The Medal of Honor

It was a regular day of school; I was in my 4th period. At room 476 waiting for my instructor to come in. Minutes passed and he told us that he had to change all the topics that we were going to learn, because we sophomores were going to be in charge of an important project. We were going to write about the Congressional Medal of Honor. I didn’t know what he was talking about until when he started explaining that it was a medal for recipients that do something really extraordinary and they get awarded by what they did. After seeing a video of the MOH to me it means sacrifice, it takes for that person to be brave, and modesty.
For me the MOH means sacrifice. When you sacrifice, it means that you don’t care about anything; you put your life in extreme danger. You don’t care about what will happen to you. You’re taking a big risk by helping others. You put others before you. You have the ability to do things that are really difficult to do, that not everybody will do.
For me it takes bravery to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The person that is really brave feels responsible for others. They don’t care what they will have to pass through, they just do it. He or she is risking its life, or in other words they have the courage to do it. They don’t think about leaving their families they just don’t think about anything else, they just take action.
Modesty is the meaning behind the statement “Sometimes I think it was easier winning the CMH than it is to wear it” The person that received that medal may feel uncomfortable because of what people think. Probably they think he just did that (took the action) just to receive that medal. Probably people will want to expect for him to do the same thing again and be a hero for ever. That was probably 1 day risk. When that is not really true, because he wasn’t thinking about that he was modest.
The Congressional Medal of Honor is a great award to recognize a brave and modest person, who really deserves it. It takes a lot of sacrifice to get this, the people that have this medal are more than being the president of the Unites States of America.

December 4, 2008

Dear Specialist 5th class Clarence Sasser,



Hi my name is Kimberly Gonzalez. I am a high School student (cadet) from Farragut Career Academy at Chicago Illinois; Farragut has a JROTC program which is the best… (General Patton Academy). I am a Sergeant. I'm writing this letter as recognition of your bravery for what you did. I was really amazed. Now I know why they gave you the Medal of Honor, you really deserved it.
You really sacrificed your life and your time for being at that war. You saved many lives and secured the safety of many American families. For you saving all does people's lives you were able to create more families. Probably now they may be parents, or even grandparents. You also made many people realize that we are responsible for others. Everybody should help one another no matter what!
For all the actions you took you have given me courage and strength. I know that I may not receive a medal or any award, but I don't really care about that. I know that I can save people's lives or just help them in different ways. I can see that you tried your hardest to stay alive. Even though there were explosions of rockets. You ran across many times to save people or soldiers. What was more amazing was that you refused to receive medical attention. You never gave up, and now this is going to be me. I'm never going to give up at anything.
From the date that you received the Medal of Honor which was around March of 1969 from President Richard Nixon, you should be really proud of yourself. But you should have more than that. I think you deserve a day for yourself and others that received that Medal of Honor. A Day which you will get a big ceremony that nobody would forget about. Every time that I go to church I will pray for you, for God to help you in this life, because for me it's amazing what you did.
Thank you for taking your time to read my letter, and you have not only my respect but from others too. Your sacrifice will always be on my mind and heart. I thank you once more with all my heart for what you did to me and this Nation.

Clarence Sasser

Clarence Sasser

Born: September 12, 1947 Chenango Texas

War: Vietnam

Rank: Specialist 5th Class, US Army

Location of action: Ding Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam

Date of action: January 10, 1968

Medal received from: President Richard Nixon, March 1969

Official Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Specialist 5th Class Sasser distinguished himself while assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion. He was serving as a medical aidman with Company A, 3d Battalion, on a reconnaissance in force operation. His company was making an air assault when suddenly it was taken under heavy small arms, recoilless rifle, machinegun and rocket fire from well fortified enemy positions on three sides of the landing zone. During the first few minutes, over 30 casualties were sustained. Without hesitation, Specialist 5th Class Sasser ran across an open rice paddy through a hail of fire to assist the wounded. After helping one man to safety, was painfully wounded in the left shoulder by fragments of an exploding rocket. Refusing medical attention, he ran through a barrage of rocket and automatic weapons fire to aid casualties of the initial attack and, after giving them urgently needed treatment, continued to search for other wounded. Despite two additional wounds immobilizing his legs, he dragged himself through the mud toward another soldier 100 meters away. Although in agonizing pain and faint from loss of blood, Specialist 5th Class Sasser reached the man, treated him, and proceeded on to encourage another group of soldiers to crawl 200 meters to relative safety. There he attended their wounds for fivehours until they were evacuated. Specialist 5th Class Sasser's extraordinary heroism is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.