Astonishing True Tales of the Most Bad-Ass Men to ever walk the Earth

[Elijya]

In your mind, who's a Bad Ass?

Wolverine? Batman? Shaft? Get a life, they're fictional, and you really need to move out of you mom's basement

Professional Athletes? Half of them are on steroids and they'd all fail an IQ test. And you can't fail an IQ test.

Chuck Norris? Shut Up. The joke is old, and the guy makes movies for the Hallmark Channel. The Chuck Norris you want to believe in is fictional.



Screw these people. These idols, these icons we prop up. What have they ever really done? It's not like they've ever won a medal.

So what about the men who have won medals? Well, I have a few stories to share. Turns out the website http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/moh1.htm catalogs the names and the stories of the 3,400 Men more bad ass than you or anyone you've ever heard of who won the Congressional Medal of Honor.

It doesn't matter how you feel about War, Violence, Politics, America, or what loser is going to win American Idol. In fact, it's really sad that you do probably know the names of more American Idol contestants than winners of the Medal of Honor, and you do, don't you? Are you proud of that? Why don't you amend that and read the tales of some true Men. Let's start with Thomas Baker, my new Hero:

BAKER, THOMAS A
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 105th Infantry, 27th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Saipan, Mariana Islands, 19 June to 7 July 1944.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty at Saipan, Mariana Islands, 19 June to 7 July 1944. When his entire company was held up by fire from automatic weapons and small-arms fire from strongly fortified enemy positions that commanded the view of the company, Sgt. (then Pvt.) Baker voluntarily took a bazooka and dashed alone to within 100 yards of the enemy. Through heavy rifle and machinegun fire that was directed at him by the enemy, he knocked out the strong point, enabling his company to assault the ridge. Some days later while his company advanced across the open field flanked with obstructions and places of concealment for the enemy, Sgt. Baker again voluntarily took up a position in the rear to protect the company against surprise attack and came upon 2 heavily fortified enemy pockets manned by 2 officers and 10 enlisted men which had been bypassed. Without regard for such superior numbers, he unhesitatingly attacked and killed all of them. Five hundred yards farther, he discovered 6 men of the enemy who had concealed themselves behind our lines and destroyed all of them. On 7 July 1944, the perimeter of which Sgt. Baker was a part was attacked from 3 sides by from 3,000 to 5,000 Japanese. During the early stages of this attack, Sgt. Baker was seriously wounded but he insisted on remaining in the line and fired at the enemy at ranges sometimes as close as 5 yards until his ammunition ran out. Without ammunition and with his own weapon battered to uselessness from hand-to-hand combat, he was carried about 50 yards to the rear by a comrade, who was then himself wounded. At this point Sgt. Baker refused to be moved any farther stating that he preferred to be left to die rather than risk the lives of any more of his friends. A short time later, at his request, he was placed in a sitting position against a small tree. Another comrade, withdrawing, offered assistance. Sgt. Baker refused, insisting that he be left alone and be given a soldier's pistol with its remaining 8 rounds of ammunition. When last seen alive, Sgt. Baker was propped against a tree, pistol in hand, calmly facing the foe. Later Sgt. Baker's body was found in the same position, gun empty, with 8 Japanese lying dead before him. His deeds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.

8 Bullets, 8 dead enemies. Thomas Baker: More Bad Ass than you or anyone you've ever heard of.

ANDERSON, BEAUFORD T.
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, 381st Infantry, 96th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Okinawa, 13 April 1945.

Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. When a powerfully conducted predawn Japanese counterattack struck his unit's flank, he ordered his men to take cover in an old tomb, and then, armed only with a carbine, faced the onslaught alone. After emptying 1 magazine at pointblank range into the screaming attackers, he seized an enemy mortar dud and threw it back among the charging Japs, killing several as it burst. Securing a box of mortar shells, he extracted the safety pins, banged the bases upon a rock to arm them and proceeded alternately to hurl shells and fire his piece among the fanatical foe, finally forcing them to withdraw. Despite the protests of his comrades, and bleeding profusely from a severe shrapnel wound, he made his way to his company commander to report the action. T/Sgt. Anderson's intrepid conduct in the face of overwhelming odds accounted for 25 enemy killed and several machineguns and knee mortars destroyed, thus single-handedly removing a serious threat to the company's flank.

Weapon of Choice? Mortar Shells. Beauford Anderson: More Bad Ass than you or anyone you've ever heard of.

LOPEZ, JOSE M.

