9 Medal of Honor recipients remembered for bravery and exemplifying Aggie Core Values

These outstanding individuals epitomize the Aggie Core Values of Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect and Selfless Service.

The Medal of Honor is awarded for personal acts of valor “above and beyond the call of duty” in combat. A service member’s act is first recognized by someone witnessing or learning about it — usually an officer of the same military branch — who then makes a formal recommendation. The recommendation passes through the prospective recipient’s chain of command for review and endorsement.

From there, the recommendation moves to service branch headquarters (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard) for approval, then to the branch secretary (e.g., secretary of the Army, secretary of the Navy). Upon approval, the recommendation is reviewed by the secretary of war and, if authorized, goes to the president of the United States, who is the final authority and must personally approve Medal of Honor awards.

These nine Aggie heroes proved their valor on the battlefield, prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect people back home. Seven of the Aggie recipients served during World War II — all former members of and immortalized by the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. Of the two most recent Aggie recipients, one served during the Vietnam War, and one served during the global war on terror in Afghanistan. Each demonstrated what honor and sacrifice mean, helping shape a brighter, safer world as they served alongside fellow Aggies and military service members.

The Men Behind the Medals

Meet the men behind the medals — the Aggies who fought for their country and, in some cases, made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

George Keathley ’37

George Keathley ’37 enrolled at Texas A&M in 1933 to pursue a degree in agriculture. He withdrew from the university for financial reasons and worked for the Soil Conservation Service before joining the U.S. Army in 1942. He was promoted to staff sergeant in 1943, and his unit went into action in Italy in April 1944.

During fierce fighting near Mount Altuzzo, Italy, on Sept. 14, 1944, Keathley was wounded while leading two decimated platoons that had lost all commissioned and noncommissioned officers. Exposing himself to deadly mortar and small arms fire, Keathley crawled from position to position, administered first aid, collected unused ammunition and distributed it to the remaining members of the platoons. Although mortally wounded, he shouted orders and, standing up, continued to inspire his men for 15 minutes. The rally forced the enemy to withdraw, leaving behind many dead and wounded.

Keathley died a few minutes afterward. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on April 11, 1945.

Horace S. Carswell Jr. ’38

Horace S. Carswell Jr. ’38 studied agriculture at Texas A&M before transferring to Texas Christian University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education with a minor in history. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1940, serving at bases in Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Virginia. Carswell served as a flight instructor, in bomb groups and in operations and group command assignments. He rose through the ranks and was eventually promoted to major.

In April 1944, Carswell was assigned to the 308th Bombardment Group, where he commanded a detachment of B-24 bombers in Liuchow, China. On Oct. 26, 1944, he was on a one-aircraft mission to attack a Japanese convoy over the South China Sea near Kowloon, China. Carswell encountered heavy antiaircraft fire, but despite suffering heavy damage and losing two engines, the hydraulic system and a fuel tank, he skillfully managed to fly the crippled plane back toward friendly territory. Carswell’s crew bailed out, but he remained with his aircraft in an effort to save his wounded co-pilot and another crew member whose parachute was damaged. All three were killed when the aircraft crashed into a mountain.

Carswell was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on Feb. 27, 1946.

Dr. Eli L. Whiteley ’41 ’59

Dr. Eli L. Whiteley ’41 ’59 received his bachelor’s degree in agronomy and his doctorate in soil physics from Texas A&M. He earned a master’s degree in agronomy from North Carolina State.

In 1942, six months into his master’s studies, Whiteley joined the U.S. Army, where he served as a first lieutenant. On Dec. 27, 1944, he led his platoon in fierce house-to-house fighting in Sigolsheim, France, where he personally cleared multiple enemy positions, captured several prisoners and killed or wounded others, despite severe wounds to his arm and shoulder. Although badly injured, Whiteley continued to lead his men and press the attack until the mission was completed.

Whiteley was promoted to captain and received the Medal of Honor from President Harry S. Truman on Aug. 23, 1945.

Turney W. Leonard ’42

Turney W. Leonard ’42 received his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Texas A&M, graduating near the top of his class. He joined the U.S. Army in 1942 and rose through the ranks to lieutenant.

On Nov. 4, 1944, in the Battle of Hürtgen Forest near Kommerscheidt, Germany, Leonard’s 100-man tank destroyer company, the 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, and over 1,000 infantrymen were trapped between two German divisions when he took command. Discovering that most of the officers had been killed, Leonard gathered the men together and, walking in front of his tank destroyers, directed fire at enemy positions. He was severely wounded and lost his arm but continued directing the assault. Several German snipers were killed, and six enemy tanks were destroyed.

Ordered to the first aid station for treatment, Leonard returned to the battle later because he believed his men needed him. He was killed in action. Leonard was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on Oct. 24, 1945.

During a ceremony at Texas A&M in November 2000, Leonard’s Aggie Ring was returned to his family by German Army Capt. Obit Volker Lossner, whose father-in-law found it on the battlefield more than 60 years prior. It and Leonard’s Medal of Honor are on permanent display in the Sam Houston Sanders Corps of Cadets Center.

William G. Harrell ’43

William G. Harrell ’43 studied animal husbandry at Texas A&M. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in July 1942. After being promoted to corporal, Harrell was shipped overseas in February 1943. On Feb. 1, 1945, he was promoted to sergeant, and on Feb. 19, 1945, his division landed on Iwo Jima.

