Union soldier to be awarded MOH

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

Indeed. One thing for certain I doubt many people do something because they might receive a medal they just did what they needed to do to survive another day. Not to say that getting recognition is a bad thing.

Originally Posted by vienna

Something has always bothered me whenever I see some military high-ranking officer with a chest filled with ribbons; I always wonder how many men earned those officers those ribbons and did those men get their due? As the line goes in the movie "Patton":

Soldier 1: There goes old blood-and-guts.
Soldier 2: Yeah, our blood, his guts.

The Majors, colonels, and generals all go on to more prestige, honor, and financial gains, their well-being well seen to; the rest go home to uncertainty, neglect, and sometimes indifference. Somehow, it never seems fair...


<O>

One story I recall my father telling me was about his voyage to Murmansk. This convoy sailed without any escort because of their need in another theatre (invasion of Sicily iirc). Less than a third made the return journey safely and in recognition of the fact (my father and all who took part received a war bonus of £50) every officer was awarded a medal and one was set aside for the entire crew, lots were drawn to see who the recipient would be....absolutely shocking in my estimation

[vienna]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

One story I recall my father telling me was about his voyage to Murmansk. This convoy sailed without any escort because of their need in another theatre (invasion of Sicily iirc). Less than a third made the return journey safely and in recognition of the fact (my father and all who took part received a war bonus of £50) every officer was awarded a medal and one was set aside for the entire crew, lots were drawn to see who the recipient would be....absolutely shocking in my estimation

The lot of the merchant seaman in regards for proper recognition and compensation has been a poor one, indeed. I am saddened to see it extended to seamen in other countries. As recently as the Vietnam War, this has still held true. My father was a crewmember on the S>S. Mayaguez when she was taken by the Cambodians at the end of the Vietnam War. She was the last ship out of Saigon when it fell to the NVA and Cong. She was also carrying containers loaded with items removed from the American Embassy and other US offices and a "Mr. Smith", probably a CIA operative was taken aboard to "keep an eye" on the containers (the crew were ordered not to speak to or acknowledge the presence of the "guard"). The containers were offloaded at a port before the Mayaguez sailed past Cambodia in international waters. She was attacked and taken by small gunboats and the crew was transported to the Cambodian mainland and then to an island offshore. The US government then organized a rescue effort to take back the ship and recover the crew, resulting in the loss of 41 dead [3 MIA and presumed dead] and fifty wounded:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...QyIPgm8lT9bISw

After the rescue, the crew of the Mayaguez were offered, by the shipping line, immediate air transport home or the option to remain with ship and continue the voyage. My father, and a good number of the crew opted to remain, although I sense they were more motivated by the extra pay they would receive for serving in a combat zone, as the area around and about Indochina was designated...

My father received a personal letter from the White House, as did each of the other crew members, thanking them for their bravery. The letter was personally signed by President Gerald Ford (signed it as "Jerry Ford"). This letter became one of my father's prized possessions...

Regarding the lack of proper due, I thought you might be interested in this item:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonatw...ns_of_the.html


<O>

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by vienna

The lot of the merchant seaman in regards for proper recognition and compensation has been a poor one, indeed. I am saddened to see it extended to seamen in other countries. As recently as the Vietnam War, this has still held true. My father was a crewmember on the S>S. Mayaguez when she was taken by the Cambodians at the end of the Vietnam War. She was the last ship out of Saigon when it fell to the NVA and Cong. She was also carrying containers loaded with items removed from the American Embassy and other US offices and a "Mr. Smith", probably a CIA operative was taken aboard to "keep an eye" on the containers (the crew were ordered not to speak to or acknowledge the presence of the "guard"). The containers were offloaded at a port before the Mayaguez sailed past Cambodia in international waters. She was attacked and taken by small gunboats and the crew was transported to the Cambodian mainland and then to an island offshore. The US government then organized a rescue effort to take back the ship and recover the crew, resulting in the loss of 41 dead [3 MIA and presumed dead] and fifty wounded:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...QyIPgm8lT9bISw

After the rescue, the crew of the Mayaguez were offered, by the shipping line, immediate air transport home or the option to remain with ship and continue the voyage. My father, and a good number of the crew opted to remain, although I sense they were more motivated by the extra pay they would receive for serving in a combat zone, as the area around and about Indochina was designated...

My father received a personal letter from the White House, as did each of the other crew members, thanking them for their bravery. The letter was personally signed by President Gerald Ford (signed it as "Jerry Ford"). This letter became one of my father's prized possessions...

Regarding the lack of proper due, I thought you might be interested in this item:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonatw...ns_of_the.html


<O>

Most interesting but sadly, further proof of what some call the 'forgotten service' extends beyond more than one country.

A merchant sailors lot is not always a good one....I salute your father.

~SALUTE~

[Aktungbby]

[mako88sb]

I read Ralph Peters "Cain at Gettysburg" awhile back but don't have my book handy. Is this the same artillery officer that is focused on a bit during the charge?