Medal of Honor

Stories of America's Greatest Heroes

Ken Harbaugh tells the stories of service members who have distinguished themselves through an act of valor. These stories feature recipients from the Civil War to present day, including a few who were originally overlooked for the medal.

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PO2 Owen Francis Patrick Hammerberg served in the Navy as a diver near the end of World War II. When two of his fellow divers were trapped underwater as they tried to clear up a shipwreck, Hammersberg volunteered to rescue them. Despite the possibility of cave-ins, debris that could rip open a diver’s air supply, and zero visibility, he successfully found and rescued the first diver, George Fuller. When he finally found the other diver, Earl Brown, the wreckage caved in. A heavy piece of steel fell, causing Hammerberg to be pinned down on top of Brown and crushed to death. Since Hammerberg softened the impact of the debris, Brown survived.

On February 16th, 1946, Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Owen F.P. Hammerberg was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Thanks to his courage, both George Fuller and Earl Brown lived to see another day.

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Landing in a Minefield: MG Patrick Henry Brady

Medal of Honor
Huey pilot MG Patrick Henry Brady was awarded the Medal of Honor for rescuing 51 men in one day despite extremely dangerous conditions....
Listen to Landing in a Minefield: MG Patrick Henry Brady

The Rescue of Bat 21: Lieutenant Thomas Norris

Medal of Honor
Lieutenant Norris was awarded the Medal of Honor for helping rescue two men amongst 30,000 enemy NVA soldiers in Vietnam....
Listen to The Rescue of Bat 21: Lieutenant Thomas Norris

Hunted in North Vietnam: Lieutenant Michael Thornton

Medal of Honor
Navy SEAL Lt. Thornton was awarded the Medal of Honor for holding back a vastly superior enemy force and saving his team member....
Listen to Hunted in North Vietnam: Lieutenant Michael Thornton

The Capture of U-505: LTJG Albert L. David

Medal of Honor
LTJG David was awarded the Medal of Honor for boarding and salvaging a German U-Boat, despite the risk it posed to his life. The information gathe...
Listen to The Capture of U-505: LTJG Albert L. David

In Partnership with The National Medal of Honor Museum

The museum offers an experience that draws personal and emotional connections to Medal of Honor recipients and their stories, while shedding light on the wars in which they fought and the ideals that the Medal of Honor represents. Visitors come to understand the meaning and price of freedom—and appreciate the virtue of putting service above self.

The National Medal of Honor Museum also includes an education center aimed at character development in our nation’s youth. A critical part of their mission is to use the stories of our Medal of Honor recipients to inspire young people, and motivate them to be their best selves.

For more information please visit their website.

The Team

Ken Harbaugh

The Host
A former US Navy Pilot and past president of Team Rubicon Global. He has served as a commentator for NPR, a host on Crooked Media, and a contributor to The NY Times, The Atlantic, and Yale Journal of International Law.

Nathan Corson

Producer
Nate is an Ohio native and his passion for technical production began at a young age with his involvement in musical theater and playing in humble garage bands.

Declan Rohrs

Contributor
Declan Rohrs (He/Him) was born and raised in Lakewood, Ohio. At Evergreen, he has assumed various roles, including Assistant Producer, Editor, Content Creator, and Email-Signature Guru.