Captain Everett P. Pope led Company C to the summit of a steep coral hill on Peleliu, then held it through the night with a dwindling force until ordered to withdraw.
Chief Watertender Oscar V. Peterson, already wounded aboard USS Neosho at the Battle of the Coral Sea, closed four steam-line valves through fire and suffered fatal burns to help keep the oiler afloat.
At A Shau, Major Bernard F. Fisher landed an A-1E Skyraider on a shattered runway under fire to bring a fellow pilot home.
When two Navy aviators were trapped on hostile ground in North Vietnam, Clyde E. Lassen held a damaged helicopter in the darkness and turned on the lights.
When USS Enterprise burned at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, William Pinckney turned back into smoke and fire to carry an unconscious shipmate to safety.
When a twelve-man Special Forces patrol was trapped west of Loc Ninh, Roy Benavidez ran through enemy fire, organized the rescue, and refused to leave until everyone else was aboard.
After USS Gregory was sunk near Guadalcanal, Charles Jackson French tied a rope around his waist and towed fifteen wounded shipmates through the night.
During heavy fighting in Quang Tin Province, Navy Chaplain Vincent R. Capodanno left safety, crossed exposed ground, and continued caring for wounded Marines after suffering devastating wounds of his own.
Near Cam My, pararescueman William H. Pitsenbarger descended into a surrounded Army position, helped evacuate nine wounded men, and stayed to care for those left behind.
When two Navy divers were trapped beneath a sunken LST at Pearl Harbor, Owen Hammerberg entered the unstable wreckage, saved both men, and gave his life in the effort.
