Valor Games for disabled Vets

[Bill]

My daughter and I volunteered for the West Coast Valor Games yesterday. 80 Vets with varying disabilities participated in archery. I coached 1:1 two different archers in tge afternoon shoot. 10,20,30 and 40 yard competition, “my” ladies shot 20 yards standing and 10 yards wheel chair. Both got second place medals, presented by the commanding officer on the Alameda Coast Guard base that hosted the Games. It was 3 days, archery was Saturday afternoon.

The Wounded Warrior Project pad for 30 of the Vets to travel to Alameda. It’s on the east bay across from San Francisco- the view in the morning was incredible. SF is a liberal mess- but it’s a pretty city.

My daughter worked registration signing the Vets up, and then collating and tallying all the scoring sheets.

What a great event, and I’m so glad I was able to meet these great people and made a small contribution to their lives.

At the end I introduced myself to this gentleman- I’d never seen a Medal of Honor or shook hands with a recipient. He was so humble-,he said he wears it in honor of all those who made the supreme sacrifice and did not get a medal.










Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[klooney]

Good stuff!

Who was the MOH recipient? Just out of curiousity

[Bill]

He mentioned his name when I introduced myself, but I’m poor on remembering names.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Youngblood]

That’s awesome right there. I was stationed on a ship (USS Samuel Gompers AD-37) out of Alameda from 1987 to 1991. Lives in Novato with the wife and kids for a while. What a great place. Love to go back one day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dustoffer]

Brother Bill--thanks for doing this for my brothers and sistersl Got a buddy who works with Operation Second Chance which provides hunting, fishing, camping, horseback, ATV rides, etc up in Montana----great program for deserving Americans.

[Bill]

The MOH recipient was James A. Taylor.

I’m humbled to have shaken his hand.

Capt. Taylor, Armor, was serving as executive officer of Troop B, 1st Squadron. His troop was engaged in an attack on a fortified position west of Que Son when it came under intense enemy recoilless rifle, mortar, and automatic weapons fire from an enemy strong point located immediately to its front.

One armored cavalry assault vehicle was hit immediately by recoilless rifle fire and all 5 crewmembers were wounded. Aware that the stricken vehicle was in grave danger of exploding, Capt. Taylor rushed forward and personally extracted the wounded to safety despite the hail of enemy fire and exploding ammunition.

Within minutes a second armored cavalry assault vehicle was hit by multiple recoilless rifle rounds. Despite the continuing intense enemy fire, Capt. Taylor moved forward on foot to rescue the wounded men from the burning vehicle and personally removed all the crewmen to the safety of a nearby dike. Moments later the vehicle exploded. As he was returning to his vehicle, a bursting mortar round painfully wounded Capt. Taylor, yet he valiantly returned to his vehicle to relocate the medical evacuation landing zone to an area closer to the front lines.

As he was moving his vehicle, it came under machinegun fire from an enemy position not 50 yards away. Capt. Taylor engaged the position with his machinegun, killing the 3-man crew. Upon arrival at the new evacuation site, still another vehicle was struck. Once again Capt. Taylor rushed forward and pulled the wounded from the vehicle, loaded them aboard his vehicle, and returned them safely to the evacuation site.

His actions of unsurpassed valor were a source of inspiration to his entire troop, contributed significantly to the success of the overall assault on the enemy position, and were directly responsible for saving the lives of a number of his fellow soldiers. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military profession and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Here is press coverage of the event.

https://valorgamesfarwest.com/valor-games-far-west-press-room/

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk