
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.
Tell
Congress to grant Lieutenant Garlin Murl Conner an exemption so that his legacy
of bravery and heroism can be honored and immortalized for future
generations!
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.
Tell
Congress to grant Lieutenant Garlin Murl Conner an exemption so that his legacy
of bravery and heroism can be honored and immortalized for future
generations!
Sincerely,
Joe Otto
Conservative Daily