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    MSgt_mode

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      rjdawley2002
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      rjdawley2002

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      Medals, Militaria, Masons, American Legion,

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    1. Hi All, I did find this Associated Press article from 2008: Fort Wolter- Armit Tilgner By Denise LaVoie - The Associated Press Posted : Sunday Oct 19, 2008 9:27:40 EDT BOSTON — Helen Tilgner remembers seeing a scar on her father’s left knee when she was 7, and finding out he had won a Purple Heart for being shot during combat in Vietnam. But she had no idea that her father had won more than 100 medals and awards until this year — 26 years after he died when his helicopter crashed in Malaysia while he was flying for a private medical rescue company. On Saturday, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., will present Tilgner and her two sons — both in the Army — with the awards won by her father, Chief Warrant Officer Armit Tilgner, more than three decades after he flew helicopter missions in Vietnam. “I feel like it is recognition that he should have had long ago, to be remembered with honor, and it’s a legacy I get to pass down to my sons so they are better aware of who he really was,” said Tilgner. Armit Tilgner was an instructor pilot with the 1st Aviation Brigade’s 128th Assault Helicopter Company. He served six tours in Vietnam, winning numerous awards, including four Bronze Stars, five Army Commendation Medals, three Meritorious Unit Commendation medals, two Valorous Unit Awards, and 136 Air Medal awards. But he never talked about his military honors, so his family only knew about the Purple Heart. Tilgner retired in 1973 after 20 years in the Army and went to work for a private medical rescue helicopter company, transporting sick people from remote villages in Malaysia to hospitals. In 1982, he was killed at age 48 when his helicopter crashed in a thunderstorm. Helen Tilgner, who was 23 at the time, remembers getting a telegram that his body had been found, but she never knew where he was buried. About five years ago, she began searching for information, and contacted Kerry, himself a decorated Vietnam War veteran. He was able to find someone who located her father’s remains and sent photos of his grave in Sarawak, Malaysia. After that, Tilgner discovered her father’s discharge papers in her mother’s house. On them, she saw a list of codes and asked an old Army buddy of her father’s to translate them for her. The codes all stood for medals her father had won. “Once I got them decoded, I started flipping out,” she said.“I had no idea.” She contacted Kerry again, this time to see if he could have her father’s medals replaced. No one in her family knew the location of her father’s original medals. Kerry said he was stunned by the number of awards Tilgner received and touched by the story of the two grandsons who have followed in his footsteps. Sgt. Jason Kendrick, 28, has done two tours in Iraq and is scheduled to deploy for his third next month. Spc. Jerrod Kendrick, 27, returned in May from a 13-month tour in Afghanistan. Kerry will present Tilgner’s replacement medals to his daughter and grandsons at a ceremony Saturday at Town Hall in Norwood, where Helen Tilgner lives. “He’s got two young grandsons who are serving their country and they deserve to know that we don’t forget these things,” Kerry said.“It underscores that this is meaningful. It’s a way of a country saying thank you.”
    2. Great Order, I especially like the history to go with it. I like to do that for mine as well, it tells the story of where the ODM has been. Thanks.
    3. Wow, very nice even for a copy and my budget won't allow for even that. Maybe someday, until then I'll come here and drool a lot.
    4. Wow, Very nice badge. I got my work cut out for me to find beauties like that.
    5. Very Nice, I was stationed there for 2 years and never found anything in the way of ODM.
    6. Way Cool Site, thanks for sharing that little tidbit!!
    7. Very nice indeed! One of these day I'll find a beauty like that.
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