Medal of Honor recipients

Ukpoohbear

Well-known member
Medal of Honor recipients - Above and beyond the call of duty - let's share their stories and look at their charts so we can find clues as to what makes a man a hero.

I have been watching the Netflix series 'Medal of Honor' and will be sharing the stories of the men portrayed in each episode.

-- Medal of Honor [Official Trailer HD]
-- https://youtu.be/gxv7bb5gfMU
 

Ukpoohbear

Well-known member
Re: Medal of Honor recipients'

I will be starting with episode 3 - Edward Carter.



The background:

Edward Carter was born in LA, California to a Missionary Father and thus lived overseas. He lied about his age to join the Chinese army at 15 years old, before his Father turned him in for being underage two years later. He made it to the position of lieutenant before he was caught out. He joined a Shanghai military school where he learnt to speak Hindi, German and Chinese.

He then made it across to the Spanish Civil War, where he joined an American volunteer unit called the 'Abraham Lincoln Brigade.' From there, he returned to LA and joined the US army.

Despite his previous combat experience, he was assigned the role of cook. The US army was the most democratic army in the world, and it was fighting the most racist regime in the world, yet it was a segregated army: Black soldiers' would have to give up their seats on a bus to German POW.

According to his daughter, although Carter was upset at his mistreatment, he kept his feelings to himself and knew "how to play the game." He soon made it to the role of staff sergeant, but black soldiers were still not allowed to enter into combat because were thought of as lazy and cowardly.

It was not until 1945 the US army became desperate enough for refreshments due to high casualty numbers. 4,500 black soldiers volunteered. In order to accept a combat role, Carter had to give up his role of sergeant however, his military experience allowed him to be given the role of squad leader.


The fight:

Carter became a member of General Patton's "Mystery Division,' which was one of the few divisions which allowed integration. It was called mystery because they took out all insignia which would allow the German army to figure out the size or composition of the unit. He was then assigned the role of Patton's personal bodyguard, who probably recognized his enthusiasm and talent for war. The unit was making their way towards the town of Spewer, on what is called a 'movement to contact' mission.’ This is when a unit is sent in to find out what lay in front of them because it was unknown, making it an extremely dangerous mission.

Suddenly, a bazuka fire erupted, attempting to take out the tank. After the machine gun fire died down, Carter recognized the gunfire was coming from a warehouse about 150 yards away across a field. He saw there was infantry, bazuka's and a 8mm gun. The 8mm was originally intended for an anti-aircraft type weapon but proved effective in taking out tanks and so became used on the ground too. The 88mm was a deadly and feared weapon and you can imagine the noise and fear it generated.

Standard tactic when a tank received fire was to send in infantry to fight the other infantry and Carter volunteered to lead a mission with 3 other men to take it out. Two were killed almost immediately and a third was wounded. Despite bleeding out on the battlefield, where he knew he would have minutes before he would become disorientated or lose consciousness, Carter continued on his own. He was shot 5x's but due to resilience, adrenaline, a sense of duty, or a love of war - Carter had the presence of mind to wait until the soldiers were nearly upon him in the field before he killed six of the eight German's firing on him.

He used the remaining two German soldiers as a human shield where he limped backwards and sideways back to his American position pointing the gun at them. While doing this, he used his knowledge of the German language he had learnt in Shanghai military school to interrogate the two remaining German soldiers. This information passed on this information to his American unit on his return. This knowledge helped the Americans continue their advance the next day and take out the town of Spewer because Carter had learnt where the German artillery and machine gun were positioned.

Despite Carter's heroism, he was not awarded the Medal of Honor until posthumously 50 years later in 1997, along with all other black awardees.

Information taken from --
-- https://allthatsinteresting.com/edward-a-carter-jr
-- and the Medal of Honor Netflix TV series.

The astrology:

I wonder how many Medal of Honor recipients' we will see with a Mar-Pluto aspect or if we will see any other patterns?

Carter has Mars in Leo in the critical 29th degree of Leo sextile Pluto - he truly loved the fight and had the stamina to see it to the end.

His Moon in Aries is square Venus conjunct Saturn - helping him to be a hardened soldier with a true love of war.

As you can see from the transits that are from date on the night of the battle, 23rd March 1945, the NN was sitting right on his Venus-Saturn conjunction, perhaps highlighting this area as the source of importance.

Transit Saturn was also nearby his Pluto squaring his Moon, perhaps activating this natal transit, in terms of in exterior events happening and in personal traits being displayed.

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Ukpoohbear

Well-known member
Re: Medal of Honor recipient's

Joseph Vittori
- Korean War - died 16th Sept 1951 - episode 6

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Hill 745 - a defensive position on high ground held by the Americans which if held made it difficult for the enemy to get behind the line - it was a very strategic place for what would become the border between the two Korea's. It was heavily fortified and no one wanted to give it up, without a fight.

