half a dozen soldiers near Cam My. Eventually flying over 300 rescue missions in Vietnam, Pitsenbarger risked his life almost every day to save fellow service members. Pitsenbarger joined the Air Force in 1962 and qualified for Pararescue. Pitsenbarger wouldn't receive the Medal of Honor until 2000, about 34 years after his death. But, in 2002 a USC Dental School doctor resubmitted a request through Congressman Brad Sherman, and it was accepted. Requests for Salomon throughout the years were repeatedly denied, and at one point the request was denied due to the time limit for receiving Medals of Honor for World War II having passed. However, the issue was further complicated by the fact that only small, personal arms such as pistols and rifles can be considered self-defensive, but Salomon used a machine gun, which is typically a crew-served weapon. Medal of Honor guidelines also state that medical non-combatants may not receive the medal for offensive actions, and Salomon acted in defense. First, the Geneva Conventions clearly state that anyone wearing the Red Cross armband cannot bear arms against the enemy.
Although he was frequently recommended for the Medal of Honor there were a number of factors working against him. The Medal of Honor wasn't awarded to Salomon for 59 years. It was determined that he had sustained up to 24 wounds while he was still alive. He had received 76 bullet wounds and just as many bayonet wounds. The Army dentist's body was slumped over a machine gun and 98 deceased Japanese troops lay in front of him. Salomon's fate wasn't clear until an Army unit returned to the scene of the battle days later. Salomon ordered the tent to be evacuated while he covered everyone. The Japanese eventually overran the forward line and encroached on the tent. On that fateful day, Salomon worked in an aid station tent 50 yards from the forward foxhole line. He served in this capacity in Saipan from June until July 7th, 1944. Salomon served as a dentist during World War II, but he came to replace the field surgeon of the 2nd Battalion of the 105th Infantry.