By Eleanor Cade Busby
Wells-Hussey American Legion Post 42, Damariscotta, hosted the presentation of 26 Quilts of Valor on May 18. The Legion hall was standing room only. About 150 family and friends joined in thanking military veterans for their service to our country.
Frederick McNally received the quilt “Stars and Stripes.” The WWII Army veteran served in France and Germany from 1943-1946, earning the prestigious Crox De Guerre de Paris among many other medals. (Eleanor Cade Busby photo) |
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The Lincoln County Quilters honored local veterans with their handcrafted expressions of gratitude in this 2014 Quilts of Valor presentation.
Veterans on Sunday who received the quilts were very touched. “I would do it all again if they asked me, and this is a real nice thank you,” said WWII veteran Ralph Moxcey.
Three generations of descendants of former Maine Legislator Earle Haley attended the ceremony. Korean War and Vietnam veteran Rowland Gilbert Sr. (Chief Warrant Officer, Ret., Navy) was there to receive a quilt.
Gilbert’s Aunt Harriette Haley Hibbard (WWII Women’s Army Corps) and his son, retired Navy Commander Rowland Gilbert Jr. were there to cheer him on as family and fellow soldiers.
“It’s wonderful to see all this support,” Hibbard said. “I am so glad that Rowland (Sr.) invited me here today.”
The Lincoln County Quilters are always looking for veterans to honor and they are determined not to miss anyone. They are interested in locating women veterans, particularly of WWII, and were pleased to meet Hibbard.
To contact the quilters with the name of any veteran please email mhbailey43@aol.com.
The 2014 County Quilters Quilts of Valor honorees were as follows:
The quilt “Liberty and Freedom was presented to Fred T. Biermann. The Army veteran served in Vietnam from 1964-’65, in Saigon and Nein Hoa. The E5 was Crew chief gunner and mechanic on Huey Helicopters. He was awarded Purple Heart, three air medals, Good Conduct medal, UN Service Medal, two Bronze Service Stars, NY Conspicuous Service Cross, Maine Honorable Service Medal, Silver Star, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross and Campaign Medal.
“Freedom’s Light” was presented to Otto H. (Pat) Bowden. Staff Sergeant Bowden served the US Army in World War II from 1939-1946 in the Philippine Islands and Portland Harbor as Drill Sergeant and with the artillery and signal corps. He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon among others.
“Flight to Freedom” was presented to Watson Gerould Clark, III. 1st Lieutenant served his nation in the Air Force in the Korean War and in Okinawa, Japan; Korea, and the Philippines.
He flew weather reconnaissance flights, served as flight commander, instrument check pilot, test pilot, and personal equipment officer. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.
“Freedom Rings” was presented to William W. DeLong who was an E3 in the Army during the Vietnam War. He was a heavy truck driver in Tuy Hoa, Center and Northern Convoys. Asked about his awards, he replied, “I just did my job.”
“Stars and Bars” was presented to Edward Evans who served as a machinist mate and diver for the Navy in The Pacific Theater, Philippines, Bora Bora, and the Fiji Islands in World War II.
“Patriotic Patch” was presented to Rowland Gilbert Sr. who was Chief Warrant Officer, Damage Control Division for the U.S. Navy in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Gilbert served on the USS New Jersey during the Korean War (BB-62), and on the USS Canberra during the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Korean War Medal and Vietnam War Medal.
“Birds Of Freedom” was presented to Leslie J. Hann Sr. who served the Army in World War II in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany, including Battle of the Bulge. Technical Sergeant, Hann was radio operator for artillery (230th Infantry Field Div.) and awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters and five Major Battle medals.
“Chevron Stars” was presented to Edward Karkow, who served as Lieutenant Jr. Grade with the Navy during the Korean War. He was a communications and sonar officer.
“Patriotic Sampler” was awarded to Charles M. McCormick who served as an E-4 platoon leader with the United States Marines Corps, Peace-Keeping Force in Cuba, 1956-1959.
“Stars and Stripes” was presented to Frederick McNally who served as a Private First Class in the Army during World War II from 1943-1946 in France and Germany.
McNally was a truck driver and did gun maintenance. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, European-American medal, European Campaign medal, American Theatre Campaign Ribbon, Victory Medal, and Croix de Guerre de Paris and France.
