This day in 1918 President Wilson authorized the Army’s Distinguished Service Medal. The Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to any person who while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Army, that had distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility.

The performance had to be such as to merit recognition exceptional service clearly recognized. Exceptional performance of normal duty was not alone justifiable for the award of this decoration. For service not related to actual war, the term “duty of great responsibility” applies to a narrower range of positions than in time of war and requires evidence of conspicuously significant achievement.

However, justification of the award may accrue by virtue of exceptionally meritorious service in a succession of high positions of great importance. Awards may be made to persons other than members of the Armed Forces of the United States for wartime services only, and then only under exceptional circumstances with the express approval of the President in each case.

A reminder, Department of Oklahoma in OKC has Legion 100th Anniversary coins for sale at $10 each. We will try and get some and offer them to the public for $15 each. We have another 10-gun raffle going on at Post 142, for only $10 you can get one of 10 different guns being raffled off.

Charlie and Nancy O’Leary completed another successful trip to Sacaton, Arizona for the 73rd Annual Iwo Jima Memorial Parade representing Post 142 and Auxiliary Unit 142 in Hominy. The parade took place on the Pima Indian Reservation the birthplace of Ira Hays one of the Marines who helped raise the US flag on Mt. Surbachi on the island of Iwo Jima defeating the Japanese garrison there during WW II.

There were over 130 entries in the Parade in Sacaton which is about the size of Wynona, mostly military and Native entries, including many JROTC young people and representatives from many high schools in the area. They got off to a hairy start driving in the ice storm here in Oklahoma, but things warmed up in Texas and New Mexico as they drove south to I-10 and had good weather during the parade and on the return home.

It was very moving to see all of the veterans and their families and supporters out there honoring this Native Marine and the veterans who participated in this event, including Post 142’s own Ben Prater who passed away a few years ago, who participated in the invasion as a US Army flamethrower operator attached to the 1st Marine Division.
Next Legion Meeting will be Thursday March 15th at 7:00 PM. Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings in March are still scheduled for biscuits and gravy with always a cup of Joe (coffee to the civilians). Keep your eye on the weather in case things must be postponed (like freezing weather). If you are a veteran come on by. If you have a good story it may end up in print. Also keep up with us at website “americanlegion142.org”.