oracle
07-04-2002, 03:42 PM
1st Cav. pays tribute to Medal of Honor soldier (http://pao.hood.army.mil/sentinel/current/news/1st_cav.htm)
Story & photos by Pfc. Bryan D. Kinkade, 1st Cav Div PAO
In a small rural Kansas cemetery a nondescript grave marker once paid tribute to a 1st Cavalry Division Medal of Honor recipient. The grave marker was inlaid at ground level and indistinguishable from other graves in the cemetery.
The grave bore the name Specialist Fifth Class Edgar L. McWethy, Jr., from Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cav. Div.
McWethy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroics in the Binh Dinh Province of Vietnam in 1967.
Medal of Honor recipients are authorized a grander grave marker than McWethy's and service with full honors.
He received military memorial service, but was not given the proper grave marker.
David Gilbreath, a Vietnam veteran and the head of the local chapter of the Northeast Oklahoma Veteran's Association, took on the mission to give McWethy the honor he should have been given. Gilbreath's organization raised more than $20,000 in donations for a new marker.
<center> http://pao.hood.army.mil/sentinel/current/news/honor_guard1.jpg
The 1st Cavalry Division Honor Guard presents arms during the memorial service for Medal of Honor recipient, Edgar L. McWethy, June 21.
</center>
On June 21, the same day McWethy performed his heroics 35 years earlier, the 1st Cav. Div. Honor Guard received the privilege to pay respects to this fallen soldier during the memorial service by posting the American flag, the Army flag and the unit flag for 1-5 Cav.
More than 100 people attended the service, which took place in Baxter Springs, Kansas.
"Specialist McWethy is one of our communities’ greatest heroes. He has buildings named after him here in Kansas and on numerous Army posts, so it just didn't seem right that his grave stone should be so ordinary," said Gilbreath.
The service included six speakers, the 1st Cav. Div. Honor Guard, a 21-gun salute, taps, the raising and lowering of the flag, and a fly-over by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
The speakers were David Gilbreath, a Vietnam veteran, Chaplain Eldon Cox, a WWII veteran, Robert Springer, a Vietnam veteran, Doug Gatewood, state representative, Harrel Post, Mayor of Miami, Oklahoma, and Christy Case, McWethy's sister.
The Northeast Oklahoma Veterans' Funeral Detail performed the 21-gun salute along with the raising and lowering of the American flag.
The UH-60, provided by the Kansas Air National Guard, was flown over the cemetery in memory of the "horse" the cavalry rode into Vietnam.
Although the UH-1 Huey was the original helicopter used in Vietnam. It was replaced by the UH-60 in October 1974.
McWethy was awarded the Medal of Honor while serving as a medical aidman with Co. B.
He accompanied his platoon to the site of a downed helicopter. Shortly after the platoon established a defensive perimeter around the aircraft, a large enemy force attacked the position from three sides with a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire and grenades.
The platoon leader and his radio operator were wounded almost immediately, and McWethy rushed across the fire-swept area to their assistance.
Although he could not help the mortally wounded radio operator, his timely first aid enabled the platoon leader to retain command during this critical period.
Hearing a call for aid, McWethy started across the open toward the injured men, but was wounded in the head and knocked to the ground.
He regained his feet and continued on but was hit again, this time in the leg.
Struggling onward despite his wounds, he gained the side of his comrades and treated their injuries.
Observing another fallen rifleman lying in an exposed position raked by enemy fire, McWethy moved toward him without hesitation.
Although the enemy fire wounded him a third time, he reached his fallen companion. Though weakened and in extreme pain, McWethy gave the wounded man artificial respiration but suffered a fourth and fatal wound.
Through his indomitable courage, complete disregard for his safety, and demonstration of concern for his fellow soldiers, McWethy inspired the platoon and contributed in great measure to their successful defense of the position and the ultimate rout of the enemy force.
His profound sense of duty, bravery, and his willingness to accept extraordinary risks in order to help the men of his unit are characteristic of the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself in the U.S. Army.