“Path to Freedom” was presented to Ralph Moxcey who served in the, Air Force in World War II Germany. A tail gunner on a B-24, Sergeant Moxcey was awarded the American Campaign Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.
“Stars Around” was presented to Floyd McLain. Staff Sergeant McLain served the Army during the Korean War, in Germany. He ran border patrol for F Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Armed Cavalry and was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany).
“Military Stars” was presented to Lincoln Orff. Orff, who served in the Korean War, was mechanic and shop foreman, servicing vehicles for front line troops. He was awarded the KSM, UN – KSM, AMUC, NOM and a sharpshooter’s badge.
John Parlin, Waldoboro, served in the U.S. Army in WWII. He was a corporal and rifleman in the 45th Division, Company I, 179th Infantry. He was presented the quilt “Stars of Freedom.” (Eleanor Cade Busby photo) |
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“Stars of Freedom” was presented to John H. Parlin Jr. The corporal was a rifleman in the Army infantry; 45th Division, Company I, 179th Infantry Regiment during World War II. He served in Italy, France, Germany, and in was in Austria the day the war ended. He was awarded the Infantry Combat Badge.
“Unnamed” was presented to Elizabeth Printy on behalf of her husband David L. Printy. Printy was a captain in the Air Force from 1971-’73. He served as a pilot and was executive officer of the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron. He was awarded the Air Force Air Medal for Valor four times, the Vietnam Government Medal of Gallantry and the Cross with Silver Stars three times. He is presently in the Middle East and will be given his quilt when he returns home in June. The honor of naming the quilt will go to Printy.
“Log Cabin Star” was presented to William (Bill) Reynolds, Staff Sergeant, E-6 U.S. Army. Reynolds served three and half tours in the Vietnam between 1966-1971. He was awarded The National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Bronze Star, 30S Bars, and an Expert M-16 Medal.
“Chevron” was awarded to Malcolm Ridley; who served in the Navy in WWII from 1943-1945 on the China Sea and the Yangtze River.
“Red and White Squares” was presented to Ernest. F. Robinson Jr. who was a Corporal E-4; 25th Army Infantry during the Vietnam War. He was awarded 2 Bronze Stars, CIB and more.
“Starry Night” was presented to Danville Rogers who served as Master Sergeant in Operation Iraqi Freedom at Camp Liberty in, Bagdad, Iraq, He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medals.
“Red Star” was presented to Norman L. Sawyer, who served in the Army during World War II. Corporal Sawyer was stationed in the South Pacific, Philippines, New Guinea, and Japan. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater C campaign Ribbon, Philippine Service Star and the Victory Medal.
“Freedom Stripes” was presented to Richard A Scott, World War II, Technician 5th grade with the 4th Signal Corps. He served primarily in the Philippine Islands.
“Lucky Star” was presented to Robert D. Tompkins. Tomkins was a Navy Radio Technician and maintained radar equipment on the USS Rogers, DD876. He served in World War II in the Pacific Theater.
“Old Glory,” was presented to George Waltz who served with the Marines in the Vietnam War.
“Shining Stars,” was presented to 1st Class Gunner’s Mate Seaman Raymond. S. Waltz, who served with the U.S. Navy, during the Korean War in the Arctic Circle, Guantanamo Bay, Haiti, and the Pacific Ocean. Waltz served on the USS Shannon, a mine-layer.
“Log Cabin Eagle” was presented to Robert Waltz; who was a sergeant with the Army, during the Korean War. He drove a tank-dozer, checked and destroyed mines, and repaired roads and bridges. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, and the United Nations Service Medal.
The Lincoln County Quilters are always interested in hearing about veterans who should be honored. They also welcome quilters of all levels and those who would like to quilt from home to assist them. For more information, please contact mhbailey43@aol.com.
The Lincoln County Quilts of Valor effort reaches out to veterans from all areas of service. They are trying to locate all local World War II veterans, as this aging population is being lost to history.
The Lincoln County Quilters find eligible veterans through military affiliated channels, like the local VFW or American Legion Post, or town office, but often through word of mouth. The Lincoln County Quilters presented over 80 quilts in the last four years. These devoted quilters meet in firehouses and homes as often as possible, taking the summers off.
The national all-volunteer grass-roots organization Quilts of Valor has presented over 99,836 quilts to date. Donations of fabric or money to buy fabric are always welcome.
