Salute to Veterans 2022

SALUTE TO VETERANS

The Museum of the American G.I.

The Museum of the American G.I. is privileged to share the stories of many lo cal veterans like Ed Eyre, Holly Reese, Alton Meyer and Bert Day Mullins. Ed Eyre enlisted in the Marines at 18, twelve days after the Japanese bombings on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. He ini tially served as a mortar man, first in the 3rd Marine, then the 4th Marine Divisions. Hoping to see action quickly, Eyer volunteered for the Paramarines earning his jump wings. While taking longer than he hoped, Eyre finally saw action as part of the 1st Marine Parachute Regiment on the Bougainville in 1943. The Paramarines and the Marine Raiders were disbanded in 1944 to provide manpower to the existing four divisions and two new divisions being formed, when Eyre was transferred to the 5th Marine Division. He soon was to see his next, and last action, on Iwo Jima. As part of the 28th Regimental Weapons Company, he charged the beach on D-Day at Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945. Eyre received a Bronze Star for his actions that day when he kept his 37mm M3 antitank gun in action while fully exposed to enemy fire. He went on to fight for 10 days until shrapnel from a mortar round ended his combat service but not before he saw the US flag flying atop Mount Suribachi.

After the war was over, Eyre eventually relocated to the Brazos Valley where he worked as a sales man before retirement. In his 80s after he lost his wife of 61 years, Eyre volunteered at the Museum of the American G.I. where he was instrumental in helping restoring the type of military weapons he used as a US Marine on Iwo Jima. Ed Eyre peacefully passed away on Satur day, March 29, 2014 at the age of 90. The Museum of the American G.I. is proud to display Ed Eyre’s uniforms.

Holly Elias Rees registered for the draft in January 1944 on his 18th birthday and he joined the Army upon his high school gradu ation. On May 11, 1945, at only 19 years old, Rees was assigned to I Company, 184th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division as a replacement. The division was severely depleted having incurred 5681 casualties in the first 40 days of combat during the Okinawa campaign. After a brief rest and with the addition of the replacements, I Company continued to fight. During his first engagement as a replacement, Rees received a Bronze Star “for exemplary con duct in ground combat against the armed enemy”. Unfortunately for Rees and I Company, the weather turned against them, raining 30 inches in 10 days. Rain or not, the men of I Company continued to

fight earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for action on Horseshoe Hill. Rees and his fellow replace ments fought for 32 straight days in close combat with the Japanese soldiers, before Okinawa was declared secure on June 21, 1945. On that day Holly Reese was struck in the foot by a Japanese sniper be coming one of the very last, if not the last, casualties of the war and one of the youngest surviving combat wounded veterans of WWII. After 21 months in the Army, Rees returned home. In 1957,

Rees and his wife Betty whom he married in 1950 moved to Bryan, where he worked as the supervisor of the Social Security Administra tion. He retired in 1984. Rees wrote his book, Three Flags and Two Brothers in 2016. He graciously donated his World War II artifacts to the Museum of the American G.I.

Alton “Al” Benno Meyer en rolled at Texas A&M in 1956 and graduated in 1960. Commissioned into the United States Air Force, he began training as a navigator at

James Conley Air Base in Waco. Meyer married his wife Bobbie in October 1960 and continued his training. He traveled to the Philippines and was as signed to the Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand in 1967. April 26th of that year, Meyer flew his last mission, but his time in Vietnam was far from over. On his 36th mission over North Vietnam, flying about the cloud cover, his plane was hit by a surface to air missile. For the next five years, eleven months and ten days, Meyer was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam.

Upon his capture, Meyer was transported to the notorious Hoa Lo Prison, or the “Hanoi Hilton”. He was subjected to extreme interrogation, abuse and mistreatment for a number of days before receiving medical treatment for his broken leg and other inju ries sustained in the crash. Enduring isolation, meager provision, and unsanitary conditions, POWs communicated by tapping a code on the cell wall and a series of coughs. In September 1970 upon the death of Ho Chi Minh, the treatment of the POWs drastically improved. Finally on Sun day March 4, 1973 Alton Meyer was released from captivity.

