In both cases, the soldiers had never received the medals they earned during their wartime service – something Mullin said is somewhat common during World War II and the Vietnam era.
At a ceremony in Okmulgee, a Bronze Star was given to 1st Sergeant Amos Starr, a Vietnam veteran. Later that afternoon, Mullin posthumously presented the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge and other medals and commendations to PFC Richard V. Miller, a World War II veteran from Muskogee.“My office is always happy to help veterans who earned medals during their time in service but for some reason never received those medals,” Mullin said. “It is a very special opportunity for us to be able to facilitate honoring these service members in this way.”
At OSU Institute of Technology in Okmulgee, Mullin officially presented Starr with the Bronze Star that records show he should have received for his service in Vietnam during 1969-1970. Starr’s medal was the result of casework by Illinois State Senator Neil Anderson, whose office asked Mullin to make the official presentation since Starr is a resident of the Second Congressional District.
The medals secured by Mullin’s office on behalf of PFC Miller were presented to his family, as Miller passed away in 1980, without ever receiving the honors. Miller served with Company I, 411th Infantry, 103rd Division during World War II.
The posthumous medals presentation was held at the American Legion Post #20 in Fort Gibson.
“It is such an honor for our office to be able to participate in these medal presentations and my team is dedicated to making these ceremonies as special as possible for the veterans and their families,” Mullin said. “It is just a very fitting way to spend our Veterans Day.”
