congressional medal of honor

This edWeb podcast is hosted by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
The webinar recording can be accessed here.

Please listen to an edWeb podcast interview with Medal of Honor Recipient Lieutenant Colonel William D. Swenson (Afghanistan). Lieutenant Colonel Swenson was awarded the Medal of Honor for risking his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving in Afghanistan.

Interviews with Medal of Honor Recipients are part of the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, a free program that helps middle – high school students build character and promotes responsible citizenship. The Medal of Honor is awarded for “gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of one’s life, above and beyond the call of duty.” Those awarded it drew upon their deepest convictions and values in the most challenging of circumstances. Their examples of courage and sacrifice can inspire us as we face our own challenges.

Then-Captain Swenson risked his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving in Afghanistan in 2009. Enemy fighters had ambushed Captain Swenson’s combat team as it moved on foot into the village of Ganjgal for a meeting with village elders. As the enemy unleashed grenades, mortar, and machine gun fire, Captain Swenson immediately returned fire and directed the response of his Afghan Border Police while simultaneously calling in support. He coordinated air assets, indirect fire support, and medical evacuation helicopter support. Captain Swenson ignored enemy radio transmissions demanding surrender and maneuvered to render medical aid to a wounded fellow soldier. With complete disregard for his own safety, he then led a team into the kill zone to recover more wounded and search for four missing comrades. His exceptional leadership and stout resistance against the enemy during six hours of continuous fighting rallied his teammates and effectively disrupted the enemy’s assault.

Here are ways you can share this inspiring story and interview with your middle – high school students: 

• Share Lieutenant Colonel Swenson’s story with your class.
• Watch the edWebinar above and listen to this edWeb podcast to share and discuss with your class.
• Take advantage of the free lessons provided by the Medal of Honor Character Development Program. For  shortened activities specifically for you to use while learning has shifted to an online format, follow the Character Development Program on Facebook. 
• Please note that students must listen to the edWeb podcast under the supervision of a teacher and are not allowed to log into the program individually.
  
  This edWeb podcast is of interest to all teachers and school and district leaders for their middle – high school students.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

This edWeb podcast is hosted by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
The webinar recording can be accessed here.

Please listen to an edWeb podcast interview with Medal of Honor Recipient Master Chief Britt K. Slabinski. Master Chief Slabinski was awarded the Medal of Honor for risking his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving in Afghanistan.

Interviews with Medal of Honor Recipients are part of the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, a free program that helps middle – high school students build character and promotes responsible citizenship. The Medal of Honor is awarded for “gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of one’s life, above and beyond the call of duty.” Those awarded it drew upon their deepest convictions and values in the most challenging of circumstances. Their examples of courage and sacrifice can inspire us as we face our own challenges.

Master Chief Britt Slabinski was awarded the Medal of Honor for risking his life above and beyond the call of duty while assigned to a Joint Task Force in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan. When their helicopter was suddenly fired upon his team was forced to crash land into a deep valley. Then-Senior Chief Slabinski repeatedly exposed himself to deadly fire to personally engage the enemy and orient his team’s fires in a furious, close-quarters firefight. After several teammates became casualties, Slabinski maneuvered his team to a more defensible position, directed air strikes in very close proximity to their position, and requested reinforcements. He then carried a seriously wounded teammate through deep snow and led a difficult trek across precipitous terrain while the enemy was engaging them from the surrounding ridges. Throughout the next 14 hours, Slabinski stabilized the casualties and continued to fight until his team was extracted.

Here are ways you can share this inspiring story and interview with your middle – high school students:

• Share Master Chief Slabinski’s story with your class.
• Watch the edWebinar above and listen to this edWeb podcast to share and discuss with your class.
• Take advantage of the free lessons provided by the Medal of Honor Character Development Program. For shortened activities specifically for you to use while learning has shifted to an online format, follow the Character Development Program on Facebook.
• Please note that students must listen to the edWeb podcast under the supervision of a teacher and are not allowed to log into the program individually.

This edWeb podcast is of interest to all teachers and school and district leaders for their middle – high school students.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

This edWeb podcast is hosted by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
The webinar recording can be accessed here.

edWeb is honored to present an interview with Medal of Honor Recipient Matthew O. Williams. Master Sergeant Williams was awarded the Medal of Honor for risking his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving in Afghanistan.

