An Uncommon Hero

ARMY.MIL - For all Soldiers, being awarded the Medal of Honor would be the highest honor and privilege they could attain in their military career. First Lieutenant Matthew Batson earned this honor for service during the Philippine Insurrection. On July 26, 1899, he was patrolling the San Juan River in Luzon Province with the 4th U.S. Cavalry when they came under heavy fire from Philippine "Insurrectos" entrenched along the banks. With no option to retreating and taking casualties, Lieutenant Batson and Captain Hugh J. McGrath swam across the river to the enemy bank. Eventually joined by up to 35 American Soldiers, they overran the position, surprising the enemy forces and earning themselves a spot in U.S. Army and American history. For most Soldiers, that would have been enough, but Matthew Batson was not satisfied. He wanted to do more...
http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/07/20/10507-an-uncommon-hero/
http://www.army.mil/history
http://www.carlisle.army.mil/ahec

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• army.mil
• army
• soldiers
• hero
• Philippine
• insurrection
• valor
• medal
• honor
• history

[kitty10174]

The philippines wanted their independence and the USA wanted their territories... This was a fight for independence and democracy!!! Who were the ones against democracy in this war??? The insurgents were defending their freedom.

[bohol201010]

Defenders not insurgent against the american war criminals. For all of you junkface( meaning the new generation of filipino imbecile ). Your inept grasp of maharlikans put your retarded mind mad of american crime.

[SenkanYamatoMaru]

@macapili2008 The later...

[macapili2008]

Which is the better option for the Filipino, run and be a practice target of rabbit-hunting American soldier, or pull out his bolo and rush at the soldier and get killed in the process.

[chocoman45]

Filipino's are always against a superior army. but they kept fighting even though there chance of winning i 1 in a million. very brave i must say. but kinda dumb.

[macapili2008]

Looks to me like Filipino soldiers of the Aguinaldo era, who were up against a superior American military.

[emmthreejonny]

Filipino here as well, and I agree with you.

[kronos251]

Thank you for featuring this. As a first generation Filipino-American, I am proud my grandfather served with the Allies (USAFE) as a guerrilla during WWII. No matter what the media says, or how politicians bicker, we as a Filipino people, are proud and ready to fight for freedom and democracy.

God bless All Our Troops around the world.