And with it came its king, Elvis Presley, who represented America to the entire world with his swiveling hips and pompadour hair. Cukela earned his Medal of Honor for subduing a machine-gun nest by killing or driving off the soldiers with his bayonet. Not only has T-Swift spread the message of inner beauty and self-love to girls (and boys) around the world, but she also just took down Apple, which is pretty impressive. Johnston won the Medal of Honor fighting Morro rebels in the Philippines in 1906. McCampbell shot down 34 Japanese planes, engaging the enemy many times despite overwhelming odds. His most famous song is called “Stars and Stripes Forever,” which in and of itself would be enough to make this list. We must not be enemies. But if we had to narrow it down, it would be these 50 people; all of whom have exemplified, represented, and downright BEEN America. He led the union into a civil war to keep the northern and southern states from dividing. But when you think of US military drill instructors, you think of one person... Don Knotts. Some of the most famous American heroes are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, Susan B. Anthony and Martin Luther King Jr. Sure, he may have drunk a little and dabbled in illicit substances, but he was always real about who he was, which is pretty damn American. She made a total of 13 trips between the South and the North, and because of her bravery, over 70 enslaved families and friends were rescued from plantations and brought to the Union. Is the Coronavirus Crisis Increasing America's Drug Overdoses? Incredible Blanket Puts Humans In A Deep Sleep, Melting Stress Away, © Horace Abrahams / Keystone / Getty Images, © Copyright Underwood & Underwood / Wikimedia Commons, © US Federal Government / Wikimedia Commons, © U.S. Army Signal Corps officer Gaetano Faillace / Wikimedia Commons, © Matthew A. Ebarb / U.S. Navy / Wikimedia Commons, © U.S. Army Air Corps / Wikimedia Commons, © U.S. Navy Department / Wikimedia Commons, © U.S. War Department / Wikimedia Commons, © U.S. Navy File Photo / Wikimedia Commons, © Harris and Ewing, Washington, D.C. / Wikimedia Commons, © U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist John Lill / Released / Wikimedia Commons, © United States Marine Corps / Wikimedia Commons, © PH1 E.G. > Rank: Gunnery sergeant> Military branch: Marines> Served in: WWI> Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross. And while we should all strive to be as patriotic (hopefully, he'll bring the same level to The Late Show), you can’t ever be a truly great country unless you’re willing to laugh at yourself. For better or for worse, reality TV dominates American culture, and there’s no better representative than Honey Boo Boo. > Rank: Lieutenant commander> Military branch: Navy> Served in: WWII> Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Silver Star, > Rank: Corporal> Military branch: Marines> Served in: WWI> Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star. There are also many other heroic Americans, such as John Adams, Henry Ford, Margaret Fuller and Neil Armstrong. Effectively showing the world that Americans weren’t afraid of anyone, and that we’d keep fighting even when things got bloody. You’re cocky, you’re a loudmouth, you challenge authority, and even when you get beaten, you come back and defeat whoever it was that beat you. Sure, there is no actual evidence that Betsy Ross sewed the first-ever American flag after a visit from General George Washington. He was also awarded the Silver Star for gallantry fighting on Guadalcanal in World War II. Fact Check: What Power Does the President Really Have Over State Governors? It was originally called Decoration Day and began in the years following the Civil War. Butler was the most decorated Marine in U.S. history when he died in 1940. The most famous woman ever to grace the front of a Wheaties box has to be Mary Lou Retton, who during those uber-patriotic and Soviet-boycotted LA Olympics of 1984 became America’s sweetheart by donning an American flag leotard and bringing home five medals, including gold in the all-around competition. > Rank: Sergeant> Military branch: Army/Navy> Served in: Vietnam War> Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star. This page was last modified on 24 April 2020, at 16:22. Hanneken won the Medal of Honor for subduing rebels in Haiti in 1919. For those who gave what President Abraham Lincoln called in his Gettysburg Address the “last full measure of devotion,” the United States honors them on Memorial Day. But who could have predicted such strong support for Margaret Thatcher and the Queen? Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Murphy is the most decorated American soldier of World War II. Urban was cited for bravery during the Normandy campaign in 1944. The people and places below include well-known American heroes, as well as some who are less-widely known. Researchers asked thousands of American children and adults across the country who their heroes were. Clinton has served as the first lady of the United States, New York senator, and as the secretary of state, and has been an advocate for gender equality and healthcare reform. Recognized for his determination to end slavery, Abraham Lincoln was a notable American president. Kearby was an aggressive fighter pilot who frequently took on superior enemy numbers. Here, we celebrate and honor some American Heroes and the places associated with them. > Rank: Second lieutenant> Military branch: Army> Served in: WWII> Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star. > Rank: Corporal> Military branch: Marines> Served in: WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War> Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star. That is, until this guy created a vaccine. But wait, there's more: he also developed a brass musical instrument so that guys who had to buy their jeans in the “Husky” section could express their talents -- the sousaphone! The submarine commander was awarded the Medal of Honor for valor for his actions in the Pacific theater during World War II. The name was changed to Memorial Day, and it became a federal holiday in 1971. One of the pioneers of the Underground Railroad, a pistol-toting Tubman repeatedly risked her life to free runaway slaves. He regularly sank Japanese vessels and rescued Americans who had been shot down. Taking the bad with the good, so to speak. After he was cited for heroism in the Philippines and Samoa, Hulbert went on to serve in World War I, where he was wounded. Their achievements aren't celebrated like the monumental exploits of presidents, generals, and founding fathers. And the only performance-enhancing drug he ever used was whiskey. New Asian American Imagemakers. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Benjamin Franklin is remembered for a variety of contributions to the American way of life. Howard was nominated for the Medal of Honor three times and won it for rescuing a wounded platoon leader in Vietnam. Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861. > Rank: Major> Military branch: Army/Air Force> Served in: WWII, Korean War> Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star. Though he was a major figure in the counterculture movement of the 1960s, his screaming version of the national anthem showed that rock & roll (and the social movements surrounding it) weren’t anti-American at all but rather expressions of the freedom this country provides. And don't say "freedom," that's a cop out. > Rank: Commander> Military branch: Navy> Served in: WWII> Medal(s) of valor: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star. Serving as a surgeon with the U.S. Marines in France, Boone, under heavy enemy fire, risked his life multiple times in a single day by venturing into a field to rescue wounded American soldiers and replenish medical supplies. Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps. Sure. In the ensuring fight, Williams led the attack that eventually destroyed more than 65 enemy boats. The most famous woman ever to grace the front of a Wheaties box has to be Mary Lou Retton, who during those uber-patriotic and Soviet-boycotted LA …