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)
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