Monday, our nation will remember the thousands of brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Here's a salute to five of the greatest men to have ever served our country, all of whom hailed from the great state of Wyoming.

Each of these men were awarded with the Congressional Medal of Honor, which, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, is "the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States."

1. Major William Edward Adams of Casper, WY - Major Adams served as an Army helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War. On May 25, 1971, he volunteered to help rescue three seriously inured soldiers from a base that was under attack. In the face of heavy enemy fire, Adams landed the aircraft and gathered the wounded. While departing the base, the helicopter was struck by anti-aircraft fire and eventually fell.

2. Sergeant Major Edward Lee Baker, Jr., of Laramie County, WY - Sergeant Major Baker served in the Army's 10th Calvary during the Spanish - American War. On July 1, 1898, he abandoned cover, under heavy enemy fire, to rescue a fellow soldier who was drowning near Santiago, Cuba.

3. First Lieutenant Vernon J. Baker of Cheyenne, WY - Army Lieutenant Baker served in the weapons platoon of Company C in World War II. On April 5, 1945, he led an attack against an entrenched German machine gun battalion in the mountains near Viareggio, Italy. After destroying three enemy emplacements, he exposed himself to enemy fire while covering the evacuation of wounded soldiers. The next day, Baker spearheaded an advance through a mine field and helped secure another objective under heavy fire.

4. Technical Sergeant Charles F. Carey, Jr., of Cheyenne, WY - Army Sergeant Carey served in the 100th Infantry Division and the 397th Infantry. On January 8, 1945, his battalion was attacked by twelve German tanks in Rimling, France. Unarmed, he managed to rescue two squads and evacuated the wounded. He then led a charge against a house fortified by enemy snipers, entered alone and later emerged with 16 prisoners. The next day, he was struck by sniper fire while attempting to rescue four of his fellow soldiers.

5. Second Lieutenant Charles Duval Roberts of Fort D.A. Russell, WY - Lieutenant Roberts served in the 17th Infantry during the Spanish - American War. On July 1, 1898, he led a rescue mission on the front lines of a battle in El Caney, Cuba, while facing heavy enemy fire.

 

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