Vittori was offered to be promoted but he declined this because he wanted to fight amongst his fellow men instead of given them orders. He was a first generation family of Italian immigrants who grew up on a farm. Growing up, one of the things he loved was comic books and had a fascination with some of the super heroes. He was remembered as a prankster amongst his comrades.

Although he was an immigrant, he developed a high sense of patrioism. After an injury, they tried to reassign him away from the front line but he turned down this plus the offer of promotion to return to the front line.

He received an order to head to one of the hill points with another rifleman, but the rifleman's machine gun jammed not long into the fight. A platoon had suffered heavy casualties and was forced to withdraw. Vittori and two other men rushed to the hill through the withdrawing troops. They did so not because the position need to be held at any cost, but with a need to help friend's in trouble.

One of his comrades, Connoway, who survived the battle said, 'I cannot describe to you how much noise and banging there was of the constant fire power coming at us. It was just bang, bang, bang. Maybe 100 rifle and machine guns at one time.'

There was about 4 machine gun nests, Vittori was at machine gun nest no.1 on the far right.

His comrade, Connoway, remembered the Korean's shouting 'marine, marine, you're going to die tonight,' as a form of intimidation tactic. 'President Truman, eat ****.' etc, just to aggravate them.

Suddenly, everything went silent when a 76mm mountain gun was fired. It was a tactic by the Korean's so the guys in the nests would have to keep their head down, so the Korean's could crawl up the hill in the dark.

Connoway was shot in the eye and could not move his right arm. Vittori asked him to throw grenades with his left hand. Vittori noticed no noise was coming from the machine gun nest number 2 and decided to run over to it. He found out that the machine gun had a malfunction in it and was not operable. The other marines were trying to clean the malfunction and while they were doing this, the Korean's scored a direct hit on machine gun pit 3. Vittori ran over to that nest. They were both dead. He started firing the gun. Next, he ran over to nest no. 4. They were also both dead. He fires this gun.

He runs back to the other pits, firing them and back at no.2, he finds that the two men he had left behind are now dead. Now, Vittori is the only one left alive on the hill, along with wounded Connoway at machine gen no. 1.

At this point, Vittori could have got his friend and retreated and no one would have criticised that decision but he made a decision to fight on. He managed to deceive the enemy by moving rapidly between each machine gun nest, making the Korean's think the hill was heavily defended and whoever was at the nests, were waiting for the Korean's to get close enough before they fired. Every time he ran between each nest, he exposed himself to being shot but under the cover of darkness, he was able to achieve this. The nests were designed to be manned by 40 Marine's but Vittori did it by himself.

This went on for 2 hours. Connoway threw about 37 grenades but said it was Vittori who defended the hill and the grenades did not do much. Back at nest no.1, Connoway noticed Vittori is hit on the chest. Vittori was not bothered, he said they just need to hold the line a little longer. Suddenly, everything went quiet. Vittori noticed the Korean's were retreating and he told Connoway this.

Vittori said to Connoway, 'we need help here, you go first and I will cover you.' Just then, Vittori was shot in the face. Those were his last words. Connoway picked up his gun and fired all he had at the retreating Korean's and headed back.

He told everyone that Vittori held the line by himself, saving the retreating Marine's lives as well. He had single-handedly defended an entire battalion's position. When it was over, over 200 Korean's lay dead on the hill, some just feet away.

------

What I love about Vittori's story and chart is the theme of a superhero running through it. He was known for his loyalty towars his comrades and his sense of humour. What sticks out though, is how his love of super hero comics was translated on to the battlefield and which gave him the courage and integrity to be able to behave like one.

Sun conjunct Mercury in Leo describes this perfectly. The duty, with the Saturn opposing this aspect.

His love and loyalty for his comrades could be seen by the Moon-Venus conjunction, and the outgoing and humourous personality by the mix of fire and air in his chart.

Vittori's chart with the transits on the night of the battle --

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Ukpoohbear

Well-known member
Re: Medal of Honor recipients'

Vito Bertoldo - WW2, France, 1945 - episode 4


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This episode and the one above is my favourite just due to the pure skill and heroism it took. I think this one takes the biscuit though.

'Once you have crossed that line, where you have expected not to survive, you are enabled to perform terrific acts of heroism.' - narrator

The German's have saved some of their best men for the last stand and brought a number of divisions down into France in their last attempt to gain some ground and break the Allied line. Their aim is to strike one strong decisive blow at the American army. The US army is not expecting it - their i no tank division to call upon.

Vito and his men arrive in in Hatten, France, where fighting had been going on for around a month. A lot of the houses and buildings were already destroyed and damaged. Vito and his squad were given the mission to defend Hatten and delay the German advance to buy time so the rest of the battalion can withdraw from the city.

