Medal of Honor Recipients return to Pueblo
With all the controversy surrounding standing or kneeling for the flag at NFL games, and the Vietnam series by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, all one has to do to recognize what’s really important is to spend the week with some Medal of Honor recipients.
Most if not all recipients will say that they hold the medal in honor of all those they fought with and some who didn’t make it home. They respect our country, our values, our families and our freedom. They define the word humble but epitomize strength and humility for the rest of us.
Pueblo CO, where the annual MOH society convention was held in 2000, hosted a return engagement for the recipients the week of Sept. 11. They say that if you meet just one recipient in your lifetime, you are blessed, but the citizens of Pueblo and the front range got to shake the hands of about 40 recipients at various venues throughout the week. There was a dinner at the Center for American Values (co-founded by Pueblo’s own recipient, Drew Dix), an autograph session for fans, a rodeo out west of town, a breakfast at the Rawlings Library, visits to local schools, tours of various local attractions, and that was just for starters. Actor and military friend Gary Sinise brought his Lt Dan Band to Memorial Hall on Thursday night, preceded by hugs and handshakes with recipients and their families, who are obviously good friends of Sinise. He doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk and tours the country tirelessly to advocate for veterans through his concerts and the Gary Sinise Foundation.
The last night brought the week to a crescendo with the Cattle Baron’s gala. Awards were given to author Jeff Shaara (author of many military books including Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure), Pueblo’s own Dana Perino (who served as White House Press Secretary in the Bush administration and is now on Fox News), William Hybl (Chairman and CEO of the El Pomar Foundation), and former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.
The memories of sharing space with these American heroes will live on for a long time to come. They have a way of cutting through rhetoric and leaving a new high bar definition of honor. We salute them.
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- MOH recipients Don Jenkins, left, and Tom Kelley sign their biographical tributes at the Colorado Springs Airport
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- Recipient Walter “Joe” Marm greets military fans
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- Linda Patterson, wife of recipient Bob Patterson, left, chats with Joan Kelley, wife of recipient Tom Kelley
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- Medal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall takes his dog with him everywhere. The character “Snakeshit” in the Mel Gibson movie “We Were Soldiers” is modeled after him.
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- MOH recipient Gen Patrick Brady and his wife Nancy are greeted by fans and military personnel at the Colorado Springs Airport
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- Pueblo’s own MOH recipient Drew Dix with Maggie O’Brien, a nurse rescued in Vietnam by Mr. Dix
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- Theresa Hayes, wife of MOH recipient Tommy Norris, gives a welcome hug to Patricia Pittman, widow of MOH recipient Richard Pittman, who passed away in 2016.
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- Recipients Harvey “Barney” Barnum, left, Tom Kelley and Jack Jacobs
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- MOH recipient Drew Dix talks with Terrance “Mac” McWilliams of the El Pomar Foundation
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- Nancy Brady is greeted by Bernadette Padula
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- Recipient Jack Jacobs and his wife Sue
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- Recipients Joe Jackson, left, and Robert O’Malley joke around
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- Patricia Pittman, widow of recipient Richard Pittman, chats with Sally Jackson, widow of recipient Art Jackson
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- Recipient Jack Jacobs poses with a bald eagle
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- Recipients Mike Thornton, left, and Barney Barnum enjoy their evening at the Center for American Values
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- Popular Pueblo band Overton Road played for the recipients and guests at the Center for American Values
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- Mike and Rainey Thornton (right) at library breakfast
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- Senator Leroy Garcia says a few words of welcome
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- Recipient John Baca listens to speeches at the library breakfast
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- Co-chairs Jim and Paulette Stuart greet everyone
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- A student fan helps recipient Jim Taylor put on his medal
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- MOH recipient Robert and Diane Modrzejewski
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- MOH recipient Sammy and Dixie Davis
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- Sue Smith, left, recipients James McCloughan and Joe Marm, and Randy Thurston
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- Recipient Sammy Davis tells his story to students in Pueblo
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- Sammy Davis is surrounded by fans and well-wishers
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- A young fan shakes hands with recipient Sammy Davis
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- Recipient Tom Kelley signs an autograph for a fan
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- Recipient Joe Marm talks with a guest at the autograph session
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- Recipients Mike Thornton and Brian Thacker sign autographs for fans
