HEY PRESIDENT TRUMP: I *know* you have staff who follow this site (FreeRepublic). Seen too many things mentioned by Freepers that then end up in your and/or your administration’s speeches.
If anyone deserves a posthumous Medal of Honor, Mr. Louis Bennett Jr. does.
And it is NEVER too late to grant that recognition. (I’d say honor, but he clearly Mr. Bennett Jr. had more than enough honor such that more could not be granted.)
I also understand you are dealing with a lot of international issues (e.g., attacks in London, Paris Convention, ISIS, etc.) as well as U.S. issues, but this just would not take much time. Task it to some staffer to shepherd the process of awarding the grant and then just sign off. BtW these things matter.
PS I *REALLY* like typing the words “PRESIDENT TRUMP!”
I’m so glad this story was posted. West Virginia has always sent more soldiers to battle than any other stare (percentage). Knowing that the memorial is in Weston will encourage me to go and visit Louis Bennett Jr’s statue.
After seeing some friends go through the MOH process for their Civil War Grandfather, I believe the process for posthumous award has to be sponsored in a Bill by a member or two of Congress, then the citation is usually added to an existing Bill, and has to be voted on by Congress. I know the day my friend accepted the MOH for his grandfather (from Bill Clinton in Jan. 2001), Teddy Roosevelt's family was there for the same ceremony, accepting the MOH for his actions at San Juan Hill, Cuba. It's a long, slow process, and with the way Congress drags it's feet today, who knows how long it would take.
#6. I second your motion to get Louis Bennett Jr official US military recognition for his WW 1 service even if it was with the British forces. It could be done through an act of Congress.
We had our Flying Tigers in China before they were merged into Chennault’s forces and I think they were given awards by the Nationalist Government.
Time to honor our own “volunteers” who volunteered before it became an official act.