Songs 200 - 151

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Staff Sergeant Paul J. Wiedorfer (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on December 25, 1944, near, Chaumont, Belgium. His citation reads:

He alone made it possible for his company to advance until its objective was seized. Company G had cleared a wooded area of snipers, and 1 platoon was advancing across an open clearing toward another wood when it was met by heavy machinegun fire from 2 German positions dug in at the edge of the second wood. These positions were flanked by enemy riflemen. The platoon took cover behind a small ridge approximately 40 yards from the enemy position. There was no other available protection and the entire platoon was pinned down by the German fire. It was about noon and the day was clear, but the terrain extremely difficult due to a 3-inch snowfall the night before over ice-covered ground. Pvt. Wiedorfer, realizing that the platoon advance could not continue until the 2 enemy machinegun nests were destroyed, voluntarily charged alone across the slippery open ground with no protecting cover of any kind. Running in a crouched position, under a hail of enemy fire, he slipped and fell in the snow, but quickly rose and continued forward with the enemy concentrating automatic and small-arms fire on him as he advanced. Miraculously escaping injury, Pvt. Wiedorfer reached a point some 10 yards from the first machinegun emplacement and hurled a handgrenade into it. With his rifle he killed the remaining Germans, and, without hesitation, wheeled to the right and attacked the second emplacement. One of the enemy was wounded by his fire and the other 6 immediately surrendered. This heroic action by 1 man enabled the platoon to advance from behind its protecting ridge and continue successfully to reach its objective. A few minutes later, when both the platoon leader and the platoon sergeant were wounded, Pvt. Wiedorfer assumed command of the platoon, leading it forward with inspired energy until the mission was accomplished.

Second Lieutenant Thomas W. Wigle (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on September 14, 1944, at Monte Frassino, Italy. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in the vicinity of Monte Frassino, Italy. The 3d Platoon, in attempting to seize a strongly fortified hill position protected by 3 parallel high terraced stone walls, was twice thrown back by the withering crossfire. 2d Lt. Wigle, acting company executive, observing that the platoon was without an officer, volunteered to command it on the next attack. Leading his men up the bare, rocky slopes through intense and concentrated fire, he succeeded in reaching the first of the stone walls. Having himself boosted to the top and perching there in full view of the enemy, he drew and returned their fire while his men helped each other up and over. Following the same method, he successfully negotiated the second. Upon reaching the top of the third wall, he faced 3 houses which were the key point of the enemy defense. Ordering his men to cover him, he made a dash through a hail of machine-pistol fire to reach the nearest house. Firing his carbine as he entered, he drove the enemy before him out of the back door and into the second house. Following closely on the heels of the foe, he drove them from this house into the third where they took refuge in the cellar. When his men rejoined him, they found him mortally wounded on the cellar stairs which he had started to descend to force the surrender of the enemy. His heroic action resulted in the capture of 36 German soldiers and the seizure of the strongpoint.

Captain Hilliard A. Wilbanks (US Air Force) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on February 24, 1967, near Dalat, Republic of Vietnam. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. As a forward air controller Capt. Wilbanks was pilot of an unarmed, light aircraft flying visual reconnaissance ahead of a South Vietnam Army Ranger Battalion. His intensive search revealed a well-concealed and numerically superior hostile force poised to ambush the advancing rangers. The Viet Cong, realizing that Capt. Wilbanks' discovery had compromised their position and ability to launch a surprise attack, immediately fired on the small aircraft with all available firepower. The enemy then began advancing against the exposed forward elements of the ranger force which were pinned down by devastating fire. Capt. Wilbanks recognized that close support aircraft could not arrive in time to enable the rangers to withstand the advancing enemy, onslaught. With full knowledge of the limitations of his unarmed, unarmored, light reconnaissance aircraft, and the great danger imposed by the enemy's vast firepower, he unhesitatingly assumed a covering, close support role. Flying through a hail of withering fire at treetop level, Capt. Wilbanks passed directly over the advancing enemy and inflicted many casualties by firing his rifle out of the side window of his aircraft. Despite increasingly intense antiaircraft fire, Capt. Wilbanks continued to completely disregard his own safety and made repeated low passes over the enemy to divert their fire away from the rangers. His daring tactics successfully interrupted the enemy advance, allowing the rangers to withdraw to safety from their perilous position. During his final courageous attack to protect the withdrawing forces, Capt. Wilbanks was mortally wounded and his bullet-riddled aircraft crashed between the opposing forces. Capt. Wilbanks' magnificent action saved numerous friendly personnel from certain injury or death. His unparalleled concern for his fellow man and his extraordinary heroism were in the highest traditions of the military service, and have reflected great credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force.


The I'm just sayin… Top 1,453 Songs of All-Time

Rank Song Artist/Group

200 Rock and Roll All Nite by: Kiss

199 God Bless The USA by: Lee Greenwood

198 The Ballad of Curtis Loew by: Lynyrd Skynyrd

197 Papa Don't Preach by: Madonna

196 The Boys Are Back in Town by: Thin Lizzy

195 Birth of the Blues by: The Rat Pack

194 Dance With Me by: The Drifters

193 Casey Jones by: The Grateful Dead

192 My Generation by: The Who

191 Get Drunk and Be Somebody by: Toby Keith

190 Brown Eyed Girl by: Van Morrison

189 I Love This Bar by: Toby Keith

188 Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen From Mars by: Bon Jovi

187 What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am) by: The Tams

186 An American Girl by: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

185 Toes by: Zac Brown Band

184 Eye of the Tiger by: Survivor

183 Maybe I'm Amazed by: Paul McCartney

182 With a Little Help From My Friends by: Joe Cocker

181 The Gambler by: Kenny Rogers

180 Out Last Night by: Kenny Chesney

179 I Love Rock 'n' Roll by: Joan Jett

178 Running on Empty by: Jackson Browne

177 (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher by: Jackie Wilson

176 Do You Believe In Love by: Huey Lewis and The News

175 I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You by: Hootie and the Blowfish

174 Knockin' on Heaven's Door by: Eric Clapton

173 Knockin' on Heaven's Door by: Guns N' Roses

172 House Rent Boogie/One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer by: George Thorogood

171 Friends in Low Places by: Garth Brooks

170 Pledge Allegiance To The Hag by: Eric Church

169 Make Me Lose Control by: Eric Carmen

168 Suspicious Minds by: Elvis Presley

167 Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me by: Elton John with George Michael

166 You Never Even Called Me by My Name by: David Allan Coe

165 Proud Mary by: Creedence Clearwater Revival

164 Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit by: Wu-Tang Clan

163 Will You Be Ready At the Plate (When Jesus Throws the Ball) by: Randy Brooks

162 Who Says by: John Mayer

161 Who Am I (What's My Name)? by: Snoop Doggy Dogg

160 What a Friend We Have In Jesus by: George Jones

159 Wagon Wheel by: Old Crow Medicine Show

158 Thunderstruck by: AC/DC

157 Still D.R.E. by: Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg

156 Sittin' At a Bar by: Rehab

155 Santa Claus Is Coming to Town by: Bruce Springsteen

154 Protect Ya Neck by: Wu-Tang Clan

153 Old Time Religion by: Various

152 Let It Go by: Idina Menzel

151 It Was a Good Day by: Ice Cube