Letter to editor

Honors well earned

EDITOR:

On May 1, a ceremony was held in the Rotunda of the State House in Columbus, Ohio to induct past and present members of the military, from Ohio, into the “Ohio Military Hall of Fame.” All were decorated by the military as a result of heroic actions above and beyond the call of duty. Each of the inductees received an additional “Ohio Medal of Valor.” In all, 20 men were inducted who experienced action in World War II, Korea, or Vietnam. Six of the inductees were posthumous.

I was honored to be present for this ceremony and watched many of the men, still exhibiting the physical characteristics of wounds received in battle, strive to stand at attention, straight and erect while the military citation of each heroic act was read aloud and the Ohio award presented.

Sgt. William Vaughan of Mahoning County was inducted posthumously for his actions as a flight crewmember aboard a bomber during World War II. He was awarded the “Distinguished Service Cross” by the U.S. Army, our nation’s second highest decoration. Sgt. Vaughan’s widow accepted the Ohio award on his behalf.

Allowing me to share the memory of true American heroes, Sgt. William Vaughan and the others, during that ceremony, gives me one more reason to thank God I am an American.

DAVID F. KOUNTZ

Poland