Five bronze stars shine for parade marshal (My uncle)

Middletown (OH) Journal ^ | 6-30-2003 | Craig J. Heimbuch; Journal Staff Writer

[GreyWolf]

The spirit of freedom felt on Independence Day is well known to people like Delbert Reffitt, who will help the city celebrate it.

Reffitt is the grand marshal for this year’s Fourth of July parade and the most decorated living veteran at the VFW Post 3809. He has five bronze stars and a bronze arrowhead to his credit for his Army service in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, and subsequent service across Europe and northern Africa.

He has not been back to Europe since.

“I got terrible seasick,” Reffitt, now 82, said of the days waiting aboard a U.S. ammunition ship for the green light to be given for the attack. “Them Navy boys was used to it. ... I got awfully sick. I never went back.”

Quiet and frail, Reffitt bears the look of an aged sharecropper. His leathery skin, cloud white hair and knowing eyes make it nearly impossible to imagine him as a young soldier on a ship in the English Channel, counting down the seconds to an uncertain and possibly very short future.

Of all the five bronze stars — an award given for individual acts of bravery by soldiers in war time — he speaks the most about the fifth.

“They let me out early,” Reffitt said.

He volunteered to drive fuel to the front line after others in his unit refused. The Army gave him his fifth bronze star and, as such, his early discharge.

But that was not the end of Reffitt’s bravery. In 1997, he saved two people from a burning building, an act he said he didn’t really have to think about.

Reffitt said he’s unsure why he was chosen to be the grand marshal for this year’s parade. He was approached by parade chairman Ken Wills and asked if he would be willing to do the job.

“I told them I couldn’t walk,” Reffitt said. But that matters little, because he will be riding in the back of a car.

Published 06.30.03

[GreyWolf]

Delbert Reffitt is my uncle. I post this article because there are few WWII heros left and we are so so proud of what he did so many years ago. I suppose many families have a Delbert in thier tree from one of the many wars, and I suppose that many of you will not take much notice of this occasion, but Delbert symbolizes the debt that we owe to those who risked everything for no other reason than love of Country and our way of life. So, on this 4th of July, seek out a Delbert and convey how grateful and proud you are of his (or her) service to thier Country. Happy Independance Day, Freepers!

[Mr. Lucky]

My dad always told me that he and one other guy, whose name he couldn't remember, won the war. Your Uncle Delbert is obviously that guy. What's remarkable about your uncle is not so much that he was a hero (although you can bet he would tell you the heros are the young men who didn't come home), but that there were so many heros in America then and that there are so few now.

[LQDSWRD]

Thank you Delbert.

[sirshackleton]

Give your uncle a pat on the back for me.

[MEG33]

I celebrate your uncle and all who serve.I hope he has a grand day.Thank him for helping me live in freedom!

[cav68]

Your uncle is having his day and each man and woman who served with him are also having a day. I just know that inside he feels somewhat alone but when he looks around and can see the local people cheering and waving flags then he can feel refreshed as he then will feel welcomed and inside all his friends who didn't make it home are riding with him in the car. My God how I do respect that generation, a Waste not Want not persona that I fear will soon be gone for ever.

[Moleman]

Please tell your uncle "thank you" from me for defending the freedom I enjoy.

[Bahbah]

Please let your uncle know how greatful I am for his service to our country. I don't see how they could have chosen a better grand marshal.

[bushfamfan]

It's great to have a true American hero to lead an Independence Day parade. The WW2 generation is amazing and have done so much for our country. They continue to inspire our military and people with their legacy.

[Johnny Gage]

A "Three Howie" salute to your uncle Delbert for his service in defending our freedoms

[Made In The USA]

You're so very right. For many Friday is just a day off or an excuse to have a sale on used cars. For many, myself included, it's a time to remember how much I owe persons like Delbert for the life I enjoy today.

Please convey a sincere thank you to Mr. Reffitt from Dominic & Dawn.

[IncPen]

My father and his friends served honorably in WWII. I have such great respect for the work he and all of those men and women did without question.

Delbert, you are one of them, and I thank you. It is because of you that my children will live in freedom.

[Johnny Gage]

A "three howie" mega ping. (forgot my ping list)

[Soaring Feather]

BUMP

[cherry_bomb88]

You have a very special Uncle, GreyWolf, you are understably proud, as I would be.

[SLB]

Does your uncle Delbert like seafood? If so here you go
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1499198169
heck even if he doesn't he might like to just sit back and enjoy the show.

[Grampa Dave]

Unfortunately all of the Great Delberts and Kilroys on both sides of our family from WWII have died. In fact none of their wives are around anymore.

These young men were incredible heroes. They bonded together to end the Fascists in Europe and the War Criminals who ruled Japan.

40 to 50 years from now, the young heroes who stopped the Islamofascists in Afghanistan, Iraq, and _____________, will be the Delberts. Lets let them know now how much we respect them. I'm so damn tired of the left wingers and far right wingers trying demean what they have done for us.

[Movemout]

“I told them I couldn’t walk,” Reffitt said

He could walk when it counted. Tell your uncle thanks from me.

It always amazes me that true heroes never perceive themselves in that way.

[GreyWolf]

Thank you all for your kind words. Before I went off to the Navy back in the 60s, I lived with Delbert and his family for awhile and got to know him fairly well. He is a quiet, non-assuming type person who spent his career working in a steel mill, and never talked about his time in the Army even though it was fairly well known that he had seen some pretty rough times over there. I was shocked and swelled with pride yesterday when an aunt sent me a copy of this article, as I realized what a great person I was privledged to have known. I haven't seen Delbert for many years but I know that he approaches every day the same way he viewed those days at Normandy. "It's a job somebody has to do so it might as well be me". The world would be a lot better off if more people had that attitude.

[eyespysomething]

Delbert symbolizes the debt that we owe to those who risked everything for no other reason than love of Country and our way of life.

patriotic thank your uncle God Bless Him and Those He Fought With and America bump