HERSHEY talking stopped and those who were sitting, stood up and watched Hershey as he sat down to join his fellow recipients. I asked Hershey if he would like anything and he said, “Yes, let’s have a glass of red wine to help unwind from the trip.” After we got our wine and cheered each other, everyone started talking again. It struck me that even though these men who are some of the greatest heroes to have ever worn the uniform of our country, have heroes of their own and Hershey is one of them.
One of the greatest honor’s is to assist a MOH Recipient with their medal. No matter how many times I have helped Hershey, I still get a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. By Kenneth Riege, USAF Veteran I could just finish the story here and leave it up to the readers to reflect upon their very own unique “Hershey” experience. All are wonderful and so very special. However, I would like to share just a few of my families’ unique “Hershey experience” stories. We are truly blessed to have Hershey and to have had his wife, Terry, (along with their entire family) being a part of our lives for many years. Hershey has an amazing sense of humor and the ability to tell a great joke. This one is his favorite and while on paper it won’t have the same impact as with Hershey telling it, but I’ll try. Hershey and Terry were married for 66 ½ years. Many people over the years asked him what was their secret to such a long happy marriage? His response was simple and to the point, “You need to go out to a nice candlelight dinner, have some wine and listen to some soft music and dance a little. Terry went on Tuesdays, and I went on Fridays.” It doesn’t matter how many times you have heard this joke, it’s always funny and is always a crowd pleaser. I also want to share a little bit about Terry. She was an amazing artist, tennis player, and made the best red Chile. For this story I am going to break it up into different segments starting with: “A Hero’s Hero” So, what does that mean? “A Hero’s Hero.” To be honest until April 2015 I would not have had an answer to that question, until I traveled with Hershey to Gainesville, TX for their Medal of Honor Host City Program event. This is such a
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Hershey and Terry in their home.
“An Opportunity of a Lifetime” After WW2, Hershey reenlisted in the Army Reserves for a three-year hitch. He figured why not, and the extra money would come in handy. He wanted to join the paratroopers but was told that he was too light and would never come down. Now fast forward nearly 70 years, where now at 92 years young, Hershey has the “opportunity of a lifetime” and gets to go skydiving. Yes, I said skydiving. Hershey along with his dear friend and fellow Korean War Veteran and POW retired US Army Command, Sgt. Major Joe
wonderful community full of amazing patriots, just like Gallup. As a matter of fact, Gainesville, TX was named the Most Patriotic Small Town in America in 2012 and lead to me nominating Gallup in this same category in 2013. Lucky for us, the contest was discontinued in 2014 and we got to keep the Picture of Hershey after completing his jump. The gentleman with title forever, but that is the parachute was Hershey’s tandem jumper. He is a US Army Veteran another story for another and has made over 5,000 jumps (I am sure there are more by now) and time. is considered one of the most experiences skydivers in the world. He Hershey had been to also did a tandem jump with our 41st President, George H.W. Bush. He Gainesville before, but advised Hershey that he was more nervous jumping with him than with this was my first time President Bush. there. Actually, this was my first trip with Hershey to a major MOH Event and I was quite Annello and Hershey’s granddaughter, US Air nervous. The most MOH Recipients I had been Force Academy around at any one time was 2 and now I was going Graduate, Captain (now Major) Marissa Reagan to be with 20. The arrival at the airport in Dallas helped Hershey fulfill his lifelong desire to jump was pretty cool as was the motorcade which by out of a perfectly good airplane. If you Google some estimates was around 6 miles long. After we “Honor Jump with Hershey Miyamura” it will take arrived at the hotel in Gainesville and got settled you to the YouTube link. Watch it and then after into our room Hershey said, you have dried your tears watch it again. “Let’s go downstairs and see what’s going on.” As we got off the elevator you could hear the “The Ultimate Smile” laughing and talking coming from the hospitality “Let us always meet each other with a smile, suite as friends and MOH Recipients greeted one for the smile is the beginning of love.” another. Well as we walked into the room, the Mother Teresa
