History of the Congressional Medal of Honor

In the wars there’s soldiers, soldiers that fight for our country, sacrificing their life for others, some were wounded but still continued to fight, but most of them don’t survive. This soldiers received the Medal of Honor. The highest medal representing the soldiers action. Bravery, Heroism, and valor would have to show in order to be awarded. Most of the soldiers didn’t expected to receive it they just did there job.

The medal of honor was established July 1862, by the congress. It is the highest medal in the US Armed Forces. The medal represents the bravest and self-sacrifice of the soldier. This medal was issued during the Civil war. It was born when President Lincoln signed it, because back then it was the only military award for valor. When they do receive it, people respect it and some thing is their hero, and even the president salutes at soldier to be awarded the medal. It was to promote the navy, but by 1863 congress made it a permanent decoration. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and others were now able to receive the Medal of Honor based on there actions.

Almost 3400 men and one women have received the Medal of Honor. The only female to received it was Mary E. Walker in January, 1866 by William T. Sherman and George Thomas. In Manassas she was a nurse were there the Medal of Honor listed her work even though the Army didn’t hire female doctors. She was a volunteer surgeon in an Army hospital, were George Thomas was grateful to have her. She was sent as a prisoner at Richmond when then she was released during the battle for Atlanta. The medal of honor is giving if the soldier shows self-sacrifice for their country by risking their life and standing up to fear. She was awarded the Medal of Honor and she was recognized for her achievement on the field of battle, for being a strong, brave women.

Many Soldiers never though of the Medal of Honor being that important they didn’t even though of receiving them. They just did their job for their country not to receive the medal. Some soldiers did try hard to get the medal. The medal shows the bravest of the brave and when they get it people respect does soldiers because they are risking their life for their country, which it was some of the reasons that the soldiers wanted to get the medal. The soldiers that died for risking their life also get awarded, but is mostly the ones that didn’t expected to receive it they just did what it was right.

The Medal went from being a simple medal for valor. To become the highest medal and also an important medal that showed the bravest. Become the highest medal to be award. It was all about bravery, self-sacrifice and valor. The soldiers that receive it the most were soldiers that just did their job. The soldiers that received it were at the risk of there life above and beyond the call of duty.

Letter to Barfoot Van T.

Dear Second Lieutenant, Barfoot Van T.

My name is Jasmin Urbina. I am a sophmore at Farragut Career Academy High School, were there i joint in the JROTC program, and my rank now is corporal. You have been one of the soldiers to receive the Medal of Honor. I write you this letter to thank you for the sacrifice you did for the benefit of our country. 

Your sacrifice has helped the nation by saving many people's life. I really was impressed when i read that you took up a position directly in front of 3 tanks, just 15 yards away from you. It was brave of you saving 2 of your seriously wounded men. All this has made a change. Now thanks to you people feel safe and they thank you or it. 

Through your effort you have shown bravest, heroism, and valor. Everyday i walk through the halls of my school, seeing all does flags, pictures, and morals of important people and the wars reminds me of all the soldiers that died in the war. I also remember you because yo were one of those too, who did self-sacrifice.

I hope you have a god wealth and that you feel proud of yourself because i really appreciated and respect it a lot. Thank you for your effort and sacrifice. I really respect you and im proud and glad for what you did.

Sinceraly, 

Jasmin Urbina 

The Metal of Honor

The President of the United Statesin the name of The Congresstakes pleasure in presenting theMedal of Honorto
BARFOOT, VAN T.

N T. Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Carano, Italy, 23 May 1944. Entered service at: Carthage, Miss. Birth: Edinburg, Miss. G.O. No.: 79, 4 October 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near Carano, Italy. With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding ground, 2d Lt. Barfoot (then Tech. Sgt.) moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued along the German defense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tommygun killed 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newly captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommygun. He continued onward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German fieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to his platoon position, Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted 2 of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety. Sgt. Barfoot's extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of pointblank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.

Goal accomplished

The goal i accomplished was goal number 1-Learning how to drive

I have been taking driving classes where they teached me all about the car, the signs, and the roads. I also singed up for range. There I learn how to go front and back and how to do turns and change lanes, that was for a week and at the end they test you, so i took the test and they told me a passed. I had told my dad and he told me that on saturday at 5:00 A.M he was going to teach me how to drive, so i said yes. It was me, my sister, and my dad. My dad took me in the streets into the express way. It was my first time driving in the streets and right away he took me in the expressway i was like dad i can't do it but he told me i could. So i got into the expressway and i was shaking i was just thinking that hopefullly i wasn't going to crash. I did do some mistakes but i got through it then my sister took us back home because she also had to do some hours. Since the i learn how to drive the hard way. Now im just waiting to take traffic in driving classes.

