When former Catholic priest, retired Capt., USA and Congressional Medal of Honor winner Charles Liteky protested the School of the Americas – outside Ft Benning, Special Forces, Navy Seals and Army Rangers alike came out to talk to this special man. The former US Army chaplain was protesting but that didn’t matter – his heroism in the saving of twenty three men in a fierce battle in Vietnam was legendary. And he was a recepient of the Medal of Honor. The former Father Angelo (his name in the priesthood )is now married to a former nun, Judy, the love of his life and who shares his passion – justice. Mr. Liteky completed his sentence in Lompoc, CA for trespassing in 2003.
In protest of Reagan’s policy/ support of the Contras, Charles Liteky left his Congressional Medal of Honor at the Wall in DC, in a brown paper bag. The medal was retrieved and is on display was retieved by the National Park service and is on display. His life has been an odyssey, and a remarkable one at that.
Medal of Honor
LITEKY, CHARLES (ANGELO J.)
Rank and organization: Chaplain (Capt.), U.S. Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 199th Infantry Brigade
Place and date: Near Phuoc-Lac, Bien Hoa Province, Republic of Vietnam, 6 December 1967
Entered service at: Fort Hamilton, New York
Born: 14 February 1931, Washington, D.C
Citation:
Chaplain Liteky distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while serving with Company A, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry, 199th Light Infantry Brigade. He was participating in a search and destroy operation when Company A came under intense fire from a battalion size enemy force. Momentarily stunned from the immediate encounter that ensued, the men hugged the ground for cover. Observing 2 wounded men, Chaplain Liteky moved to within 15 meters of an enemy machine gun position to reach them, placing himself between the enemy and the wounded men. When there was a brief respite in the fighting, he managed to drag them to the relative safety of the landing zone. Inspired by his courageous actions, the company rallied and began placing a heavy volume of fire upon the enemy’s positions. In a magnificent display of courage and leadership, Chaplain Liteky began moving upright through the enemy fire, administering last rites to the dying and evacuating the wounded. Noticing another trapped and seriously wounded man, Chaplain Liteky crawled to his aid. Realizing that the wounded man was too heavy to carry, he rolled on his back, placed the man on his chest and through sheer determination and fortitude crawled back to the landing zone using his elbows and heels to push himself along. Pausing for breath momentarily, he returned to the action and came upon a man entangled in the dense, thorny underbrush. Once more intense enemy fire was directed at him, but Chaplain Liteky stood his ground and calmly broke the vines and carried the man to the landing zone for evacuation. On several occasions when the landing zone was under small arms and rocket fire, Chaplain Liteky stood up in the face of hostile fire and personally directed the medivac helicopters into and out of the area. With the wounded safely evacuated, Chaplain Liteky returned to the perimeter, constantly encouraging and inspiring the men. Upon the unit’s relief on the morning of 7 December 1967, it was discovered that despite painful wounds in the neck and foot, Chaplain Liteky had personally carried over 20 men to the landing zone for evacuation during the savage fighting. Through his indomitable inspiration and heroic actions, Chaplain Liteky saved the lives of a number of his comrades and enabled the company to repulse the enemy. Chaplain Liteky’s actions reflect great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.
http://www.mishalov.com/Liteky.html
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So how does Charlie Liteky’s life sit with other Medal of Honor winners?
“When I look at Liteky, I have respect for the courage of his views,” says Paul Bucha, past president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and himself a recipient of the medal for his heroism as an Army captain in Vietnam. Bucha is now chairman of the board of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp.
“It’s difficult to be an iconoclast,” Bucha says. “It’s much easier to go along. Men like Liteky are people who should force us to pause and think, they should not be ostracized and criticized. They are entitled to their views, and perhaps if we listened we’d be better off.”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/06/09/MN75861.DTL
http://www.homeofheroes.com/photos/7_rvn/liteky.html
http://www.mishalov.com/Citations.html
Serious kudos to Neil Mishalov for lovingly putting together such a great site, fitting of the man and of this most sacrosant of medals, so many posthumously.
“If any ask us why we died
Tell them ‘Because our fathers lied.”
Rudyard Kipling, lamenting the loss of his son in the Great War….