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, 23d Infantry, 2d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Krinkelt, Belgium, 17 December 1944. Entered service at: Brownsville, Tex. Birth: Mission, Tex. G.O. No.: 47, 18 June 1945. Citation: On his own initiative, he carried his heavy machinegun from Company K's right flank to its left, in order to protect that flank which was in danger of being overrun by advancing enemy infantry supported by tanks. Occupying a shallow hole offering no protection above his waist, he cut down a group of 10 Germans. Ignoring enemy fire from an advancing tank, he held his position and cut down 25 more enemy infantry attempting to turn his flank. Glancing to his right, he saw a large number of infantry swarming in from the front. Although dazed and shaken from enemy artillery fire which had crashed into the ground only a few yards away, he realized that his position soon would be outflanked. Again, alone, he carried his machinegun to a position to the right rear of the sector; enemy tanks and infantry were forcing a withdrawal. Blown over backward by the concussion of enemy fire, he immediately reset his gun and continued his fire. Single-handed he held off the German horde until he was satisfied his company had effected its retirement. Again he loaded his gun on his back and in a hail of small arms fire he ran to a point where a few of his comrades were attempting to set up another defense against the onrushing enemy. He fired from this position until his ammunition was exhausted. Still carrying his gun, he fell back with his small group to Krinkelt. Sgt. Lopez's gallantry and intrepidity, on seemingly suicidal missions in which he killed at least 100 of the enemy, were almost solely responsible for allowing Company K to avoid being enveloped, to withdraw successfully and to give other forces coming up in support time to build a line which repelled the enemy drive.

Slayer of over 100 Nazis. Jose Lopez: More Bad Ass than you or anyone you've ever heard of.

Hector Cafferata was a marine reservist on inactive status when the Korean War broke out. Afraid that he would miss the war if he had to go through basic training, he talked a sergant in his unit into modifying the paperwork so he could skip boot camp, get on the ship with the Seventh Marines, and go direcly to Korea.

On November 28, 1950, Cafferata's company was on a barren Korean mountainside overlooking a narrow road near the Chosin reservoir. Under the command of Captain William Barber, its orders were to hold the Tokong Pass, the escape route for two Marine regiments in the area in danger of being cut off. Cafferata was unaware that a massive Chinese unit was very close by.

As darkness fell and the temperature plummeted below zero, the company commander sent Cafferata and three other Marines out to a listening post just beyond the American perimeter. They decided that Cafferata and his friend Kenny Benson would sleep while the other Marines took the first watch. Unable to dig a foxhole in the forzen ground, the two men cut down pine trees to serve as a windbreak, then took off their parkas and boots and climbed into their sleeping bags.

Around 1:30 A.M., the Chinese began a sudden massive assault; Cafferata and Benson awoke to a cacophony of enemy screams, bugles and gunfire. Cafferata struggled out of his sleeping bag and grabbed his rife. With Benson firing beside him, he emptied a clip into the troops closing in on him. Eight Chineses soldiers fell.

Cafferata and Benson moved back to take cover in a dry wash in which several Marines lay dead and wounded. They decided to stay to protect their fallen comrades. As they began shooting, a Chinese soldier heaved a satchel charge. It hit about thirty yards away, blowing several of the Marines into the air. When a grenade landed a few feet away, Benson picked it up to fling it back, but it exploded near his face, blinding him. Cafferata grabbed serveral weapons from the fallen Marines and shouted at Benson to load for him by feel.

Over the next seven hours, Cafferata never stopped shooting. The wooden front hand guard on one of his rifles started to smolder from the heat generated by his rapid fire. He moved along the wash, shooting the Chinese as they came up over its lip and batting away enemy grenades with his entrenching tool. During the battle, a grenade fell near Benson and him; Cafferata tried to throw it away, but it exploded as soon as it left his hand and blew the flesh off his frozen fingers. Isolated and alone except for his blind comrade, he fought until dawn, when some Marines finally made their way to the ditch.

Only after the Chinese forces finally withdrew did Cafferata realize that he had fought through the freezin night in his socks and shirt. As he tried to retrieve his boots and parka from the sleeping bag, he was hit in the arm and chest. He was evacuated and hospitalized for eighteen months. Later he learned that American officers had counted approximately one hundred Chinese dead around the ditch where he had fought that night but had decided no to put the figure into their report because they thought that no would believe it.

In 1952, back home in New Jersey, Cafferata was informed by telegram that he had been awarded the Medal of Honor and was to go to Washington to recieve it. When he replied that he'd prefer to have it mailed to him, he was contacted by a Marine officer who barked at him, "You will get down here so that President Truman can personally give this Medal of Honor to you!" It was presented on November 24, 1952.