January 9th 1945 - Vito and his men are on the lookout for German's approaching.

'This is a level of warfare that very few living people have seen. The violence, the danger, the risk, the sound. Large armies coming down the main street. Aircraft overhead with mortars and artillery. The buildings are destroyed but they are made of stone and brick which provides a great place to go and hide for some protection from bullets or shrapnel or even being seen.' - narrator

The German's have tanks and infantry men behind them, Vito and his men have only rifles and automatic weapons. The orders were for the men to hold this position at all cost with no retreat. Delaying the enemy is the mission nobody wants.

Vito's story is even more amazing because he was considered '4F,' which means he was not allowed to join the army due to being underweight and having bad eyesight.

Particularly before Pearly Harbour, the US army was very strict but then they started to let people through.

Growing up, Vito's Mother, who was the glue of the family, died, and he and his 3 siblings, went to an orphanage, as his Dad was a coalminer and could not look after them himself. This helped toughen Vito up.

Finally, he was commissioned for 'limited service' and he became a cook. He was taught basic training as part of this role. Once he was in, he asked to be transferred into the infantry. First, he starts with guard duty and works his way up before finally he is assigned to this role.

Now in Hatten, 1945, some German's are spotted by Vito and his men. They ask them to drop their weapons and the German's surrender. Vito continues to point his gun at the German soldiers while his men go to pick up the Germans' weapons, when the Germans unexpectedly shoot his men - breaking the Geneva convention.

Vertoldo was enraged. He breaks cover and shoots all the German's dead. He is now the only person alive. Even though the mission was for him and his men not to retreat, at this point, it would have been reasonable of him to say the mission was lost and for him to re-join the withdrawal force.

Vito makes the choice to hold his position and to defend the line at all costs. In order to engage the German's, he had to find a place to shoot them. The geography was - if he can't see the German's, he can't shoot them but the catch 22 was - if he can see them, they would be able to see him.

He makes a makeshift cover in the middle of the road in the entrance to the town - he lies out in an open street for hours and waits for the enemy to come to him.

By the 8th hour, it is now morning. A couple of German soldier's approach the village, then followed by a squad more. He shoots them all dead with a combination of his automatic weapon and rifle. He killed 20 and none of them made it past the middle of the road.

By the 18th hour, the German's throw some grenades and Vito covers his head with his hands during the chaos.

'The stress created by that is absolutely exhausting.' - the narrator

The German's withdraw and it goes quiet again.

By the 28th hour, it is now dark again. It is cold - he has had a combination of sweating a lot during the times of attack, and the cold sweat freezing him during the quiet times.

By the 36th hour, the German's attack again. He kills the men with his rifle despite being exhausted.

By the 45th hour, the German's bring in the big guns. He has created a major problem for the German attacking force because they can't infiltrate the line. They now bring all of their weapon systems.

'It is mind-boggling that he was able to continue for that length of time. That is 2 days of fighting - when do you stop to eat or do anything - you don't. It is amazing the stamina it required to do that.' - narrator

A tank with infantry men approaches. Vito has the presence of mind to wait for the infantry men to approach first. The roads were heavily mines so the tanks had to be very careful. Vito knew the infantry would have to dismount. Just as the men are almost right on top of him, he exposes himself and shoots them dead with his rifle. The rest of the men by the tank start shooting at him now his cover is blown. He gets them with his automatic.

The infantry men and tanks are all attacking this one point in the middle of the street, right at Vito. He runs for cover into a building. The German tank has 88mm shells, with enough explosive power to kill anybody within a 100m radius. Vito again has the patience and the calm and deliberate ability to hold his fire until the German infantry expose themselves again. He shoots them dead.

Now, the tank aims its shells at him. He is blown away and loses his glasses but he is still alive. The tank commander comes into the building to look for who is alive. Vito hides behind a pillar - he can hardly see. He manages to wait and sneak up behind the commander as he walks past his point and shoot him with his pistol.

This is a story of skill, calm and determination. Even the German's recognised it. One of the captured German's said he had fought for 3 year's on the Russian front but the defence at Hatten was the most fierce he had ever encountered - and it was all by one man.

Vito did not expect to survive but decided to fight courageously. His actions allowed the first battalion 242 infantry to regroup, reorganise. Had the battalion been over-run, thousand's of soldiers would have been captured or killed.

The astrology -

We have our 2nd Mars-Pluto aspect out of our 3 examples - this one is an opposition.

WE have our 3rd Venus-Saturn aspect - this one is a square. It shows his tough upbringing at an orphanage and the death of his mother, trained up for the unbareable conditions he faced for 2 days relentlessly.

