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Col.
Kenneth D. Mertel
(My 2nd
cousin once removed)
This page
was put together with a lot of pride for and the authorization
from:
Col. Kenneth
D. Mertel
1924 - 2006
Special
Note:
Col. Kenneth D.
Mertel's foot-locker has been donated by Pamela &
Roger Sulzbach,
to the museum at Ft. Hood, and they sent Pamela all the
paperwork, etc. and she
signed it and sent it back.
She usually signs things "Pamela Lynn Sulzbach", but she put
down "Pamela Mertel
Sulzbach".
(I'd like to add that Pamela and her
husband Roger purchased this foot-locker
and went to all the trouble of donating it
to the museum.
All this to remember her Uncle who was a
great patriot
of our country.)
Infantry,
Airborne Ranger, Airmobile
Master Army
Aviator, Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing
Instrument
Rated
Civilian
Commercials, Fixed Wing, Multi-Engine, Rotary Wing, Instrument
Rated
33 Years
Army Service
22 Years U.
S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Awards
and Decorations
Silver
Star
Distinguished Flying Cross w/1 olc
Legion
of Merit w/3 olc
Bronze
Star Medal w/4 olc (two "V")
Air
Medal w/49 olc (one "V")
Army
Commendation Medal w/2 olc
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/3 olc, w/2 Palms, Silver &
Bronze
Cbt
Inf Badge w/Star (two awards, Korea & Vietnam)
Senior
Prcht Badge: Glider Badge
Ranger
Tab
Master
Army Aviator (fixed wing, rotary wing, instrument & multi-eng
rated)
Numerous Campaign & Service Ribbons
Numerous Coast Guard Auxiliary Service Medals
including two awards of the Coast Guard Administrative Merit
Vietnam War, Awards and Decorations of
Honor, 1965-1972
| Name: |
Kenneth D Mertel |
| Date Recommended
Award Received : |
6 Jan 1971 |
| Date Award Forwarded
: |
16 Dec 1970 |
| Service/Country: |
U.S. Army |
| Command/Staff: |
Training Directorate
|
| Recommended Award: |
Legion of Merit
|
| Approved Award: |
Legion of Merit
|
| Clusters: |
Two Clusters |
| Location Award
Presented: |
Award Presented in
Republic of Vietnam
[South Vietnam] (RVN)
|
| Posthumous: |
Award presented
while Living |
|
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Source Information:
National Archives and Records
Administration. Vietnam War,
Awards and Decorations of Honor,
1965-1972 [database on-line].
Provo, UT, USA: The Generations
Network, Inc., 2005. Original data:
Awards and Decorations System
(AWADS) Translated File [Archival
Database]; Records of Awards and
Decorations of Honor During the
Vietnam Conflict, 5/1969-3/1973;
Records of the U.S. Forces in
Southeast Asia, 1950-1975, Record
Group 472; National Archives at
College Park, College Park, MD.
Description:
This database contains information about
awards and decorations of honor awarded
to U.S. and allied foreign military
personnel during the Vietnam War. These
awards were given between 1965 and 1972.
This database does not represent all
awards and...
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http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/e/r/Kenneth-D-Mertel/index.html?Welcome=1040839515
LINK
TO THE HISTORY OF THE JUMPING MUSTANGS
http:www.schifferbooks.com/military/groundus/0764301381.html
http://allthewaybrigade.com/Crazy%20Horse%20story%20Web/CrazyHorseDedication.html
Author
of:
"Year of
the Horse: Vietnam"
1st Air
Cavalry in the Highlands 1965-1967
"A
Warrior's Walk"
Thru
Life (Thus Far)
(1924-1996)
(Mertel/Moyer Genealogy and Personal Diary)
Numerous
Published Articles
An
American Hero has left us!
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Kenneth D. Mertel |
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WILLIAMSBURG
- Colonel Kenneth D. Mertel, Infantry, US Army Retired,
82, died at home in Williamsburg, Virginia on 11 Oct 06.
A veteran of 33 years in the US Army, Ken retired in
1975. Upon retirement, he devoted 20 years of public
service to the Coast Guard Auxiliary, serving at every
level from flotilla to national. He also served one year
in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941. Enlisting in
the Army in June 42, he graduated from Infantry OCS in
45 as a Second Lieutenant. Winning a Regular Army
Commission in 46, he served two tours as a combat
Infantry rifle company commander in Korea in 1952-53.
During three Vietnam tours, Ken commanded both Infantry
and Aviation units at battalion, group and brigade
level. Two tours were with the 1st Air Cavalry Division.
Ken was a graduate of Mountainburg High School in
Arkansas, the University of Georgia and Boston
University. His military education included Ranger,
Airborne, Fixed and Rotary Wing courses as well as the
Command and General Staff College and the Army War
College. He was awarded a Silver Star, two Distinguished
Flying Crosses, five Legions of Merit, five Bronze
Stars, and fifty Air Medals. Born in Bennett, Colorado
in 1924 to Alonzo and Cora Mertel, Ken is survived by
his faithful poodle, Bo; his daughter Maria Cochrane and
husband Michael and their sons Graham and Wes Cochrane.
He was married to the late Molli Mertel. Memorial
Services will be conducted Monday, 23 October at 11 am
at Patriots Colony Assisted Living in Williamsburg by
Chaplain Janna Roche and Tuesday, 24 October at 11 am at
St. John's Episcopal Church in Hampton by Ken's niece,
the Reverend Darby Oliver Everhard of Cincinnati.
Committal with military honors in the adjacent cemetery
will follow Tuesday's service. A catered reception will
be held in St. John's Parish Hall. Ken deeply loved his
dogs and his family. His country and the US Army were
close to his heart. He wanted to be remembered as a man
of courage, a warrior. His motto was DRIVE ON –ALL THE
WAY. Memorials may be sent to Heritage Humane Society,
430 Waller Miller Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185.
Published in the Daily Press on
10/22/2006. |
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