He shot Chinese for seven hours straight in his underwear through a freezing cold night. And he didn't even go to boot camp. Hector Cafferata: More Bad Ass than you or anyone you've ever heard of.


Good God, I don't think I'll ever have to pay for another movie again, I can just sit and read these.

 

[Danger Mouse]

Awesome stories!

 

[Addendum]

Elijya's on a patriot trip t:

 

[Fran]

Leonidas and the 300 Spartans: More badass than you or anyone you've heard of.

 

[Elijya]

Elijya's on a patriot trip t:

I could care less what country these guys fought for

 

[Dew k. Mosi]

This man killed "Fitty Nasis!"

 

[Elijya]

Leonidas and the 300 Spartans: More badass than you or anyone you've heard of.

Great movie, but that story is exaggerated so much it may as well be fictional

 

[Fran]

Fact: No CGI was involved.

 

[ComicChick]

i like this thread.

i'm gonna bookmark that link so i can check it out. real life stories are always more amazing

 

[Elijya]

*BARKER, JEDH COLBY

Rank and organization: Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Company F, 2d Battalion, 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place and date: Near Con Thien, Republic of Vietnam, 21 September 1967. Entered service at: Park Ridge, N.J. Born: 20 June 1945, Franklin, N.H. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machine gunner with Company F. During a reconnaissance operation L/Cpl. Barker's squad was suddenly hit by enemy sniper fire. The squad immediately deployed to a combat formation and advanced to a strongly fortified enemy position, when it was again struck by small arms and automatic weapons fire, sustaining numerous casualties. Although wounded by the initial burst of fire, L/Cpl. Barker boldly remained in the open, delivering a devastating volume of accurate fire on the numerically superior force. The enemy was intent upon annihilating the small marine force and, realizing that L/Cpl. Barker was a threat to their position, directed the preponderance of their fire on his position. He was again wounded, this time in the right hand, which prevented him from operating his vitally needed machine gun. Suddenly and without warning, an enemy grenade landed in the midst of the few surviving marines. Unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his personal safety, L/Cpl. Barker threw himself upon the deadly grenade, absorbing with his body the full and tremendous force of the explosion. In a final act of bravery, he crawled to the side of a wounded comrade and administered first aid before succumbing to his grievous wounds. His bold initiative, intrepid fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of almost certain death undoubtedly saved his comrades from further injury or possible death and reflected great credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

He jumped on top of a grenade, it exploded, he survived, then he CRAWLED OVER TO A WOUNDED COMRADE TO GIVE HIM FIRST AID. Jehd Barker: More Bad Ass than you or anyone you've ever heard of.

 

[Addendum]

But of course. He was drafted

 

[Elijya]

Roy Benavidez: GOD OF WAR

BENAVIDEZ, ROY P.
Rank and organization:Master Sergeant. Organization: Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group, Republic of Vietnam
Place and date: West of Loc Ninh on 2 May 1968
Entered service at: Houston, Texas June 1955
Born:5 August 1935, DeWitt County, Cuero, Texas.
Citation:
“ Master Sergeant, then Staff Sergeant, United States Army. Who distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely glorious actions on 2 May 1968 while assigned to Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 2 May 1968, a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam to gather intelligence information about confirmed large-scale enemy activity. This area was controlled and routinely patrolled by the North Vietnamese Army.

After a short period of time on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance and requested emergency extraction. 3 helicopters attempted extraction, but were unable to land due to intense enemy small arms and anti-aircraft fire. Sergeant Benavidez was at the Forward Operating Base in Loc Ninh monitoring the operation by radio when these helicopters returned to off-load wounded crew members and to assess aircraft damage.

Sergeant Benavidez voluntarily boarded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt. Realizing that all the team members were either dead or wounded and unable to move to the pickup zone, he directed the aircraft to a nearby clearing where he jumped from the hovering helicopter, and ran approximately 75 meters under withering small arms fire to the crippled team. Prior to reaching the team's position he was wounded in his right leg, face and head. Despite these painful injuries he took charge, repositioning the team members and directing their fire to facilitate the landing of an extraction aircraft, and the loading of wounded and dead team members. He then threw smoke canisters to direct the aircraft to the team's position. Despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy fire, he carried and dragged half of the wounded team members to the awaiting aircraft. He then provided protective fire by running alongside the aircraft as it moved to pick up the remaining team members.

