Aggie Medal Of Honor Recipients

George D. Keathley ’37
Keathley received the Medal of Honor for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" for his actions in Mount Altuzzo, Italy on Sept. 14, 1944. He led Company B in fending off an enemy counterattack, after sustaining a mortal wound from an enemy hand grenade. He was the third Texas Aggie awarded the Medal of Honor.

Horace S. Carswell, Jr. '38
While piloting a B-24 bomber in a one-plane strike against a Japanese convoy on Oct. 26, 1944, Carswell’s plane took a direct hit from enemy fire that critically damaged his aircraft. Carswell ordered the rest of the crew to bailout, while he remained to save the lives of his two crewman. He was the fourth Texas Aggie to receive the Medal of Honor.

Dr. Eli L. Whiteley ’41
On Dec. 27, 1944, Whitley disregarded for his own safety during intense fighting through the fortress town of Sigolsheim, France, to kill nine German soldiers, capture 23 more and lead an attack to to bring down enemy resistance. He was the sixth Texas Aggie to receive the Medal of Honor.

Turney W. Leonard ’42
During a 3-day engagement of German forces in November 1944, Leonard reorganized infantry units whose leaders had been killed. He led an attack that resulted in the destruction of six German tanks and was the fifth Texas Aggie to receive the Medal of Honor.

Lloyd H. "Pete" Hughes, Jr. ’43
Hughes was awarded the Medal of Honor for his “disregard of his own life” during his mission in Ploesti, Romania on Aug. 1, 1943. His aircraft suffered critical damage from enemy caliber antiaircraft guns, but instead of jeopardizing the formation and successful attack, he continued to fire upon enemy targets until the mission was complete. He was the first Texas Aggie to receive the Medal of Honor.

William G. Harrell ’43
On March 3, 1945, while leading Company A of the 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division, Harrell killed a total of seven enemy troops, losing both hands and fracturing his thighs in the process. He was the seventh Texas Aggie to receive the Medal of Honor.

Thomas W. Fowler ’43
In the midst of a full-scale armored-infantry attack, Fowler ran to a burning vehicle to save the lives of his crewman on May 23, 1944 in Carano, Italy. He then continued to render first aid to the nine wounded infantrymen. Fowler was the second Texas Aggie to receive the Medal of Honor.

Clarence E. Sasser ’73
Sasser served as an Army medic during the Vietnam War. On Jan. 10, 1968, Sasser ran through a barrage of enemy fire to assist wounded men and continued to search the area in the midst of the attack. Sasser was the eighth Aggie to receive the Medal of Honor.

Matthew O. Williams ’25
On April 6, 2008, Williams led a counter-attack through intense enemy fire to reach a pinned-down unit on a mountainside in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Williams restored the team's satellite radio communications, provided lifesaving aid and repeatedly carried critically wounded soldiers to safety down steep, exposed terrain. Williams' disregard for his own safety ensured the survival of critically wounded soldiers and prevented the unit from being overrun by the enemy.