Posted on 04/28/2010 8:30:23 AM PDT by TexasBarak
The unknown medal is the Meritorious Service Medal.
WOW! So sorry to hear of the death of your father, but you must be so proud of his service to our country. Please thank your mom for her part in the sacrifice.
Maria
Dad flew Otters and suchlike for the Army. I believe he was also rated to fly twin-engine, but I’m not absolutely sure on that one. I do know that he was also a helicopter pilot- at the time, the army required all of their pilots to be fly both fixed wing and rotary wing. This is also how he came to be in the Artillery (after serving in the Infantry and Quartermaster Corps)- all Army pilots at the time were in the Artillery. He once told me that he was the only three branch officer that he knew of.
TexasBarak’s dad.
Love my dad but I won’t claim the medals of another man for him.
Post 42 was meant for you. Sorry
Post 42 was meant for TexasBarak. Sorry!
May all your memories of you dad be good ones. Sounds like he had the “right stuff”. I wonder what the story behind the Silver Star was?
My son did a report on the Purple Heart. George Washington first came up with it for the Revolutionary War as a “Medal of Honor”. There were only a few recipients of it as I recall. (Two maybe?) It was not used again until much later - and then as an injured in battle medal.
He was Army, the Skull and Crossbones on the vert stab of that jet (F14) is squadron insignia for the Jolly Rogers. US NAVY.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/reporternews/obituary.aspx?n=clark-kreitler&pid=142278871
Here’s your dad’s obit. Silver star awarded for actions on Pork Chop Hill, Korea. (Sends a chill up my spine!).
Thanks. Didn’t realize it when I posted the picture. If her dad had that kind of name tag, it must have been more widespread than the Navy. See post 51.
My sympathy for the loss of your father. Thank you for sharing about his life with us. Hopefully you can get a nice display for his medals.
It just so happens that I read the newspaper clipping that my Mother saved about that. In Korea, when his platoon's position was about to be overrun, he ordered his men to retreat, then personally covered their retreat with a B.A.R. (I think- he always spoke highly of that weapon).
At Dad's 80th birthday party a couple of months ago, one of my nephews asked him if he every thought he'd live to be 80. He replied "I never thought I'd make 40!". I had no problem understand where that thought came from!
That does help, tremendously! Thank you!
I’ll take it from the left to right -—
1. Air Medal, 2. Purple Heart 3. Distingushed Flying Cross
4. Silver Star 5. Bronze Star Medal 6. meritorius Service Medal 7. National Defense Medal 8. Republic of Vietname Campaing Medal 9. Vietnam Service Medal 10. Various devices for Air Crew, Collar Emblem (US Air Force) 11. Korean Service medal 12. United nations korean Servvice medal
Various Badges, dog tag and name bars.
Now you may ask whay I would know all of them. I’ve been in the military off and on for the last 30 years.
Hope this posting helps you out.
Semper Fi, SSgt. Vormwald
They can also be found here (http://www.usamilitarymedals.com)
From Wikipedia:
The Silver Star is the third-highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces. It is also the third highest award given for valor in the face of the enemy.
The Silver Star is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States not justifying one of the two higher awards - the service crosses (Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, or the Air Force Cross), the second-highest military decoration, or the Medal of Honor, the highest decoration. The Silver Star may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the armed forces, distinguishes himself or herself by extraordinary heroism involving one of the following actions:
* In action against an enemy of the United States
* While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force
* While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party
I’ll take it from the left to right -—
1. Air Medal
2. Purple Heart
3. Distinguished Flying Cross
4. Silver Star
5. Bronze Star
6. Meritorious Service Medal
7. National Defense Medal
8. Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
9. Vietnam Service Medal
10. Various devices for Air Crew, Collar Emblem (US Air Force)
11. Korean Service medal
12. United nations Korean Service medal
Various Badges, dog tag and name bars.
Now you may ask why I would know all of them. I’ve been in the US Military off and on for the last 30 years.
Hope this posting helps you out.
Semper Fi, SSgt. Vormwald
They can also be found here (http://www.usamilitarymedals.com)
Thank you for posting the obituary of this incredible man whom I never had the honor to meet. He served his Country so unselfishly, a true American Hero, as were all who served their country and were ready to give their lives to preserve it for all of us. What an amazing life he had. Must be quite a family, with 4 sons who had such a father as a role model.
God Bless all those who lay their lives on the line for all of us. We will never forget our American heroes!
Thank you for this thread, Texas Barak. How proud you must be of your father!
Thank you for posting the obituary of this incredible man whom I never had the honor to meet. He served his Country so unselfishly, a true American Hero, as were all who served their country and were ready to give their lives to preserve it for all of us. What an amazing life he had. Must be quite a family, with 4 sons who had such a father as a role model.
God Bless all those who lay their lives on the line for all of us. We will never forget our American heroes!
Thank you for this thread, Texas Barak. How proud you must be of your father!
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