Seventy Pentagon personnel were honoured recently for their acts of bravery on September 11 when a jetliner crashed into the Pentagon and sent a rolling ball of fire through its corridors.

About half of the recipients received the Soldier's Medal for rescuing people trapped in the inferno.

Five types of awards issued including the Defense of Freedom Medal, a newly authorised medal to honour civilians who are wounded or killed as a result of hostile action against the United States. About half of recipients were awarded the Soldier's Medal, others were the Purple Heart, the Defense of Freedom Medal, Exceptional Civilian Service for Bravery and the Distinguished Civilian Service for Bravery. Some people received more than one award.

Chief of Staff Gen Eric Shinseki conducted his own awards ceremony, when he presented three hospitalised awardees their medals at their bedside.

The 70 heroes stood during the awards presentation - some with visible wounds from that horrific day of September 11.