Mission Inspire National Medal of Honor Museum and Foundation

Continuing our March to Grand Opening series spotlighting Medal of Honor recipients who will be featured in the National Medal of Honor Museum’s galleries, host Mo Barrett talks to Maj. Marisa Regan, the granddaughter of SSGt. Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura, who earned the Medal during the Korean War when he bravely held off an enemy attack to allow the retreat of his men. She highlights lesser-known aspects of his story and reflects on his legacy of service.

As we mark one year to the Grand Opening of the National Medal of Honor Museum, host Mo Barrett kicks off a new series spotlighting some of the Medal of Honor recipients who will be featured in the Museum’s galleries – starting with Maj. General Pat Brady, who earned the Medal for his actions in Vietnam when he made repeated helicopter landings into enemy territory under heavy fire and amidst dense fog to rescue wounded soldiers. Brady recounts how he became involved with the Museum and shares what he wants visitors to take away after learning his story.
 
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Rising from humble origins in the Florida panhandle to become a squad leader with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam, Staff Sergeant Clifford Chester Sims earned the Medal of Honor for courageous, selfless actions – becoming one of just 94 African American recipients of our nation’s highest award for valor in combat. As we celebrate Black History Month, host Mo Barrett is joined by Sims’ daughter Gina Townsend to talk about his life and legacy. Gina recounts attending the White House Medal presentation ceremony and shares what led her family to gift her father’s original Medal of Honor to the National Medal of Honor Museum.

On the latest episode in our Courage Conversations series, host Mo Barrett is joined by Medal of Honor recipient Petty Officer Bob Ingram, who earned the Medal for his actions in Vietnam where he administered aid to injured Marines despite being severely wounded himself. Petty Officer Ingram discusses his unusual path to the medical field, the love he feels for his comrades, and the important life-lesson he tries to impart on the next generation: It’s not about me, It’s the TEAM.

The holidays can be a difficult time for someone experiencing a loss. Medal of Honor recipient Col. Donald “Doc” Ballard witnesses that pain this time every year. On this episode in our Courage Conversations series, host Mo Barrett sits down with Col. Ballard, who earned the Medal in Vietnam when he put himself in the line of fire to aid wounded Marines and jumped on an enemy grenade, to recount what drove his actions that day. He also shares what motivates him to continue serving the military community through his work as a funeral director providing veterans with dignified burials.

Between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, November is a time to say thank you to America’s men and women in uniform. This month, the National Medal of Honor Museum paid tribute to servicemembers during a series of events featuring Medal of Honor recipients, the Dallas Cowboys, NFL star Dak Prescott, and other community leaders and supporters. The weekend concluded with 16 Medal of Honor recipients taking the field together at AT&T Stadium for a special halftime tribute during the Dallas Cowboys’ Salute to Service matchup with the New York Giants.
On a special episode of the Mission Inspire podcast, we collected reflections from several members of the Museum staff about the week’s events and the meaning of Veterans Day.