Early on March 3, 1945, Harrell and Pfc. Andrew Carter were in a foxhole on a ridge, about 20 yards forward from the company command post, when Japanese troops infiltrated the lines. During the battle, Carter’s gun jammed, and he left the foxhole to retrieve another weapon. The last of his squad left behind and suffering from devastating injuries, Harrell continued to fight off repeated enemy assaults. He used his pistol and grenades to repel attackers at close range, killing or wounding many despite losing both hands and injuring his thighs during the battle. By dawn, the enemy had withdrawn, and there were 12 dead around Harrell’s position, prompting his commander to call the foxhole the “two-man Alamo.”

Harrell was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman on Oct. 5, 1945, and promoted to staff sergeant upon his Marine Corps discharge in 1946.

Lloyd H. Hughes ’43

Lloyd H. Hughes ’43 studied petroleum engineering at Texas A&M. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in January 1942 as an aviation cadet and earned his pilot’s wings later that year. Commissioned as a second lieutenant, Hughes was originally sent to Africa and began his participation in five combat missions in the Italy-Romania area. On Aug. 1, 1943, during Operation Tidal Wave, 178 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers took off on an 18-hour, 2,400-mile round-trip mission to destroy Nazi-held oil refineries in Ploiesti, Romania. Hughes’ aircraft was severely damaged by antiaircraft fire and leaking fuel, creating a high risk of explosion. Despite these conditions, Hughes continued traveling through enemy defenses and flaming oil fields. He successfully released his bombs with precision, flying through a wall of fire 30 feet above the ground en route. After Hughes completed the bomb run, his aircraft cartwheeled into the ground, killing him and six other members of the 10-member crew. One survivor later died from his wounds, and the other two became prisoners of war.

Hughes was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on April 18, 1944.

Thomas W. Fowler ’43

Thomas W. Fowler ’43 earned a Bachelor of Science in animal husbandry from Texas A&M and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army a short time later, after completing Armor Officer Candidate School in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

On May 23, 1944, near Carano, Italy, Fowler — while serving with an armored unit — led his platoon across mined ground under heavy enemy artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire. He personally assisted in removing mines one by one with his bare hands, then returned to his squad and led them through the cleared path before scouting out a route for them to continue their advance. Fowler crossed the minefield again to lead the tanks through and directed them to positions to support the infantry. He then went ahead of the infantry to scout, capturing several German soldiers.

After Fowler led the infantry and tanks into position, the enemy counterattacked with tanks, setting one of his tanks on fire. He tended to the wounded tank crew under intense enemy fire for 30 minutes. After being forced to withdraw from the tank, Fowler gave first aid to nine soldiers while still under fire.

Just 11 days later, Fowler was killed near Rome by an enemy sniper. For his actions on May 23, 1944, Fowler received the Medal of Honor, which was presented posthumously on Oct. 31, 1944 — the day that would’ve been his 23rd birthday.

Clarence E. Sasser ’73

Clarence E. Sasser ’73 was drafted into the U.S. Army after giving up his college deferment at the University of Houston. Following his combat tour in Vietnam, where he served heroically as an Army medic, Sasser was offered a scholarship to Texas A&M by Gen. Earl Rudder ’32, then university president. He studied chemistry and, following his honorable discharge, worked briefly at an oil refinery before a lengthy career in service to veterans with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

On Jan. 10, 1968, near the Mekong Delta, Sasser’s unit was making an air assault when it came under heavy small arms, recoilless rifle, machine-gun and rocket fire from well-fortified enemy positions on three sides of the landing zone. During the first few minutes, the unit sustained over 30 casualties. Without hesitation, Sasser ran across an open rice paddy through a hail of gunfire to assist the wounded. After helping one man to safety, Sasser was wounded in the left shoulder by mortar fragments. He refused medical attention, then ran through rocket and automatic weapons fire to aid others wounded in the initial attack, dragging them to safety. Despite sustaining two additional wounds that immobilized his legs, Sasser dragged himself through the mud to another wounded soldier 100 meters away. He then encouraged another group of soldiers to crawl 200 meters to relative safety and attended to their wounds for five hours until they were evacuated.

Sasser was presented with the Medal of Honor on March 7, 1969, by President Richard M. Nixon.

Matthew O. Williams ’25

Matthew O. Williams ’25 earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Angelo State University, then enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 2005. He eventually achieved the rank of command sergeant major. In 2016, he earned an Advanced International Affairs Certificate from Texas A&M. Williams retired from the Army in 2025 and earned a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M that same year.

On April 6, 2008, in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Williams was part of a team supporting Afghan commandos. His unit was ambushed by a larger, well-entrenched enemy force. Despite intense enemy fire and difficult terrain, he led a counterattack and reached a pinned-down unit on a mountainside. Williams restored the team’s satellite radio communications, provided lifesaving aid and repeatedly carried critically wounded soldiers to safety down steep, exposed terrain. Williams’ disregard for his own safety ensured the survival of critically wounded soldiers and prevented the unit from being overrun by the enemy.

Williams was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Donald Trump on Oct. 30, 2019.

Remembering Their Valor

These nine brave Aggies are worthy of the gratitude all Americans owe them and well deserving of the honor and recognition bestowed upon them.

Texas A&M continues to acknowledge their remarkable courage. The Memorial Student Center’s Hall of Honor memorializes the Aggies who received the Medal of Honor for their distinguished acts of valor.

In addition, the seven Aggie Medal of Honor recipients from World War II were immortalized in the book “Texas Aggie Medals of Honor: Seven Heroes of World War II” by Col. James Woodall ’50, a former commandant of the Corps of Cadets and a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. The book is available through Texas A&M University Press.

Cadet bios courtesy of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.