A while back, I posted a story about Lorton Berry. He had been in the Navy, 1940-46. Was attached to the 1st Mar Div, communications, in the Pacific. Served at Guadalcanal, Tinian and Peleliu, to name a few. Knew "Chesty". When I met him, he said he was missing some medals and one was purple. I contacted Rep. Marsha Blackburn in TN. Took a while, but her office was in contact with his daughter. And, a gentleman from Memphis Honor Flights contacted me, via Sgt. Grit. Thanks, Sgt.
As luck would have it, he fell in the parking lot at a Dollar Store. Passed away a few months ago. He was 89, I think.
Saw him a few weeks before he passed. Said he got most of his medals, but was still missing some. His daughter showed me the frame with the medals that he had. She pointed out that he was most proud of "this one".
"This one", was a small plaque, about 2" X 3". An award for being a Codetalker. My jaw dropped! Never dreamt in a million years I would ever meet one. Didn't get a chance to talk with him about that. He was bedridden at that time.
Would like to mention, his daughter told me he saw the movie "Windtalkers". He didn't like that name. He said the part where the Marine was supposed to kill the codetalker, if captured, was BS. And the few times I did get to chat with him, he always said "the Japanese". Not like "J-ps" when I was a kid.
RIP, Lorton.
My hearty thanks to Sgt.Grit. Keeping Marines, Marines!
Semper Fi,
JJ Moss