This Day In History #3
1923: Chuck Yeager, first man to break the sound barrier, is born.
shareAn amazing fellow, nerves of steel. He was an Ace Fighter Pilot with five victories in one day, was awarded a Bronze Star for service and broke the sound barrier with busted ribs from an accident a couple days before!
shareHe received a unique medal. A one-of-a-kind medal that in its authorization was referred to as a "noncombat Medal of Honor." I know of no other such medal. Others have from time to time been awarded a Congressional Silver Medal but AFAIK none have ever been described as a noncombat Medal of Honor (our highest award for bravery under fire).
https://coinweek.com/public-law-94-179-chuck-yeager-congressional-silver-medal/
Agreed 💯...a real American hero. He was from West Virginia and one of his cousins was Steve Yeager, who was a long-time MLB catcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Charleston's airport (the capital city of West Virginia, for those outside the USA and not familiar with American geography) is also named after him.
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