Meaning of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Some people if you ask them,” Do you know what the Congressional Medal of Honor is?” and some people won’t practically know what it is or won’t understand or means. I’m just being honest because nobody knows what something is until they hear or learn and know what that one thing is and means. That award is extremely very honorable and that’s why it has the word “valor” in it, not anyone can get it. Only the men who go to war and fight for this country, that’ll risk their life to save others are eligible to receive this highly recognized Medal of Honor. I didn’t know what this award meant, I just knew it was a medal and award and now just in class I’ve learned and know what it is.

The Medal of Honor is the highest and honorably award you can get as an American soldier of any military forces in the U.S. As an American soldier and receiving this award, you’re just as recognizable as the U.S president. This award is so valuable that it is not very easy to receive and out of the wars there have been, there has only been over 3,000 soldiers that have persons like us and don’t want to be different. Even though they have done something some of us haven’t done which is to receive the Medal of Honor. At times it might be hard to wear it becausreceived this award. Now I know that there are actually people out there that don’t think about their selves and think about others. Yet they’ll put their life in the hands of the enemy, and will do anything to save their partners.

It takes a lot of things to be awarded this medal, like bravery, honor, trust, and a lot of faith. To risk your own life, you have to do these things and it’s very hard, basically it takes your own life to get awarded the Medal of Honor. When you save someone’s life, you’re a hero and especially when someone is in danger and about to die, there’s where these heroes came and saved their life. That is why they’ve deserved this award and will have a lot of respect for the rest of their life. That’s why they deserve to wear it and have earned it the right way and are known as heroes and are very brave.

“Sometimes I think it was easier winning the Congressional Medal of Honor than it is to wear it.” This quote right here is something that some of the recipients have said. What they mean by saying this is that when they saved someone’s life, they weren’t thinking of any reward and were just focused on saving that persons life. They just want to think they’re normal e they did something right and something that they just had to do no matter what, things just happen and yet it’s hard to wear it.

I believe these extraordinary soldiers have received this award because they have earned it and deserve it. They went beyond being a soldier to being a hero. The things they did will stay in the United States of America history and will always their name would always be heard as well as being one of the Congressional Medal of Honor. The sacrifice all of the soldiers have done and the blood, sweat, lives, and even their family left behind just to fight for this country is what made up the United States and have earned the highest award for their perfect performance and conduct, with the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Thank You Letter to Charles P. Murray

Dear First Lieutenant Charles P. Murray,

Hello sir, my name is Ivan Hernandez and I'm currently 15 years old. I live in Chicago, Illinois and I attend Farragut Career Academy. You were a brave soldier and without the braves, the U.S wouldn't be where they're at now. If there weren't any brave persons, then the U.S wouldn't also have the same power over other countries like they do now. The sacrifice you made for saving someone's life made me think that there is people out there like you that will risk their life for others. Also you didn't care about the consequences and didn't think about the future. One thing i would like to wish you is a Merry Christmas. I would like you to make up the time you were at war fighting for this country and now recovering it with your family having happy moments.



Sincerely,
Ivan Hernandez

The Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to: Murray, Charles P.

MURRAY, CHARLES P.

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company C, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Kaysersberg, France, 16 December 1944. Entered service at: Wilmington, N.C. Birth: Baltimore, Md. G.O. No.: 63, 1 August 1945.

Citation: For commanding Company C, 30th Infantry, displaying supreme courage and heroic initiative near Kaysersberg, France, on 16 December 1944, while leading a reinforced platoon into enemy territory. Descending into a valley beneath hilltop positions held by our troops, he observed a force of 200 Germans pouring deadly mortar, bazooka, machinegun, and small arms fire into an American battalion occupying the crest of the ridge. The enemy's position in a sunken road, though hidden from the ridge, was open to a flank attack by 1st Lt. Murray's patrol but he hesitated to commit so small a force to battle with the superior and strongly disposed enemy. Crawling out ahead of his troops to a vantage point, he called by radio for artillery fire. His shells bracketed the German force, but when he was about to correct the range his radio went dead. He returned to his patrol, secured grenades and a rifle to launch them and went back to his self-appointed outpost. His first shots disclosed his position; the enemy directed heavy fire against him as he methodically fired his missiles into the narrow defile. Again he returned to his patrol. With an automatic rifle and ammunition, he once more moved to his exposed position. Burst after burst he fired into the enemy, killing 20, wounding many others, and completely disorganizing its ranks, which began to withdraw. He prevented the removal of 3 German mortars by knocking out a truck. By that time a mortar had been brought to his support. 1st Lt. Murray directed fire of this weapon, causing further casualties and confusion in the German ranks. Calling on his patrol to follow, he then moved out toward his original objective, possession of a bridge and construction of a roadblock. He captured 10 Germans in foxholes. An eleventh, while pretending to surrender, threw a grenade which knocked him to the ground, inflicting 8 wounds. Though suffering and bleeding profusely, he refused to return to the rear until he had chosen the spot for the block and had seen his men correctly deployed. By his single-handed attack on an overwhelming force and by his intrepid and heroic fighting, 1st Lt. Murray stopped a counterattack, established an advance position against formidable odds, and provided an inspiring example for the men of his command.

