POSTED: Sunday, November 12, 2006

Medal of Honor Recipients Visit Camp Lemonier

Story by U.S. Air Force SSgt Anne O’Neill

CJTF-HOA Strategic Communications

CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti (November 5, 2006) -- United States Sailors assigned to the Michaud Medical/Dental Facility pose for a group photo with three Medal of Honor recipients: COL (Ret) Robert L. Howard, U.S. Army Capt (Ret) John James McGinty III, USMC, Command Sergeant Major (Ret) Gary L. Littrell, U.S. Army. (U.S. Navy Photo by HM3 Boris Paloma) (Large Image.   Hi-Res Image.)

CAMP LEMONIER, DJIBOUTI – Three Medal of Honor recipients visited Camp Lemonier, Djibouti Nov. 5.  United States Army COL (Ret) Robert L. Howard, U.S. Marine Corps Capt (Ret) John James McGinty III, and U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major (Ret) Gary L. Littrell talked to dozens of people deployed here during their brief visit to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa.

They toured the camp during the day and visited the larger organizations on camp. They met Marines from the U.S. Marine Corps’ 5th Provisional Security Company, and people assigned to the Emergency Medical Facility and Alpha and Charlie Companies from 1st Battalion 16th Infantry.  They also ate lunch with the troops in the dining facility.

In the evening they spoke to a larger audience. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines assigned here got the rare opportunity to hear the stories that these heroes shared.

“It was awesome, and very motivating,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. Michael Clayborn of the 5th PSC.  “It was a piece of history come to life. The Medal of Honor recipients described how they came to be in the situation they were in that got them the medal. They said they just did what they were supposed to do.  They told us that they weren’t wearing the medal for themselves - they were wearing it for their platoon members.”       

The visitors also learned a little of the changes in medicine since their time in service.

“We gave them a tour of the clinic and talked about the advances in medicine and prosthesis,” said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Boris Paloma of the EMF.  “We described to them how a patient can get from Iraq to National Naval Medical Center in 48 hours.”

Lance Cpl. Jonathan Knudsen of the 5th PSC met Capt McGinty. Knudsen is the youngest Marine on camp and received one of only 300 coins that the Congressional Medal of Honor Society created for this Medal of Honor tour. 

The coin has the names of the three Medal of Honor Recipients on this tour. One of which is the most decorated military personnel of the Vietnam War, Colonel Howard. His other awards for valor include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star and numerous other decorations including eight Purple Hearts. He retired from active duty in 1992 after 36 years of service. He is currently serving as Vice-President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.