Beyond the Call: Private First Class Lloyd C. Hawks at Carano, Italy, 1944 follows a combat medic who crawls into open ground under relentless fire to reach and save wounded comrades. Listeners hear a vivid account of his repeated crossings between the lines, the desperate conditions on the Anzio beachhead, and the wider Italian campaign of World War Two that framed his actions. The narrative weaves battlefield detail with reflection on duty, courage, and the quiet leadership of those who act when no one can order them to. Beyond the Call is the Monday feature of Dispatch: U.S. Military History Magazine, and the Beyond the Call podcast is developed by Trackpads dot com to preserve stories like Hawks’ for new generations.
Beyond the Call: Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class William David Halyburton Jr. at Awacha Draw, Okinawa, 1945 follows a young Navy corpsman attached to a Marine rifle company in one of the fiercest battles of the Pacific War, tracing his path from North Carolina to the fire-swept ravine where he gave his life shielding a wounded Marine. Listeners hear the story of the Okinawa campaign, the deadly terrain of Awacha Draw, the desperate fight under mortar and machine-gun fire, and the quiet leadership expressed in a single act of selfless courage. Beyond the Call is the Monday feature of Dispatch: U.S. Military History Magazine, developed by Trackpads dot com.
Beyond the Call: Private First Class Clarence Byrle Craft at Hen Hill, Okinawa, 1945 follows a young rifleman’s one-man assault that helped crack a key Japanese strongpoint during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II, placing listeners on the muddy slope as he charges through machine-gun fire, grenades, and a deadly cave stronghold. This episode weaves the larger context of the Pacific campaign with a ground-level view of Craft’s decisions, courage, and responsibility for his fellow soldiers. It reflects on what his actions reveal about leadership, moral courage, and service beyond the battlefield. Beyond the Call is the Monday feature of Dispatch: U.S. Military History Magazine, and the podcast is developed by Trackpads dot com.
Beyond the Call is a narrative podcast that brings Medal of Honor stories to life, one battlefield at a time. Each episode focuses on a single recipient, weaving together their personal background, the historical stakes of the fight, and a clear, gripping account of what happened in those crucial minutes when everything was on the line. You’ll hear how ordinary Americans found themselves in extraordinary circumstances, what they saw, what they decided, and how their actions changed the course of battles and saved lives. The goal is simple: make these citations more than words on a page by restoring the context, the terrain, and the human beings behind them.This podcast is designed for listeners who are curious about military history but don’t need a staff ride or a doctrine manual to stay engaged. We keep the storytelling accessible but accurate, connecting leadership, ethics, and decision-making under fire to lessons that still matter today. Whether you’re a veteran, a student of history, or someone who just appreciates stories of courage and character, Beyond the Call invites you to slow down, listen closely, and spend time with these remarkable lives. Subscribe, share an episode with a friend, and come back each week as a new Medal of Honor story steps out of the footnote and into the foreground.
This episode of “Beyond the Call: Medal of Honor Stories” tells the story of Corporal Henry F. Warner, a 21-year-old antitank gunner whose courage on a frozen Belgian hillside helped halt a German armored thrust during the Battle of the Bulge. Near the village of Dom Bütgenbach in December 1944, Warner and his 57mm antitank gun faced repeated attacks from German tanks and infantry. Wounded, under intense fire, and eventually alone at his gun, he refused to abandon his position, destroying or disabling multiple enemy tanks and helping to save his battalion’s line.Across this episode, we walk through Warner’s life, the wider context of the Ardennes offensive, and a step-by-step breakdown of his Medal of Honor actions. You’ll hear how one junior NCO’s training, discipline, and resolve under fire shaped a critical moment in World War II, and what his story still offers modern leaders and listeners today. If you care about military history, battlefield leadership, or the human dimension of valor, this is an episode you will not want to miss.
Commander George Fleming Davis’s story stands as one of the most striking examples of courage at sea during the Second World War. As commander of the destroyer United States Ship Walke during the approach to Lingayen Gulf on January sixth, nineteen forty five, Davis faced a relentless wave of suicide aircraft. Though mortally wounded when his ship was struck, he refused to abandon the bridge, steering his vessel through fire and chaos until his crew regained control. His calm resolve under impossible pressure turned near disaster into survival, saving both ship and crew while holding the line for the fleet’s advance.This episode of the Trackpads Military Podcast brings that moment to life, tracing how discipline, leadership, and duty fused in a single act of heroism. Listeners will hear how the Walke’s battered deck became a stage for leadership that still echoes through naval tradition. It’s a reminder that the strength of command lies not in rank or title, but in the courage to stand firm when everything burns around you—a lesson as relevant today as it was in the Pacific war.
