Fellow American,
Earlier this year, I told you the story of First Lieutenant Garlin Murl Conner, the second-most decorated American World War II soldier.
Lt. Conner received a number of medals for his bravery in battle, including four silver stars, four bronze stars, seven purple hearts, and the Distinguished Service Cross.
But the one honor that has always eluded Lt. Conner was the Medal of Honor – the country’s highest honor.
You see, a few months ago, a Federal Judge ruled that Pauline Conner, the late-lieutenant’s widow, had waited too long to bring new evidence of his gallantry to the military’s attention. Because of this statute-of-limitations technicality, U.S. District Judge Thomas Russell had no choice but to rule against Mrs. Conner’s request for an exemption.
A stupid bureaucratic technicality is preventing this war hero from receiving the posthumous recognition that he so rightly deserves.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Congress has the authority and the power to grant an exemption. In fact, the government will be awarding First Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing, a Civil War veteran killed during Pickett’s Charge, a posthumous Medal of Honor because he was just granted an exemption!
This isn’t something unheard of. Congress has the power to grant the exemption and order the military to review his case again. But the only way that will happen is if constituents like you get loud and demand it!
Every time I read through First Lieutenant Conner’s ‘resume,’ I am always struck by just how brave he was.
Conner was wounded SEVEN times during the Second World War. Each time, doctors told him he was too injured to return to the front and every time he heard this, he promptly “discharged” himself from the hospital and returned to his brothers in arms.
On one occasion, the doctors told Conner that his hip wound was too serious and that he would be sent home to the United States to recover. Instead, in the dead of night, Lt. Conner snuck out of his hospital and rejoined his men at the front lines. Though still severely wounded, Conner led his men for three hours and single-handedly killed 50 German soldiers, effectively saving his battalion.
Garlin Murl Conner truly was a member of the ‘greatest generation.’
This isn’t a partisan issue. This isn’t an issue of Left versus Right.
The second-most decorated American WWII soldier has been denied the Medal of Honor simply because of a statute-of-limitations technicality and Congress hasn’t intervened!
Conner’s widow has already exhausted all options in in the executive and judicial branches. Now it is up to We the People!
Congress has the power to grant this brave man an exemption and it must ensure that Lieutenant Conner’s bravery and selflessness is not forgotten. We must force Congress to act!
Lt. Conner represents what once made America great and it crucial for his heroism to be preserved for future generations. Everyone who has read his service history agrees: he deserves the Medal of Honor. Yet, a bureaucratic statute-of-limitations technicality is preventing the military from honoring the second-most decorated soldier of WWII. Only Congress can overrule this technicality and only you can force them to!
As I said, this isn’t about politics. This is about honoring a true American hero. I urge you to take the time to fax Congress and implore them to honor this American hero posthumously with the Medal of Honor.
Sincerely,
Joe Otto
Conservative Daily
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