William Shomo - Medal of Honor

    Major U.S. Army Air Corps.  On January 11, 1945 on a strafing and photo recon mission during assault landings on Luzon, P.I.  he encountered an enemy bomber and 12 fighter planes.  He attacked and shot down six fighters and the bomber while his wingman took out 3 more.  This display of integrity and courage was unparalleled in the S.W. Pacific and gave him the distinction of becoming an Ace in a Day.  MM in Dormont Lodge No. 684, PA.

Col. William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody

    Pony Express rider at 14, Scout (Col.) and guide for the 7th Calvary, Buffalo hunter, Indian fighter, (killed Yellow Hand, Cheyenne Chief, in combat), Medal of Honor, Nebraska Legislator, National Guard General, Showman, Ringmaster, Conservationist (saved buffalo from extinction), business executive, author, 130 years have not diminished the luster of his deeds.  Master Mason in Platte Valley Lodge No. 32, Mark Master in Euphretes Chapter No. 15.   

Col. Nelson B. Miles   VS.  Chief Joesph

    Miles, Medal of Honor recipient at Chancellorsville, caught Joesph 40 miles from Canadian border.  Defeated there, Joesph said, "I want time to look for my children.  Maybe I shall find them among the dead.  Hear me my chiefs, I am tired my heart is sick and sad.  From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever."  Miles was MM in ? Lodge No. 278., A.A.S.R. Wash., D.C.  

Lewis L. Millet  -   Medal of Honor Recipient

    February 7th, 1951 at Korea, Captain Millet of Co. E, 27th Inf. when pinned down by small arms and anti-tank fire Capt. Millet did a bayonet charge up the fire swept hill throwing grenades, clubbing and bayoneting the enemy.  Though wounded he refused evacuation until the enemy fled in wild disorder before his bayonet weilding Company E and the hill was secured.  Member Tyrian Lodge No. 353 NY   

Wendell C. Neville, Major General - 14th Commandant

    Awarded Medal of Honor for distinguished conduct at Vera Cruz, Mexico.  He helped take Guantanamo Bay Cuba.  Was in the Boxer Rebellion, Peking China, the Philippines and Brigade Commander in France WW I.   Mason, Past President of San Francisco Chapter No. 18 National Sojourners.   

Eddie Richenbacher - Sgt, A.E.F.

    Chosen for his reputation as a race driver by Major General John J. Pershing to accompany him to France as his driver.  Eddie was mustered in as a Sergeant.  Media exaggeration of his driving made it impractical to continue but Brig. General Billy Mitchell liked the idea of a champion driver chauffeuring him around France.  Later Mitchell had him commissioned a 1st Lt. and transferred to his new flight training school as engineering officer.  Took degrees in 1922 in Kilwinning Lodge No. 297 Detroit Michigan    

Eddie Richenbacher - Captain, Commanding 94th Aero Squadron

    September 14th, 1918 he was promoted to Captain and given command of the 94th Aero Squadron.  On Sept. 25th he registered his 8th and 9th kills within minutes of each other and earned the Medal of Honor.  Between October 15th and Nov.11th he earned the Distinguished Service Cross with 9 Oak Leaf clusters for 17 more confirmed combat victories.  33 Degree Scottish Rite in 1942 received the Distinguished Achievement Medal of the Grand Lodge of NY.  1957 Detroit Commandery named a class for him.   

Eddie Richenbacher - 1st Lt. U.S. Army Air Force

    On April 7th, 1918 Eddie and the 94th Aero Squadron were given guns, planes and an airfield at Toul, France.  Eddie made his first five kills near Paris.  On July 6th the French gave him a new Spad in which he made 21 more confirmed kills between then and Nov. 11th, and recognition a America's Ace of Aces.  R.A.M. in Palestine Chapter No. 159.  K.T. in Detroit Commandery No. 1, Noble in Moslem Shrine Temple.   

Geronimo  VS. Leonard Wood

    Wood, an Army doctor turned Line Officer, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions against the Apache in 1886.  A long and illustrious military and medical career followed under five different presidents.   M.M. in Anglo Saxon Lodge No. 137, Brooklyn NY, R.A.M., K.T.. AAONMS Medina Shrine, Chicago.  32nd Degree A.A.S.R. (NJ).  Was elected to receive the 33rd Degree but died before it was conferral.    

Hulon Whittington - Medal of Honor Recipient

    Grimenil France, July 29, 1944.  Sgt. Whittington assumed command of his platoon when his platoon leader and platoon Sgt became casualties.  He mounted a tank and directed fire through the turret upon an advancing column of German Mark V tanks, disabling the first the remaining vehicles were destroyed in a courageous bayonet charge mounted by him.  When the Aid man was wounded Sgt. Whittington personally administered First Aid to his wounded men.  Member of Oak Harbor Lodge No. 495, Oak Harbor, Ohio   EDSEL

Ernest Dervishian  -   Medal of Honor Recipient

    Second Lieutenant, 34th Infantry Division in Italy on May 23, 1944, then Tech. Sgt. and four of his platoon found themselves far in advance of their lines when they discovered a group of Germans hiding dugouts.  With his carbine and later with retrieved enemy weapons in 8 successive actions he captured more than thirty enemy before he found the area to be clear.  Reputed Freemason Ldg. unknown.    

William Wilbur - Medal of Honor Recipient

    Colonel, Western Task Force North Africa. Near Fadila North Africa on November 8, 1942.  After preparing a plan for armistice of French Troops in N.A. he alone proceeded through enemy lines and traveled 18 miles in total darkness under intermittent intense fire and delivered his letters to the French Command.   Returning to his command he found an enemy battery effectively bombarding American troops.  He took charge of a platoon and captured the battery.  From landing to eventual expulsion of hostile resistance his actions were voluntary and exemplary.   Reputed Freemason Lodge unknown.   

General Jonathan "Skinny" Wainwright

    On the other side of the world a different kind of hero, General Johathan Wainwright, after 39 months of imprisonment, was liberated from a Manchurian P.O.W. camp two days before the Japanese surrender and flown back to Tokyo to stand beside MacArthur during the surrender ceremony.  Wainwright was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor later in 1945.  On May 16, 1946 he took all three degrees and on May 17 was elevated to 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and entered the Shrine at Salina, Kansas.  Upon his death he was interred in Arlington National Cemetery with Masonic Honors.     

Brother Joe M. Jackson  -   Lt. Col U.S. Air Force

    A Korean Veteran.  He earned the Medal of Honor at Kham Duc Vietnam for landing his C-123 on an airstrip under continuous intense enemy mortar, recoilless rifle, automatic and small arms fire to rescue a 3 man USAF Combat Control Team.  Under almost impossible landing and takeoff conditions he brought them home safely.  Mason in Coweta Lodge No. 60, Newman, Ga.