Cold War Veteran Honored

U.S. REP. RON BARBER WILL PRESENT TWO MEDALS TO 73-YEAR-OLD VETERAN TODAY
Congressman will honor Navy veteran who has been waiting 53 years for
his medals after service in the Cold War
Oct 1, 2012

TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Ron Barber today will present two military medals
to a 73-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who served in the South China Sea
during the Cold War more than five decades ago.

The medals were obtained for Gerald Cummins of Tucson by a member of
Barber's staff. It took about four months of work for Patty Valera,
constituent services supervisor for Barber, to secure the medals after
Cummins contacted Barber's office.

"It is a distinct honor for me to present long-overdue medals to a
gentleman who served our nation so many years ago," Barber said. "I
applaud the U.S. Navy for honoring Mr. Cummins with these
much-deserved medals for his service during the Cold War."

U.S. Navy Reserve Commander Ross Orvik, commanding officer of the Navy
Operational Support Center in Tucson, will participate in today's
ceremony.

Cummins will be presented with the Navy Good Conduct Medal and the
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Two of Cummins daughters, including
one who is traveling from San Diego, will attend today's ceremony.

The Navy Good Conduct Medal dates to 1865, making it the nation's
third-oldest, continuously presented medal. The expeditionary medal
was authorized in 1961 to recognize the increased involvement of the
American military in peacekeeping activities.

Cummins worked for the Department of Defense as a civilian pipefitter
for nearly 30 years before enlisting in the Navy in 1956. In 1958 and
1959, he was stationed in the South China Sea near Taiwan with the 7th
Fleet.

Cummins said he has been waiting 53 years for the medals and is proud
of the honor and gratified to have had the chance to serve his nation.

He has been married for 38 years to his wife, Jean, and has 11
grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Media is welcome to attend today's medal ceremony.

WHAT: U.S. Rep. Ron Barber presents two medals to Navy veteran Gerald Cummins

WHEN: 2:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 1, 2012

WHERE: Rep. Barber's Tucson District Office, 3945 E. Fort Lowell Road, Suite 211

Map

NEWS RELEASE
Monday, Oct. 1, 2012


CONTACT
Mark Kimble
Communications Director
U.S. Rep. Ron Barber
Arizona's 8th Congressional District
(520) 881-3588 or (520) 904-5876

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Sean Eagan
American Cold War Veterans, Inc.
Web: http://americancoldwarvets.org/
Blog: Cold War Veterans Blog
Email: Sean.Eagan@gmail.com
Phone: 716 720-4000
Network: My Fast Pitch! Profile