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Greatest American Soldier?

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  • Greatest American Soldier?

    Recently the A&E channel just ran a series on the "Greatest American" in which regular americans voted for who they considered to be the best.

    Ronald Reagan was the winner(5 finalists: Lincoln, Reagan, Washington, King, Franklin).

    So it made me wonder, who's the greatest American warrior in our history?

    This should be a fun thread. :)

  • #2
    Originally posted by M21Sniper
    Recently the A&E channel just ran a series on the "Greatest American" in which regular americans voted for who they considered to be the best.

    Ronald Reagan was the winner(5 finalists: Lincoln, Reagan, Washington, King, Franklin).

    So it made me wonder, who's the greatest American warrior in our history?

    This should be a fun thread. :)

    Audie Murphy? Chester Nimitz? Alvin York? Carlos Hathcock? Robert E. Lee?
    Are we talking leadership positions, ground pounders, aviators?
    “He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”

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    • #3
      Robert E. Lee. Strictly judged as a soldier, he was the best we've ever produced, IMHO.

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      • #4
        When you talk of your greatest warrior, don't forget your native Americans: Geronimo.
        A true warrior in every sense of the word. He and his absurdly small band sure made the old 10th., Cavalry earn their pay.
        When we blindly adopt a religion, a political system, a literary dogma, we become automatons. We cease to grow. - Anais Nin

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        • #5
          I mean the greatest combat soldier.

          This would eliminate generals from contention unless their claim to fame was from their own personal actions in actual combat engagements, though it would not eliminate combat pilots such as Richard Bong or Chuck Yeager.

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          • #6
            Carlos Hathcock.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by M21Sniper
              I mean the greatest combat soldier.

              This would eliminate generals from contention unless their claim to fame was from their own personal actions in actual combat engagements, though it would not eliminate combat pilots such as Richard Bong or Chuck Yeager.
              Wow...that's still a pretty broad category (Kinda like Greatest American ;) )

              I guess I'm partial to Sgt York.
              “He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”

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              • #8
                In that case, Patton. That man lead from the front - litterally.

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                • #9
                  Sorry Sniper, I misunderstood the context of the question.
                  Therefore new nominee: - Joshua L. Chamberlain of Main.
                  When we blindly adopt a religion, a political system, a literary dogma, we become automatons. We cease to grow. - Anais Nin

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                  • #10
                    Knowing I'd pick an artilleryman. Sammy L Davis, one of my favorites for sheer guts. I wish all my PFCs had this dedication

                    For those who have never heard of him, here is his MOH citation:

                    Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Battery C, 2d Battalion, 4th Artillery, 9th Infantry Division.

                    Place and date: West of Cai Lay, Republic of Vietnam, 18 November 1967.

                    Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Davis (then Pfc.) distinguished himself during the early morning hours while serving as a cannoneer with Battery C, at a remote fire support base. At approximately 0200 hours, the fire support base was under heavy enemy mortar attack. Simultaneously, an estimated reinforced Viet Cong battalion launched a fierce ground assault upon the fire support base. The attacking enemy drove to within 25 meters of the friendly positions. Only a river separated the Viet Cong from the fire support base.

                    Detecting a nearby enemy position, Sgt. Davis seized a machine gun and provided covering fire for his guncrew, as they attempted to bring direct artillery fire on the enemy. Despite his efforts, an enemy recoilless rifle round scored a direct hit upon the artillery piece. The resultant blast hurled the guncrew from their weapon and blew Sgt. Davis into a foxhole.

                    He struggled to his feet and returned to the howitzer, which was burning furiously. Ignoring repeated warnings to seek cover, Sgt. Davis rammed a shell into the gun. Disregarding a withering hail of enemy fire directed against his position, he aimed and fired the howitzer which rolled backward, knocking Sgt. Davis violently to the ground.

                    Undaunted, he returned to the weapon to fire again when an enemy mortar round exploded within 20 meters of his position, injuring him painfully. Nevertheless, Sgt. Davis loaded the artillery piece, aimed and fired. Again he was knocked down by the recoil. In complete disregard for his safety, Sgt. Davis loaded and fired 3 more shells into the enemy.

                    Disregarding his extensive injuries and his inability to swim, Sgt. Davis picked up an air mattress and struck out across the deep river to rescue 3 wounded comrades on the far side. Upon reaching the 3 wounded men, he stood upright and fired into the dense vegetation to prevent the Viet Cong from advancing. While the most seriously wounded soldier was helped across the river, Sgt. Davis protected the 2 remaining casualties until he could pull them across the river to the fire support base.

                    Though suffering from painful wounds, he refused medical attention, joining another howitzer crew which fired at the large Viet Cong force until it broke contact and fled. Sgt. Davis' extraordinary heroism, at the risk of his life, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.

                    Maybe not the "Greatest" but surely part of a short list.

                    LtGen Chesty Puller, with 5 Navy Crosses and an Army DSC (Doggie version of Navy Cross) gets my vote if you want consistant playing at the superbowl level.
                    Last edited by Gun Grape; 28 Jun 05,, 23:54.

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                    • #11
                      Audie Murphy.

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                      • #12
                        I would put Capt. Nathan Hale in for this list along with the list for greatest american.

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                        • #13
                          "Carlos Hathcock."

                          Adelbert Waldron, SSgt, US Army had more confirmed kills(109 vs 93), and neither won the CMoH.

                          Shugghart and Gordon to me actually 'outrank' the two named above because they willingly went into a situation that both knew would cost them their lives.

                          " *GORDON, GARY I.

                          Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, U.S. Army. Place and date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. Entered service at: ----- Born: Lincoln, Maine. Citation: Master Sergeant Gordon, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as Sniper Team Leader, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Master Sergeant Gordon's sniper team provided precision fires from the lead helicopter during an assault and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. When Master Sergeant Gordon learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the second crash site, he and another sniper unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After his third request to be inserted, Master Sergeant Gordon received permission to perform his volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Master Sergeant Gordon was inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon and his fellow sniper, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Master Sergeant Gordon immediately pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Master Sergeant Gordon used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers until he depleted his ammunition. Master Sergeant Gordon then went back to the wreckage, recovering some of the crew's weapons and ammunition. Despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition, he provided some of it to the dazed pilot and then radioed for help. Master Sergeant Gordon continued to travel the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. After his team member was fatally wounded and his own rifle ammunition exhausted, Master Sergeant Gordon returned to the wreckage, recovering a rifle with the last five rounds of ammunition and gave it to the pilot with the words, "good luck." Then, armed only with his pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon continued to fight until he was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Master Sergeant Gordon's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.

                          *SHUGHART, RANDALL D.

                          Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army. Place and date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. Entered service at: ----- Born: Newville, Pennsylvania. Citation: Sergeant First Class Shughart, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as a Sniper Team Member, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Sergeant First Class Shughart provided precision sniper fires from the lead helicopter during an assault on a building and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. While providing critical suppressive fires at the second crash site, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the site. Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader were inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Sergeant First Class Shughart pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Sergeant First Class Shughart used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers while traveling the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Sergeant First Class Shughart's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army."
                          Last edited by Bill; 29 Jun 05,, 05:08.

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                          • #14
                            "Maybe not the "Greatest" but surely part of a short list."

                            Definitely. To be a CMoH winner pretty much by default puts a warrior on the short list.

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                            • #15
                              http://archive.parade.com/2005/0529/...ater_love.html

                              Corporal Dunham.

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