After returning from Vietnam, Meyer returned to Texas A&M receiving his MBA in 1975. For his ser

vice to his country, Meyer was awarded two Silver Stars, two Purple Hearts, a POW medal and numerous other awards. He retired from the Air Force in De cember 1980 after which he worked with various oil companies before found ing Alton Meyer Consult ing. Meyer was a dedicated husband, father and active member of the veteran community. Lt. Col. Alton Meyer passed away on December 24, 2017 at 79. The Museum of the Ameri can G.I. is honored to tell the story of his service, sacrifice and heroism through a special display include a cell door for the Hanoi Hilton, POW clothing, and a number of special items on loan from the Meyer family pertaining to Lt. Col Meyer’s time as a Prisoner of War.

Bert Day Mullins, the oldest son of a WWII B-17 tail gunner, knew the war in Vietnam would be his generation’s war. On July 28, 1966, although a stu dent at Texas A&M, Mullins elected to enlist in the Marines graduating from boot camp as Platoon Ho norman receiving an auto matic promotion to Private First Class and a complete Marine Corps Dress Blue uniform.

Upon graduation from boot camp, Mullins was assigned the MOS 2533 – Radio Telegraph Opera tor. Mullins finally arrived in Vietnam on November

12, 1967 and was assigned to the 1St Battalion, 9th Marines also known as “The Walking Dead” be cause of the high number of casualties the battalion sustained. On January 22, 1968, the 1/9 was deployed to the hills in support of the Marine Combat base at Khe Sanh where they worked to fortify their posi tions by building trenches and bunkers all the while hoping that the approach ing Tet Truce would pro vide some respite from the fighting. However, that was not to be the case and Siege of Khe Sanh had just begun. Over the next 77 days, approximately 20,000 North Vietnamese troops surrounded and isolated the 5,500 Marines at the base. The Marines were ordered to hold the base and they did but at a significant cost. When the siege was finally broken, 274 Americans were dead and 2,541 wounded.

As a Radio Telegraph Operator, Mullins, had unique view and understanding of the combat situation at Khe Sanh not offered to most of the other Marines present. After leav ing the Marines, Mullins returned to Texas A&M obtaining a degree in ac count. Bert Mullins died on August 30,2022 from cancer believed to caused by his exposure to Agent Orange during his time in Vietnam. The museum is working on a display detail

ing his service in Vietnam.

The Museum of the American G.I. is dedicated to honoring our Veterans by educating the public about their service and sacrifice.

Based in Ubon, Thailand, Bob Pardo flew bombing missions into North Vietnam. Among several other planes, Pardo flew the F-4 Phantom II, a fighter-bomber. In March, 1967, Pardo and his squad ron had been tasked with bombing the only North Vietnamese steel factory. Bad weather prevented successful bombing missions until March 10, Pardo’s birthday.

On that mission, the squadron come under heavy fire. Captain Earl Arman’s plane was severely damaged. Pardo’s plane was also hit. With both planes losing significant amounts of fuel, neither had enough fuel to reach the re-fueling planes. There only option was to reach the Laotioan border before ejecting into the jungle and where

they could hopefully avoid capture. Pardo’s plane had enough fuel to reach the boarder but Arman’s plane did not. What happened next, has become Air Force legend – Pardo’s Push. Pardo positioned his plane, behind and under Arman’s plane. With Arman’s tail hook on Pardo’s windshield, Pardo added power decreas ing both planes decent from the planes from 3,000 feet per minute to 1,500 feet per minute, doubling glide distance allowing both planes to make it into Lao tion airspace. Within one hour, all four pilots were rescued. Pardo was initially reprimanded for his ac tions, however in 1989 both Pardo and his Weapon Systems Officer were awarded silver stars. After 20 years in the Air Force, Pardo retired becoming a commercial pilot for the Corrs Corporation. Pardo lives in College Station. The museum is honored to share the incredible story of Pardo’s Push with our visitors.

