The Congressional Medal of Honor and Lowell Connections

With yesterday's announcement of Sgt. Ryan Pitts of Nashua, NH being selected as the latest recipient of the MEDAL OF HONOR I thought a rundown of past recipients with local connections was warranted. Sgt. Ryan Pitts was born in Lowell and served in Afghanistan in the U.S. Army 2nd Platoon, Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion Airborne, 503 Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne. The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest award for combat valor

In the Hall of Flags at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium there is a plaque that was dedicated in 1952 to all the Lowell men who have are recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. The plaque was updated with the addition of David H. McNerney, after the Vietnam War.

Here is the list of the Medal of Honor Recipients with Lowell connections:

CIVIL WAR

Albert Ames - US Army at Bull Run, VA. Buried in Lowell at Hildreth Family Cemetery. Married General Benjamin Butler's daughter.

Eugene W. Ferris - US Army at Berryville, VA. Entered service from Lowell.

John C. McFarland - US Navy. Lowell resident. Has headstones in St. Patrick's, Edson and Lowell Cemetery. Wife and son are buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery.

Daniel J. Murphy - US Army at Harcher's Run, VA. Entered service from Lowell, MA.

Dennis J.F. Murphy - US Army at Corinth, Mississippi. Entered service from Lowell, MA.

Joseph Aton Sladen - US Army at Resaca, GA May 14, 1864. Entered service from Lowell, MA.

Joseph Swell Gerrish Sweat - US Army 6th Massachusetts Co. C at Carsville, VA. Entered service from Lowell, MA.

Joseph Taylor - US Army at Wendon, VA.. Lived in Lowell after Civil War. Buried in Edson Cemetery. I have a separate blog post about him.

Edwin Truell - US Army near Atlanta, GA. Entered service in Lowell. Buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

OTHER

James F. Sullivan - US Navy. Peacetime. Saved sailor from drowning.

George Charette - US Navy. Born in Lowell 1867. Spanish American War in connection with the sinking of Merrimac in Santiago Harbor Cuba. Buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Square in Lowell in his honor.

Joseph R. Oullette - US Army Killed in Action in Korea. Born in Lowell. Buried at St. Joseph's Cemetery, East Chelmsford. Aiken Street Bridge is named in his honor.

David H. McNerney - US Army, Vietnam at Polei Doc. - born in Lowell.

Thank you Sgt. Ryan Pitts and all those Lowell men that came before you.

Ralph Regis Giles - Missing at Sea

Ralph Regis Giles known as "Reggie" was born in Nashua, NH on December 11, 1932 to Ralph and Alice (Hurley) Giles and grew up at 44 Royalston Avenue in the Highlands section of Lowell. He graduated from Keith Academy class of 1950. He played football and baseball at Keith and was an accomplished singer.

On March 20, 1951 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Seaman Apprentice. He completed his training in Newport, R.I. and was assigned to the USS Hyman (DD-32) during the Korean War. On November 29, 1951 he was on duty preparing lines for refueling when he was swept overboard in stormy seas near Wonsan Harbor in North Korea. Five men were swept overboard and only three bodies were recovered.  Reggie was only 18 years old.

His body has not been found. He is remembered by a cenotaph in the Rock Garden at St. Patrick's Cemetery.

Reggie was survived by his parents, brothers Gerald and James and sister Marilyn. His siblings have provided DNA samples to the Defense POW/MIA Personnel Office hoping someday he can come home to his family. Lowell still remembers and hopes his family can bring him home wherever that may be.

The Korean War and Lowell Prisoners of War/Missing in Action

The Korean War is sometimes called the Forgotten War. Before WW2 the Japanese ruled in Korea. After World War 2 the allies divided Korea into North and South around the 38th parallel. Supporting the 2 new Koreas were the U.S.S.R (Communists)  in the North and the United States (Democracy) in the South. In 1949 the U.S.S.R. and the U.S. pulled out. Shortly thereafter the North invaded the South. The United Nations and the United States came to the support of South Korea. China aided North Korea.

Two Lowell, MA Army Corporals, Francis Joseph Krygowski and Thomas Harding, Jr , members of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regimental Combat Team were sent to fight in Korea. They participated in one of the early battles near Hadong, South Korea. It did not end well for the Americans.

They were originally listed as "Captured but Not Accounted For" on July 27, 1950. Later they were listed as Prisoners of War and then Presumed Dead. Their bodies have not been found. Their names are inscribed on the Courts of the Missing in Honolulu.

The Lowell Sun, August, 30, 1950, p1.

Francis J. Krygowski was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Krygowski of 121 Concord Street. He was a graduate of St. Stanislaus School and attended Lowell High School.

Thomas Harding, Jr. was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Harding, 37 Bartlet Street. He enlisted in the Army on his 17th birthday October 5, 1946. He was a graduate of the Immaculate Conception grammar school and attended Lowell High School.

Lieut. Alexander Makarounis of 548 Fletcher Street, Lowell, MA,  was the Company Commander and was  taken a Prisoner of War. He ended up escaping the Death March from Seoul to Pyongyang and returned home to a grateful family. Only 33 men out of 376 men survived.

The Lowell Sun, November 15, 1950, p.1.

He testified before the U.S. Senate after the war about his experience in North Korea. His story was published in several magazines. He died July 30, 1994 in Lowell at the age of 71.

Testimony by Alexander Makarounis

At the end of the Korean War the dividing line of North and South Korea was settled at the 38th Parallel.  The same place it was at the start of the War. The United States has maintained a strong military presence in South Korea and they are one of our strongest allies.

Thank you all for your service. You are not forgotten!