Hi, Von Wark and Dan Snow's history.

In this episode of the podcast, we are talking about the Medal of Honor, the highest decoration

of a gallery that can be awarded to US soldiers.

We're talking particularly about black Medal of Honor winners who've traditionally been overlooked.

This is the extraordinary story of seven African-American soldiers who were awarded the Medal of Honor

by only after a 50-year campaign.

Up to that point, they've been denied that recognition.

The background here is that during World War II, around 500 medals of honor were awarded.

And despite 1 million African-Americans serving in a military during the war, not a single one

was given a Medal of Honor.

But 50 years later, seven names were added to that illustrious list.

It's only in 1903 that this kind of unspoken rule of not nominating and recommending black

soldiers for the honor came to light and a commission combed through half a century of old records.

So in this podcast, I'm lucky enough to talk to Rob Charles, an Emmy-nominated screenwriter,

director and author.

He's written about this process and the medals of honor winners.

Also very lucky to talk to Arlene Carter.

She's daughter-in-law of Edward Allen Carter, Jr., an army sergeant.

He exhibited very, very extraordinary heroism on the battlefield.

She's a force of nature and she attended the ceremony with President Clinton in Washington

in 1997 when Sergeant Carter was awarded the Medal of Honor such a great story.

That's all coming up.

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