The effort to secure a Congressional Medal of Honor for Kerry native and Korean War hero Patrick Sheahan has been bogged down in Washington seemingly for ever, this in part as a result of the fire that destroyed many army records back in 1973.
But the passing of the years is no absolute obstacle it turns out. It is being reported that President Obama will award the nation's highest medal for valor to an army private from Newark who was killed in the 1950-53 war.
Henry Svehla's sisters will receive the honor on his behalf during a ceremony on May 2.
The Defense Department says the rifleman charged enemy positions when his platoon came under heavy fire on June 12, 1952. He was mortally wounded when he threw himself on a grenade.
This sounds very similar to the fate that befell Corporal Sheahan, though in Sheahan's case it was bullets that felled the young American soldier.
Here's the actual text of the army's report describing Sheahan's last charge.
"CORPORAL PATRICK SHEAHAN, US51064448, Infantry, Company "A", 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army. On 4 October 1951, Company "A", with the First Platoon serving as the assault unit, attacked Hill 281 near Chungseri, Korea. Stiff enemy opposition prevailed and the sweeping fire of a hostile machine gun soon pinned down the platoon and halted the advance up the hill.
"Corporal SHEAHAN, realizing the gravity of the situation and aware that the enemy weapon must be neutralized, courageously crawled forward under the lethal hail of fire and completely destroyed the emplacement with accurately thrown hand grenades. Uncertain as to whether all the enemy soldiers had been killed by the explosions, he rose to his feet and, rushing forward, fired a long burst into the smashed entrenchment, eliminating all possible opposition.
"It was while thus revealed to the enemy, as he carried out his single handedly brave action that corporal SHEAHAN fell, mortally wounded by the savage fire of an adjacent automatic weapon. Corporal SHEAHAN'S aggressive gallantry and selfless devotion to duty were instrumental in the successful completion of his unit's mission and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the military service. Entered the military service from the State of New York."
Sheahan was awarded the Silver Star for his last vaction, He had previously won a Bronze Star but comrades and others have long felt that he deserved the Medal of Honor.
Senator Charles Schumer has been leading the Capitol Hill effort to secure the Medal of Honor for Sheahan. Thus far, it has been a tough mission, and one made tougher still by that fire all those years ago.
But, at least based on this latest news regarding Henry Svehla, who for sure deserves his medal, it does not appear to a mission impossible.
