thedrifter
01-30-06, 08:20 AM
World War II Vet Honored
By HEATHER ZIEGLER
Wheeling News Register, WV
When Quaker City, Ohio, resident Fred Sharp was just 21 years old, he was wounded in battle at Iwo Jima during World War II. His injuries earned him the Purple Heart, but through an unfortunate mix-up, the medal was lost.
Sharp was a member of the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division. He was transported from the South Pacific to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., for treatment.
Sharp was the last casualty of his platoon, all of whom were wounded or killed by the fifth day of the battle. A young but determined platoon sergeant, Sharp also was in line to receive the American Campaign Medal, South Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and Combat Action Ribbon. Yet, those awards also got lost in the shuffle.
Now, 61 years later, Sharp has been presented a new Purple Heart and all the other medals and citations he so deserved.
During an emotional, surprise ceremony held last week at the Eagles Aeries 1891 home in Elm Grove, the 81-year-old Sharp was presented the past-due awards, thanks to some intervention on the part of John Looney of the Wheeling Veterans Center. Looney had written a letter to U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, who saw to it that Sharp received his replacement Purple Heart and other military honors.
The presentation took place during a gathering of the Chapter 709 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, which routinely meets each month at the Eagles.
‘‘We completely surprised him,’’ noted Looney. ‘‘He was overwhelmed with emotion.’’
Looney said the medals serve as formal ‘‘closure’’ for Sharp’s wartime experiences. ‘‘He never really talked about what he went through in the war until just recently.
‘‘He went through so much in his life ... he’s a real inspiration to live life to the fullest.’’
Sharp’s military experience included his participation in the Para-Marines. ‘‘He wasn’t just a Marine. He was a paratrooper in the Para-Marines, a rare experience during that time,’’ Looney added.
James Koonce, commander of Chapter 709 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, said Sharp regularly attends the meetings and had no idea that last week’s session was dedicated to him. ‘‘He was so thrilled that he cried when he saw what we did. We had a nice cake for him and presented him with his medals.’’
Koonce noted that while Sharp knew he had earned the medals, actually having them in hand was overwhelming. Sharp, who suffers from hearing loss, was accompanied to the presentation by his wife, Jovita.
Upon accepting his medals, Sharp began talking about his experience in wartime South Pacific. He said battles were often very fierce and he lost many buddies. He talked about how he was leading his platoon through a battle when one man was shot and killed. He lifted the soldier’s body over his head to carry him up the hill. ‘‘I could hear the bullets hitting his body ... Some things you never forget.’’
Meg Cianfrocca, Veterans’ Affairs coordinator for Rockefeller, presented the items to Sharp.
Ellie
By HEATHER ZIEGLER
Wheeling News Register, WV
When Quaker City, Ohio, resident Fred Sharp was just 21 years old, he was wounded in battle at Iwo Jima during World War II. His injuries earned him the Purple Heart, but through an unfortunate mix-up, the medal was lost.
Sharp was a member of the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division. He was transported from the South Pacific to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., for treatment.
Sharp was the last casualty of his platoon, all of whom were wounded or killed by the fifth day of the battle. A young but determined platoon sergeant, Sharp also was in line to receive the American Campaign Medal, South Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and Combat Action Ribbon. Yet, those awards also got lost in the shuffle.
Now, 61 years later, Sharp has been presented a new Purple Heart and all the other medals and citations he so deserved.
During an emotional, surprise ceremony held last week at the Eagles Aeries 1891 home in Elm Grove, the 81-year-old Sharp was presented the past-due awards, thanks to some intervention on the part of John Looney of the Wheeling Veterans Center. Looney had written a letter to U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, who saw to it that Sharp received his replacement Purple Heart and other military honors.
The presentation took place during a gathering of the Chapter 709 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, which routinely meets each month at the Eagles.
‘‘We completely surprised him,’’ noted Looney. ‘‘He was overwhelmed with emotion.’’
Looney said the medals serve as formal ‘‘closure’’ for Sharp’s wartime experiences. ‘‘He never really talked about what he went through in the war until just recently.
‘‘He went through so much in his life ... he’s a real inspiration to live life to the fullest.’’
Sharp’s military experience included his participation in the Para-Marines. ‘‘He wasn’t just a Marine. He was a paratrooper in the Para-Marines, a rare experience during that time,’’ Looney added.
James Koonce, commander of Chapter 709 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, said Sharp regularly attends the meetings and had no idea that last week’s session was dedicated to him. ‘‘He was so thrilled that he cried when he saw what we did. We had a nice cake for him and presented him with his medals.’’
Koonce noted that while Sharp knew he had earned the medals, actually having them in hand was overwhelming. Sharp, who suffers from hearing loss, was accompanied to the presentation by his wife, Jovita.
Upon accepting his medals, Sharp began talking about his experience in wartime South Pacific. He said battles were often very fierce and he lost many buddies. He talked about how he was leading his platoon through a battle when one man was shot and killed. He lifted the soldier’s body over his head to carry him up the hill. ‘‘I could hear the bullets hitting his body ... Some things you never forget.’’
Meg Cianfrocca, Veterans’ Affairs coordinator for Rockefeller, presented the items to Sharp.
Ellie