Every Day Heroes

Pfc. Kearney

Photo by courtesy
November 20, 2008
Pfc. Douglas W. Kearney during World War II.

(source)

Retired Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honore congratulates former Pfc Douglas W. Kearney after presenting him the Bronze Star Nov. 12 for achievement during combat in World War II. Photo by Alan Kurlan

Better late than never!!!

WWII vet receives Bronze Star 63 years later
Nov 20, 2008
BY Isidro Reyna

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Nov. 20, 2008) - Although the honor was bestowed more than six decades later, for one World War II veteran his service has not been forgotten.

Former Pfc. Douglas W. Kearney, 85, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal Nov. 12 in his hometown of Milford, Conn., by retired Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré in a ceremony at the Milford City Hall for meritorious achievement in combat.

"It all started 10 years ago when watching 'Saving Private Ryan,'" said Dr. Sheila Kearney. "My dad said, 'I was there'. I kind of discounted it since the Army was segregated, but he gave a lot of details, so I fact- checked."

During the search, Kearney found that her father served with Headquarters, 17th Armored Infantry Battalion, 12th Armored Division in campaigns throughout northern France, Rhineland and central Europe, including the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

"You rarely saw black Soldiers at that time," she said. "He was a machine gunner and rifle marksman. He did extra training."

Douglas Kearney was drafted into the military through the selective service process and was placed with a black unit out of Massachusetts, said Dr. Kearney. He was transferred to an integrated company with the 17th Armored and later deployed.

"My dad was elated to receive the Bronze Star Medal, first because of the recognition," said Kearney. "...and being black then, and in a foreign country with white troops; it was tough."

The award comes as the Army marks the 60th anniversary of desegregation of the U.S. military this year.

Kearney also received the Connecticut Veterans Service Medal presented by the State of Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs. He also served as grand marshal of the Milford Veterans Day Parade.

The Bronze Star Medal came about thanks to the help of Lt. Gen. Honoré, said Dr. Kearney. She serves as the executive director of corporate responsibility at Gallup. Honoré, who retired as the commanding general of First Army based at Fort Gillem, Ga., now works as a senior scientist with the company. She mentioned her father's service to the retired general and Honoré made the request on her father's behalf....

Kearney said she hopes that more veterans who served with her father during World War II will receive recognition for their service as well.

(source)

From MilfordMirror.com comes this:

Resident finally gets his Bronze Star
Written by Jill K. Dion Friday, November 21, 2008

Milford resident Private First Class (PFC) Douglas W. Kearney remembers landing on the beach at Normandy, France, in 1944, and luckily avoiding gunfire that killed or wounded many of the servicemen who stormed the beach that day.

“We landed with a half-track,” Kearney said this past week at City Hall, where he was honored with a Bronze Star for his military service.

He was a gunner aboard the military vehicle, whose caterpillar tracks propelled it over the sand, and he said he put his faith in God as he and his company made their way through a battleground littered with casualties — 90,000 in one day.

“We drove up through the mine fields,” he said. “There were a lot of casualties.”...

Decorated Retired General Russel L. Honoré,...heaped praise on Kearney and his family — a Bridgeport family that had a history of service to their country in WWII.

The late Mary Frances Kearney, Douglas’ sister, was one of the members of the first all-black Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) and eventually received several ribbons and medals for her military service.

The late William H. Kearney, Douglas’ brother, was a surgeon and captain in the 368th Infantry, honored for bringing aid to survivors of an airplane crash and supervising their movement from a mountainside after administering emergency treatment.

“Here’s a family represented to date by our hero, for which we stand here today as a free country,” Honoré said as he pointed to Kearney. “We’re blessed by their service to this country.

Looking at Kearney, he added, “He did his duty for his country. We came to set the record straight and give him the medal he deserved.” (Go here to read it ALL!)

AND, there is a very cool site about African Americans in the US Army. My long time readers know I have written about these heroes before, but on this site they have a whole section called "Profiles of Bravery." Take the time to go read this site here.

The Kearneys are an amazing family, with many stories of service to share with us. It is NEVER too late to say: Thank you for your service, Pfc Kearney!