Goal accomplished in October.

One of my goals to accomplish was to win the classic soccer game, Chivas vs America and my goal was accomplished. Chivas and America played on October 26,2008 and of course Chivas won 2-1. The player who scored the goals was Omar Arellano and he scored both of the goals. On Americas side I don't even know who scored the goal but it didn't even matter because Chivas won. Some people were all saying that Chivas were going to lose like 5-0 and all of these other ridiculous predictions. I was calmed and of course I didn' want to say anything but in my head i knew Chivas were going to win. The good part was also that the game was exciting and that every time this games is played the soccer players play the game like if there was no other even though if they win,lose or tie.

The whole part of this is that these two teams are considered the most popular ones and are rivals for many years. These two teams are the teams that have the most fans and also many good players have been through these teams and their ancestors also and sometimes even their children. Soccer is not only a sport for them and some players don't do it for the money also but it's passion for them and entertainment for us, one day I would like to be in that place. I would like to be playing as a professional soccer player and do something I'll never get tired of doing. Therefore, this is one of the goals I accomplished and it was goal number 10, there are more goals to be accomplished soon. Well yeah Chivas RULE and may the best ALWAYS win! (CHIVAS)




http://www.chivascampeon.com/

M.L.K Jr.'s quote; Hope is the thing with joy.

Martin Luther King Jr.


The quote I valued the most from "I Have a Dream" is the following:

"Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice." -Martin Luther King jr.


Why is this quote important to me?

This quote is important to me because it means that racism was and is still occuring. Therefore, it means for African Americans to rise up and speak up for themselves because they were the ones being discriminated. Now Martin Luther King Jr. is giving a speech and this is one of the quotes he said. In the speech Martin Luther King Jr. expresses himself and says what he feel because we're all the same, just different color but we're all also human beings. I believe all of the African American people are tired of being discriminated and not to be able to have rights and for their voices to be hear. It is important to me because I believe racism should stop and now by people having "right" at least we know we're all equal even though racism still happens in present day.

Why is this quote important to the audience?

I believe that this quote was important to the audience because this quote is very powerful and from my point of view it helped a lot in his speech. When Martin Luther King Jr. stated this quote the audience cheered. All the quotes he stated that the audienced cheered for, were led to the African Americans to have rights. African American people had dreams just like Martin Luther King Jr. Now this quote is important to the audience because it got to them and they understood and felt the words and felt that they were going to have rights. That's why I think this quote is important to the audience.

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_king_jr.html

http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/about_king/biography/








"Hope" is the thing with feathers



Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chilliest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
I asked a crumb of me.

-Emely Dickinson




Hope is the thing with joy

Hope is the thing with joy
That is helpful with you,
And flows in your head like air,
And cannot be earased from there,

And the wind is blown;
And fades like someone walking away
That could be so important to me
That kept hope from me.

I've seen it in reality
And also on T.V;
Yet, never, im my dreams,
It just comes to me.

Parents Dream.

I interviewed my dad who is now 43 years old and my mom who is also 43 their dream was basically obvious which was to have a better life. Their American Dream was to be legal here in the U.S. and to also bring their family here for them to also have a better life, for example to bring my grandparents, my uncles and my aunts. Back then it was easier to get from México to the United States.

Dad's dream:

Well I got here when I was 18 years old and my uncle, your grandmas brother paid a smuggler or most likely known as a "coyote" in Spanish, for him to bring me here. Life in Mexico was so hard especially for me that your grandpa left us with your grandma when I was about 2 years old. So, in Mexico we didn't have a lot of money and as I grew up I knew I didn't want to be like this all of my life, this is how my American dream came to me. My American dream was for me to become a citizen and also for my family to come to this country and for them to become legal. I also wanted a better life for me and for you, to go to college and for you and your brothers to not suffer the way I did. Now I'm here working hard and making sure you guys have everything you guys need in this life.

