Retired Lt. Col. James Michael Sprayberry, left, and retired Capt. Gary Mike Rose, both of whom are Medal of Honor recipients living in Alabama, hold the plaques that will honor them at the Huntsville Veterans Affairs Clinic. (Photos/VA)
By Troy Turner
The Birmingham VA Health Care System recently organized a ceremony at the Huntsville Veterans Affairs Clinic to honor two of Alabama’s living Medal of Honor recipients, retired Lt. Col. James Michael Sprayberry and Capt. Gary Mike Rose.
Engraved plaques honoring the two Vietnam War veterans were presented to the men before going on display at the Huntsville clinic.
Sprayberry, a LaGrange, Georgia, native who grew up in Sylacauga and joined the Army in Montgomery, received his Medal of Honor in 1969 from President Richard Nixon for his courageous actions in combat leading a mission to rescue wounded soldiers.
Sprayberry
“This rescue operation, which lasted approximately 71/2 hours, saved the lives of many of his fellow Soldiers. CPT Sprayberry personally killed 12 enemy Soldiers, eliminated 2 machineguns, and destroyed numerous enemy bunkers,” his citation states.
Rose, a Special Forces medic, received his medal from President Donald Trump after risking his life multiple times to save others during four days of heavy fighting. He is a New York native who moved to Alabama and resides in Huntsville.
Already wounded in battle while rescuing others, he again leaped into action when one of the evacuation helicopters crashed soon after takeoff. “Despite his numerous wounds from the past three days, Sergeant Rose continued to pull and carry unconscious and wounded personnel out of the burning wreckage and continued to administer aid to the wounded until another extraction helicopter arrived,” reads part of his citation.
The action took place in 1970, and President Trump presented Rose his medal in 2017.
“The two spoke with humility and thanked the VA for their care, stressing how important good health care is for all veterans,” the Huntsville-event organizers said in a press release. “Their words reminded everyone that even highly decorated heroes depend on the same VA system as millions of others.”
The Birmingham VA Health Care System, under the umbrella of U.S. Veterans Affairs, serves more than 72,000 veterans in central and northern Alabama, including with its hospital in downtown Birmingham and a network of outpatient clinics. The system provides a wide range of medical, surgical and mental health services.
“I am here standing before you today not because I may have saved some lives under fire, but because the VA has saved my life,” said Sprayberry.
When asked if there was a message he would want to share today, he added, “As you do your jobs, I hope that at the end of each day you tell yourself you have helped someone.”
Rose shared similar sentiments.
“The VA does the best, with the resources available, to do what is right while bringing hope to those who have sustained unimaginable losses,” Rose said. “In 2016, we lost our son-in-law, a staff sergeant in the Marine Corps, and the VA stepped in to care for my daughter and grandchildren.
“VA employees are the glue that keep us, and this nation, going. God bless everyone working for the VA, those that have served and are currently serving, and those at home hoping and waiting for a safe return.”
The Birmingham VA Health Care System contributed event information for this story.
Troy Turner is the editor and senior consultant for AlaDefense.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. His bio can be found here.
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