The once small grave marker that displayed Edgar Lee McWethy's name is now a headstone distinguished among the rest.
Story & photos by Pfc. Bryan D. Kinkade, 1st Cav Div PAO
In a small rural Kansas cemetery a nondescript grave marker once paid tribute to a 1st Cavalry Division Medal of Honor recipient. The grave marker was inlaid at ground level and indistinguishable from other graves in the cemetery.
The grave bore the name Specialist Fifth Class Edgar L. McWethy, Jr., from Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cav. Div.
McWethy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroics in the Binh Dinh Province of Vietnam in 1967.
Medal of Honor recipients are authorized a grander grave marker than McWethy's and service with full honors.
He received military memorial service, but was not given the proper grave marker.
David Gilbreath, a Vietnam veteran and the head of the local chapter of the Northeast Oklahoma Veteran's Association, took on the mission to give McWethy the honor he should have been given. Gilbreath's organization raised more than $20,000 in donations for a new marker.
<center> http://pao.hood.army.mil/sentinel/current/news/honor_guard1.jpg
The 1st Cavalry Division Honor Guard presents arms during the memorial service for Medal of Honor recipient, Edgar L. McWethy, June 21.
</center>
On June 21, the same day McWethy performed his heroics 35 years earlier, the 1st Cav. Div. Honor Guard received the privilege to pay respects to this fallen soldier during the memorial service by posting the American flag, the Army flag and the unit flag for 1-5 Cav.
More than 100 people attended the service, which took place in Baxter Springs, Kansas.
"Specialist McWethy is one of our communities’ greatest heroes. He has buildings named after him here in Kansas and on numerous Army posts, so it just didn't seem right that his grave stone should be so ordinary," said Gilbreath.
The service included six speakers, the 1st Cav. Div. Honor Guard, a 21-gun salute, taps, the raising and lowering of the flag, and a fly-over by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
The speakers were David Gilbreath, a Vietnam veteran, Chaplain Eldon Cox, a WWII veteran, Robert Springer, a Vietnam veteran, Doug Gatewood, state representative, Harrel Post, Mayor of Miami, Oklahoma, and Christy Case, McWethy's sister.
The Northeast Oklahoma Veterans' Funeral Detail performed the 21-gun salute along with the raising and lowering of the American flag.
The UH-60, provided by the Kansas Air National Guard, was flown over the cemetery in memory of the "horse" the cavalry rode into Vietnam.
Although the UH-1 Huey was the original helicopter used in Vietnam. It was replaced by the UH-60 in October 1974.
McWethy was awarded the Medal of Honor while serving as a medical aidman with Co. B.
He accompanied his platoon to the site of a downed helicopter. Shortly after the platoon established a defensive perimeter around the aircraft, a large enemy force attacked the position from three sides with a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire and grenades.
The platoon leader and his radio operator were wounded almost immediately, and McWethy rushed across the fire-swept area to their assistance.
Although he could not help the mortally wounded radio operator, his timely first aid enabled the platoon leader to retain command during this critical period.
Hearing a call for aid, McWethy started across the open toward the injured men, but was wounded in the head and knocked to the ground.
He regained his feet and continued on but was hit again, this time in the leg.
Struggling onward despite his wounds, he gained the side of his comrades and treated their injuries.
Observing another fallen rifleman lying in an exposed position raked by enemy fire, McWethy moved toward him without hesitation.
Although the enemy fire wounded him a third time, he reached his fallen companion. Though weakened and in extreme pain, McWethy gave the wounded man artificial respiration but suffered a fourth and fatal wound.
Through his indomitable courage, complete disregard for his safety, and demonstration of concern for his fellow soldiers, McWethy inspired the platoon and contributed in great measure to their successful defense of the position and the ultimate rout of the enemy force.
His profound sense of duty, bravery, and his willingness to accept extraordinary risks in order to help the men of his unit are characteristic of the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself in the U.S. Army.
The once small grave marker that displayed Edgar Lee McWethy's name is now a headstone distinguished among the rest.