Given this is now our 3rd example of a Venus-Saturn in a Medal of Honor recipient, it is safe to say Venus-Saturn gives a love and obligation towards duty.

Vito also has a lovely Moon-Venus trine plus transit Venus was conjunct his Moon in Pisces also. So let's say - Vito's heroism was a gift from God. Transit Sun was conjunct his Natal North Node - God was on his shoulder's.

birth chart without time --

vitobertolod.jpg
 
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Ukpoohbear

Well-known member
Desmond Doss -- Hacksaw Ridge

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The next example of a Medal of Honor recipient is slightly different in a couple of ways. Firstly, it was not depicted in the Netlifx series 'Medal of Honor' but his story was made into a movie called 'Hacksaw Ridge.'

Here is the trailer for the movie --
--
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2-1hz1juBI

The second difference is he did not win his Medal of Honor for his fighting skills. He was in fact a Conscientious Objector and refused to even hold a gun, never mind fire one. He was a medic and received recognition for his bravery from putting himself in danger to bring men wounded caught lying on the battlefield to safety.

He worked as a joiner in a shipyard and was offered an exemption not to have to join the war due to his work but he still chose to join the army. However, due to his beliefs, he refused to carry or fire a weapon, because he was a Seventh Day Aventist. He therefore became a medic.

The Medal of Honor was received for his actions during the Battle of Okinawa but this was not his first medal. He had previously received two Bronze Star Medals with a 'V' device for his exceptional Valor in aiding wounded soldiers under fire. This was while serving with his platoon in 1944 on Guam and the Phillipines.

The Medal of Honor was won during the battle of Okinawa on 5th May 1945 when his batallion assaulted a jagged escarpment (Hacksaw Ridge) which was 400 feet high. They were heavily assaulted by artillery, mortar and machine gun fire. Private Doss refused to seek cover and remained in the area to carry the stricken soldiers one by one back down the ridge. At one point, he came within 8 yards of of the enemies forces in a cave's mouth, where he dressed his comrade's wounds and made four separate trips to carry them all to safety. In total, he saved 75 men.

His empathy could be seen from a young age. He was walked 6 miles to a hospital to donate blood after hearing on a local radio station about the need for blood after a a complete stranger had been in an accident. His hatred of guns stemmed from his beliefs but also from when he was a young boy and his Dad pulled a gun on his Uncle, which his Mother managed to confiscate from him, and told Doss to run and hide it. He was so shaken up by this event, he vowed it would be the last time he would hold a gun.

Besides his empathy, his physical resilience was also noticed by his younger brother in their childhood, who said he hated to wrestle with Doss not because he was skilled at wrestling but because he would never surrender.

At age 18, he signed up for the army and requested to be made a medic on the grounds of his beliefs and because he refused to carry a weapon. The army refused and assigned him to a rifle company instead hoping he would instead leave the military. Doss appealed this decision and was eventually made a medic. However, he was treated poorly by his comrades who did not believe Doss would have their back on the battlefield. Such behaviour included boots being thrown at him and even a threat to kill him during battle. The army let Doss have a day off on his Sabbath day (a Saturday) which also caused resentment with his colleagues, even though the army would give him the worst work to complete by himself on Sundays instead.

Then on 5th May 1945, during the battle of Okinawa, Doss astounded his fellow soldiers by continuing to treat wounded American soldiers despite the brutal attack by the Japanese. The Japanese army had a plan of waiting until all the Americans had reached the plateau before opening fire, which created a devastating amount of wounded American soldiers. Doss would treat any wounded soldiers he came across and then crawl back with them back to the ridge and lower them down. He did this for 12 hours. Doss was aware that the Japanese liked to torture wounded US soldiers and so he refused to leave any on top of the ridge.

Doss escaped without any major injury and later claimed that God had his back that day. According to some Japanese soldier, they said they had Doss in their sights but that their guns would jam at the last moment. In response to receiving the Medal of Honor, Doss cited the scripture Matthew 7:12, '‘All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.' During his time on the battlefield, he also repeatedly said the same prayer, 'just one more Lord, help me get one more.'

Sources:
-- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Doss
-- https://allthatsinteresting.com/desmond-doss

The astrology:

Due to Doss' empathy, it is not surprising to see a beautiful stellium of Aquarius and Pisces planets. His Sun conjunct Uranus in Aquarius opposes Saturn, instilling an extra sense of duty to his compassionate nature.

Then we have a Venus-Mars conjunction in Pisces which trines Jupiter, which just magnifies this sense of passionate compassion within him. His resilience can be seen by Pluto trining the Venus-Mars conjunction.

To add even more compassion, Doss also has an exalted Moon.

What is interesting, is on the day of his actions on Hacksaw Ridge, the transit North Node and Saturn were exactly conjunct his Pluto-Jupiter conjunction, activating these aspects to the max.

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