His Father's Medals...

The following is the text of an email received here on 22 August 2000...

Roy,
    Here is a very touching message I just received. It is another example of the value of our web site. He got the information there and it is exactly what I said (for others to do to obtain medals)... 
    If you wish to insert the message in the web site somewhere I would be extremely proud.

Fred de Ed.

---

----- Original Message -----
From: matt h <mhodson41(at)hotmail.com>
To: <friley>; <Liberandos(at)aol.com>; <376hbgva(at)egroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2000 9:28 AM

Subject: awards

Mr. Riley, Robert, and the rest of the group:
Last December you helped me with the paperwork for obtaining a reissue of my dad's WWII medals. Well, after 8 months the paperwork finally went through and I received the awards. I put them in a beautiful oak shadow box with a black velvet background and presented them to my dad last Saturday. The joy and wonderment at the sight of his lost medals was one of the most emotional and beautiful moments one can imagine. His favorite ones are the Air Force medal, the European Campaign medal and his POW medal. We spent the night talking about his old crew buddies, San Pan, the B-24, his last mission, his POW days, and of course the many brave and wonderful men who fought in WWII.

Especially the ones that never made it back alive and the ones that are passing away these days. I just wanted to thank all of you for this wonderful website and all of the help you men and women have given me this past year. Without it I never would have been able to locate his co-pilot, and of course his much-deserved medals. Again, thank you very much. Matt Hodson (son of Dutch McElree,15th Air Force, 512th Sq. 376thHBG).

To see the standard issue Wings and Insignia with pay grades, as well as Medals, click here.

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