Medal of Honor: Stories of Courage

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The Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest military award. It is given for bravery in combat that goes far above and beyond the call of duty – those acts of heroism and courage that save lives despite impossible risk.

This podcast is about those heroes. What they did. What it meant. And what their stories tell us about the nature of sacrifice – and about ourselves.

In our first season, you’ll hear stories about Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War to the Iraq War. We’ll think about what makes a hero, why people put their lives in danger for others, the true nature of sacrifice, and what happens after you’ve become a hero.

Special thanks to series co-creator Dan McGinn.

Most Recent Episode

The Writer Behind the Medal of Honor

Malcolm chats with Meredith Rollins, the writer behind the series, to talk about what they both learned from the Medal of Honor recipients featured this season. They also share moments…

John Chapman’s Dark Night

John Chapman is the first member of the Air Force to receive the Medal of Honor since Vietnam. John’s story takes us to a freezing, snowy mountain range in Afghanistan…

Robert E Bush: from high school to hell and back

Robert E. Bush is one of the youngest recipients of the Medal of Honor. At only 18, Bob found himself at the Battle of Okinawa, the bloodiest and fiercest battle…

Jay Vargas Pulls the Trigger

During the worst days of the Vietnam war, Marine captain Jay Vargas led a group of young fighters called the Magnificent Bastards into the Battle of Dai Do. His actions…

How To Stop A School Shooting

The Citizen’s Medal of Honor was first awarded in 2008 to recognize ordinary Americans whose actions “epitomize the concept of ‘service beyond self’ … ‘above and beyond’” their call of…

Tibor Rubin’s Medicine (Part 2)

Tibor Rubin’s story continues. As a young man, Tibor joined the U.S. Army, and he was sent to fight during the Korean War, where he was captured and taken to…

Tibor Rubin’s Medicine (Part 1)

Tibor Rubin is the only Holocaust survivor to win the Medal of Honor. As a young man, Tibor joined the U.S. Army, and he was sent to fight during the…

Dr. Mary Walker’s True North

Dr. Mary Walker was the first and only woman to have been awarded the Medal of Honor. She worked as a surgeon during the Civil War, saving the lives of…

Alwyn Cashe: Into the Fire

Every Medal of Honor action is, by definition, heroic. But the story of Alwyn Cashe is about a very specific element of heroism: Sacrifice. In 2005, Sergeant First Class Alwyn…

The Unbreakable Chain of Douglas Munro

The story of Douglas A. Munro’s heroism is told to every man and woman who joins the United States Coast Guard. In 1942, he led a dangerous rescue that saved…

The Never-ending Battle of Henry Johnson

Henry Johnson, nicknamed Black Death, was one of the most famous American soldiers of World War I. He was part of the Harlem Hellfighters, the legendary all-Black U.S. Army unit,…

Courage is Contagious: Mike & Tommy

In the waning days of the Vietnam War, two Navy SEALs were dropped into enemy territory for a routine scouting mission. But within hours, Michael Thornton and Thomas Norris would…

Introducing Medal of Honor: Stories of Courage

Launching on June 26, Medal of Honor: Stories of Courage is a new podcast telling the extraordinary tales of some of the United States’s military heroes. Every week, we'll dive…

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