Photo Information

Ten Marine veterans received awards at Hadnot Point parade ground Saturday morning as a result of performances in engagements in the Pacific theater of war. Eight received Gold Stars in lieu of a second Purple Heart, one received a Bronze Medal heroic and meritorious performance of duty and one received a Purple Heart. The presentations were made by Lt. Col. T. M. Sheffield, Infantry Training Regiment, and Maj. L. G. Ditta, Infantry Schools Battalion, prior to a “pass in review” of men serving in the Officer Candidate Applicants’ Battalion. Shown in above photo, left to right, are Lt. Col. Sheffield, Maj. Ditta, Sgt. Lawrence Gerkin, Platoon Sgt. Robert Levy, Sgt. Robert Sadler, Sgt. Harry Smith, Sgt. Louis Cozzens, Sgt. Herbert Meza, and Cpl. Calvin Lawson, Cpl. Robert Heard, Cpl. William Hinkle and Cpl. Robert Radish.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Devin Sullivan

Eight Gold Stars, One Bronze and One Purple Heart awarded

18 Nov 2018 | Cpl. Nikki Morales The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website

In one of the largest presentation ceremonies ever held at Camp Lejeune, eight Gold Stars in lieu of second Purple Hearts, one Bronze Star and one Purple Heart were awarded to ten Marine Veterans Saturday at the Hadnot Point parade ground by Lt. Col. T. M. Sheffield, Infantry Training Regiment, and Major L. G. Ditta, Infantry School Battalion.

Marines receiving the Gold Star for having been wounded the second time while in action were: Sgt. Robert Sadler, Sgt. Harry Smith, Sgt. Louis Cozzens, Sgt. Herbert Meza, Cpl. Calvin Lawson, Cpl. Robert Heard, Cpl. William Hinkle, and Cpl. Robert Radish.

Sgt. Lawrence Ellwood Gerkin was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Platoon Sgt. Robert Levy received a Purple Heart.

Sgt. Gerkin of Washington, D.C., earned his Bronze Star Medal for distinguishing himself by heroic and meritorious performance of duty while serving with the Marines during combat against the Japanese. He displayed a high degree of courage when his platoon was pinned down by heavy rifle, machine gun and mortar fire after successfully driving the determined enemy from strongly held positions in jungle underbrush. Realizing that it was necessary to get a badly wounded member of his squad to cover in order for him to receive medical aid, Sgt. Gerkin under continuous fire from several direction, carried his buddy, with great effort, across the entire platoon front, over a hill, down a stream and over another hill to safety. This heroic act of grim determination and outstanding bravery distinguished him among the heroes of the war against Japan. 

Sgt. Robert Sadler received his Gold Star for wounds received as a result of enemy action at Saipan. Sadler, of Hickory, Miss., served overseas for 23 months and participated in engagements at Tarawa, Saipan, and in the Gilbert Islands. He received his Purple Heart award for wounds received at Tarawa.

Sgt. Harry G. Smith of Baltimore, Md., was awarded the Gold Star as the result of wounds received at Saipan in November 1943. He suffered his first wound during action in the Marshall Islands on Feb. 1, 1944. He was overseas for ten months. 

Sgt. Louis John Cozzens, New Orleans, L.A., was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of his second Purple Heart for wounds received in action during the invasion of Saipan on June 17, 1944. His Purple Heart was presented to him following wounds suffered at Tarawa Nov. 20, 1943. He served overseas for 27 months and also was active in the Guadalcanal campaign.

Sgt. Herbert Meza, Tampa, Fla., received his Gold Star for wounds received at Saipan, June 19, 1944. His Purple Heart award came as a result of wounds received during the invasion of the Marshalls Feb. 1, 1943. He was overseas for seven months.

Cpl. Robert E. Heard, Bradford, Ark., obtained his Gold Star as a result of wounds suffered at Saipan on June 17, 1944. His Purple Heart award came as a result of wounds received at Tarawa on Nov. 23, 1943. Cpl. Heard was overseas for 32 months besides the two campaigns in which he was wounded, participated in the fighting at Guadalcanal and Tinian.

Cpl. Calvin Lawson, Houston Texas, participated in engagements at Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan. He received the Purple Heart for wounds received at Guadalcanal in January, 1943, and earned a Gold Star for wounds suffered at Saipan on June 15, 1944. He was overseas for 22 months.

Cpl. William Robert Hinkle, Bluefield, Va., was first wounded at Namour, Marshall Islands, Feb 2. 1943, and was awarded the Gold Star as a result of wounds received during the Saipan engagement, June 22, 1943. He was overseas seven months. 

Cpl. Robert Walter Radish, Milwaukee, Wis., won the Purple Heart as a result of wounds at Namour Feb. 2, 1943, and was awarded the Gold Star in Lieu of the Purple Heart award for wounds suffered at Saipan, June 29, 1944. He was overseas seven months.

Platoon Sgt. Robert Levy, Boston Mass., was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received at Guadalcanal during the first battle of Matanikan River. He also received the China Service Medal for serving in China during 1938-1939. He participated in engagements at Guadalcanal, New Guinea and New Britain.

All these Marine veterans are now assigned here for duty.