Q&A on the News
Q: There was a recent article about Georgians who were awarded the Medal of Honor in Vietnam. Can you name all of the Georgians who’ve received the Medal of Honor?
— David Bowman, Stone Mountain
A: There are 27 Georgians — either born in Georgia or who lived in the state — who have been awarded the Medal of Honor, according to various Medal of Honor websites. They are, by war:
- Civil War — George Leland (Savannah)
- Indian Wars — Mason Carter (Augusta), Ernest Garlington (Athens)
- World War II — Alexander Bonnyman (Atlanta), Bobbie Brown (Dublin), Aquilla Dyess (Andersonville), Henry Elrod (Rebecca), Daniel Lee (Alma), John McKinney (Woodcliff), Alexander Nininger (Gainesville), Jackson Pharris (Columbus), Clyde Thomason (Atlanta)
- Korean War — Raymond Davis (Fitzgerald), Lee Phillips (Stockbridge), Luther Story (Buena Vista)
- Vietnam War — Hammett Bowen (LaGrange), William Bryant (Cochran), Rodney Davis (Macon), Harold Durham (Tifton), Joe Jackson (Newnan), Donald Johnston (Columbus), James Livingston (Towns), Ray McKibben (Felton), Stephen Pless (Newnan), Ronald Ray (Cordele), James Sprayberry (LaGrange) and Hilliard Wilbanks (Cornelia).
Q: U.S. Senate candidate Karen Handel lacks a college degree. Do any current senators lack one?
— Steve Phenicie, Norcross
A: Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, is the only senator in the 113th Congress who doesn't have a college degree. He's the son of former U.S. Rep. Nick Begich and began working in his family's business after high school. There are 21 members of the House of Representatives who don't have a college degree, according to the Congressional Research Service's "Membership of the 113th Congress: A Profile."
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
