‘Long Overdue’ Medals Awarded to Former POWs in Special Ceremony

More than 40 years ago, Carl Gunnerson of San Diego was a prisoner of war. He was confined but proud to be serving his country, even though in the decades since many have ignored or forgotten his ordeals and those of his colleagues.

“I was proud of my service on the USS Houston,” Gunnerson said of his days in the Navy. “And I’m still proud today, especially after receiving this medal because it is long overdue.”

The Prisoner of War medal, which was authorized by Congress and signed into law March 30, was presented to former POWs in ceremonies across the nation Friday.

Gunnerson and more than 300 former POWs or relatives of dead POWs gathered at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot to receive the medal, the first of its kind, which will be awarded to more than 142,000 men and women imprisoned during armed conflict.

“Forty years is a long time, but I’m just glad that I got to see this day,” Gunnerson said.

Most WWII Veterans

In his address to the former POWs, former Assistant Secretary of Defense Barry Shillito said, “Let’s hope no one else has to earn a medal like this. But let’s also hope that others will have the courage to do so if it is necessary.”

Most of the former POWs taking part in the National POW-Missing in Action Recognition Day ceremony, such as Bernard Richardson of Carlsbad, were World War II veterans.

Richardson said he remembers being bombed daily. “Three hundred of us (Marines) surrendered on Wake Island, and I’m not even sure how many of us made it out,” he said.

Now a writer, 68-year-old Richardson said the medal is for his 7-year-old grandson in Kentucky more than anything else. “I just want this medal so I can give it to my grandson when he is old enough to understand what it means,” Richardson said. “I hardly ever participate in annual POW-MIA programs, but I had to make it here because I wanted to do this for him. It’s a part of me I want him to have.”

“I was a prisoner longer than the war lasted,” Richardson said of his 3 years and 9 months in POW camps in China and Japan. The occasional noise of planes from nearby Lindbergh Field didn’t disturb the solemn mood of the men and women being honored, and there was long applause at almost every mention of Americans considered still missing in action. A flag bearing the POW-MIA creed, “You Are Not Forgotten,” was draped over a chair at the center of the podium.

Days before the ceremony, some honorees talked about returning their medals unless the crew of the Pueblo--a Navy surveillance ship seized by North Korea in 1968--was also honored. But former Navy POWs refused comment on the issue.

“I think being honored as a POW is wonderful,” said Cliff Hanson of Fallbrook, “but I haven’t given (the Pueblo) much thought.”

Dan Ener, director of the Veterans Administration regional office, said he would like to see changes in the legislation that authorized the medals so that the Pueblo crew would also receive some recognition.

“I feel the country will reassess its position and properly recognize the Pueblo crew at the right time,” Shillito said.

“This medal is something that brings back many memories and is something we deserve,” said Norius Crisan, who was at the ceremony with his wife, daughter, twin sister and brother-in-law.

“I feel a great deal of pride,” Crisan said, as his daughter modeled the medal and lapel pin also presented to the honorees.

“I’m very proud of him and all the others who also went through what he went through,” Crisan’s daughter, Michelle, said.

For Debbie Budge, compares to the excitement her father-in-law, Keith Budge, felt when he received his letter about four months ago informing him of the medal--a bronze medallion of an eagle encircled by barbed wire, hanging from a black, blue and beige striped cloth.

“It lets him know that what he went through was all worthwhile no matter what,” Debbie Budge said of her father-in-law, an Army veteran who was a POW for three years.

“It means what he fought for, went through and survived, and is finally being recognized for, was not in vain,” she said.