Video at link. He seems very humble.
Posted on 02/09/2018 5:54:18 AM PST by beaversmom
Bellevue, NE
The ceremony for Army Air Corps Staff Sgt. Gail Farrell,93, may be overdue.
But his brave and courageous service to his country will never be overlooked.
"He flies 21 combat missions over Germany and France. He sees some of the most intensive fighting of the last few months of the war," Colonel Mike Manion, 55th Wing Commander said.
73 years after his tour of duty as a B17 tail gunner with the Mighty Eighth Air Force, 379th Bomb Group, 624th Squadron, Farrell finally receives several medals. "A true American hero," Col. Manion said.
Manion awarded Farrell with the Air Medal, with two bronze oak leaf clusters, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Button.
"There will never be another time like that with the aerial attack forcing its way into Nazi Germany and then to fight its way back out," Farrell said.
The airmen and women of the 55th Wing lined up to graciously meet Farrell. They shook his hand and said thank you. Some of them the same age as Farrell when he dropped bombs on the Germans in Berlin and other cities.
A humble Farrell wants them to remember the other heroes of the war.
"Today is a recognition for my crew and all the men that didn't come back. To me, that's what it means, " Farrell said.
Video at link. He seems very humble.
The article doesn’t explain why he wasn’t awarded his medals. If he was awarded those medals they would of been listed on his Report of Separation form WD AGO 53-55 along with his ASR points score.
Not sure either.
He looks awfully good for 93!
He sure does!
Maybe he ETSed out. Served his time and got out. Same thing happened to me. I never physically received one of my Air Metals, and the citation. And a few other ribbons. But They are listed on my dd214.
Yup.
And some family member got after him to get his awards before he's gone.
I’ve seen people in their 60’s look worse. IMO, it’s all how you take care of yourself.
I think that was the standard, the DD214 or DD215 will list all decorations. The medals that have a citation with them I assume would be physically awarded while still in service. The only medal I saw personally awarded were a silver star with citation to a platoon mate by the brigade commander and purple hearts in the hospital.
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