The Story of a War Hero

What is courage and valor. When someone received a Medal of Honor, what are they getting? As a man not in the service without plans to join, I see the military not as the highest aspiration of what we should strive for, but also not as a place where evil men go to play out their desires. I've seen men that scream shouts of hatred and people who are quiet and reserved, but the people that I find the most surprising to be in the military are those who are normal. What surprises me more are those who go into the military and are full of ripe opportunities. I can understand when a man goes to war because he wants the money of the financial aid in the future, but what is hard to acquaint my mind to is when people go out to prove themselves or serve their country or feel obligated to fight. Trust me, I respect those men and women immensely, even when I feel like they are doing wrong. They are still helping the men and women back home to stay safe and healthy.

Heros of War are not those who play it safe or are the smartest about their own lives, but are those who embody what self-sacrifice is. Herbert K. Pililaau, Private First Class of the 23d Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division of the United States Army is a man of courage, valor and self sacrifice. In his participation in the battle of bloody ridge and the battle of heartbreak ridge where he departed this world, the United States Army has awarded him a Medal of Honor.

Herbert K. Pililaau PFC

A poorly drawn paint file of what was happening on the day that Pililaau earned his Medal of Honor.

On September 17th, 1951, Company C and Pililaau's platoon were advancing on one of the two peaks of Heartbreak Ridge in North Korea. Company C stalled on a ridge line when two battalions of the North Korean Army started to draw the Company back which was running low on supplies and ammunition. After 10:00 pm, with very low provisions, the company was given permission to withdraw and join the main force of the army. Pililaau's Squad was given the task of covering the retreat and Pililaau offered to be left behind. The men retreated until it was just Pililaau and his squad leader who eventually left as well.

"Pfc. Pililaau fired his automatic weapon into the ranks of the assailants, threw all his grenades and, with ammunition exhausted, closed with the foe in hand-to-hand combat, courageously fighting with his trench knife and bare fists until finally overcome and mortally wounded"

-Medal of Honor Citation 

M3 Trench Knife

 

The Platoon retook the position the next day to see 40 dead Korean troops around him. It was said that as his squad was retreating they looked on helplessly as he threw rocks at the Koreans before charging them. It was found that he was killed by bayonet.

Posthumously, he was award the medal and had a cargo-ship named after him. He died at 22 and was buried in Honolulu. 

He was the 9th of 14 children, born of Hawaiian parents in a "working class suburb" of Honolulu, and was a singer, ukelele player and a notable reader. After high school, he studied at Cannon Business School.

This man showed courage, but he didn't need to. I don't know why he offered to be left to die, but he did die. He had options and career choices. He had a family, he had hobbies, he had a life. He was young and he did die for the safety of not only his comrades, but for the people here in America. 

-The Observer