Mr. Yogi Berra, member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame has endorsed the petition for Audie as signature #8753. Mr. Berra is himself a WWII veteran having served in the Navy in the ETO. Here is a link to his bio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogi_Berra
General Edward C. Meyer, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, (retired) has added his signature and endorsement to the petition campaign. He has signed the petition as signature number 8345 and we are pleased to have the endorsement of this distinguished American soldier. His biography can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_C._Meyer
Major General Christopher S. Adams Jr. USAF (ret) has endorsed the petition campaign for Audie Murphy. Major General Adams had a long and distinguished Air Force career, and his post and assignments included Chief of Staff, Stategic Air Command, Associate Director of Los Alamos Laboratory. He is also the author of 6 books and has many personal decorations for his service to our Nation. Major General Adams biography can be found here: http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=4470 Major General Adams has signed the petition as signature number 8446 and we are pleased to have his endorsement.
Senator Robert K. 'Bob' Dole has endorsed the campaign for the posthumous presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom for Audie Murphy. The text of his endorsement appears below: "Thank you for your letter regarding your efforts to posthumously award Audie Murphy the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Audie was a remarkable figure in our nation's history, and his countless military honors reflect his significant contributions during World War II. Equally as important, Audie helped change our nation's attitudes toward post traumatic stress disorder suffered by our men and women in uniform. He was a pioneer in raising awareness of an illness then only known as "battle fatigue," and and as a result our nation finally began to recognize the need for early diagnosis and treatment. I fully support your campaign to posthumously award Audie Murphy the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This honor would be well-deserved for this true American hero."God Bless America!Bob Dole
SFC Sammy L. Davis, USA (ret), a Medal of Honor recipient from the Vietnam War has signed our petition as signature number 8346. Here is his Medal of Honor citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Davis (then Pfc.) distinguished himself during the early morning hours while serving as a cannoneer with Battery C, at a remote fire support base. At approximately 0200 hours, the fire support base was under heavy enemy mortar attack. Simultaneously, an estimated reinforced Viet Cong battalion launched a fierce ground assault upon the fire support base. The attacking enemy drove to within 25 meters of the friendly positions. Only a river separated the Viet Cong from the fire support base. Detecting a nearby enemy position, Sgt. Davis seized a machine gun and provided covering fire for his guncrew, as they attempted to bring direct artillery fire on the enemy. Despite his efforts, an enemy recoilless...
Mr. Gary G. Wetzel, an Army Medal of Honor recipient from Vietnam has signed our petition as signature number 8303. Here is his Medal of Honor Ccitation: Sp4c. Wetzel, 173d Assault Helicopter Company, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life. above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Wetzel was serving as door gunner aboard a helicopter which was part of an insertion force trapped in a landing zone by intense and deadly hostile fire. Sp4c. Wetzel was going to the aid of his aircraft commander when he was blown into a rice paddy and critically wounded by 2 enemy rockets that exploded just inches from his location. Although bleeding profusely due to the loss of his left arm and severe wounds in his right arm, chest, and left leg, Sp4c. Wetzel staggered back to his original position in his gun-well and took the enemy forces under fire. His machinegun was the only weapon placing effective fire on the enemy at that time....
Mr. John Saxon, noted Hollywood actor who has worked in more than 200 films has signed and endorsed the petition as signature #8225. Mr. Saxon has starred alongside Audie Murphy, Jimmy Stewart, Bruce Lee, Burt Lancaster, Clint Eastwwod and others. Golden Globe recipient, 1958 Mr. Saxon's biography can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Saxon_(actor)We are pleased to have the endorsement of Mr. John Saxon!
Mr. Lee Greenwood noted musician of "God Bless the U.S.A." and a Grammy recipient has signed the Petition for Audie. Here is Mr. Greenwood's biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Greenwood Mr. Greenwood left a very nice comment for Audie and is himself an American legend. We are pleased to have Mr. Greenwood's signature and endorsement.
Mr. David J. Thatcher, of the "Doolittle Raiders" has endorsed the petition. Mr. Thatcher is the third member of the five survivors of the Doolittle Raid to do so. David J. Thatcher was the only enlisted crew member and served as the flight engineer/gunner. Thatcher was born in Bridger, Montana. Upon his high school graduation, He enlisted on 3 December 1940 and completed the Airplane and Engine Mechanic Course in Lincoln, Nebraska in December 1941.Thatcher was the only crew member to avoid serious injury when "The Ruptured Duck" crash-landed just off the China coast, enabling him to help the rest of the crew evade capture.The pilot of his aircraft Ted Lawson wrote the book "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" which was later in 1944 turned into a movie of the same name.Upon returning to the United States, Thatcher later served in England and Africa until January 1944. He was discharged from active duty in July 1945 after stateside assignments in California. Thatcher reached the rank of...
Mr. Kuroki certainly has a distinct claim to fame in WWII history, having overcome racism in WWII and still serving proudly as a Japanese-American, not only in the European Theater of Operations where he was part of the 177 bombers (with 1,751 crewmen) that raided the Ploiesti Oil Refineries in 1943, of which 1/3 (53) of the aircraft as well as over 600 air crew members were lost. The Ploiesti Raid stands today as the largest and most costly air attack in the history of aviation.Mr. Kuroki later successfully convinced the Secretary of War to allow him to fly in aerial combat in the Pacific Theater. The request was granted and Kuroki became the only Japanese-American airman to fly in both Theaters of WWII.During that period he was featured in "Time" magzine, but still returned home in between theater combat to be mocked and jeered at by other U.S. servicemen because of his heritage. Post war he became a newpaper editor in California.Mr. Kuroki has also been the subject of a PBS...