Obama awards Medal of Honor posthumously to Vietnam hero

[pinboy3niner]

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Widow pays tribute to others also killed in battle

• President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Honor to a GI's widow

• Spc. Leslie Sabo Jr. was married for one month before shipping out to Vietnam

• Sabo died in a firefight in which he shielded his mates from a grenade

By the CNN Wire Staff
Updated 7:41 PM EDT, Wed May 16, 2012

Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama, in awarding an overdue posthumous Medal of Honor to a Vietnam hero Wednesday, paid tribute to soldiers who received a cold reception when they returned home from the Southeast Asian war.

"This month, we'll begin to mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War," Obama said at the White House ceremony. "A time when, to our shame, the soldiers didn't receive the respect and the thanks that they deserve. A mistake that must never be repeated."

Obama, who presented Army Spc. Leslie Sabo Jr.'s medal to his widow, Rose Mary Sabo Brown, singled out Sabo's 101st Airborne Division unit, Bravo Company (3rd Battalion, 506th Infantry), as typifying selfless and patriotic service by Vietnam veterans.

"You did your job, you served with honor, you made us proud and, as Les would have wanted it, I ask members of Bravo Company (3/506) to stand and accept the
gratitude of our nation," the president said.

...


Story and VIDEO:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/16/us/medal-of-honor-sabo/index.html?hpt=hp_bn1

THE CITATION:

[center][/center]

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to

Specialist Four Leslie H. Sabo, Jr.
United States Army

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Specialist Four Leslie H. Sabo Jr. distinguished himself by conspicuous acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty at the cost of his own life while serving as a rifleman in Company B, 3d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division in Se San, Cambodia, on May 10, 1970.

On that day, Specialist Four Sabo and his platoon were conducting a reconnaissance patrol when they were ambushed from all sides by a large enemy force. Without hesitation, Specialist Four Sabo charged an enemy position, killing several enemy soldiers. Immediately thereafter, he assaulted an enemy flanking force, successfully drawing their fire away from friendly soldiers and ultimately forcing the enemy to retreat.

In order to re-supply ammunition, he sprinted across an open field to a wounded comrade. As he began to reload, an enemy grenade landed nearby. Specialist Four Sabo picked it up, threw it, and shielded his comrade with his own body, thus absorbing the brunt of the blast and saving his comrade's life.

Seriously wounded by the blast, Specialist Four Sabo nonetheless retained the initiative and then single-handedly charged an enemy bunker that had inflicted severe damage on the platoon, receiving several serious wounds from automatic weapons fire in the process.

Now mortally injured, he crawled towards the enemy emplacement and, when in position, threw a grenade into the bunker. The resulting explosion silenced the enemy fire, but also ended Specialist Four Sabo's life. His indomitable courage and complete disregard for his own safety saved the lives of many of his platoon members.

Specialist Four Sabo's extraordinary heroism and selflessness, above and beyond the call of duty, at the cost of his life, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Company B, 3d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, and the United States Army.

http://www.army.mil/article/79802/Medal_of_Honor_Citation__Specialist_Four_Leslie_H__Sabo__Jr_/

His page at the Virtual Wall, with notes from his widow:

http://www.virtualwall.org/ds/SaboLH01a.htm

[4bucksagallon]

1. Even though no official words belong to Taps......

below are some of the more popular verses.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hill,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Thanks and praise, For our days,
’Neath the sun, ’Neath the stars,
’Neath the sky,
As we go, This we know,
God is nigh.

Fades the light; And afar
Goeth day, And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well; Day has gone,
Night is on.

Go to sleep, peaceful sleep,
May the soldier or sailor,
God keep.
On the land or the deep,
Safe in sleep.

Love, good night, Must thou go,
When the day, And the night
Need thee so?
All is well. Speedeth all
To their rest

Even though I am an atheist I still love this tune, heard it many times and it still is embedded in my brain.
RIP soldier........ job well done.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

2. Great story, and it's nearly Memorial Day

Carved into a wall at Arlington National Cemetary:

They shall grow not old
As we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them . .
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning,
We will remember them!
-- Lawrence Binyon

[pinboy3niner]

3. That is the ANZAC Ode

Said every ANZAC Day (April 25) in New Zealand and Australia. That is the equivalent of our Memorial Day.

Traditionally, it is followed by the Last Post...

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

4. It looks like a few countries use it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_of_Remembrance

but it can certainly apply to Specialist Leslie Sabo, Jr, who is finally recognized decades after the act.