Welcome to Beyond the Call, where history, leadership, and heroism come alive. I am your host, and today we bring you the extraordinary story of Private First Class Manuel Pérez Jr., a paratrooper of the 11th Airborne Division whose bravery at Fort William McKinley in February 1945 would help secure a crucial victory in the liberation of the Philippines. You can find more on the military and the Medal of Honor at Trackpads.com. This episode is drawn directly from the full written article, telling Pérez’s story in vivid detail. From the oppressive heat and peril of Luzon’s jungles to the deadly fortifications of Fort McKinley, you will hear how one soldier’s unyielding courage broke enemy defenses, saved lives, and left a legacy that still inspires generations.
Welcome to Beyond the Call, where history, leadership, and heroism come alive. I’m your host, and today we bring you the remarkable story of a Marine whose actions on the black sands of Iwo Jima would earn him the Medal of Honor and the nickname “One-Man Regiment.” This episode is drawn directly from our full-length article, preserving every detail so you can experience the battle as it unfolded.In February 1945, during some of the fiercest fighting of World War II, Private Wilson Douglas Watson of the United States Marine Corps Reserve charged enemy pillboxes, destroyed entrenched positions, and stood alone for fifteen minutes on an exposed hilltop, holding off sixty Japanese soldiers. His courage and determination secured critical ground for his platoon and left a legacy that continues to inspire. You can find more military history and Medal of Honor stories at Trackpads.com.
Welcome to Beyond the Call, where history, leadership, and heroism come alive. In this episode, we bring you the incredible story of Colonel Leon William Johnson, a United States Army Air Corps commander whose courage in World War II earned him the Medal of Honor. On August 1, 1943, Johnson led his B-24 Liberators into the heart of one of the most heavily defended targets in Europe — the Ploesti oil refineries in Axis-controlled Romania.What unfolded was a mission unlike any other: a low-level strike through walls of anti-aircraft fire, aggressive enemy fighter attacks, and an environment choked with smoke, flames, and the constant threat of exploding fuel. Against staggering odds, Johnson’s leadership and skill carried his men through the gauntlet, crippling a vital enemy resource and writing his name into the annals of military aviation history. You can find more about the Medal of Honor, military history, and stories like this at Trackpads.com.
Welcome to Beyond the Call, where history, leadership, and heroism come alive. Today’s episode takes you to the mud-soaked fields outside Carano, Italy, in February 1944, where one man’s courage and decisive action changed the fate of his patrol. Sergeant Paul B. Huff of the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion would cross 200 yards of open ground under withering enemy fire, dismantling machine gun nests, capturing prisoners, and securing critical intelligence that shaped the battle ahead.This episode is narrated directly from the full written profile of Paul B. Huff, Medal of Honor recipient, bringing you both the historical record and vivid, period-accurate combat detail. To explore more stories of military valor and history, visit Trackpads.com.
Welcome to Beyond the Call, where history, leadership, and heroism come alive. Today’s episode shares the extraordinary story of First Lieutenant Donald Joseph Gott, whose final flight over Germany in nineteen forty four became a lasting testament to courage and selflessness. Against impossible odds, with his B Seventeen bomber crippled by enemy fire and three crew members gravely wounded, he refused to abandon them—choosing instead to steer his burning aircraft toward safety, knowing it would almost certainly cost him his life.If you enjoy learning more about military history and extraordinary individuals, be sure to visit Trackpads dot com for articles, podcasts, and more.
Welcome to Beyond the Call, where history, leadership, and heroism come alive. Today’s episode explores the remarkable story of Private Joe Gandara, a paratrooper of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, whose actions on June 9, 1944, in the French village of Amfreville, embody courage in its purest form. Under intense enemy fire that pinned his unit for hours, Gandara rose and advanced alone across open ground, destroying three German machine-gun positions before being fatally wounded. His decision to act saved lives and changed the course of that fight.This episode is narrated directly from the full article, preserving every detail of Gandara’s story. For more military history and in-depth profiles of extraordinary service members, visit Trackpads.com.