As the enemy's fire intensified, he hurried to recover the body and classified documents on the dead team leader. When he reached the leader's body, Sergeant Benavidez was severely wounded by small arms fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in his back. At nearly the same moment, the aircraft pilot was mortally wounded, and his helicopter crashed. Although in extremely critical condition due to his multiple wounds, Sergeant Benavidez secured the classified documents and made his way back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out of the overturned aircraft, and gathered the stunned survivors into a defensive perimeter. Under increasing enemy automatic weapons and grenade fire, he moved around the perimeter distributing water and ammunition to his weary men, reinstilling in them a will to live and fight.

Facing a buildup of enemy opposition with a beleaguered team, Sergeant Benavidez mustered his strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directed the fire from supporting gun ships to suppress the enemy's fire and so permit another extraction attempt. He was wounded again in his thigh by small arms fire while administering first aid to a wounded team member just before another extraction helicopter was able to land. His indomitable spirit kept him going as he began to ferry his comrades to the craft. On his second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed with additional wounds to his head and arms before killing his adversary. He then continued under devastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter. Upon reaching the aircraft, he spotted and killed 2 enemy soldiers who were rushing the craft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door gunner from firing upon them. With little strength remaining, he made one last trip to the perimeter to ensure that all classified material had been collected or destroyed, and to bring in the remaining wounded. Only then, in extremely serious condition from numerous wounds and loss of blood, did he allow himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft.

Sergeant Benavidez' gallant choice to voluntarily join his comrades who were in critical straits, to expose himself constantly to withering enemy fire, and his refusal to be stopped despite numerous severe wounds, saved the lives of at least 8 men. His fearless personal leadership, tenacious devotion to duty, and extremely valorous actions in the face of overwhelming odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States Army.

"Benavidez suffered a broken jaw and 37 bullet and bayonet puncture wounds in the fight. He was so mauled that his commanding officer thought he wouldn't live long enough to receive a Medal of Honor. He nominated Benavidez for the Distinguished Service Cross instead, because the No. 2 award would take less time and paperwork to obtain." But upon hearing that he had survived the war, his former commander started the process to have the medal upgraded.

 

[ComicChick]

these stories are great and inspiring

 

[Showtime]

Wow. Best thread I have seen in awhile.

 

[Master Chief]

These stories are frikkin' incredible.

 

[Elijya]

BLEAK, DAVID B.

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Medical Company 223d Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Vicinity of Minari-gol, Korea, 14 June 1952.

Citation: Sgt. Bleak, a member of the medical company, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. As a medical aidman, he volunteered to accompany a reconnaissance patrol committed to engage the enemy and capture a prisoner for interrogation. Forging up the rugged slope of the key terrain, the group was subjected to intense automatic weapons and small arms fire and suffered several casualties. After administering to the wounded, he continued to advance with the patrol. Nearing the military crest of the hill, while attempting to cross the fire-swept area to attend the wounded, he came under hostile fire from a small group of the enemy concealed in a trench. Entering the trench he closed with the enemy, killed 2 with bare hands and a third with his trench knife. Moving from the emplacement, he saw a concussion grenade fall in front of a companion and, quickly shifting his position, shielded the man from the impact of the blast. Later, while ministering to the wounded, he was struck by a hostile bullet but, despite the wound, he undertook to evacuate a wounded comrade. As he moved down the hill with his heavy burden, he was attacked by 2 enemy soldiers with fixed bayonets. Closing with the aggressors, he grabbed them and smacked their heads together, then carried his helpless comrade down the hill to safety. Sgt. Bleak's dauntless courage and intrepid actions reflect utmost credit upon himself and are in keeping with the honored traditions of the military service.

and he's a MEDIC

 

[OverMyHead]

How is killing alot of people bad ass?

I just don't get that mindset.

Jesus, Christ, a savior of the world, intentionally commited suicide, through a traitor named Judas, so he can walk up the steps of calvary, be resurrected, and give ever lasting life to those who follow him, as God Himself, for he is the Son of God.

More badass than anyone could--and will--ever be.

Amen.

 

[Elijya]

then why did you start this thread talking about how bad ass Genghis Khan was because of all the Chinese he killed?
http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showthread.php?t=267993

In any case, with a brief view of your posting history, I don't buy for a second that you're a committed Christian, seeing as how a post search shows that's only the second time you've ever even posted the word "Jesus" on this forum. So you're really just here to **** up the thread.

 

[Danger Mouse]

How is killing alot of people bad ass?

I just don't get that mindset.

The tales contained in this thread is not about who killed the most. It's about how those brave soldiers went against the odds and gave their all, including their lives, in the face of incredible adversity in battle. THAT'S what made them bad asses, not the number of kills under their belts.

