Medal presentation honors R.I. servicemen
Congressman salutes veterans, families for dedication
klolio@ricentral.com
WEST WARWICK –– On Tuesday morning, Congressman Jim Langevin presented military service awards to seven former Rhode Island veterans and their families. Each of the service members who was honored served with the utmost distinction and integrity, Langevin said, from the beaches of Normandy to the POW camps of Germany and the battlefields of Vietnam.
“I am proud to have this opportunity to say thank you from a grateful nation,” said Langevin, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
The ceremony took place at the West Warwick VFW Hall Post 449 on Providence Street. Veterans and families from around the state attended the event Tuesday to see their loved ones recognized for their service.
The first set of medals were awarded posthumously to the late Private Adolf Ciummo, who was represented by his daughter, Nancy DePetrillo. DePetrillo and family were escorted by Commander Stranahan of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 449.
Ciummo was born Oct. 24, 1917, in Natick, Rhode Island. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on Jan. 13, 1941, at the age of 24. He went on to serve as a paratrooper in Company C of the 501st Infantry for more
than four years.
“He took part in campaigns across Normandy and central Europe during Operation Market Garden,” said Langevin. “He was posted in Holland during World War II, where he was captured by Nazi forces, and spent time as a prisoner of war in Germany.”
During this time Ciummo was allowed to write brief letters to his family to inform them he’d been captured, Langevin said.
Ciummo was discharged on Aug. 26, 1945. On Tuesday his daughter and family were presented with the Bronze Star Medal, the POW Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Europe-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and Bronze Star Attachment (Triple), the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Combat Infrantryman Badge 1st Award, the Honorable Service Lapel Button for WWII, the Sharpshooter Badge and Rifle Bar, the Marksman Badge and Machine Gun Bar and the Parachutist Badge – Basic.
The next set of medals was awarded posthumously to the late Corporal Frank Diana, accepted on his behalf by his daughter, Susan Diana. Susan and family were escorted by Winfield Danielson of the Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Diana was born on Sept. 20, 1912 in Providence. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 1, 1942 as a surgi- cal technician serving in the medical detachment of the 507th Quartermaster Battalion (Mobile). Diana took part in campaigns in New Guinea and other countries and spent over three years overseas.
“It’s bittersweet,” said his daughter, Susan. “He was very quiet and very shy and only told us about some of his experiences. There was a lot he never told us.”
Diana was posthumously awarded the following medals this week: the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Double Bronze Star Attachment, the World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with Single Bronze Star Attachment, and the Honorable Service Lapel Pin.
The late Private First Class Carmine D. DiPippo was born on May 17, 1921, in Cranston, and enlisted in the U.S. Army on Oct. 28, 1942. His medals were accepted by his daughter, Carol Maples. Maples and family were escorted by Cranston Mayor Allan Fung.
He served in Company B of the 329th Infantry until he was discharged on March 12, 1946. DiPippo was a machine gunner during the Normandy campaign. He was wounded on July 10, 1944, serving in France.
“He was a very private person who didn’t like a lot of attention,” said his daughter. “But he would have been proud today.”
DiPippo received the following posthumous medals on Tuesday: the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Europe-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and Single Bronze Star Attachment, the World War II Victory Medal, the Combat Infrantryman Badge 1st Award, the Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII and the Sharpshooter Badge, Pistol Bar, Rifle Bar Marksman Badge and Machine Gun Bar.
The late Coxswain Axel Harold Halvarson was born April 28, 1919, in Providence. His family accepted the posthumous presentation of his service medals this week. Representing Halvarson was his wife, Shirley, and son, Glenn. The family was escorted by Director of the Rhode Island Office of Veterans Affairs Kasim Yarn.
Halvarson enlisted in the U.S. Navy on May 24, 1943. He was immediately sent to basic training at the Sampson Naval Station on May 29, 1943. He was contracted to be an airplane mechanic originally, but later found himself serving on the USS LST 293, a landing ship where he could take on tanks, men and supplies in preparation for the D-Day invasion.
“According to service records,” Langevin said. “He participated in the initial assault on the beaches of France on 6 June 1944 and the landing operations in the area. Further research revealed the mission of LST 293 was to land equipment, men and supplies on the beaches of Normandy during the allied invasion, then to evacuate wounded or dead soldiers and POWs.”
The top deck of the ship was used as a surgical ward during return trips. The ship made more than 50 trips back and forth across the English Channel. After his post on LST 293 Halvarson was transferred to the USS LST 527 where he continued to serve until his retirement on Feb. 5, 1946.
Halvarson was issued the following decorations: the Combat Action Ribbon, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Honorable Discharge Button and the Honorable Service
Lapel Pin.
Sergeant John Boehnert was one of the surviving veterans to receive recognition at the ceremony. Boehnert was born Jan. 20, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on September 30, 1967, and served in the infantry during Vietnam.
Boehnert was escorted by Rhode Island state Rep. Julie Casimiro.
Boehnert received the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star Medal with V Device, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Valorous Unit Award, the Vietnam Service Medal with Silver and Bronze Star Attachment, the Republican of Vietnam Gallantry Cross and Bronze Star Attachment, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star Attachment, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960-Device, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Badge with Rifle Bar, the Sharpshooter Badge with Machine Gun Bar and the Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar.
Vietnam veteran and Captain Joel P. Rawson was recognized with the Navy Unit Commendation, the Air Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with Quadruple Bronze Star Attachment and the Army Aviation Badge.
Rawson was born March 4, 1944, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was commissioned into the U.S. Army on Feb. 12, 1967, where he served as a fixed-wing aviator during Vietnam. Rawson attended more than 40 weeks of military education training and served for over four years. He took a moment to recognize and read off the names of the air crewmen he flew with in the 138th Aviation Company who died. He was escorted by Providence Veterans Benefits Administration Director EJ McQuade.
The final recipient was Specialist Fourth Grade Paul DePetrillo, a veteran of the Korean War. DePetrillo was born June 12, 1949, and enlisted in the U.S. Army on Aug. 31, 1966. He served as an equipment repair specialist in defense of the Korean Peninsula. He was discharged on Aug. 30, 1972, and received the following decorations Tuesday: the Army Achievement Medal with Bronze Star Attachment, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Fores Expeditionary Medal, the Expert Badge and Rifle Bar, and the Korea Defense Service Medal.
DePetrillo was escorted by Rhode Island state Rep. Camille Vella-Wilkinson.
The medal ceremony was followed by a town hall focusing on issues affecting Rhode Island veterans and active service members. The event was the kickoff of the final two days of Langevin’s Listening Tour, with a focus on local military and veterans issues.