Idaho honors Medal of Honor recipients

Today is National Medal of Honor Day, a date reserved to honor those who have received the United States of America’s highest and most prestigious military decoration.

Created in 1861 as an award to recognize sailors and Marines who went above and beyond the call of duty in the Civil War, the congressional medal of honor has been presented to 3,495 servicemen and one woman from all of the branches of the military for their well-documented acts of bravery and courage.

Today, the state of Idaho honors these individuals for their sacrifice.

“We are richly blessed in Idaho to truly be ‘the home of the brave.’ Our rich military tradition and heritage of heroism makes National Medal of Honor Day an occasion that all Idahoans should cherish,” Idaho Gov. Butch Otter said.

“Join us in showing respect and gratitude for the great contributions for which these war fighters were so deservedly honored.”

Idaho is home to 37 Medal of Honor recipients, including two living recipients: Lieutenant Thomas R. Norris, USN, Retired and Captain Arthur “Art” Jackson, USA, Retired.

Shoshone County was home to one of these recipients, United States Marine Corps Lt. Frank Reasoner of Kellogg.

Born on Sept. 16, 1937, Reasoner was the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for his service in the Vietnam War, leading Company A of the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion.

He was killed in action on July 12, 1965, after he and the five-man team he was with were ambushed by Viet Cong while performing a sweep of an area in the Quang Nam province.

During the course of the fighting, Reasoner put himself in harm’s way multiple times to protect his men and killed at least two enemy combatants in the process before he was hit by enemy machine gun fire while attempting to aid his wounded radio operator.

He was killed instantly as a result.

His Medal of Honor Citation reads:

“His indomitable fighting spirit, valiant leadership and unflinching devotion to duty provided the inspiration that was to enable the patrol to complete its mission without further casualties. In the face of almost certain death, he gallantly gave his life in the service of his county. His actions upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”

Reasoner is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Kellogg.

March 25 marks the anniversary of the first Medal of Honor presentation, which occurred on March 25, 1863.

For a full list of Idaho’s Medal of Honor recipients please visit the Idaho Military Museum’s website at http://museum.mil.idaho.gov/moh.html.

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The Idaho Division of Veterans Services contributed to this article.