Six men from three wars were honored Wednesday morning with an awards ceremony at the
Clermont County Veterans Service Commission. Many families were present of the men who are deceased accepted their medals.
After the ceremony, 83-year-old World War II veteran Bonnie "B.B." Sparks let loose his love of music with "How Great Thou Art." He talked a lot about walking through Europe, but never really mentioned what his experiences were like. His family has similar tale.
His daughter, Teresa Bauer, told of a near catastrophic injury that could have changed the outcome of their family.
"A nick in the ear is not losing a limb or losing anything," as she moved her head to the right about four inches, "but he could have leaned that much further some way or another and he wouldn't have come home."
Sparks grandson, Jeff, remembers going through Bonnie's infantry book as a young boy, and could never get answers either.
"I've asked him a lot of question about it over the years" he reflected, "I'm very proud of him for what he did."
Another man in attendance was
Chester Lloyd Reynolds III. He bares his father's name who was a Vietnam Veteran.
"I wish he could still be here. I know he'd be honored for all this that they've done," Reynolds said.
Chester was grateful for the honor the veterans commission presented to him.
"I makes me feel good that I was able to do this for him," he said.
CLERMONT COUNTY VETERANS’ SERVICE COMMISSION MEDALS CEREMONY June 10, 2009
VETERANS HONORED:
ABRAHAM WILDER SR. U.S. ARMY/NAVY WWII/KOREAN CONFLICT
BRONZE STAR MEDAL
CHINA SERVICE MEDAL
AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL
ASIATIC PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL (1 BRONZE STAR)
WWII VICTORY MEDAL, OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL (ASIA)
THE PHILLIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL (1 BRONZE STAR)
COMBAT ACTION RIBBON
HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL PIN (RUPTURED DUCK)
U.S. NAVY DISCHARGE PIN
JOHN M KNUEVEN U.S. MARINE CORPS VIETNAM
GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL
VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLENTRY W/PALM
RUPUBLIC OF VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL
VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL W/60
RICHARD C JAMIESON U.S. ARMY WWII/KOREAN CONFLICT
GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL
AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL
EUROPEAN AFRICAN MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL
WWII VICTORY MEDAL
ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL (GERMANY)
WILLIAM W FORD U.S. ARMY VIETNAM
BRONZE STAR
AIR MEDAL
ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL
RUPUBLIC OF VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL.
BONNIE V. SPARKS U.S. ARMY WWII
BRONZE STAR (1 SILVER STAR)
GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL
EUROPEAN AFRICAN MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL
WWII VICTORY MEDAL.
CHESTER REYNOLDS JR. U.S. ARMY VIETNAM
SILVER STAR
BRONZE STAR
PURPLE HEART
ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL
RUPUBLIC OF VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL (2 BRONZE STARS)
VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL W/60
RAYMOND CLEPPER U.S. ARMY WWII
SILVER STAR
BRONZE STAR
PURPLE HEART (W/OAK LEAF CLUSTER)
GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL
EUROPEAN AFRICAN MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL (4 SERVICE STARS)
WWII VICTORY MEDAL
