ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

The story of Pvt. Jacob Parrott, the first soldier to be awarded the Medal of Honor, is highlighted in the newest graphic novel in the Association of the U.S. Army’s series on recipients of the nation’s highest valor award.

Medal of Honor: Jacob Parrott tells of how Parrott and 23 other men volunteered during the Civil War to go nearly 200 miles into Confederate territory to steal a train and destroy tracks behind them as they sped north, all part of a plan to prevent reinforcements from interfering with an attempted capture of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Retired Lt. Col. Charles Hagemeister, a combat medic who received the Medal of Honor for saving wounded soldiers during a fierce firefight in Vietnam, died May 19 in Leavenworth, Kansas. He was 74.

Hagemeister, who at the time was a specialist fourth class after being drafted in 1966, was awarded the nation's highest military honor for his actions on March 20, 1967, when his platoon was sent to secure the village of Tan An and prevent the escape of North Vietnamese regulars, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

More than 70 years after his heroic actions during a vicious battle in the Korean War, retired Col. Ralph Puckett will receive the Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the White House.

President Joe Biden will present the nation’s highest award for valor to Puckett, a legendary Army Ranger who is now 94, on May 21. South Korean President Moon Jae-in will also attend the ceremony, the White House announced May 19.

The award would make Puckett one of the most highly decorated soldiers in U.S. history.

Ernest West, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War, has died. He was 89.

A native of Russell, Kentucky, and honorary life member of the Association of the U.S. Army, West died May 1 at St. Mary's Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia. 

On Oct. 12, 1952, West, a private first class with the 3rd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, volunteered to join a combat patrol near Sataeri, Korea, to look for an enemy outpost. 

Retired Col. Ralph Puckett, a legendary Army Ranger highly decorated for valor in Korea and Vietnam, will receive the Medal of Honor for his actions in November 1950 during the Korean War.

President Joe Biden called Puckett, 94, on April 30 to inform him that he would receive the nation’s highest award for valor, The Washington Postreported. The award would make Puckett one of the most highly decorated soldiers in U.S. history.

Members of the creative team behind the Association of the U.S. Army’s Medal of Honor graphic novel series will participate in an online discussion Dec. 10.

The event, part of AUSA’s Thought Leaders series, will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern. It is free, but registration is required here.

The story of Cpl. Tibor Rubin, the only Holocaust survivor to be awarded the Medal of Honor, is highlighted in the newest graphic novel in the Association of the U.S. Army’s series on recipients of the nation’s highest award for valor.

Sgt. Maj. Thomas “Patrick” Payne, a special operations soldier who has deployed 17 times, received the Medal of Honor Sept. 11 for his role in a daring hostage rescue mission in 2015 in Iraq.

Payne received the nation’s highest award for valor during a ceremony at the White House. He is the seventh service member—and second living recipient—to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq. 

“You embody the righteous glory of American valor,” President Donald Trump said to Payne during the ceremony. “We stand in awe of your heroic daring and gallant deeds.”

A special operations soldier will receive the Medal of Honor for his role in a daring hostage rescue mission in 2015 in Iraq, while a second soldier could posthumously be awarded the nation’s highest award for valor for his actions in 2005.

Sgt. Maj. Thomas Payne will receive the Medal of Honor on Sept. 11 during a ceremony at the White House. 

Payne, an Army Ranger assigned to Army Special Operations Command who has deployed 17 times, will be the seventh service member—and second living recipient—to receive the nation’s highest valor award for actions in Iraq.