Nampa, ID – Today our country gave a belated “thank you” to an 87-year-old war hero who never received his medals. Congressman Walt Minnick’s office helped get Army Pfc. Gordon McDermott of Caldwell the respect he is due.
Thursday, Minnick presented several medals to McDermott at the Warhawk Museum in Nampa. (Click to view local television coverage of the event.)
“We owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. McDermott and all veterans who have sacrificed for our country,” Minnick said.
McDermott, who served from Feb 16 1943 to November 7 1945, was a 20-year-old carpenter when he volunteered. After fighting seven major battles in Europe, he wasn’t interested in waiting around to get his service medals.
“My biggest award was getting home,” McDermott said.
He never talked much about his war experience, said his son, Dave, until McDermott’s granddaughter started asking about the war for a school project.
Pfc. McDermott served with the 1st and 3rd Army right after General Patton landed in Europe, fighting seven major battles: North Atlantic, Battle of England, Normandy (Utah Beach), Battle of the Bulge, Battle of the Rhine, Bastogne, and more in Germany. McDermott was wounded by gunshot to the right temple as well as through his chest while in France. He took shrapnel wounds in his chin, left arm, and fingers. X-rays show the shrapnel remains.
McDermott recalls capturing several young soldiers, boys no more than 15-years-old. The soldiers sobbed onto his shoulder when he spared their lives. McDermott spent one year, eight months and 12 days serving overseas.
McDermott’s time in Europe was as epic as the war itself: he was repeatedly caught in enemy crossfire, dragged wounded from fields of battle, he shot down airplanes, and enjoyed holiday feasts with residents of the war-torn lands.
McDermott’s son, Dave, contacted Minnick’s office for help with the past due medals. McDermott noted that while serving overseas, the unit manager did not keep accurate records. However, the National Personnel Records Center reports that McDermott’s records were lost in a 1973 fire.
McDermott received the following medals Thursday:
Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII
Expert Badge with Rifle Bar
A silver service star in lieu of 5 bronze service stars
Minnick works to help veterans such as McDermott, and also is working on legislation that is important to veterans:
• The Post 9-11 Educational Assistance Improvement Act
This bill improves on the Post 9-11 GI Bill and gives veterans more educational support and expands it to certain groups, such as National Guard members. A hearing is set for this bill on Sept. 16.
• Rural Veterans Lodging Reimbursement Act
Many veterans living in rural areas must travel hours to seek treatment at their nearest VA. Currently, veterans are reimbursed for meals and lodging on a case by case basis, at 50% of the government employee rate. This bill would mandate that any veteran traveling further than 150 miles to receive treatment at a VA be reimbursed for their lodging and food at the same rate as a federal government employee.
• A bill to authorize the Secretary of Defense to cover a larger share of expenses under the National Guard Youth Challenge Program in the case of a State program during its first three years of operation.
This bill would help Idaho and other states that currently do not have programs to cover operational costs for the first three years.
The National Guard Youth Challenge Program (NGYCP) is a multi-phased intervention program which targets high school dropouts between the ages of 16 and 18. It provides a structured, disciplined 5 month residential phase focusing on education and practical life skills. The program teaches military-based discipline and training, combined with educational instruction, experiential learning and mentoring.
Minnick also sponsored a bill, which passed the House of Representatives a year ago, to rename a post office in Nampa. The Post Office now bears the name of Herbert A. Littleton, a local man who died in the Korean War when he jumped on a grenade in order to save his fellow soldiers.