Brazos Valley Cares

Non-Profit Supports Local Veterans

Brazos Valley Cares (BVC) began in 2013 with a group of friends, sitting around a firepit, enjoying steaks, whiskey, and cigars and talking about what they could do to help veterans who had given so much in service to our country. They hosted a party, invited like-minded friends, and raised money to donate to the Warrior and Family Support Center at Brooke Army Medical Center. Fast forward to 2022, Brazos Valley Cares is still a group of patriotic citizens, who have collectively donated over $1.5 million in support of US Military veterans residing in the 7 counties of the Brazos Valley. Along the way, the organization formalized with a 501C(3) non-profit status, a volunteer, working Board of Directors, and scores of community volunteers who assist with the programs and activities. The majority of the program and operational funds are raised at the annual Steak Your Support event, which harkens back to the organizational roots of cigars, whiskey and steak. Currently, BVC operates three programs. The first program is a 24-hour hot line that veterans and their family members can call

when immediate assistance is needed. The Emergency Committee volunteers who respond to calls are veterans and veteran family mem bers who understand that service members may find asking for assistance difficult and treat each case with dignity, respect, and compassion. Examples of Emergency Committee assistance include financial assistance, PTSD treatment sessions, and resource referral. Examples of finan cial assistance may include paying a utility bill that has gone unpaid due to an employment interruption or health condition or paying for a car repair necessary to get the veteran to work or school or a myriad of other needs that may arise. BVC has partnered with a num ber of community resources for employment, childcare, legal assistance, automotive repair, and financial counseling. BVC can authorize the payment of a utility or rent bill within 24-48 hours, allowing the veteran peace of mind to work with the Emergency Committee on planning next steps

to get them back on track. Whatever the difficulty, the volunteer Emergency Com mittee members convene to discuss, problem-solve, and quickly offer solutions.

Brazos Valley Cares’ second program is a psy chological trauma treatment workshop offered locally and sponsored twice-yearly for Brazos Valley veterans with Dr. Carrie Elk, a therapist widely known for her work with active duty and former military members across the United States. Sometimes the need is for treatment of service-related PTSD which has adversely impacted their employment or personal relationships. Local veter ans who have participated in these workshops report

tremendous improvement in their relationships and mental health.

The third BVC pro gram is disbursement of organizational grants to non-profit and vet eran service organizations which provide financial assistance, supportive services, and treatment to Brazos Valley veterans. Over the last decade, those grants have supplemented programs at Aggie Shields (textbook lending library for TAMU veteran stu dents), Combat Veteran Motorcycle Association, Disabled American Veter ans, Marine Corps League, OnRamp, Wreaths Across America, American Legion Post 159, and many more.

These grant partnerships are a “force multiplier” for Brazos Valley Cares which foster collaboration and cooperation, enhance visibility and awareness, and expand the types of ser vices available to veterans in the Brazos Valley.

The BVC Board has a vision to grow the orga nization and its programs for veterans. If you would like to be involved, donate, volunteer, or learn more about how you can serve Brazos Valley Cares, contact us at BrazosValleyCaresTX@ gmail.com. If you are a veteran or family member residing in the Brazos Valley and you need assistance, please call the HOTLINE at 979-361-7815.

BVC American Legion Grant check presentation

Unique Ways to Honor Veterans

Sacrifice is a big part of serving in the United States military. Active duty personnel spend significant time away from their families, and many who have served overseas return home with injuries that affect both their physical and mental well-being. As the nation commemorates Veterans Day, individuals and organizations can take steps to honor the sacrifices millions of veterans have made on behalf of their families, friends and neighbors who call the United States home.

• Encourage a veteran to share his or her story. Individuals who know a veteran can encour age that individual to share his or her story about serving. This can reassure veterans that others care about the sacrifices they made and let veterans know that their sacrifices and service to their country were not in vain. Individuals who ask veterans to share their story also benefit, gaining valuable insight into what is required to protect their free doms.

• Work with We Honor Veterans. We Honor Veterans is a program sponsored by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Orga nization that is designed to help organiza tions serve veterans in their communities. The program was initially designed for hospice providers, but has since expanded to welcome other community-based health organizations. The program aims is to pro vide the highest quality of care to military veterans. Organizations can learn more at www.wehonorveterans.org.

• Support veterans events in your community. Veterans Day parades are a fun and simple way to show support for the veterans in your community. Additional events that are not affiliated with Veterans Day also provide great opportunities to reassure veterans that their efforts and sacrifices are appreciated. Though Memorial Day and Veterans Day are two dif ferent holidays, attending community-based events for Memorial Day lets veterans know

their sacrifices won’t be forgotten even when they’re no longer with us. In addition, support community efforts to honor local veterans, such as commemorative plaques and endeav ors such as the Hometown Heroes Banner program, which honors past and present military members with high quality banners featuring the names of individuals who have served. These banners are often hung on tele phone poles and serve as a constant reminder of the sacrifices local residents made to make their communities and country safe places to live.