Mom's dream:

I got here in the U.S. I was 15 years old and it was pretty hard to get here. We all suffered whether it was physically or emotionally, for example if we got through the desert or just because we were nervous. Well we owned a store in Mexico, so I had food and everything that I needed. Your grandfather decided to leave to the U.S. and get a job. As soon as he had enough money, he sent money for us to come here. As soon as I got here i worked and I met your father which we already knew each other because in Mexico we lived in the same place. We decided to make a life and for you guys to have a better life. Now my dream was for me to have a better life and to live a happy life. I wouldn't ask for much just for you guys to live good and for you guys to be someone in life, something other people don't have because they're immigrants even though they're capable and are talented people. Therefore this is my American dream because we just came here to work and that's what we're doing other that we didn't have the chances of going to school because I had to work.

Why shouldn't they stay?

There are a lot of immigrants in the United States. Yes immigrants are here to have a better life and some it’s their dream to be here. I believe immigrants will never finish and will never stop coming to this country. The life in the United States is hard at this moment because there are a lot of immigrants and the population is increasing. Therefore, there are not many jobs available and yes a lot of people immigrants or no get anxious to look for a job.

Immigrants should stay in this country is because they do most of the jobs other people wouldn’t want to do. If a person is undocumented, then that person would do anything for a job and will want any salary that is not even minimum wage. Immigrants just because they’re in need of a job, they’ll work anywhere where they’ll provide a job for them like in the restaurants, in the fields, or even in any dirty or jobs where they’ll suffer and that other people wouldn’t want to do. People that are undocumented sacrifice themselves and will do anything to stay in this country therefore, they just want to earn money to support their family. If now people that say they’re taking jobs away from documented people that they wouldn’t want to do then why would they complaint and not be allowed to stay here?

If there are no undocumented immigrants in this country, then this country wouldn’t be the same. There are approximately 12 million undocumented people or immigrants in this country. Imagine this country without all these undocumented people and imagine the jobs, who would do them? This relates to the movie “A day without Mexicans” where it shows a day without undocumented people and what this country would look without them. There has to be different races in this country and wouldn’t have to depend on whether they’re undocumented or documented. So, I believe that undocumented people should stay in this country because that's what this country was made up of, immigrants!

Immigration video!

This is a video of Barack Obama talking about immigration and what's his point of view. Obama has very good ideas on what to do with people that are undocumented and he really wants to help them out. Now whats your point of view?

Goals Accomplished!

The goal I've accomplished is goal number 7 which is to join the raiders team. The thing I did to join the raiders team was to show up at a meeting at 7 A.M. on a monday I belive it was on the 22nd of September. Now the meeting was canceled for some reason i can't remember, so I seen the sergeant and I gave him my name and my LET period. Sooner the sergeant is going to call out the practice or should I say the try outs and most people are going to attend because the raiders is a big challenge I believe. There's certain amount of people they need and they're just about sixteen people that could attend to this event.

A good thing about this event is that one of the leaders for the raiders team recruited me to join the team. So, now i believe I'm in the raiders team for now, the reason why I got recruited is because two of the seniors graduated and my cousin and I would be replacing them. Every year as seniors leave, new people would have to replace them or to be recruited. By finishing and accomplishing this goal I'll have to attend practice everyday and of course win 1st place in that competition. In this event I'll try my best and also put a lot of effort into this, so this is one of the goals I accomplished for September.

Another goal I was going to accomplish was goal number 14 which is to attend and participate in orienteering. In this event what we do is go out to the woods and try to look for the checkpoints that are posted in trees. For cadets to attend this event what they have to do is pay $8 but also have to behave and pay their $20 fee for ROTC. The reason why I didn't accomplish this was because most of the students that were going to attent orienteering hadn't pay their ROTC fee but paid for orienteering. Now this event would be held on for October. This is how I accomplished two of my goals and will try to accomplish the rest of my other goals.

http://www.4orienteering.com/

Slave narrative William's story.

