Community Corner

Vietnam and WWII Soldiers Awarded Bronze Star Saturday

The honor was conferred Saturday upon a solider from WW II and posthumously upon a Vietnam War veteran.

You don’t have to wait until Memorial or Veteran’s Day to honor our nation’s soldiers.

On Saturday, The California National Guard presented Bronze Stars Medals to the families of a Vietnam and a World War II vet at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base. Members of the public attended.

Capt. James H. Markle was awarded the Bronze Star Medal posthumously for his meritorious service during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, where his actions as an executive officer of a medical clearing company proved vital in saving numerous lives. Markle served a combat tour in Vietnam with Company  C, 7th Support Battalion, 199th Light Infantry Brigade from July 1967 to June 1968. His wife, Beverly, and daughter, Jayme, were to accept the medal on his behalf.

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Later, Sgt. James O. McVay, a World War II veteran, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his actions against the enemy in Italy on Jan. 1, 1945 while assigned to Company B, 4th Ranger Infantry Battalion. He will also receive the Ranger Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars with arrowhead. McVay's daughter, Sandy Margritz, was to accept these awards on his behalf as he is recovering from a recent accident.

The Bronze Star Medal is the fourth-highest combat award conferred by the U.S. Armed Forces and the ninth-highest military award, including both combat and non-combat awards. It is awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service.

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U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher and members of the local Red Cross chapter were to attend. Scott W. Johnson, commander of the 40th ID, presented the medals. The ceremony was at 10:30 a.m. at 4480 Yorktown Street Ave., Building 3, Los Alamitos.


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