Medal of Honor recipients to be featured in National Army Museum gallery

ARLINGTON, Va. _ The Army Historical Foundation announced three U.S. Army Soldiers selected to be featured in the prominent Soldiers’ Stories Gallery of the future National Museum of the United States Army – SGT William Carney, 1LT Audie Murphy, and PFC Milton Olive. The soldiers were each awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in combat. 

The Soldiers’ Stories Gallerywill be comprised of 41 free-standing stainless steel pylons arranged in marching formation, beginning outside the main entrance of the future museum and leading the visitor into the exhibition wing. Each pylon will display the personal accounts of Soldiers chosen from all periods of history and walks of life who served in the United States Army.

Sgt. William Carney, New Bedford, Mass., served with the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry during the Civil War. On July 18, 1863, Carney, already wounded, retrieved the colors from the fallen color bearer and continued to charge despite being shot several more times. He was the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor for his actions.

1LT Audie Murphy, Celeste, Texas, joined the Army shortly after his 18th birthday in June 1942. He took part in the Italian Campaign and the Liberation of France in 1944. Murphy distinguished himself in combat on many occasions while in Italy, and was awarded the Medal of Honor, along with a host of other medals, for his service.

PFC Milton Olive, Chicago, Ill.,was killed after he fell on a live grenade that was thrown into the midst of his platoon while fighting the Viet Cong on Oct. 25, 1965. Olive was awarded the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his own life to save those of his fellow Soldiers.

The Soldiers’ Stories Gallery will set the tone and theme of the museum, which will tell the story of the Army through the individual stories of its soldiers. Each of the gallery's pylons will include a larger-than-life etching of a soldier’s face and will introduce a Soldier from a different period in Army history. The service of these soldiers reflects the seven Army core values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.

Among the other stories to be featured in the gallery are those of an aide to General Washington, a chaplain POW, a Red Ball Express driver, a soldier-poet, a War of 1812 drummer, a Vietnam War “tunnel rat,” and a Cold War veteran.

The Foundation broke ground for the future National Army Museum on Sept. 14 at Fort Belvoir, Va. Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley delivered remarks commemorating the occasion and emphasizing the importance of preserving the storied history of the men and women who have served in the U.S. Army since its establishment in 1775.

The Museum will be the first to tell the complete history of the nation's oldest and largest military service. An estimated 750,000 visitors are expected to visit the Museum each year. The state-of-the-art facility will serve as a national landmark to honor America’s Soldiers and educate all Americans about the Army’s contributions to our nation and world, in times of war and peace.

For more information, visit www.armyhistory.org.