Ise born in Houston, Texas and thats where Ise a slave in. Ise taken from ma momma when Ise 'bout 12 years old and was seperated from ma family. I had 4 sistas and 3 brodas I was the eigth child in ma family. From where I memba I neva see non of ma brodas or sistas eva since Ise seperated from ma family. Poppa, neva seen em' befo' nor met em' and hoped to see em' one day but it neva happened. Now Ise 94 years old and from ma memory i memba that Ise sold at the market and were bidded. Ise bought from a white men and were taken to the plantations to work and also work the fields, grow crops and I memba if you is thirsty ya' couldn't get a drink of water til' ya' was done with ya work which is bout' sun wen down. Every day Ise get up erly in the mornin' and work til' the dark times. Ma owner was a white man by the name of Paul,who lived with its family, he had his wife, and 2 sonns, but also Ise not the only slave he had lots slaves working the fields. Ise with Paul til' Ise bout' 18 years old and is later sell to anotha white man by the name of John who took me a little southeast now and this man didn't threat me ight'. Every time Ise not done ma work hes whipp me oh else hes beat me up. Once Ise so tired and couldn't take it any mo' so Ise sit down on the ground, when the overseers see me lyin' down he called the owner and they take me back to a shelter were the owner is heating the brander. The owner comes up close to I and brands ma rigth legs and wen done instantly burns ma behind. He tells me that Ise learn a lesson and neva dare to seat down again wen worken the fields. This was very painful and couldnt take it no mo'. At nigth Ise fed some bread and couple of water. We all slept at cabinets were bout' 4 of us slept there in each cabin. Ise tired of this and was bout' thinkin to plan a way out but Ise didnt want to get caugth and migth even cause me ma life. Later since owner see me not tryen hard and working the fields cause' Ise young and is hurt from bein' burned or branded hes put me to take care of its child and is an easier job fo' me but Ise new soona or lata hes move I back to the plantations. Of course I choice would be fo' me to stay and take care of child and jus make sure they not get hurt and they learn to read. I sure not know what it is to read but Ise sure ask em' child some of the words and what em' meant. To tell ya' the truth I get along with them child good and also Ise respected em' and them respect I and sooner Ise to put back to the fields when child not want no one else but I. Now owner not care and put me in plantation, til' one day some men came in dressed up uniforms telling everyone ya' freed and Ise and everyone else jus ran away leaving and startin' a new beggining of ma life. I now got married to a women by the name of Rose and had 2 boys and 1 girl. Therefore Ise live the best life and forget bout' the past.

http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/treasures/earlystate/index.html

The most valuable thing to me.

The thing I value the most in this life is my family. The reson why I value my family the most is because they're all I have and they're all I need. For example, if there's a problem the ones who are there for me is my family. My family are like my best friends that no matter what happens I know they'll be there for me and help me. A family is a part of your life no matter what you say of think, also if you like it or not they're your family and they're very important. This is one reason why my family is very vauluable to me.

Another reason why I value my family the most is because they'll support me in any decisio. If I'll ever have to make a tough decision I know my family will help me pick the rigth one. My family would always want the best for me and will teach me how to make my own decisions. The reason why my family is so valuable to me is because they've aslo treated me well and with respect. We're always united and somtimes we do things together and we have fun too.

Most likely these are the reasons on why my family is very valuable to me. But, the last reason on why I value my family the most is because without them it would be boring. Imagine you don't even have one member of your family, what would you do? You won't be able to do anything and won't have a lot of fun. Without my family I would be lonely and life would not be the same as if I had family. If I didn't have a family I wouldn't be able to do all of these things and this is why my family is important to me.

This is me and this is what I want to do.

1) Tell us something you have done that no one in this class has done.

Something i have done that i have no one else has is that i got drunk when i was about three years old. It was on my cousins baptized and i was going and searching for bottles of beer that were left there in the table. This is something i have done that no one else has and something i wanted to share with the class and with anybody else who'll like to read this.



2) Provide three adjectives for yourself.

Three adjectives that describe me are intelligent, outgoing, and I'm very respectful these are the three things that tell who I am.



3) Give us a brief history on your name.

Well my name was giving to me by my mom. Before I was born, my parents were going to name me Joel which was my uncles name who passed away. My uncle named my cousin Joel first because he was born about a month before i was born. Now both of my parents agreed to name me Ivan but my mom came up with the name, I like my name though because not many people have it. So, this is the history of my name and how I was named.



4) List 15 fun goals

1-
1-Stay in the school's soccer team.
2- Go to Six Flags.
3- Go bowling.
4- Travel to Mexico during winter break.
5- Go to the beach.
6- Visit the Hancock building.
7- Join the raiders team.
8- Go to sports challenge.
9- Get my drivers license permit.
10- Win the classic game Chivas vs America.
11- Get a part time job.
12- Attend a Chicago Cubs game.
13- Join the schools volleyball team.
14- Go to orienteering.
15- Go camping.