How many of the 10,000 students attending Olive-Harvey College on Chicago’s South Side know the history of the two war heroes who gave the college its name? Milton Olive and Carmel Harvey both had Chicago roots. Both volunteered for military service in Vietnam, both received the Medal of Honor, and both sacrificed their lives for their friends.
Milton Olive and Carmel Harvey shared another trait. Each of them chose to sacrifice himself in order to save the lives of his comrades. Milton Olive had volunteered for the elite paratroopers, and made it in. Carmel Harvey had volunteered for the infantry.
“Greater love hath no man than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.”
Each man exemplified the verse from the New Testament in which Jesus tells His disciples that they must love one another, and then tells them: “Greater love hath no man than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.” Milton Olive and Carmel Harvey laid down their lives for their friends.
Milton Olive
In October 1965 Private First Class Milton Olive was with four other soldiers, pursuing Viet Cong who had attacked their patrol. When one of the fleeing enemies threw a grenade into the middle of the patrol, Pfc. Olive grabbed the grenade, pulled it toward his chest, and threw himself on it to absorb its blast. He was killed instantly. In honor of his bravery, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, and was the first African-American to receive the Medal in the Vietnam War.
Because of Pfc. Olive’s actions four other men grew up to be fathers and grandfathers. In 2012 Don Terry, writer for the Chicago Tribune, wrote a moving article about those four men and what they had become in the decades since their lives were saved. Two black men, one Mexican-American, and a white Lieutenant who never again uttered a racist word after his life was saved by Pfc. Milton Olive. “I was changed that day forever.”
Carmel Harvey
Specialist Four Carmel Harvey was a fire team leader in Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), in June 1967 when his team came under attack from three sides. When his two nearest squad members were wounded, he continued to fire to cover them.
One bullet from the enemy fire hit a hand grenade attached to Harvey’s belt, activating the grenade. He was unable to remove the grenade from his belt, and had only seconds until it detonated. Rather than imperil his platoon members, Harvey ran straight at the attacking machine gun nest, firing at the gunners as he ran. The grenade’s explosion killed Sp4 Harvey, but it stunned the machine gunners into pausing long enough to evacuate the other platoon members.
The Citation: Milton Olive
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Olive was a member of the 3d Platoon of Company B, as it moved through the jungle to find the Viet Cong operating in the area. Although the platoon was subjected to a heavy volume of enemy gunfire and pinned down temporarily, it retaliated by assaulting the Viet Cong positions, causing the enemy to flee. As the platoon pursued the insurgents, Pfc. Olive and four other soldiers were moving through the jungle together with a grenade was thrown into their midst. Pfc. Olive saw the grenade, and then saved the lives of his fellow soldiers at the sacrifice of his by grabbing the grenade in his hand and falling on it to absorb the blast with his body. Through his bravery, unhesitating actions, and complete disregard for his safety, he prevented additional loss of life or injury to the members of his platoon. Pfc. Olive’s extraordinary heroism, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
The Citation: Carmel Harvey
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4 Harvey distinguished himself as a fire team leader with Company B, during combat operations. Ordered to secure a downed helicopter, his platoon established a defensive perimeter around the aircraft, but shortly thereafter a large enemy force attacked the position from 3 sides. Sp4 Harvey and 2 members of his squad were in a position directly in the path of the enemy onslaught, and their location received the brunt of the fire from an enemy machine gun. In short order, both of his companions were wounded, but Sp4 Harvey covered this loss by increasing his deliberate rifle fire at the foe. The enemy machine gun seemed to concentrate on him and the bullets struck the ground all around his position. One round hit and armed a grenade attached to his belt. Quickly, he tried to remove the grenade but was unsuccessful. Realizing the danger to his comrades if he remained and despite the hail of enemy fire, he jumped to his feet, shouted a challenge at the enemy, and raced toward the deadly machine gun. He nearly reached the enemy position when the grenade on his belt exploded, mortally wounding Sp4 Harvey, and stunning the enemy machine gun crew. His final act caused a pause in the enemy fire, and the wounded men were moved from the danger area. Sp4 Harvey’s dedication to duty, high sense of responsibility, and heroic actions inspired the others in his platoon to decisively beat back the enemy attack. His acts are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