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- Nancy Brady and Dixie Davis enjoy crafts day
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- Co-chair of last year’s MOH convention, Tiffany Kovaleski and Joan Bulkeley Stade, vice chair, USO
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- Deb and recipient Joe Marm, left, with Dixie and recipient Sammy Davis
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- Marty Erzinger, left, greets his friend, MOH recipient and retired Navy SEAL Mike Thornton
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- Gary Sinise, right, gives a hug to recipient John Baca. Recipient Joe Jackson and his wife look on
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- Sally Jackson, widow of recipient Art Jackson, with her daughter Tori and Gary Sinise
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- Gary Sinise greets recipient Ty Carter and his little baby
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- Recipient and retired Navy SEAL Tommy Norris, left, chats with Gary Sinise
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- Gary Sinise greets recipient and retired Navy SEAL Mike Thornton
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- Mike and Rainey Thornton, Gary Sinise, Theresa Hayes, Tommy Norris
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- Recipient Drew Dix and his friend greet Gary Sinise
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- Gary Sinise playing with his Lt Dan Band
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- The Lt Dan Band on stage at Memorial Hall
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- Gary Sinise talks from the heart to concertgoers/fans
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- The Lt Dan Band genuinely seems like they have a good time.
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- Recipients, wives, and guests get ready for a tour of Pueblo’s Thatcher Museum
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- Recipient Jack Jacobs in front of one the mansion’s stained glass windows
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- Recipient Tom Kelley, his daughter Jane and wife Joan at the rodeo
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- Dixie and Sammy Davis enjoy the rodeo
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- Cowboy salute
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- The Pueblo cowboys put on a good show
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- Cowboy up
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- Two cowboys discuss wranglin’ strategy
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- Newly adorned cowboys, recipients Jack Jacobs, left, and Bob Foley
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- Recipient Leroy Petry’s service dog is ever attentive and always watching to see where he is
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- Recipients Sal Giunta, Florent Groberg and Hal Fritz
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- A well-dressed pig is brought in for dinner
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- Recipient Tom Kelley gives the thumbs up on the pig
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- Country band Flying W Wranglers entertained at the rodeo dinner
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- Recipient Barney Barnum talks to fans at the Pueblo Air Museum
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- Recipient Don “Doc” Ballard signs autographs
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- Recipient Leroy Petry tells kids about how well his prosthetic arm works
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- Recipient Bruce Crandall, right, talks to fans
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- Recipient Charles Kettles and his wife Ann talk to a fan. Mr. Kettles was awarded the Medal of Honor just last year for his service in Vietnam.
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- Fans shake hands and get autographs from recipient Joe Jackson
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- Recipient Drew Dix chats with fans
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- Recipients’ wives pose for a picture before the gala
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- Paula Sarlls of the Women Marines Assn. with Tom Allee, co-chair of the 2008 MOH Convention in Denver
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- Bernadette and Rudy Padula, co-founder of the Center for American Values
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- Roben and Andy Hauk volunteered seemingly everywhere
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- Recipient Charles and Ann Kettles
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- Recipient Sal Giunta talks with Patricia Pittman
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- Recipient Drew Dix talks with PCC President Patty Erjavec
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- Recipients get ready for the grand entrance at the gala
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- Recipient Hiroshi Miyamura (WWII) is escorted into the gala
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- Major Sponsor Dave McIntyre of TriWest Healthcare
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- David Seymour of American Airlines says a few words. American flew in all the recipients and their families.
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- Outgoing MOH Society President Tom Kelley says a few words
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- Author Jeff Shaara receives the Bob Hope Award for Entertainment
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- Recipient Barney Barnum stands with Dana Perino, who was awarded the Tex McCrary Award for Journalism
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- Bill Hybl of the El Pomar Foundation was awarded the Distinguished Citizen Award
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- Recipient Sal Giunta gets ready to present Ken Salazar the Patriot Award
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- The baton is passed to Lynda Webster and her team, who will host the MOH convention next year in Annapolis
