New Zealand Veteran awarded Legion of Merit

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I know Chris personally, and fortunately was in country to attend the ceremony. It was humbling, and I know this brought just a little more healing for Chris from the scars from Vietnam.

Good on ya Yanks, you sure know how to do it right!

S

Kiwi veteran’s U.S. honor is complete
(reprint of a media release from the Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy, Wellington)

14 June 2012
Retired Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Mullane (ONZM, MBE) of the New Zealand Army will finally receive his official U.S. medal and documentation thirty three years after it was first recommended.

At a ceremony on Monday, June 18 at Devonport’s Returned and Services Association, LTC Mullane will receive the Legion of Merit from visiting U.S. Army Major General Roger F. Mathews, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific. Also attending the ceremony will be U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand, David Huebner and New Zealand dignitaries such as retired Air Vice Marshal Robin Klitscher (representing the RSA), NZDF Army Brigadier Mark Wheeler, Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs & Trade (and former Defence Minister), Phil Goff MP, Dr Cam Calder MP, Maggie Barry MP and others.

Mullane received the award and supporting documentation in 1979 after serving as an exchange officer at the U.S. Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia. During his exchange he was appointed as Chief of the Leadership Branch, Command and Tactics Department at the School. The award was granted for ‘exceptional abilities and dedication to duty in each of his assignments.’

But due to an administrative oversight, the award documentation was never officially approved before LTC Mullane returned to New Zealand. The U.S. Embassy in Wellington, the Returned and Services Association, and high profile supporters such as U.S. Senator John McCain, have all been working to get the oversight rectified since it was discovered in 2010.

The award certificate has now been signed by the U.S. Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta. The Legion of Merit is the sixth highest award in the order of precedence of U.S. military decorations.

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I wonder if this could be moved to attention to orders section?

S