#MedalOfHonor #VietnamWar #Hero
Did you know that at the age of 18, Milton Olive III made the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of four soldiers? He fearlessly jumped on a grenade to absorb the blast and protect his fellow soldiers. 🎖️
Milton Olive III was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery, making him the first African American recipient from the Vietnam War. His selfless act of heroism will never be forgotten. 🇺🇸
Just imagine the courage and love for his fellow soldiers it took for Milton Olive III to make such a sacrifice. His incredible bravery and sacrifice will always be remembered and honored. 🙏 #MiltonOliveIII #Bravery #HeroicSacrifice
“Olive joined the Army from his birth city of Chicago, Illinois in 1964, and was serving as a Private First Class in Company B of the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam by 1965. Olive’s body was returned to the United States and buried in West Grove Cemetery at Lexington, Holmes County, Mississippi. He was born in Chicago but left as a young boy living in Lexington, Mississippi, where he finished high school.”
“In 1966, a plaque and park was dedicated in his honor. In 1999, the city of Chicago recognized Olive by naming Olive Park on Lake Michigan in his honor. Olive-Harvey College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago, is named after both Olive and fellow Medal of Honor recipient Carmel Bernon Harvey Jr. ”
Medal of Honor Citation:
“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Olive was a member of the 3d Platoon of Company B, as it moved through the jungle to find the Viet Cong operating in the area. Although the platoon was subjected to a heavy volume of enemy gunfire and pinned down temporarily, it retaliated by assaulting the Viet Cong positions, causing the enemy to flee. As the platoon pursued the insurgents, Pfc. Olive and 4 other soldiers were moving through the jungle together when a grenade was thrown into their midst. Pfc. Olive saw the grenade, and then saved the lives of his fellow soldiers at the sacrifice of his own by grabbing the grenade in his hand and falling on it to absorb the blast with his body. Through his bravery, unhesitating actions, and complete disregard for his safety, he prevented additional loss of life or injury to the members of his platoon. Pfc. Olive’s extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life above and beyond the call of duty, are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.”
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_L._Olive_III](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_L._Olive_III)
Not a bad resume to take to your next life.
Good looking kid too. Shame. What a stupid war that was.
Hero
18 years old. So sad, he was still a kid.
Dude was used as cannon fodder for an unnecessary war, & all his parents got were a few pieces of metal n cloth. Poor kid.
All the lives wasted for such a stupid war
On my 8th grade field trip to Washington DC the teacher who ran it told us “leave me alone at the wall a man saved my brothers life by jumping on a grenade.” So we all left him alone when we went to see the wall. This school was in the Chicago suburbs where this kid was from. I wonder if this is who he would go visit at the wall.
Yea, I would’ve jumped away. I like living. Best case I would’ve tried chucking it back.
Edit: I’m reinforcing the fact how exceptional his act is, as most people wouldn’t do it. Including me.
Rest in Power, King. “No greater love”, and all that.
“There is no greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for a friend”- Jesus
Damn, that is bad-ass.
.. you can’t throw grenades?