Welcome to Beyond the Call, where history, leadership, and heroism come alive. Today’s episode explores the extraordinary story of Donald Kirby Ross, a man whose actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor set the standard for courage under fire. As the USS Nevada came under relentless Japanese attack, Ross fought not on the deck or at the guns, but deep in the dynamo rooms, keeping the ship’s power flowing against impossible odds. Twice overcome by heat and smoke, and twice revived, he returned each time to his post until ordered to leave.If you enjoy learning more about military history and extraordinary individuals, be sure to visit Trackpads dot com for articles, podcasts, and more.
Welcome to Beyond the Call, where history, leadership, and heroism come alive. Today’s episode takes us to the hedgerow country of Normandy in June 1944, where Private First Class Charles N. DeGlopper of the 82nd Airborne Division made a choice that would seal his fate and save his comrades. Under withering German fire near La Fière, he stepped into the open and drew enemy attention, holding his ground despite multiple wounds. His actions gave his platoon the precious time they needed to withdraw, regroup, and counterattack — a moment of selfless courage that earned him the Medal of Honor.Narrated from the full article, this episode captures the environment, the tactics, and the human resolve behind one of World War II’s most remarkable acts of heroism. To explore more stories like this, visit Trackpads.com for articles, podcasts, and multimedia features that bring history to life.
Welcome to Beyond the Call, where history, leadership, and heroism come alive. Today’s episode tells the powerful story of Private First Class James Dennis La Belle, a United States Marine who, in the heat of the Battle of Iwo Jima, made the ultimate sacrifice to save his fellow Marines. On March 8, 1945, in the chaos of close combat, La Belle threw himself onto a live grenade, shielding his comrades from certain death. His selfless act of courage stands as a timeless example of duty, loyalty, and the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood forged in war.Narrated from the full article, this episode brings you into the heart of one of World War II’s most intense battles, capturing not only the historical facts but also the human spirit behind them. To explore more stories like this, visit Trackpads.com for additional articles, podcasts, and multimedia content.
Welcome to Beyond the Call, where history, leadership, and heroism come alive. Today’s episode tells the story of Captain Robert Hugo Dunlap, United States Marine Corps Reserve, whose actions on Iwo Jima in 1945 earned him the Medal of Honor. Leading Company C, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, Dunlap advanced under relentless enemy fire, personally locating and directing attacks against heavily fortified Japanese positions. His leadership turned a two-day stalemate into a decisive breakthrough.If you enjoy learning more about military history and extraordinary individuals, be sure to visit Trackpads dot com for articles, podcasts, and more.
Welcome to Beyond the Call, where history, leadership, and heroism come alive. Today we bring you the remarkable story of Sergeant Hulon Brooke Whittington, a Medal of Honor recipient whose courage in the fields of Normandy during World War Two stands as a testament to decisive leadership under fire.On the night of July twenty-ninth, nineteen forty-four, near the village of Grimesnil, France, Whittington found himself in command of his platoon at the most critical moment. With his officers down, German panzers advancing, and artillery shaking the hedgerows, he took control, rallied his men, and led a counterattack that shattered the enemy’s assault. This episode is narrated from the full article, bringing you both the history and the drama of that night.Trackpads.com is proud to present this episode as part of our continuing effort to preserve and share the stories of extraordinary service members whose actions shaped history.
This episode of Beyond the Call brings to life the story of Franklin Douglas Miller, a Green Beret whose heroic actions during a mission in Vietnam earned him the Medal of Honor. Alone and wounded, Miller took command of a decimated patrol and fought off multiple enemy assaults, saving his team and embodying the essence of battlefield leadership.Narrated directly from the full article, this audio version provides historical context, personal background, and a step-by-step breakdown of Miller’s courageous actions. Whether you're at home or commuting, this episode honors a legacy of sacrifice, duty, and valor.
Today on Beyond the Call, we explore the inspiring story of Private First Class Joseph R. Ouellette, a young soldier whose courage defined the desperate battle for Yongsan during the Korean War. Facing overwhelming enemy forces, Ouellette repeatedly risked his life to resupply and defend his comrades, ultimately making the ultimate sacrifice. This podcast episode vividly recounts Ouellette’s extraordinary actions and provides powerful insights into the timeless principles of courage, leadership, and duty. Join us as we honor his legacy and reflect on the lessons from his Medal of Honor story that remain profoundly relevant today.