"I Have a Dream"

"Free at Last! free at last! thank God almighty, we are free at last!"
-Martin Luther King JR.

These were the words of Marting Luther king Jr. A great leader fighting for freedom for all the African Americans. He's phrase was cheered because they had hope that freedom would come. But not just that, they also had faith for the coming day that all the different races would reunite and be together as brothers and sisters.

Why not live in a peaceful world? Why not feel in a save place? We are all sons of God no matter what race we are. Thanks to Martin Luther King things have changed. And now theres manny people that have friends who are a different race. We should be together because we are all the same.



Hope is...

Faith is the thing with wings.
That berches in our heart.
Faith is the light that shines in the darkness.
And keeps on going and never stops.

Is sweet as honey:
And sour is the lime.
That would make all the world smile.
And the birds started to fly.

I have heard it in the freshwind.
And in the scariest gave.
Yet no matter what theres hope.
And it would make a smile on your face.

The American Dream!

Everybody has a dream, but not all of them get to accomplish it. The most people that do get to accomplish their dreams are Americans because they live in in a state that has more opportunities. The most people that don't get to accomplish their goal is Mexicans because they live in a state that has less opportunities. I interviewed a member of the Family that is one of does people that had come to the United States for a better life.




What is your dream?

-My dream is to progress, meaning i want a better life, get a good job.


At what age did you came in the Americans and how was your experience?

-I came in the Americans when i was 17 years old. It not easy to cross. Its very dangerous and is a long way to walk. We don't feel safe at all just thinking that they might catch us and we wouldn't be able to make it.

Why did you wanted to come to America?

-America is a state that has many opportunities for us. Theres more possibilty that we would get a good job were we would get well paid.

Was your dream accomplished?


-I did accomplishe my goal. It was hard to pass trew all that but it was wort it.

Best Argument!

Should undocument immigrants be allowed to stay?

I think immigrants should be allowed to stay. Is based on a dream that every immigrant has that is a better life. America needs immigrants. There are scientist, doctors, teachers, and many other things that immigrants have become. For instance Mary Kenney O'Sullivan she was an immigrant who contributed to the commonwealth. She began her task by organizing the poorly paid women who worked under hard conditions as rubber maskers, shoemakers, and laundry and garment workers. She continued to organize labor unions, and helped to create The National Women's Trade Union League, also known as the "WTUL". So most of the jobs Americans don't do the immigrants do them. Like storeowners, housekeppers, and servants in a restaurant are mostly jobs that are taken by immigrants.

Many people would argue that the reason that the reason so many immigrants come to America is because their poor. And that is mostly the reason why. Then why won't Americans let them come in the U.S to survive, to be someone in life. They don't want to harm anybody. Leaving their family they come to look for a better job that would become U.S citizens. Thats another reason why immigrants come to U.S. Theydo not want and won't like their child to be suffering like they did. They just want the best for their children. They don't want them to have to separate from their family and suffer day and night waiting for the dayhe would reunite with his family. They just want the best for them.

America is a place that gives opportunities for a better life. What makes it better is because is wealthier and is cheap labor. We have seen a lot of jobs that satisfies everyone's addiction to cheap labor. People especially immigrants have always dreamed of being rich, have a car, and a house. Most immigrants don't reach theirs. Why not give a chance to immigrants? Roughly 10 percent of Mexico's population of about 107 million is now living in the United States. About 15 percent of Mexico's labpr force is working in the United States. One in every seven Mexico workers migrates to the United States. They don't come to harm the world or to take away American's jobs. They just want to live in freedom, to practice their religion, and to make better lives for themselves and their children.

Crossing Lines

This video might be to simple, but it shows what i think about immigration and what side i agree with.

Good Friday!

The goal i accomplished this month was: 6-going bowling


I went bowling on sept. 26, My cousin rene had took us. It was him, me, my sister caro, and, my friend rackel. So it was the four of us. when we got there we payed for 1 hour game and we got our shoes. We started playing and it goes turn by turn. So when it was somebody's turn we would push them or scream to make them throw the ball in another direction. There they sale food so we order some chesse stick anf fries, mmmm...yumme...lol. We had a good time we came back home like at 12:00a.m., because we had so much fun so we all decided to pay for another game. These was the goal i have accomplished this month. As you see the picture on the right below it was the same bowling ball i was using. :)

Reflections: Going to new places is very fun and its good for you because you discover new things.

