Life After The Army

Spc.
Ross McGinnis
19 years old from Knox, Pennsylvania
1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment
June 14, 1987 – December 4, 2006

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

Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis distinguished himself by acts of
gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while
serving as an M2 .50-caliber Machine Gunner, 1st Platoon, C Company,
1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, in connection with combat
operations against an armed enemy in Adhamiyah, Northeast Baghdad,
Iraq, on 4 December 2006.

That afternoon his platoon was conducting combat control operations in
an effort to reduce and control sectarian violence in the area. While
Private McGinnis was manning the M2 .50-caliber Machine Gun, a
fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunner’s
hatch into the vehicle. Reacting quickly, he yelled “grenade,”
allowing all four members of his crew to prepare for the grenade’s
blast. Then, rather than leaping from the gunner’s hatch to safety,
Private McGinnis made the courageous decision to protect his crew. In
a selfless act of bravery, in which he was mortally wounded, Private
McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the
vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion.

Private McGinnis’ gallant action directly saved four men from certain
serious injury or death. Private First Class McGinnis’ extraordinary
heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and beyond
the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the
military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and
the United States Army.

Lt. Alan Wood
90 years old from Sierra Madre, Ca.
May 3, 1922 – April 18, 2013

Alan Wood didn’t run into a burning building to rescue someone. He isn’t credited with charging into the line of fire or piloting a damaged plane to save the crew. But he did play a role in what has become one of the most iconic images of all time. After nearly a month of heavy fighting U.S forces were able to capture the island of Iwo Jima. A flag was raised to seal the victory. When asked is anyone had a larger flag it was Lt. Wood who was able to provide one and a picture that has come to symbolize the sacrifice and heart of the military was taken. On April 18, Alan Wood passed away at the age of 90.

Capt. Lance P. Sijan
25 years old from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
366th Tactical Fighter Wing, 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron
April 13, 1942 – January 22, 1968

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Captain Lance Peter Sijan, United States Air Force, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron, as a Prisoner of War being held in Laos and North Vietnam. On 9 November 1967, while on a flight over North Vietnam, Captain Sijan ejected from his disabled aircraft and successfully evaded capture for more than six weeks. During this time, he was seriously injured and suffered from shock and extreme weight loss due to lack of food. After being captured by North Vietnamese soldiers, Captain Sijan was taken to a holding point for subsequent transfer to a prisoner of war camp. In his emaciated and crippled condition, he overpowered one of his guards and crawled into the jungle, only to be recaptured after several hours. He was then transferred to another prison camp where he was kept in solitary confinement and interrogated at length. During interrogation, he was severely tortured; however, he did not divulge any information to his captors. Captain Sijan lapsed into delirium and was placed in the care of another prisoner. During his intermittent periods of consciousness until his death, he never complained of his physical condition and, on several occasions, spoke of future escape attempts. Captain Sijan’s extraordinary heroism and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty at the cost of his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Armed Forces.

Col. Leo K. Thorsness
81 years old from Madison, Alabama
357th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. As pilot of an F-105 aircraft, Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness was on a surface-to-air missile suppression mission over North Vietnam. Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness and his wingman attacked and silenced a surface-to-air missile site with air-to-ground missiles and then destroyed a second surface-to-air missile site with bombs. In the attack on the second missile site, Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness’ wingman was shot down by intensive antiaircraft fire, and the two crewmembers abandoned their aircraft. Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness circled the descending parachutes to keep the crewmembers in sight and relay their position to the Search and Rescue Center. During this maneuver, a MIG-17 was sighted in the area. Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness immediately initiated an attack and destroyed the MIG. Because his aircraft was low on fuel, he was forced to depart the area in search of a tanker. Upon being advised that two helicopters were orbiting over the downed crew’s position and that there were hostile MIGs in the area posing a serious threat to the helicopters, Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness, despite his low fuel condition, decided to return alone through a hostile environment of surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft defenses to the downed crew’s position. As he approached the area, he spotted four MIG-17 aircraft and immediately initiated an attack on the MIGs, damaging one and driving the others away from the rescue scene. When it became apparent that an aircraft in the area was critically low on fuel and the crew would have to abandon the aircraft unless they could reach a tanker, Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness, although critically short on fuel himself, helped to avert further possible loss of life and a friendly aircraft by recovering at a forward operating base, thus allowing the aircraft in emergency fuel condition to refuel safely. Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness’ extraordinary heroism, self-sacrifice and personal bravery involving conspicuous risk of life were in the highest traditions of the military service, and have reflected great credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force.