Several mentions have been made in this space about Lt Alonzo Cushing. This Civil War Union Lieutenant was killed at the age of 22 while manning his canon during the famous Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg in July of 1863. While Cushing had no known connection to Canada, several Canadians died in that charge and in the 2 days before in overall Gettsyburg fighting. Of the 50,000 or more Canadians who fought in the CW, parhaps as many as 700 fought at Gettysburg.
The recent news is that for several decades a movement has been afoot to have Cushing awarded the Medal of Honor and The President has recently announced that an award would be made. But the trouble was that since there were no known ligitimate claimants that could come forth...who shoud the medal go to? Days back the net carried a few storries saying that progress is being made and that the US Army will be accepting the medal on Cushing's behalf. A further delay is that before a ceremony takes place, decisions need to be made where the medal will go. Some feel it ought to go to his home area of Delafield Pennsylvania but time will tell.
In bringing this story forth the press has said a number of times that the reason Cushing did not get the medal back in Civil War days was because at that time no medals were awarded to any of the soldiers AFTER they died, ie... posthumously.. But this of course is nonsence except to those who refuse to do any research.. such as some in the media.
There were no less than 32 MOH's awarded posthumously for Civil War actions. Two of these came to the families of John P McVeanne of Toronto Ontario and Denis Buckley of Lindsay Ontario during the days the CW was still being fought. And in both cases the man was the ONLY man in his regiment of perhaps a thousand or more soldiers, that was awarded a Medal of Honor, be they alive or deceased.
The delay in the Cushing award may well be connected to the possible fact that there were no nominations for Cushing to get the medal in the war..or for over 140 years after. His generals of the day had no problem promoted him to the brevet rank of Lt. Colonel on the very day of his death, and recommended that a fellow soldier in who's arms he died in, being promoted to a Lt in the regular US Army. The officers could have chosen to recommend the MOH for both men at the time but all the research I have done seems to show no such recomendation being made. His comrade, at his death was awarded the MOH in the 1990's however.
Nothing above is to suggest however that Cushing is or was not deserving of the medal, simply that the rules of the day were not followed, and the US President thus did not make these awards 150 years ago.
Moving on, a most interesting story appeared on the net a few days ago. But now it is gone. Most curious!!!
It announced that a heroic soldier of Vietnam days had received an interesting letter. It was from Washington DC and announced that he was to call a certain number to make some arrangements. Apparently he too was being awarded the MOH.
But when he called the number he found it out of service. The article says the whole thing was a mistake and that, after making other calls the whole mess was sorted out. It seems the medal was destined for another of the same name. The article also added that all was not lost. He was apparently now being awarded with another medal and also the Purple Heart. Too bad they sent him this incredible blunder and as insulting, why they instead decided that they would take the opportunity to award him two other medals so many years after the fact.
The recent news is that for several decades a movement has been afoot to have Cushing awarded the Medal of Honor and The President has recently announced that an award would be made. But the trouble was that since there were no known ligitimate claimants that could come forth...who shoud the medal go to? Days back the net carried a few storries saying that progress is being made and that the US Army will be accepting the medal on Cushing's behalf. A further delay is that before a ceremony takes place, decisions need to be made where the medal will go. Some feel it ought to go to his home area of Delafield Pennsylvania but time will tell.
In bringing this story forth the press has said a number of times that the reason Cushing did not get the medal back in Civil War days was because at that time no medals were awarded to any of the soldiers AFTER they died, ie... posthumously.. But this of course is nonsence except to those who refuse to do any research.. such as some in the media.
There were no less than 32 MOH's awarded posthumously for Civil War actions. Two of these came to the families of John P McVeanne of Toronto Ontario and Denis Buckley of Lindsay Ontario during the days the CW was still being fought. And in both cases the man was the ONLY man in his regiment of perhaps a thousand or more soldiers, that was awarded a Medal of Honor, be they alive or deceased.
The delay in the Cushing award may well be connected to the possible fact that there were no nominations for Cushing to get the medal in the war..or for over 140 years after. His generals of the day had no problem promoted him to the brevet rank of Lt. Colonel on the very day of his death, and recommended that a fellow soldier in who's arms he died in, being promoted to a Lt in the regular US Army. The officers could have chosen to recommend the MOH for both men at the time but all the research I have done seems to show no such recomendation being made. His comrade, at his death was awarded the MOH in the 1990's however.
Nothing above is to suggest however that Cushing is or was not deserving of the medal, simply that the rules of the day were not followed, and the US President thus did not make these awards 150 years ago.
Moving on, a most interesting story appeared on the net a few days ago. But now it is gone. Most curious!!!
It announced that a heroic soldier of Vietnam days had received an interesting letter. It was from Washington DC and announced that he was to call a certain number to make some arrangements. Apparently he too was being awarded the MOH.
But when he called the number he found it out of service. The article says the whole thing was a mistake and that, after making other calls the whole mess was sorted out. It seems the medal was destined for another of the same name. The article also added that all was not lost. He was apparently now being awarded with another medal and also the Purple Heart. Too bad they sent him this incredible blunder and as insulting, why they instead decided that they would take the opportunity to award him two other medals so many years after the fact.
RSS Feed