AWARD OF PURPLE HEART

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 108, 1 February 1943, Page 4

AWARD OF PURPLE HEART

U.S. Army Recipients CITATION CEREMONY AT HOSPITAL

“The Purple Heart decoration was instituted by General Washington during a little unpleasantness which occurred between Great Britain and the United States a good many years ago,” said Colonel J. H. Nankivell, United States Military Attache in Wellington, when he addressed 85 officers and men of the U.S. Army at an American naval hospital in the vicinity of Wellington yesterday before handing over to them copies of the official citations covering the award of their decorations. “All that is forgotten now,” he added, “and we are good allies now for ever.” Colonel Nankivell said that the medal, fell into disuse for a time after its first institution, but was reinstituted on the 100th anniversary of General Washington’s birth and had been in use ever since. Till recently it was an exclusive award of the United States Army, but a recent enactment extended it to the Navy and Marine Corps in addition. The officers and men paraded before a special dais at the hospital, and among those present were the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser; the Minister of Defence, Air. Jones; Captain J. P. Olding, U.S. Naval Attache in Wellington; Commodore Sir Atwill Lake, Brigadier A. E. Conway, Brigadier IL E. Avery, Air Commodore Vincent, Brigadier F. T. Bowerbank, Colonel Al. B. .Tweed, and Air. Justice Blair. Alany of the visitors were accompanied by their wives. After an address by Major Merrill Aloore, of the Aledical Corps of the U.S. Army, which is reported elsewhere, Captain ‘Olding spoke briefly. “You are the kind of men who built our nation into a great nation,” he said. “You have been most fortunate that you have been able to meet the enemy, but no Jap can stop you. You may have to go back and continue in the building of the nation.” Captain Olding spoke appreciatively of the presence of the Prime Minister, at; the ceremony. Air. Fraser, be said, was present not only because he wished to honour the medal recipients, but also because his humanitarianism impelled him to be around when any needed help and succour. New eZaiand’s Appreciation. “I want to assure you,” said Air. Fraser, “that whether yon come from Ohio, Illinois, or Massachusetts, from the Middle West, or from wherever else, that you are all very welcome, and .that we will do all we can to help you. “The people of New Zealand appreciate fully what you have done to gain your awards, because of their experiences in the -war. The New Zealand troops have not always been as successful as in the recent drive to capture Tripoli. They have' been in as difficult circumstances as you boys; in Greece, iu Crete, at El Adem, and at el Agheila. They have learned to take reverses and defeat with a steadfast spirit, and, I hope, to take victory in the same balanced way. “I have seen some of you in Noumea, New Caledonia, and I met your great general, General Patch, on ‘my visit. I don’t expect you saw me, though.” Before he handed to each officer and man a copy of the general order of the U.S. Army containing his particular citation for the Purple Heart award, Colonel Nankivell explained that the actual medals were not available in New Zealand, but would be posted from Washington to the relatives. He then descended from the dais and handed the citations to the men, shaking hands with each after the presentation.