The organization that I belong to, National Image, Inc., honors civilian and military men and women on active duty who have excelled in community service at our Military Awards banquet on a yearly basis. This year our conference was held in Baltimore, Maryland. The call went out to the Department of Defense to submit personnel to receive this award. I have been in contact with my platoon commander since the late 80's even though we had served in the Republic of Vietnam in 1966-67. I knew that he had been involved in community service in Philadelphia where he resides and asked him to meet me just to say hello and talk about our experiences. It was a complete surprise for him!
Attached is a photo of the group that received the awards.
Lt. James J. Kirschke was our 81's platoon commander with 3/5 and later the rifle platoon commander with 2/5 in 1966-67. He was critically wounded by a triple explosion of a box mine rigged to an anti-tank rocket round and a fragmentation grenade. He was medicallyretired as a Captain.
Dr. Kirschke is the author of A Marine's Story, Not Going Home Alone and is currently a professor of English at Villanova. He has been and continues to be a great advisor to the men who served with him and continues to stay in communication.
Semper Fi!
Lorenzo Maya Jr.
Vietnam 66-67