Jay Vargas & Kristin Beck
Jay Vargas
Jay Vargas is an American retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel who served in the Vietnam War. He received the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" in action in 1968.
Vargas is one of four brothers who have served in combat in the U.S. Armed Forces in time of war during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. After completing basic school at Marine Corps base in Quantico, VA, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. For his actions in the Battle of Dai Do, Republic of Vietnam in 1968 as a captain, Vargas was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard Nixon.Major Jay R. Vargas Medal of Honor citation states:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Commanding Officer, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade in action against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam from April 30 to May 2, 1968. On May 1, though suffering from wounds he had incurred while relocating his unit under heavy enemy fire the preceding day, Major (then Captain) Vargas combined Company G with two other companies and led his men in attack on the fortified village of Dai Do. Exercising expert leadership, he maneuvered his Marines across 700 meters of open rice paddy while under intense enemy mortar, rocket and artillery fire, and obtained a foothold in two hedgerows on the enemy perimeter, only to have elements of his company become pinned down by the intense enemy fire. Leading his reserve platoon to the aid of his beleaguered men, Major Vargas inspired his men to renew their relentless advance, while destroying a number of enemy bunkers. Again wounded by grenade fragments, he refused aid as he moved about the hazardous area reorganizing his unit into a strong defense perimeter at the edge of the village. Shortly after the objective was secured, the enemy commenced a series of counterattacks and probes which lasted throughout the night but were unsuccessful as the gallant defenders of Company G stood firm in their hard-won enclave. Reinforced the following morning, the Marines launched a renewed assault thru Dai Do on the village of Dinh To, to which the enemy retaliated with a massive counterattack resulting in hand-to-hand combat. Major Vargas remained in the open, encouraging and rendering assistance to his marines when he was hit for the third time in the three-day battle. Observing his Battalion Commander sustain a serious wound, he disregarded his excruciating pain, crossed the fire-swept area and carried his Commander to a covered position, then resumed supervising and encouraging his men simultaneously assisting in organizing the battalion's perimeter defense. His gallant actions uphold the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.
After almost thirty years of service, Vargas retired from the Marine Corps in 1992 as a colonel.
Kristin Beck
Kristin Beck is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL who gained public attention in 2013 when she came out as a transwoman. She published her memoir in June 2013, Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy SEAL's Journey to Coming Out Transgender, which details her experiences. Beck served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years and took part in 13 deployments, including seven combat deployments.
She was a member of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), SEAL Team Six and received multiple military awards and decorations, including a Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart. Beck retired from the Navy in 2011, with final rating as senior chief special warfare operator when she began transitioning as a woman.
(Image via Wikipedia; Wikipedia)
Did you know...
- Paris Hilton not only lives in a mansion, she also built a doghouse mansion for her Chihuahua. It's 300 square feet and includes air conditioning and heating. It comes decked out with designer furniture, a chandelier, a pink paint job, second-floor balcony, and enclosed "yard." It's not enough for you to live in luxury. Your dog must, as well.
- Jennifer Aniston's star-defining role on friends started a hair craze in the 90s that even lasted into the early 2000s. Called "The Rachel," Aniston's shoulder-length haircut had grown-out bangs and highlights styled to perfection. A hairdresser in Detroit noted that at the peak of its popularity, 40% of her business was devoted to recreating "The Rachel." Too bad that it was notoriously difficult to maintain on your own at home.
- Jackie Kennedy is famous for redecorating and renovating the interior of the White House. Actually, on just her first day, she ordered $50,000 in changes for new rooms for the children and upgrades to the kitchen. She later hosted a tour of the White House for CBS News which was viewed by 56 million people and won her an Emmy Award.
- In the summer of 2007, Joh Hamm became a household name when Mad Men premiered to critical acclaim and strong ratings. Just over a year and a half later, Ellie Kemper stole America's hearts (and Dwight's and Andy's) when she became the new receptionist on The Office. Before they were famous, Hamm was Kemper's high school drama teacher!
- While attending the Grammys in February 2000, Jennifer Lopez stepped out in a green Versace dress that instantly became a phenomenon. The barely-there ensemble had a dramatically low cut that came below JLo’s belly button. It became such a talking point that it was Google’s most popular search query up to that point, and it spurred the company to include images into search results. It became the motivation for Google Images.