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Words on duty: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and four Medal of Honor warriors
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Four Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam campaign were honored for their duty at Daytona International Speedway recently while Dale Earnhardt Jr. that same weekend had seat duty to perform during the Coke Zero 400.
Earnhardt and the four distinguished warriors, Kenneth Stumpf, Walter Marm, Gary Littrell, and Charles Hagemeister had swift words about duty when asked. Few of the words have anything to do with racing but then many of the words inspire efforts like racing.
“Do the right thing when no one is watching.” Hagemeister and Littrell said independently when asked about courage and advice for youths.
“What we do and all our problems seem rather petty at times." Earnhardt Jr. said after comparing his thoughts about the four honorees and our brave volunteers in uniform with the work of racing teams.
All four honorees feel they haven’t won anything, rather that they are carrying the honor for those who did their duty as well. Many others didn’t survive or their deeds weren’t witnessed so the honorees insist they simply represent those who go recognized.
“I am an average citizen,” Marm said. “I just happen to be recognized for what I did. But I’m just an average Joe.”
Interviewed separately, thoughts by the four warriors were remarkably similar.
“I’m an ordinary person that got caught in an extraordinary situation,” Littrell said.
When the subject was courage the explanation was simple.
“Doing what you are supposed to do when the opportunity arises.” Hagemeister added.
When asked to compare serving in the military and racing Kenneth Stumpf saw a few similarities.
“It’s dangerous out there,” Stumpf said. “This is my first time to a NASCAR race. I’ve watched them on TV. There would be some similarities with the teamwork with the pit crew and the driver making sure everything is going this way and that way. It’s gotta be dangerous out there.”
Earnhardt explained his role representing the National Guard.
“It's a huge responsibility as a driver to work with the military as a sponsorship because it's a different type of deal.” Earnhardt said. “You're trying to sell and promote and entice people to go down to their recruiting station and sign up to a commitment. It’s different than asking someone to go to a grocery store and buy something off the shelf.”
Earnhardt signed autographs at the track as usual, but in a Daytona 500 Experience meeting room so too did the four honorees. It’s worth noting that each warrior scribed a bold signature to their luncheon program and that it’s doubtful they had ever practiced doing autographs.
Earnhardt was quick to share his words about his role representing the military.
“They're there to do a job regardless of whether they've won or been given an award or have earned an award,” Earnhardt said. “They're very humble and that's been common for years and years that they are there to do a job and they didn't do anything different than the guy standing next to him did at the time. They are very reassuring as a citizen of this country to have people like that serving for us not only aboard, but here at home.
“I take a lot of pride and responsibility with the relationship and I feel like it's a good fit for me and I enjoy the opportunities that I have to meet men and women that are serving.”
Stumpf voiced his advice for American youths.
“Stay out of trouble,” Stumpf said. “I really believe these kids have so much talent but sometimes they get into the wrong group. They make the wrong decisions. It’s hard to rebound once you’ve become a convicted felon as a youth or get in trouble. It’s tough. You dig a hole and it’s hard to dig out of it. Stay out of trouble and be the best you can be.”
Condensed description of Medal of Honor war time citations:
Walter Marm
Surrounded by an enemy force of regimental size Lt. Marm led his platoon through withering fire. He deliberately exposed himself to enemy fire to locate a concealed machinegun position that he attempted to destroy with an antitank weapon. The weapon did not silence the enemy fire. Disregarding intense fire he charged 30 meters across open ground and hurled grenades into the enemy position. Although severely wounded he continued the assault with only a rifle and killed the remainder of the enemy.
Gary Littrell
He single-handedly bolstered his besieged battalion. Repeatedly abandoning positions of safety, he directed artillery fire by day and night despite concentrated enemy fire. When the battalion was ordered to withdraw numerous ambushes were encountered. He prevented widespread disorder by directing air strikes within 50 meters of their position. With complete disregard for his safety he averted excessive loss of life to his battalion.
Charles Hagemeister
Learning that his platoon leader and several other soldiers were wounded, he braved withering enemy fire and crawled forward to render lifesaving treatment. He seized the rifle of a fallen comrade and killed a sniper and three other enemy soldiers attempting to encircled his position. Unable to remove the wounded he dashed through a fusillade of fire to secure help from a nearby platoon. Returning with help he moved to another flank and evacuated wounded men despite the fact that his every move drew enemy fire.
Kenneth Stumpf
He left his secure position in a deep trench and ran through a barrage of incoming rounds to reach his wounded comrades. He picked up one man and carried him to the safety of the trench. Twice more he dashed forward with machinegun fire upon him and rescued two remaining wounded men. With extra hand grenades he ran over open ground to the machinegun position and threw a grenade through an aperture. When the grenade was immediately tossed back by the occupants he pulled the pins on two grenades waited a few seconds and then hurled them into the position successfully destroying the emplacement.
Words on duty are tall words indeed.
The Tampa area is home to many military veterans and active duty members owing to Florida weather and the central location of waterfront MacDill Air Force base and James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital north of Tampa.
Photo credit and question production: Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com
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