Marine receiving Navy Cross posthumously
A Marine killed in Vietnam and an Army soldier killed in the Korean War — both from Valatie — will be honored during the Memorial Day Parade in Kinderhook Monday. The parade starts at 10 a.m. and the ceremony will be at 11 a.m. at the end of the march.
Marine Cpl. Richard Gillingham will receive a Navy Cross, the Navy’s second highest award for combat heroism, a Purple Heart and a New York State Liberty Award posthumously. Army Cpl. Clifford Johnson will also receive a New York State Liberty Medal posthumously.
Family representatives will receive the medals and a portrait, according to Steve Matheke, a Kinderhook Memorial Parade spokesman. Gillingham earned his Navy Cross on May. 19, 1967, when his squad was participating in Operation Hickory, a search and destroy mission, near Gia Binh, northeast of Con Thien (Hill 158) in Quang Tri Province in South Vietnam. He was serving with Company H, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines of the Third Marine Division when his squad was attacked by the North Vietnamese.
As his squad came under intense fire, one of his fellow Marines was seriously wounded. With disregard for his own safety Gillingham rushed to the wounded Marine to administer first aid. After he stopped the wounded Marine’s bleeding Gillingham immediately moved him to safety. Gillingham was wounded three times and later succumbed to those injuries.
Johnson was killed on Dec. 6, 1950, when his unit was wiped out during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War. Johnson was initially listed as missing in action and later presumed dead. His remains were recovered, identified and return to the United States. He was buried at the Gerald Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery last year.
“The New York State Liberty Award is only awarded by the New York State Senate and is the highest citizen award in New York State,” said Tom Mullins of Green Island, a Rev. Francis Kelly Society, military honor society spokesman and veterans advocate. “It is only awarded to veterans with exemplary service records.” The Liberty Medals were made possible through the efforts of state Sen. Daphne Jordan.
“Residents of this great state must never forget the courage for which these men, and other men and women, served their country, and must recognize that no greater debt is owed than that owned to those who gave their lives for their beloved, and to those who continue to be missing in action,” Jordan said.
Gillingham and Johnson are worthy recipients, Jordan added.
“The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by resolution and is awarded to individuals who have merited special commendation for exceptional, heroic or humanitarian acts on the behalf of their fellow New Yorkers,” Mullins said.
New patrol boat
The New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs has added a New York Naval Militia boat, a 35-foot long landing craft. Patricia Weill, wife of Admiral Larry Weill, the commander of the New York Naval Militia, christened the LC-351. The boat is crewed by three sailors and can cut through the water at 44
mph and deposit a small vehicle, or three tons of supplies or 27 personnel onto any shoreline, according to Richard Goldenberg, state DMNA spokesman. It can also serve as a patrol vessel.