 

[mrvlknight21]

awesome stuff!

 

[I_Hate_U_All]

then why did you start this thread talking about how bad ass Genghis Khan was because of all the Chinese he killed?
http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showthread.php?t=267993

In any case, with a brief view of your posting history, I don't buy for a second that you're a committed Christian, seeing as how a post search shows that's only the second time you've ever even posted the word "Jesus" on this forum. So you're really just here to **** up the thread.

Most Bad Ass rebuttal ever posted by a mod you've ever heard of.

 

[Sava]

awesome thread... these true stories are just amazing

 

[Kyalesyin]

This is pretty awesome. Definitley gives 'badass' back its meaning.

 

[bulok]

thanks for the link these are awesome stories!

 

[redmarvel]

Family Saviour

By Diane Peters - Readers Digest​

At road level Niagara Glen, eight kilometres north of Niagara Falls, is a tourist attraction. There’s a gift shop and a “park” with over 500 totem poles. But even locals in hiking boots, some toting fishing rods, descend the long metal staircase into the gorge, where water rushes by at 40 kilometres an hour.

Mathew Vizbulis, a 28-year-old artist and jack of all trades from nearby St. Catharines, reached the glen around 3 p.m. one Saturday last July. He was rock climbing when he heard a scream from below. He ignored it at first—the glen was a busy, loud place. But as it grew in panicked intensity, he peered over a boulder. Below, a woman was yelling in a foreign language, and in the water were three people, face down.

Vizbulis scrambled down, thinking he’d jump in. But he stopped at the water’s edge and looked at the swirling eddy. He’d heard about how rescuers often became victims. But seeing that two of the drowning people were small, he took off his shirt and shoes and jumped into the Niagara River.

The current instantly grabbed him. Using the muscles he’d developed as a rock climber and his knowledge of water from kayaking, he kicked hard and used powerful strokes. Six metres out, Vizbulis came to the adult. Slightly bigger than Vizbulis, his arm was draped over a log. Vizbulis pushed the log aside, hooked his arm under the man and started to drag him to shore. He assumed the man was dead, but still yelled, “Wake up! Wake up!”

The man opened his eyes. His face was purple, and his lungs too full to allow him to speak. Just as Vizbulis reached shore, he hit a strong back current, but managed to grab a boulder. As he tried to push the groggy man up the slippery rocks, Geoff Szymanski, a naturopathic doctor with first-aid training, and his wife, Jackie, stopped to help. From St. Catharines, too, they were hiking and had seen a boy fall into the river. “You’re doing a great job,” Geoff told Vizbulis.

Those words, plus the realization he’d saved the heaviest person, gave Vizbulis a surge of confidence. The current that had seemed so difficult when he first jumped in felt like nothing now. He grabbed the next victim, a teenage boy, by the arm and brought him to shore. The Szymanskis yanked the unconscious youth out, and Vizbulis swam off again. He soon reached the final victim, a boy, and got him to safety. “Is there anybody else?” Vizbulis yelled at people on shore. “No!” he was told. With help, he got out of the water himself. It was less than 15 minutes since he’d jumped in.

As Vizbulis slumped to the rocks, the woman who’d raised the alarm thanked him. She told him in halting English he’d rescued her husband and sons; the boy had slipped, and his dad and big brother fell in trying to catch him. None could swim. The father, now pacing, thanked Vizbulis, too, while the 17-year-old boy threw up water. Szymanski tended to the 11-year-old, who wasn’t fully conscious. His mother wrapped him in a sari, and Szymanski held him, talked to him and gave him water. Vizbulis was stunned he’d saved almost an entire family, and sat still, crying off and on.

Twenty minutes after the rescue, two police officers and a paramedic arrived and arranged for a jet boat to take the boy to hospital (He went home later that day). Vizbulis and the family were able to walk up to street level. The victims were reunited with their extended family, who had been picnicking and had no idea what had happened.

Not long after, the Lifesaving Society nominated Vizbulis for a Rescue Award of Merit. He was also nominated for a Carnegie Medal. Says Const. John Gayder, the first officer on the scene, “If Mathew hadn’t done what he did, we’d have been dealing with a triple drowning.”

Mathew Vizbulis has returned to his paintings and his work as a part-time DJ and construction worker. Sometimes he thinks about that moment on the rocks, when he asked himself a couple of questions before he decided to risk his life: Have I had a good life? Am I happy? These kids haven’t even started their lives.

PHOTO: © MATTHEW PLEXMAN