EDITORIAL TWO HEROES ONE MEDAL OF HONOR, TWO HONORABLE MEN.THE story of Robert West's efforts to secure a Medal of Honor Medal of Honor highest American military decoration for wartime gallantry. [Am. Hist.: Misc.] See : Bravery for Ben Louis Salomon is the story of one good man paying tribute to another. Salomon, who was profiled in Sunday's Daily News, was a Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. native who served as an Army dentist in Saipan during World War II. One day, when 5,000 Japanese troops launched a suicide charge In military terminology, a "suicide charge" refers to a charge, usually of infantry or cavalry, into a strong and/or heavily fortified enemy, usually with the intent of breaking the offensive/defensive line and allowing subsequent forces to advance through the breach, or drive the and threatened the lives of the injured troops he was tending, Salomon picked up a machine gun and countered the onslaught. While he fought, his patients were ushered to safety, and none was killed. But Salomon paid the ultimate price and gave up his life for his country and his patients. Due to a bureaucratic bu·reau·crat n. 1. An official of a bureaucracy. 2. An official who is rigidly devoted to the details of administrative procedure. bu mistake, he was never awarded the posthumous Medal of Honor he richly deserves. That will change Wednesday, thanks to the tireless efforts of West, a Calabasas resident who never even knew Salomon but honored his memory. At a White House ceremony Wednesday, President George W. Bush will present Salomon's medal, with West and the chief of the Army Dental Corps Dental corps may refer to:
The Daily News salutes both men: the fallen hero and the patriot who championed his legacy. |
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