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OCR Page 1 of 4(Gavin) JK
October 7, 1969
Medal of Honor Winners
In the more than eight months I have been President, I have been
privileged to award 18 Medals of Honor, counting the four presented
today.
It has occurred to me during that time that although we know what
bravery is, what form it takes on the battlefield, there is no agree-
ment on why men perform acts of heroism. I have read some of the
literature on the subject, and although there are various reasons
given to explain why a man would risk his life in combat, two opinions
seem to me to be particularly appropriate to mention today.
The first was written by S. L. A. Marshall, the distinguished
military historian. After many years of studying men in combat as
a soldier and as a historian, he came to this conclusion: 11
courage
is the real driving force in human affairs and
every worthwhile
action comes of some man daring what others fear to attempt. 11
The second opinion was the conclusion of The Carnegie Hero Fund
Commission. After over thirty years of investigating acts of heroism,
the Commission came to this conclusion: "Heroism is not made, some
tragedy finds it out. Like gold, it is uncovered. 11
From this I conclude that danger does not make heroes; it finds
them. The qualities of heroism displayed by these men and by all the
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