Interviews with Medal of Honor Recipients are part of the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, a free program that helps middle – high school students build character and promotes responsible citizenship. The Medal of Honor is awarded for “gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of one’s life, above and beyond the call of duty.” Those awarded it drew upon their deepest convictions and values in the most challenging of circumstances. Their examples of courage and sacrifice can inspire us as we face our own challenges.

Sergeant Matthew O. Williams distinguished himself by going above and beyond the call of duty while serving in Afghanistan. The lead portion of his assault element, which included the ground commander, had sustained several casualties and were pinned down in rugged terrain. Sergeant Williams braved intense enemy fire to lead a counter-attack across a valley of ice-covered boulders and a fast-moving, ice-cold, and waist-deep river. Under withering fire, he was able to reach the wounded and move them down a sheer mountainside to the casualty collection point. He then fought his way back up the mountain to help evacuate more wounded and to re-establish radio communications. Noting that the casualty collection point was about to be overrun by enemy fighters, Sergeant Williams led a counter-attack that lasted for several hours. When helicopters arrived to evacuate the wounded, he again exposed himself to enemy fire, carrying and loading casualties onto the helicopters while continuing to direct commando firepower to suppress numerous insurgent positions. His actions enabled the patrol to evacuate wounded and dead comrades without further casualties.

This edWeb podcast is appropriate for middle and high school teachers and their students and is of special interest to school and district leaders. We recommend that upper elementary teachers preview the edWeb podcast before showing it to their students. This edWeb podcast is not appropriate for younger students or preschool level classes.

Students must listen to the edWeb podcast under the supervision of a teacher and are not allowed to log into the program individually.

Here are ways you can share this inspiring story and interview with your middle – high school students: 

• Share Master Sergeant Williams’ story with your class. 
• Take advantage of the free lessons provided by the Medal of Honor Character Development Program. 
• For shortened activities specifically for you to use while learning has shifted to an online format, follow the Character Development Program on Facebook.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

Shakin Shaner explores the life and legacy of Major General Smedley Butler, AKA, Old Gimlet Eye, who received two Congressional Medals of Honor.  He dives into his life after the Marine Corps and touch on his participation in the March of the Bonus Army, the Business Plot and his book, "War is a Racket".  This is truly a great story about honorable service, giving back and standing up for veterans, derailing a plot against the American Government and being true to oneself.  A great way to celebrate Veterans Day.

This edWeb podcast is hosted by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
The webinar recording can be accessed here.

Listen to an edWeb podcast interview with Medal of Honor Recipient David G. Bellavia. Staff Sergeant Bellavia was awarded the Medal of Honor for risking his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving in Iraq.

Interviews with Medal of Honor Recipients are part of the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, a free program that helps middle – high school students build character and promotes responsible citizenship. The Medal of Honor is awarded for “gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of one’s life, above and beyond the call of duty.” Those awarded it drew upon their deepest convictions and values in the most challenging of circumstances. Their examples of courage and sacrifice can inspire us as we face our own challenges.

Staff Sergeant David G. Bellavia distinguished himself by acting above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader in Fallujah, Iraq. While clearing a house, a squad from his platoon became trapped in a room by intense enemy fire coming from a fortified position under the stairs leading to the second floor. Recognizing the immediate severity of the situation, and with disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Bellavia retrieved an automatic weapon and entered the doorway of the house to engage the insurgents. Acting on instinct to save the members of his platoon from an imminent threat, he ultimately cleared the entire enemy-filled house. Staff Sergeant Bellavia’s courageous actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States.

Here are ways you can share this inspiring story and interview with your middle – high school students:

• Share Staff Sergeant Bellavia’s story with your class.
• Watch the edWebinar to share and discuss with your class.
• Take advantage of the free lessons provided by the Medal of Honor Character Development Program. For shortened activities specifically for you to use while learning has shifted to an online format, follow the Character Development Program on Facebook.
• Please note that students are not permitted to log into the edWebinar to protect student privacy.

This edWeb podcast is of interest to all teachers and school and district leaders for their middle – high school students.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.