Tom,

No need for an apology, we were all there, and we all heard that we were being put in for a thousand awards. I thought that the awards were over when I received the Air Medal with the first through thirty-third oak leaf clusters. With the last name starting with a W I was last to receive the award. Everyone was shocked to learn that I had that many Air Medals from an eleven month tour shortened by my Purple Heart which I received while hospitalized. Four years later while I was the Executive Officer of the 61st Warrant Officer Candidate Company I was called out on a Saturday morning for an awards parade, I didn't know that I was receiving anything until I was asked to come forward and stand with seven other Officers. After the presentation, I was floored by the reading of the award, and again being greeted by the WOC Battalion and the 65th Officer Flight Class. The comments and the praise given was really uplifting. BUT the orders for my award only included MY name and not the names of my crew, the TEAM was the reason that the mission was accomplished, I just stirred the sticks following their instructions. I do not know if any of them received an award for that action, and I have been unable to locate them. I am still unable to find Larry Hayes, Rex R. Hunter or "Stoney" Burke. Although I did meet Stoney years later in Indianapolis, Indiana when I went to the guard unit to refuel. I wish I knew then what I know now, I would have been up writing awards all night for all of the heros that did the work without the praise. Little did we know that we could have given praise to each other to help each other with our lives today. As you know, awards for Valor are extremely valuable when they are used to gain position.

Dave