Slave Narrative

Interviewed at houston, Texas

Interviewer not identified

Age when interviewed:96

"It was all a dream" thats what i have been saying all these years. It helps me for a moment to forget the horrible moments i have pass through. I wish i had forgoten about it and never remember the pain. But its not like that i may not show it from the outside but from the inside im breaking into little pieces. My name if Rhianna Jackson. Iwas born in Botswana. I was only five years old when i became a slave.

It started when i got capture by these guy that took me to this place were i was sold as a slave being separated by family. So the guy that buyed me took me to South Africa were he owned that land so he was my Master there i saw other slaves working. It was horrible no matter how young or old we were, they didn't care at all. We made our own clothes and we work everyday in any type of climate. We were a lot like about 250 slaves. We were all divided into four different groups, each group would do a different job. The first group would do plantation which thats what i did the second group would serve the Master, the third group would build or fix a new or old part of the Master's house and the last group would clean up all the house.

They had all the slaves on check if they saw you resting and not working they would whipp you with a stick for 30 minutes. But thats not all if you did not obey the master, they would whipp you with a stick that had nails pointing out around it. If a slave tryed to escaped they would whipped them to death. So nobody has ever think about escaping.

There was this time that we were working on the plantation and next to me was a boy like about 10 years old. The master was observing us so he saw him and asked him what was his name, the boy did not answer and again the master asked him and again he ignored him. By the third time the master asked him he didn't answer at all so the master got mad and took the stick with the nails and whipped him to death in front of all of us and after killing him he order to burn him. I got more fear and i couldn't believe what i was seing, the master whipping a kid, blood being spread all over the place, i cryied and i was really mad. I have never forgoten it.

Since that happen all i could think about my freedom, how i could get out of these place so i decided to get revenge for the boys death because it really did hurt me and also escape. I asked to see the Master personaly and when i did he asked me what i wanted and at then i had a big stone in my hand , so i got closer and hit him 2 times in the head and made him bleed from his for head and faint. As soon as he felt a ran out making sure that nobody would see me put they did and they were chasing me. For a while i was still running until a saw these gave were i got in and waited till the next day. I have heard a lot of noise like if they were cheering when i came out i saw the slaves that i knew running with a smile on there faces. I asked one of them what was happening he told me the yankees had come to give us our freedom. Now im 96 years old. I have wrote these story for people to read about my life and my pain. I just want the people who read this to know what i have past through, to apreciate there live and what they have, because luckly they haven't past what i did, and i didn't have what they had in those times. I moved to and married a man named john and had three kids 2 girl twins and one boy.

Reflections: This is so horrible how can people whipp slaves even kill them and they don't regret it. i wounder how they would feel if they lost a family member that way or them being replace as a slave. But luckily that past and we are not suffering no more i that way. I just feel bad for all does who did had to past through these.

About Me!

1-Tell us something you have done that no one in the class has done?


What i have done that no one of my classmates have done is going to two different type of boats. One of the boats goes fast and the other one goes slowly. The fast boat is more like a small boat but it goes very fast. The other boat is more like an elegant boat where you can eat and dance.

2-provide three adjectives for yourself.


There are many ways to describe myself. I am a nice and kind person. Sometimes am very bashful and serious. I really like to go out and have fun and also meeting new people.


3-Give us a brief history on your name.


My name is Jasmin. My dad was the one that choose my name. He choosed that name because he really liked it. My name is also the name of a flower. I really have not seen the flower but they say the color of the flower is white.



4-List 5 fun goals you would like to accomplish by june 15, 2009( you and everyone in this class will keep track of them on blogger).


1-Learning how to drive

2-Getting my permit

3-Getting a car

4-Going Ice skating

5-Going to six flags

6-Going bowling

7-Going tennins

8-Going to a boat at navy pier

9-Going fishing

10-Going camping

11-Going to the bean in down town

12-Going to San luis in springfield

13-Going to wisconsin

14-Going to the lake

15-Going to a museum

My Values

My most important value is family. I value family the most because we have growned together and we all are part of eachother. They have taught me alot of new things, and if i need anything or have a problem they will always be there for me.

My classmates have a different value than me. They value something else because they think differently. Some may think that money, culture, or happiness are an important value for them. Or they value something that the whole family has value the whole time. It all depends on what the person really cares about or what is really important to them.

It also depends on what the person is from.They may agree on what their state values the most. Some people may be from Mexico and others from America. Both states don't have the same values. Mexico may think that culture, family, and tradition are important values. America may think that money, power and happiness are imortant values. Both states think very differently.