Family will be presented with lost Medal of Honor certificate
By: Mike Gavin
Published: October 09, 2024
SPINDALE (Sept. 20, 2024) – A Medal of Honor is a rare distinction. Only 3,519 people have earned the U.S. military’s highest award for valor in action. One of those is Bryant Homer Womack, a native of Rutherford County’s Green Hill Community.
Now, thanks to an accidental discovery, Womack’s descendants will be reunited with his original Medal of Honor certificate and some related memorabilia.
“A man contacted our office and said he had found some things that we might be interested in while cleaning out a house he had bought,” said Susan Hall, director of Rutherford County Veteran Services.
Hall was interested indeed when she saw the framed Medal of Honor award, signed by President Harry S. Truman on July 31, 1952, along with some photographs and a scrapbook about Womack’s accomplishments.
She was able to locate some of Womack’s family members who will be on hand at an October ceremony when U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry and North Carolina Speaker of the House Tim Moore present them with the documents.
The event will be held at Isothermal’s Performing Arts and Conference Center on Monday, Oct. 28, at 1 p.m. The free event is open to the public.
Sponsors for the ceremony are the Rutherford County Department of Veterans Services, Isothermal Community College, Drop-In Markets, Food Lion in Rutherfordton, Ingles Supermarket, Shannon Miller-Wilkins, Hospice of Rutherford County, American Legion Post 74, Chik-fil-A of Forest City, DAV Chapter 25, and the Rutherford County Marine Corps League.
Womack was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on March 12, 1952, near Sokso-Ri, Korea.
The Medal of Honor website at www.cmhos.org described that fateful day:
Pfc. Womack distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Pfc. Womack was the only medical aidman attached to a night combat patrol when sudden contact with a numerically superior enemy produced numerous casualties. Pfc. Womack went immediately to their aid, although this necessitated exposing himself to a devastating hail of enemy fire, during which he was seriously wounded. Refusing medical aid for himself, he continued moving among his comrades to administer aid. While he was aiding one man, he was again struck by enemy mortar fire, this time suffering the loss of his right arm. Although he knew the consequences should immediate aid not be administered, he still refused aid and insisted that all efforts be made for the benefit of others that were wounded. Although unable to perform the task himself, he remained on the scene and directed others in first-aid techniques. The last man to withdraw, he walked until he collapsed from loss of blood, and died a few minutes later while being carried by his comrades. The extraordinary heroism, outstanding courage, and unswerving devotion to his duties displayed by Pfc. Womack reflect the utmost distinction upon himself and uphold the esteemed traditions of the U.S. Army.
The U.S. Army medical center at North Carolina’s Fort Bragg was named after Womack later.
“We are so glad to be able to get these important documents back to the family and to honor our veterans in this way,” said Hall.
For more information, contact Hall at 828-287-6185.