• Begin an oral history project. Oral histories are invaluable resources because they are told through first person perspectives. This is similar to encouraging veterans to share their

stories, but documentation takes things one step further and lends a sense of permanence to veterans experiences and accounts of their service. When speaking with local veterans, ask them if they would like to be recorded. Advancements in technology have made oral histories easier than ever to compile, and in dividuals can work with local veterans groups and universities to identify veterans who served and want to share their stories on the record.

Veterans Day is a great time to honor the brave men and women who have served in the military. Supporting community-based programs and urging veterans to share their stories is a great way to recognize the sacrifices they’ve made in service of their country.

Charities whose missions support veterans, active military and their families

The support Americans have for their armed forces is evident in how much they donate each year to charities with military-related missions. According to Charity Navigator, Americans donate more than $2.5 billion annually to charities with missions dedicated to the military.

Individuals who want to donate to a charitable organization with a military-related mission may not know where to start, and that can be daunt ing given the number of organizations that fit that criteria. Charity Navigator indicates there are more than 40,000 American charities with mili tary-related missions, which underscores how difficult it can be to find one to support. Thankfully, Charity Navigator, which has provided donors with free access to data, tools and resources to guide their philanthropic decision-making since 2001, has curated a list of highly rated organizations that provide a variety of services to military members and their families. The following is a brief rundown of that list that can serve as a solid

foundation for prospective donors. The full list can be found at charitynavigator.org.

Wounded Troops

• Air Warrior Courage Foundation (airwarrior courage.org)

• DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Charitable Service Trust (cst.dav.org)

• Fisher House Foundation (fisherhouse.org)

• Higher Ground (highergroundusa.org)

• Homes for Our Troops (hfotusa.org)

• K9s for Warriors (k9sforwarriors.org)

• Operation Second Chance (operationsecond chance.org)

• Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarrior project.org)

• Yellow Ribbon Fund (yellowribbonfund.org)

Military Social Services

• AMVETS National Service Foundation (am vetsnsf.org)

• Hire Heroes USA (hireheroesusa.org)

• Honor Flight Network (honorflight.org)

• Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (iava.org)

• Operation Gratitude (operationgratitude.com)

• Operation Healing Forces (operationhealing forces.org)

• Soldiers Angels (soldiersangels.org)

• The Mission Continues (missioncontinues.org)

Military Family Support

• Army Emergency Relief (armyemergencyrelief. org)

• Blue Star Families (bluestarfam.org)

• Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation (fallenpatriots.org)

• Folds of Honor (foldsofhonor.org)

• Operation Homefront (operationhomefront. org)

• Our Military Kinds (ourmilitarykids.org)

• Travis Manion Foundation (travismanion.org)

• VFW National Home for Children (vfwna tionalhome.org)

VETERANS DAY

AIR FORCE

Established: Sept. 18, 1947

Role: Air, space and cyberspace warfare

Colors: Ultramarine blue, golden yellow

March: “The U.S. Air Force” Presidents who were in the Air Force (2): Ronald Reagan*, George W. Bush

Some other famous people who were in the Air Force: Buzz Aldrin (astronaut), Gene Autry (actor, singer), Charles Bronson (actor), Red Buttons (actor), Frank Capra (director), Johnny Cash (singer), Theodor Seuss Geisel (author, Dr. Seuss), Morgan Freeman (actor), Clark Gable (actor), Hank Greenberg (baseball), Gus Grissom (astronaut), Charlton Heston (actor), Tom Landry (football), Walter Matthau (actor), Chuck Norris (actor), Willie Nelson (singer), Ron Paul (politician), William Rehnquist (Supreme Court justice), Bob Ross (painter, TV personality), Sinbad (comedian), Hunter S. Thompson (writer), Mel Tillis (singer).

*Reagan served in the Army Reserve and in the United States Army Air Forces, the successor to the Army Air Corps and predecessor of the Air Force.

