Edwards AFB in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The Medal of Honor
U.S. Air Force Medal of Honor Recipients
Main Plaque:
The medal of honor is the highest U.S. military decoration awarded to individuals who, while serving in the U.S. armed services, have distinguished themselves by conspicuous gallantry and courage at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty. Each decoration awarded represents an incontestable act of bravery or self-sacrifice involving obvious risk of life and, if the risk had not been taken, there would be no grounds for censure. The President of the United States presents the award in the name of Congress. Originally authorized by congress in 1861, it is sometimes called the Congressional Medal of Honor.
This memorial is designed with a distinct turn indicating civilization turning to a new course without war and the three blank blocks of concrete represent a future with an absence of any more medal of honor recipients.
This memorial was dedicated on the 14th day of October 1997.
Second Plaque:
World War I
Recipient --- Date and Place of Action:
Bleckley, 2D Lt. Erwin R. Oct.6, 1918 - Binarville, France Coettler, 2D Lt. Harold E. - Oct. 6, 1918 - Binarville, France Luke, 2D Lt. Frank, Jr. - Sept. 29, 1918 - Murvaux, France Rickenbacker, Capt. Edward V. - Sept. 25, 1918 - Billy, France
Third Plaque:
World War II
Recipient --- Date and Place of Action:
Baker, Lt. Col. Addison E. - Aug. 1, 1943 - Ploesti, Romania Bong, Maj. Richard I. - Oct. 10-Nov. 15, 1944 - Southwest Pacific Carswell, Maj. Horace S., Jr. - Oct. 26, 1944 - Southwest China Sea Castle, Brig. Gen. Frederick W. - Dec. 24, 1944 - Liege, Belgium Cheli, Maj. Ralph Aug.18, 1943 Wewak, New Guinea Craw, Col. Demas T. - Nov. 8, 1942 - Port Lyautey, French Morocco Doolittle, Lt. Col. James H. - Apr. 18, 1942 - Tokyo, Japan Erwin, SSgt. Henry E. - Apr. 12, 1945 - Koriyama, Japan Femoyer, 2D Lt. Robert E. - Nov. 2, 1944 - Merseburg, Germany Gott, 1St Lt. Donald J. - Nov. 9, 1944 - Saarbrucken, Germany Hamilton, Maj. Pierpont M. - Nov. 8, 1942 - Port Lyautey, French Morocco Howard, Lt. Col. James H. - Jan. 11, 1944 - Oschersleben, Germany Hughes, 2D Lt. Lloyd H. - Aug. 1, 1943 - Ploesti, Romania Jerstad, Maj. John L. - Aug. 1, 1943 - Ploesti, Romania Johnson, Col. Leon W. - Aug. 1, 1943 - Ploesti, Romania Kane, Col. John R. - Aug. 1, 1943 - Ploesti, Romania Kearby, Col Neel E. - Oct. 11, 1943 - Wewak, New Guinea Kingsley, 2D Lt. David R. - June 23, 1944 - Ploesti, Romania Knight, 1st Lt. Raymond L. - Apr. 25, 1945 - Po Valley, Italy Lawley, 1st Lt. William R., Jr. - Feb. 20, 1944 - Leipzig, Germany Lindsey, Capt. Darrell R. - Aug. 9, 1944 - Pontoise, France Mathies, SSgt. Archibald - Feb. 20, 1944 - Leipzig, Germany Mathis, 1st Lt. Jack W. - Mar. 18, 1943 - Vegesack, Germany McGuire, Maj. Thomas B., Jr. - Dec. 25-26, 1944 - Luzon, Philippine Islands Metzger, 2D Lt. William E., Jr. - Nov. 9, 1944 - Saarbrucken, Germany Michael, 1st Lt. Edwards S. - Apr. 11, 1944 - Brunswick, Germany Morgan, 2D Lt. John C. - July 28, 1943 - Kiel, Germany Pease, Capt. Harl, Jr. - Aug. 7, 1942 - Rabaul, New Britain Pucket, 1st Lt. Donald D. - July 9, 1944 - Ploesti, Romania Sarnoski, 2D Lt. Joseph R. - June 16, 1943 - Buka, Solomon Islands Shomo, Maj. William A. - Jan. 11, 1945 - Luzon, Philippine Islands Smith, SSgt. Maynard H. - May 1, 1943 - St. Nazaire, France Truemper, 2D Lt. Walter E. - Feb. 20, 1944 - Leipzig, Germany Vance, Lt. Col. Leon R., Jr. - June 5, 1944 - Wimereaux, France Vosler, TSgt. Forrest L. - Dec. 20, 1943 - Bremen, Germany Walker, Brig. Gen. Kenneth N. - Jan. 5, 1943 - Rabaul, New Britain Wilkins, Maj. Raymond H. - Nov. 2, 1943 - Rabaul, New Britain Zeamer, Maj. Jay, Jr. - June 16, 1943 - Buka, Solomon Islands
Fourth Plaque:
Korea
Recipient --- Date and Place of Action:
Davis, Maj. George A., Jr. - Feb. 10, 1952 - Sinuiju-Yalu River, N. Korea Loring, Maj. Charles J., Jr. - Nov. 22, 1952 - Sniper Ridge, N. Korea Sebille, Maj. Louis J. - Aug. 5, 1950 - Hamchang, S. Korea Walmsley, Capt. John S., Jr. - Sept. 14, 1951 - Yangdok, N. Korea
Fifth Plaque:
Vietnam
Recipient --- Date and Place of Action:
Bennett, Capt. Steven L. - June 29, 1972 - Quang Tri, S. Vietnam Day, Col. George E. - Aug. 26, 1967 - Hanoi, N. Vietnam Dethlefsen, Maj. Merlyn H. - Mar. 10, 1967 - Thai Nguyen, N. Vietnam Fisher, Maj. Bernard F. - Mar. 10, 1966 - A Shau Valley, S. Vietnam Fleming, 1st Lt. James P. - Nov. 26, 1968 - Duc Co, S. Vietnam Jackson, Lt. Col. Joe M. - May 12, 1966 - Kham Duc, S. Vietnam Jones, Col. William A., III - Sept.1, 1968 - Dong Hoi, N. Vietnam Levitow, A1C John L. - Feb. 24, 1969 - Long Binh, S. Vietnam Sijan, Capt. Lance P. - Nov. 9, 1969 - N. Vietnam Thorsness, Lt. Col. Leo K. - Apr. 19, 1967 - N. Vietnam Wilbanks, Capt. Hilliard A. - Feb.24, 1967 - Dalat, S. Vietnam Young, Capt. Gerald O. Nov. 9, 1967 Da Nang Area, S. Vietnam Pitsenbarger, A1C William H. - Apr. 11, 1966 - Cam My S. Vietnam
Erected 1997 by Air Force Flight Test Center Command.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, Korean • War, Vietnam • War, World I • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients series list.
Location. 34° 55.68′ N, 117° 53.869′ W. Marker is in Edwards AFB, California, in Kern County. Memorial is at the intersection of Rosamond Boulevard and North Muroc Drive, on the right when traveling north on Rosamond Boulevard. The monument is located across the street from the old supply building. Edwards Air Force Base is not open to the public. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Edwards CA 93524, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Sound Barrier Cracked (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bell XP-59A Jet Aircraft (approx. Ό mile away); F-86F (approx. half a mile away); Leaps in Technology (approx. half a mile away); F-16B (approx. half a mile away); Jackie Cochran (approx. 0.7 miles away); Rocket Engine NF-104A (approx. 0.8 miles away); General Dynamics F-16XL (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Edwards AFB.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 26, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 847 times since then and 23 times this year. Last updated on March 16, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on December 26, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.