Everyday Patriot

Staff Sergeant Clifford Chester Sims was born on June 18, 1942, in Port St. Joe, Florida.  Orphaned early, he lived on his own for a time prior to being adopted by the Sims.  Despite his early challenges, he graduated from George Washington High School in 1961, and shortly after, enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, for Airborne training,  he remained in the U.S, until his 1965 deployment during the Dominican Republic Expedition, with the 82nd Airborne.

Staff Sergeant Sims was then assigned to the 501st Infantry of the 101st Airborne and deployed to Vietnam.

On February 21, 1968, Staff Sergeant Sims earned a Congressional Medal of Honor.  While moving through the area of Hue, Vietnam, his team came upon a small structure.  Staff Sergeant Sims, checking to make sure the structure was unmanned, activated a tripwire and the explosive within the structure.  He muffled the explosion with his body, saving the rest of his team.

Staff Sergeant Clifford Chester S…

Admiral John Sidney "Slew" McCain Sr was born on August 9, 1884, in Carroll County Mississippi. and hadn't planned on being a sailor.

For a couple of years, he had attended the University of Mississippi and had even joined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity before deciding to enter the Military Academy.

He had initially planned on going to West Point, but, after using U.S. Navy test preparation materials, he chose to enter Annapolis instead.

Graduating in 1906, he took part in the Great White Fleet's world tour, which took place from 1907 until 1909, returning to the U.S as a member of the USS Connecticut's crew.  Admiral McCain was then assigned to the Asiatic Squadron, berthed in San Diego.

He served as the Executive Office of the USS Colorado, patrolling the Pacific coast of Mexico from 1914 to 1915 before joining the crew of the USS San Diego in September, to provide convoy protection in the Atlantic during WWI.  He was also briefly assigned to the Bureau of Nav…

Sergeant Major Charles John Hayes was born on December 23, 1878, in St. Mary's Pennsylvania.

He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1897, deploying Cuba during the Spanish American War, after which, he returned stateside, until deploying again to Nicaragua, and then Mexico for the Occupation of Vera Cruz.

Sergeant Major Hayes then deployed to France during WWI and participated in both the Aisne Marne Campaign and the St Mihiel Campaign.  His final deployment was to Haiti in 1920.

He retired from the U.S. Marine Corp in 1930 and continued to serve the community through participation in the Elks Lodge and Moose Club. He was also an active member of the American Legion.

He died on January 5, 1938, and rests in St. Mary's Pennsylvania.