Established: June 14, 1775

MILITARY BRANCHES

Role: Land warfare

Colors: Black, gold and white March: “The Army Goes Rolling Along”

Presidents who were in the Army (15): George Washington, Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Franklin Pierce, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan*

Father), Hugh Hefner (publisher), Jimi Hendrix (musician), Ice T (rapper, actor), Don Knotts (actor), Kris Kristo erson (singer, actor), Willie Mays (football), Mr.T (actor), Leonard Nimoy (actor), Elvis Presley (singer), Jackie Robinson (baseball), Gene Roddenberry (TV writer, producer), Charles Schulz (writer, illustrator), Tom Selleck (actor), Jimmy Stewart (actor), Pat Tillman (football).

Established: Jan. 28, 1915

ARMY COAST GUARD

Role: Defense operations, maritime law enforcement, search and rescue

Colors: CG Red, CG Blue, White March: “Semper Paratus” (“Always ready”)

Walter Cronkite (newscaster); Jack Dempsey (boxer); Neal Gay (rodeo); Sid Gordon (baseball); Otto Graham (football); Alex Haley (writer); Arnold Palmer (golf); Al Roker (TV personality); Cesar Romero (actor); Ted Turner (broadcaster); Tom Waits (singer). Established: Nov. 10, 1775

MARINE CORPS

Role: Amphibious and expeditionary warfare

Colors: Scarlet, Gold

Marches: “Semper Fidelis,” (Always faithful) and “The Marine’s Hymn”

Presidents who were in the Marine Corps: None.

egist), Roberto Clemente (baseball), Art Donovan (football), Adam Driver (actor), R. Lee Ermey (actor, drill instructor), John Glenn (astronaut, U.S. senator), Gene Hackman (actor), Harvey Keitel (actor), Ed McMahon (TV personality), George C. Scott (actor), Tom Seaver (baseball), Shaggy (singer/musician), John Philip Sousa (composer, conductor), Ted Williams (baseball).

Established: Oct. 13, 1775

NAVY

Role: Naval warfare, power projection, nuclear deterrence and deployment by sea

Colors: Blue and gold

March: “Anchors Aweigh”

tronaut), Alan Shepard (astronaut), Harvey Milk (activist), Yogi Berra (baseball), Roger Staubach (football), Johnny Carson (comedian, TV personality), Harry Belafonte (singer, actor), L. Ron Hubbard (writer), Paul Newman (actor), Regis Philbin (TV personality), MC Hammer (rapper), Jesse Ventura (wrestler, politician), Montel Williams (TV personality).

Established: Dec. 20, 2019

SPACE FORCE

Role: Space security, combat power projection, space mobility and logistics, information mobility, and space domain awareness

Colors: Dark blue and white

Some other famous people who were in the Army: Desi Arnaz (actor), Tony Bennett (singer), F. Scott Fitzgerald (author), Clark Gable (actor), Alexander Hamilton (Founding

Presidents who were in the Coast Guard: None

Some famous people who were in the Coast Guard: Humphrey Bogart (actor), Je , Beau and Lloyd Bridges (actors); Sid Caesar (comedian);

Some famous people who were in the Marine Corps: Dusty Baker (baseball), Rod Carew (baseball), Drew Carey (comedian), James Carville (political strat-

Presidents who were in the Navy (6): John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush

Some other famous people who were in the Navy: Sen. John McCain (politician, POW), Neil Armstrong (as-

March: “Semper Supra” (“Always Above”)

Presidents who were in the Space Force: None

Some famous people who were in the Space Force: Michael Hopkins (astronaut)

This undated photo shows Elvis Presley beside a sign of his US Army unit in Friedberg, Germany, where he spent 18 months between 1958 and 1960.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Reagan Carey

Veterans Day facts

How does it di er from Memorial Day?

Memorial Day is a time to remember those who gave their lives for our country, particularly in battle or from wounds they suffered in battle. Veterans Day honors all of those who have served the country in war or peace — dead or alive — although it’s largely intended to thank living veterans for their sacrifices.

Why celebrate on Nov. 11?

World War I o cially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. However, the fighting ended about seven months before on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, Nov. 11, 1918, was largely considered the end of “the war to end all wars” and dubbed Armistice Day.

On June 1, 1954, at the urging of veterans service organizations, Congress amended the commemoration yet again by changing the word “armistice” to “veterans” so the day would honor American veterans of all wars.

