Character Education - Interview with Medal of Honor Recipient Matthew O. Williams (Afghanistan)

This edWeb podcast is hosted by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
The webinar recording can be accessed here.

edWeb is honored to present an interview with Medal of Honor Recipient Matthew O. Williams. Master Sergeant Williams was awarded the Medal of Honor for risking his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving in Afghanistan.

Interviews with Medal of Honor Recipients are part of the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, a free program that helps middle – high school students build character and promotes responsible citizenship. The Medal of Honor is awarded for “gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of one’s life, above and beyond the call of duty.” Those awarded it drew upon their deepest convictions and values in the most challenging of circumstances. Their examples of courage and sacrifice can inspire us as we face our own challenges.

Sergeant Matthew O. Williams distinguished himself by going above and beyond the call of duty while serving in Afghanistan. The lead portion of his assault element, which included the ground commander, had sustained several casualties and were pinned down in rugged terrain. Sergeant Williams braved intense enemy fire to lead a counter-attack across a valley of ice-covered boulders and a fast-moving, ice-cold, and waist-deep river. Under withering fire, he was able to reach the wounded and move them down a sheer mountainside to the casualty collection point. He then fought his way back up the mountain to help evacuate more wounded and to re-establish radio communications. Noting that the casualty collection point was about to be overrun by enemy fighters, Sergeant Williams led a counter-attack that lasted for several hours. When helicopters arrived to evacuate the wounded, he again exposed himself to enemy fire, carrying and loading casualties onto the helicopters while continuing to direct commando firepower to suppress numerous insurgent positions. His actions enabled the patrol to evacuate wounded and dead comrades without further casualties.

This edWeb podcast is appropriate for middle and high school teachers and their students and is of special interest to school and district leaders. We recommend that upper elementary teachers preview the edWeb podcast before showing it to their students. This edWeb podcast is not appropriate for younger students or preschool level classes.

Students must listen to the edWeb podcast under the supervision of a teacher and are not allowed to log into the program individually.

Here are ways you can share this inspiring story and interview with your middle – high school students: 

• Share Master Sergeant Williams’ story with your class. 
• Take advantage of the free lessons provided by the Medal of Honor Character Development Program. 
• For shortened activities specifically for you to use while learning has shifted to an online format, follow the Character Development Program on Facebook.

Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Medal of Honor Character Development Program, a free resource developed by educators for educators.

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