HIGHER HONOUR THAN MEDALS

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

HIGHER HONOUR THAN MEDALS

Those Who Die In War

ADDRESS AT CITATION CEREMONY

A moving address in which he outlined the trials suffered by 85 officers and men paraded for citation for the Purple Heart award of the United States fighting forces was made by Major Slerlll Aloore, of the United States Army Aledical Corps, as a prelude to the citatioft ceremony at a naval hospital in the AVellington province. He referred to those whom they had seen die and. who, had they not been rewarded with a higher honour, would have received the same decoration as their comrades at the ceremony.

“Only a few months ago, and not very far away,” he said, "these soldiers who are being honoured here today were fighting desperately, for their lives, and for ours, in the jungle.

“This peaceful scene and the hospitality of New Zealand were things they did not dream of then because they were too busy fighting a savage enemy whose very existence was a threat to everything they prized iu life, but this was what they were lighting for. this beauty and this way of living. “These men saw their friends die tragically and at this moment it is those friends that we are all remembering because they are not here to receive this decoration. But they would receive it if they had not already been rewarded with a higher honour, ‘to die like a man for one’s country 1’ They are not here in flesh alive withxus but they are with us again in spirit and we celebrate them too, today. “You who are being awarded the Purple Heart do not really need this decoration, because you have your wounds and your, memories, but we whose privilege it is to serve you, need to make this award in order to express' to you our appreciation and our admiration for what you have done so well and so courageously. Also, this is to demonstrate to you the pride and the affection your families aud your friends (ill hold for you. Your comrades, your officers, all your colleagues in the United States Army, Navy and Alarine Corps, the officials o£ our Government and the Governments of our gallant Allies, all speak to you through this ceremony iu recognition of your chivalrous actions. . “You have endured hardships I need not remind you of, and suffering that we have tried to alleviate, but now at this moment I see that you know the happiness and feel the joy that comes not often and only to the few that have offered themselves and all they had, and have been spared, for the cause of freedom.’