Why isn’t it Veteran’s Day?

The holiday is not a day that “belongs” to one veteran or multiple veterans, which is what an apostrophe implies. It’s a day for honoring all veterans — so no apostrophe needed.

Living US veterans

Crowds celebrate Armistice Day in a ticker-tape parade, Nov. 11, 1918, in New York.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Arlington, Va.

Ceremony

The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on Nov. 11 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. The ceremony commences precisely at 11 a.m. EST with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans organizations.

Sources: U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Veterans A airs, Pew Research Center

Lee Enterprises graphics

DANIEL MCLAIN

in

Top medals from left: Army Medal of Honor, Navy Medal of Honor, Navy Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart

military honor awarded by the U.S. government.

WAR MEDALS

A quick look at awards given for war service

Silver Star

Bronze Star



It is presented by the president and given only to members of U.S. Armed Forces who “distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty,” according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

 The medal, which dates to 1861, takes three forms — one for the Army, one for Air Force and one for the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

 The first Medal of Honor action came from Bernard J.D. Irwin, an assistant surgeon in the Army. In 1861, Irwin voluntarily led a command of troops to surround a detachment of the 7th Infantry. He didn’t receive the medal until 30 years later.



The first to receive and wear the medal was Pvt. Jacob Parrott for his actions in “The Great Locomotive Chase” in April 1862. He received the medal the following year.

 The most recent medals awarded on July 5 went to Specialist 5 Dwight W. Birdwell, Maj. John J. Du y, Specialist 5 Dennis M. Fujii and Sta Sgt. Edward N. Kaneshiro for their service during the Vietnam War.



The Silver Star is the third-highest combat decoration that can be awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and is awarded for gallantry in action. Despite its name, the medal mostly is gold.

 Some wellknown recipients of this medal are Gens. George S. Patton and Douglas MacArthur and former Sens. John Kerry and John McCain. A controversial recipient was Pat Tillman, the Arizona Cardinals football player who became an Army Ranger. He died as a result of friendly fire in Afghanistan.

 The medal first was awarded in 1932, replacing the Citation Star, given for gallantry from the Spanish-American War to World War I.

The Bronze Star has been awarded since 1941 to those in the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight. There are three types of this medal — achievement, merit or valor.

Civilians also can earn a Bronze Star. Joe Galloway, a photojournalist for United Press International News, was awarded a Bronze Star for valor for rescuing a badly injured soldier during the Battle of Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam in 1965. 

There were 395,380 Bronze Stars awarded to World War II veterans; 30,359 for Korea; 170,626 for valor and 549,343 for achievement/service for Vietnam (the first time valor medals were tracked separately); and 2,459 for valor and 99,886 for achievement/service for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Distinguished Service Cross

Distinguished Service Crosses are the second-highest military decoration awarded for extraordinary heroism.

“Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such high degree that they are above those required of all other U.S. combat decorations but do not merit the Medal of Honor,” according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Purple Heart



The origins of the Purple Heart date to George Washington and the Revolutionary War. Washington, wanting a way to bolster morale, created the Badge of Military Merit. It was described as a heart in purple cloth given to soldiers in instances of unusual gallantry, extraordinary fidelity and essential service.

 It fell into disuse after the revolution, only to be revived on the 200th anniversary of Washington’s birth. On May 28, 1932, 137 World War I veterans were conferred Purple Heart medals in a ceremony in New York.



Over the years, the criteria for receiving the medal has expanded to include people injured in acts of terror and those wounded or killed when acting as part of a peacekeeping force outside the U.S.; wounded or killed in friendly fire; prisoners of war wounded in capture or captivity; and those wounded or killed by certain kinds of domestic terrorism.



An estimated 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since 1932.

In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed an executive order allowing Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel to receive the Purple Heart. The order also allowed the medal to be awarded posthumously to those killed on or after Dec. 7, 1941, and about a decade later, it was extended to April 5, 1917.

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Compiled by The (Lynchburg) News & AdvanceSources:

Memorial Foundation;

Purple Heart Hall Of Honor; The Military Order Of The Purple Heart; The Institute Of Heraldry; The Congressional Medal Of Honor Society; Rally Point; Stars And Stripes; And The U.S. Department Of Defense; Wikimedia Commons