Senator Bob Dole WWII Leadership Award Presented by CoreLogic
SEN. BOB DOLE WWII LEADERSHIP AWARD PRESENTED BY CORELOGIC
The Award
“I’ll take ‘em, sergeant.”
Twenty-two-year-old 2nd LT Bob Dole spoke these words to his Platoon Sergeant, Frank Carafa, on April 14, 1945, as he led the assault element of his 10th Mountain Division platoon to flank a German strong point on Hill 913 near Castel D’Aiano, Italy. He left the sergeant to establish a base of fire. The rest changed his life.
He left the security of his foxhole to drag his fatally wounded radio man to cover when a German machine gun round ripped through his body, leaving him near dead as well. He survived his grievous wounds to carve an historic role in the Senate and American political life.
Last year, The World War II Foundation presented Senator Dole with the Foundation’s Leadership Award at its D-Day Victory Event at the French Embassy. WWII veterans, dignitaries and senior military present were extremely moved to witness this historic occasion and be in the presence of our nation’s greatest heroes. So moved, too, was Senator Dole, that he agreed to allow the Foundation to name its subsequent Leadership Awards in his honor.
To preserve the legacy of Senator Dole the Senator Bob Dole World War II Leadership Award is presented annually to an individual of the Greatest Generation or their family who as an individual reflects the values of self- sacrifice, public service and everlasting commitment to our nation’s principles of freedom and democracy.
The Foundation has commissioned a statue in Senator Dole’s likeliness named “I’ll take Point” to be presented to the award recipient. This year, Senator John Warner, a WWII Navy veteran, Marine Corps officer in the Korean War and Secretary of the Navy, will be presented the Senator Bob Dole World War II Leadership Award.
2022 Honoree -Vice Admiral Raquel C. Bono
For nearly 30 years Vice Admiral Raquel C. Bono, MD, MBA, FACS, served with honor and distinction as a highly respected Naval Officer and the first woman surgeon in the military to hold the rank of Vice Admiral. As the former chief executive officer (CEO) and director, Defense Health Agency (DHA), Vice Admiral (Dr.) Bono led a joint, integrated combat support agency that enabled all branches of the U.S. military – Army, Navy, and Air Force – medical services to provide health care services to combatant commands. Dr. Bono integrated an unprecedented $50 billion worldwide health care enterprise composed of 50 hospitals and 300 clinics that provide care to 9.5 million military beneficiaries; oversaw the Department of Defense (DoD) deployment of the electronic health record (EHR) system; and advanced the development of the largest federated health system with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
A board-certified trauma surgeon, Dr. Bono is an inspiration and role model for all surgeons, especially women surgeons across the country and in the military. Dr. Bono received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, Austin; her Master of Business Administration from Washington State University, Spokane; and her medical degree from Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, Lubbock. She completed her surgical internship and residency at the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA and performed a trauma and critical care fellowship at the Eastern Virginia Graduate School of Medicine, Norfolk.
2021 Honoree (Posthumously)-Senator John Warner
Senator John William Warner from Virginia served in the United States Navy 1944-1946 and in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean conflict 1950-1952; served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve 1952-1956; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1978 for the term commencing January 3, 1979; subsequently appointed by the Governor on January 2, 1979, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William Scott for the term ending January 3, 1979; reelected in 1984, 1990, 1996, and 2002, and served from January 2, 1979, to January 3, 2009; chair, Committee on Rules and Administration (One Hundred Fourth and One Hundred Fifth Congresses [September 12, 1995-January 3, 1999]), Committee on Armed Services (One Hundred Sixth Congress; One Hundred Seventh Congress [January 20, 2001-June 6, 2001], One Hundred Eighth and One Hundred Ninth Congresses).
2019 Honoree-Senator Bob Dole
Robert Dole, from Kansas, enlisted in the United States Army in 1942. Dole became a combat infantry officer in the famed 10th Mountain Division and was sent to the Po Valley in northern Italy in 1944. Dole was ordered to lead an assault against a German position there and was severely wounded. Paralyzed from the neck down and with metal shrapnel throughout his body, the medics who treated him did not think he would live. Dole was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for his combat service in Italy with the 10th Mountain Division during World War II.
After World War II, Bob Dole represented Kansas in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1961 to 1969, then as a senator from 1969 to 1996, serving as Republican Leader of the Senate 1985 to 1996. He was the Republican nominee for President of the United States in 1996.
2018 Honoree-Jim “Pee Wee” Martin
101st Airborne D-Day, Market Garden, and Battle of the Bulge Veteran Jim “Pee Wee” Martin received the first of what will be an annual World War II Foundation Leadership Award.
Jim Martin parachuted into Normandy (landing near Saint-Côme-du-Mont behind Utah Beach) at 12:30 AM on June 6, 1944. “Pee Wee” Martin fought in the Normandy campaign for thirty-three days until the 101st Airborne was relieved and returned to England in July. He also parachuted into Holland in Operation Market Garden and Belgium in the Battle of the Bulge. He later saw action in Germany.
Jim continues to speak to as many groups as possible about his experiences, both the United States and Europe and has for decades. Thank you to Pee Wee for all he does to help us never to forget the important stories of World War II and for his service as a brave Screaming Eagle in Europe during the war itself.
