red tape, hurry up and wait

ok. It's been the 3 months you're supposed to wait to hear from the govt. about getting replacement medals and medals that haven't yet been awarded to vets. I filled out reams of paperwork and applications last May to see if I couldn't get my father's, especially his POW medal. I sent so many applications to multiple addresses, probably duplicates many times over.

The only one he managed to save was his Bronze Star for Meritorious Action. I'd had it framed for his 70th birthday and gave it to him at a surprise party. This was nearly 15 yrs. ago. (Wow, that went fast!) I'd like to get his others and frame them also. He doesn't really care about all this, but I'm doing a lot of it for my own pleasure. I still like the framing.

first battle, last battle

Here are a couple of close-ups, the top one the evening of Dad's first battle on New Year's Eve, 1944, near Rimling, France. And the bottom one near the Jagst-Kocher Rivers...he was caught just a day before this engagement and the grey line shows his POW route.