By ROBERT JUMPER
ONE FEATHER EDITOR
A ceremony was held at the Tsali Care Center on Thursday, April 24 to award military medals to two veterans. The Steve Youngdeer American Legion Post #143 hosted the event with members of Senator Kay Hagan’s (D-NC) staff. Sen. Hagan was instrumental in securing this recognition and the long-awaited service medals.
Capt. Pamela Petersen, 105th Battalion, North Carolina National Guard, presents Earl Wood with the Army Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Button-World War II during a ceremony held at Tsali Care Center on Thursday, April 24. (Photos by Kristy Maney Herron)
The colors were posted by the men of the Post #143. Maj. Bill Underwood opened the proceeding in a word of prayer. Commander Lew Harding made introductory remarks in which he referred to Earl Wood as being “a member of the greatest generation” and praised both Wood and Raymond Pusz for their extraordinary service to the country.
Earl Wood, Private First Class, served during World War II as an Army medic. PFC Wood’s tour of duty was in England. Capt. Pamela Petersen, 105th Battalion, North Carolina National Guard, presented him with the Army Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Button-World War II.
Representing Sen. Hagen, Jean Reeves read from a letter to Wood. She said, “On behalf of the people of North Carolina, I thank you for your service as a medic in the United States Army during World War II and for all that you have done to help strengthen our nation at home and abroad”.
Raymond Pusz, Private First Class, completed two tours in Vietnam as part of the military police. His detachment was the 577th Engineer Battalion. PFC Pusz was posthumously awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 4 bronze service stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with device (1960), Expert Badge with Auto Rifle Bar and Sharpshooter Badge with Pistol Bar and Rifle Bar.
Capt. Petersen presented the medals to his Pusz’s wife, Mrs. Rosemary Denise Pusz. Another representative of Sen. Hagen, Freddie Harrill, read from the senator’s letter to Mrs. Pusz. He said, “Thank you for the service of your late husband, Mr. Raymond Pusz, to a grateful state and nation. His commitment to serving, North Carolina and the United States of America was vital to securing our nation, both home and abroad”.
Members of the Wood and Pusz families thanked those gathered for the remembering the service of loved ones. Wood closed the proceedings by singing “Amazing Grace” in the Cherokee Language.
Earl Wood (seated center) and Raymond Pusz’s wife, Mrs. Rosemary Denise Pusz, (standing front beside Wood) are shown with members of the Steve Youngdeer American Legion Post 143 who put together Thursday’s event.
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