Marne Hall of Fame

06/29/2023

06/29/2023

Marne Hall of Fame Class of 2022- Medal of Honor Recipient -- Private Demensio Rivera

Private Demensio Rivera served with 2nd Platoon, Company G, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division during the Korean War. Early in the morning of May 23, 1951, a large hostile force emerged from a dense fog and attack PVT Rivera’s unit. PVT Rivera responded by firing his weapon until it jammed.

Without hesitation, he threw his rifle down and began to engage the enemy with his pistol and hand gr***des. He then fearlessly crawled from his emplacement to engage infiltrating enemy soldiers in fierce hand-to-hand combat. He inflicted numerous casualties on the enemy until he found himself without ammunition expect one gr***de.

PVT Rivera pulled the pin from his last gr***de and waited for the enemy to reach his position. As enemy troops leaped inside his bunker, PVT Rivera activated the gr***de with the full knowledge that it meant his almost certain death.

PVT Rivera, severely wounded but still alive, was recovered with four other dead or dying enemy soldiers around him. PVT Rivera posthumously received the Medal of Honor in 2014.

06/29/2023

MHOF Class of 2022 - Medal of Honor Recipient-- Sergeant LeRoy A. Mendonca--near Chich-on, Korea, July 4, 1951

Born on August 2, 1932, LeRoy Anthony Mendonca grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii. After enlisting in the Army, Mendonca was assigned to Company B, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.

After his platoon captured Hill 586, the newly won positions were assaulted during the night by a numerically superior enemy force. When the 1st Platoon positions were outflanked and under great pressure and the platoon was ordered to withdraw to a secondary line of defense, Sgt. Mendonca voluntarily remained in an exposed position and covered the platoon's withdrawal.

Although under murderous enemy fire, he fired his weapon and hurled gr***des at the onrushing enemy until his supply of ammunition was exhausted. He fought on, clubbing with his rifle and using his bayonet until he was mortally wounded. After the action it was estimated that Sgt. Mendonca had accounted for 37 enemy casualties.

06/25/2023

Rock of the Marne! Father Ryan is also a Marne Distinguished Member of the Division Class of 2023 nominee!

En ce dimanche, jour du Seigneur et de messe, nous allons évoquer le Lieutenant Colonel Patrick James RYAN, Aumonier en chef de la Division jusqu'au 16 février 1943.
Il est né le 12 décembre 1902 à Manannah Township, Minnesota. Après des études au College of St. Thomas et au Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity, il est ordonné prêtre catholique en 1927.

Il s'engage dans l'US Army en 1928. Au début de sa carrière, il est stationné à Fort Leavenworth, Fort Riley et au Walter Reed Army Medical Center, entre autres. Pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, il a servi au Maroc et en Italie comme aumonier en chef à la 3rd Infantry Division. Après la guerre, il est chef adjoint des aumôniers de l'armée américaine de 1946 à 1948 et de 1952 à 1954 avec le grade de Brigadier General. Il a ensuite occupé le poste de chef des aumôniers de l'armée américaine avec le grade de Major General de 1954 jusqu'à sa retraite en 1958.

Il recoit : The Legion of Merit, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the Navy Presidential Unit Citation with award star.

Le pape Pie XII lui a ensuite donné le titre de monseigneur et le pape Paul VI celui de protonotaire apostolique, pour son service dans le Corps des Chaplains au sein de l'US Army.

Il est décédé le 5 juin 1975 à Washington DC.

04/11/2023

The Marne Hall of Fame display is gaining momentum!

03/21/2023

Nomination season for the Marne Hall of Fame Class of 2023 opens April 15,2023.

01/17/2023

I’d rather be a Dog Face Soldier like I am.

11/18/2022