VTCC Medal of Honor Recipients

Captain Antoine A.M. Gaujot & Colonel Julien E. Gaujot (CPT Gaujot & COL Gaujot)

He received the medal for actions as an Army corporal at the Battle of San Mateo during the Philippine Insurrection. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "Attempted under a heavy fire of the enemy to swim a river for the purpose of obtaining and returning with a canoe."

He received the medal for actions on the Mexican border in 1911. He is the only soldier ever

awarded the Medal for actions of a peacekeeping nature. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "Crossed the field of fire to obtain the permission of the rebel commander to receive the surrender of the surrounded forces of Mexican Federals and escort such forces, together with 5 Americans held as prisoners, to the American line."

Sergeant Earle D. Gregory (SGT Gregory)

A native of Chase City, Maryland, He was a member of the class of 1923 and graduate of Fork Union Military Academy who then studied electrical engineering at Virginia Tech. As a senior at Virginia Tech, he was a Cadet Captain and Company Commander, President of the Corps of Cadets, and selected as Most Popular Cadet. He received the Medal of Honor for actions as an Army Sergeant during the Meuse Argonne Offensive in World War I. He was the first native Virginian to receive the Medal. The medal was awarded for gallantry at Bois de Consenvoye, north of Verdun, France, on Oct. 18, 1918. With the remark, "I will get them" Gregory seized a rifle and a trench-mortar shell that he used as a hand grenade, left his detachment, and advanced ahead of the infantry. He captured weapons and 19 of the enemy.

Gregory also was awarded Croix de Guerre, Medal of the Legion of Honor, Medaille Militaire, and the Mon- tenegrin Order of Merit. He died Jan. 6, 1972.

First Lieutenant Jimmie W. Monteith Jr. (1LT Monteith Jr.)

He (USA) was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism on a Normandy beachhead at D-Day during World War II. He was a native of Richmond, Virginia, and a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School. A member of VPI's class of 1941, he studied mechanical engineering and played football.

He landed with the initial assault waves on the coast of France under heavy enemy fire. Without regard for his own safety, he continually moved up and down the beach, reorganizing men for further assault. He led the assault over a narrow protective ledge and across the flat, exposed terrain to the comparative safety of a cliff. Retracing his steps across the field to the beach, he moved over to where two tanks were buttoned up and blind under violent enemy artillery and machine gun fire. Completely exposed to the intense fire, He led the tanks on foot through a minefield and into firing positions. Under his direction, several enemy positions were destroyed. He then rejoined his company, and his men captured an advantageous position against repeated vicious counterattacks. He continued to ignore his own personal safety, repeatedly crossing the two or three hun- dred yards of open terrain under heavy fire to strengthen links in his defensive chain. When the enemy succeeded in completely surrounding He and his unit and while leading the fight out of the situation, He was killed by enemy fire.

Sergeant Herbert J. Thomas (SGT Thomas)

At Virginia Tech he studied business administration. Cadet Sergeant Thomas played football and is a member of Virginia Tech's Athletic Hall of Fame. His senior year, he was the second-highest scorer in the Southern Conference and received All-American honors. He (USMC) was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism while in action against enemy Japanese forces during the battle at the Koromokina River, Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands, on Nov. 7, 1943, in World War II. Although several of his men were struck by enemy bullets as he led his squad through jungle undergrowth in the face of hostile machine gun fire, he destroyed two enemy machine gun positions. Halted by a third enemy machine gun, he positioned his men to rush the enemy after he threw a hand grenade. He threw the grenade only to have the jungle vines drop it back among his men. He flung himself upon it to smother the explosion, sacrificing his life for his comrades. Inspired by his selfless action, his men unhesitatingly charged the enemy machine gun and killed the crew and several other nearby defenders.

Second Lieutenant Robert E. Femoyer (2LT Femoyer)

He was awarded the Medal of Honor for hero- ism in World War II. He was a native of Huntington, West Virginia, and studied civil engineering as a member of VPI's class of 1944. During World War II, he left college and enlisted in the Army Air Force.

While on a mission in Germany, the B-17 bomber on which he served as navigator was struck by three enemy antiaircraft shells. The plane suffered serious damage and He was severely wounded by shell fragments that penetrated his side and back. In spite of extreme pain and great loss of blood, he refused an offered injection of morphine. He was determined to keep his mental faculties clear to direct his plane out of danger and save his comrades.

Unable to rise from the floor, he asked to be propped up to see his charts and instruments. He successfully guided the lone bomber through six course changes around enemy antiaircraft concentrations for 2 1/2 hours to avoid enemy flack and returned to the field without further damage. As the crippled aircraft crossed over the English Channel, He finally allowed an injection of morphine. Thirty minutes after landing he died of wounds.

Virginia Tech's chapter of the Silver Wings Society is named in his honor.

First Lieutenant Richard Thomas Shea Jr. (1LT Shea JR.)

He first studied in uniform at Virginia Tech at the height of World War II. Enlisting in the Army, he served as a sergeant and entered West Point, where he graduated. He was an All-American in track. Turning down the op- portunity to attend the Olympics, he joined his classmates in the Korean War. Shea received the Medal of Honor for actions as an Army first lieutenant at Pork Chop Hill during the Korea War. He was assigned as the Executive Officer for Com- pany A, 7th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division near Sokkagae, Korea. He distinguished himself above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy from July 6-8,1953. On the night of July 6, he was supervising the reinforcement of defensive positions when the enemy attacked. Voluntarily going to the area most threatened, he led a counterattack. In the bitter fighting that ensued, he killed two enemy soldiers with his trench knife. He fought side by side with his men through the night. Despite heavy losses, the hostile force made an all-out attempt at dawn to overrun friendly elements. On the afternoon of July 7, after 18 hours of heavy fighting and having lost key personnel through casualties, Shea rallied a group of 20 men and again charged the enemy. Wounded in the action, he continued to move among the defenders of Pork Chop Hill. When the as- saulting element was pinned down by heavy machine gun fire, he rushed the emplacement and, firing his car- bine and lobbing grenades, neutralized the weapon and killed three of the enemy soldiers single-handedly. He coordinated and directed a holding action throughout the night and the following morning. On July 8, the enemy attacked again. Despite additional wounds he launched a determined counterattack and was last seen in close hand-to-hand combat with the enemy.

First Lieutenant Gary Lee Miller

He was serving as a platoon leader at night when his company ambushed a hostile force infiltrating from Cambodian sanctuaries. After contact was broken, he led a reconnaissance patrol to search the area for enemy casualties. As the group advanced, it was attacked and He seriously wounded. During the fight, an enemy grenade was thrown into the midst of his group. He threw himself on it, absorbing the force of the explosion with his body. His action saved nearby mem- bers of his patrol.