Engineer receives Bronze Star for service in Iraq Lt. Col. Brian Green of the New England District Corps of Engineers received a Bronze Star Medal Jan. 30 for his six-month tour in Iraq. Army Public Affairs March 10, 2004

http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/soldierstories/s...ory_id_key=5734

Father, son awarded Bronze Stars 1st Sgt. David Cecil Mitchell and his son, Sgt. Joseph Brian Mitchell, both members of the 223rd Combat Engineer Battalion (Heavy), were presented with Bronze Stars. The first sergeant and his son were among 31 members of a Mississippi National Guard unit awarded Bronze Stars at a 4th Infantry Division ceremony Feb. 5 in Tikrit, Iraq.

http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/soldierstories/s...ory_id_key=5675

Army Public Affairs February 13, 2004

An American

You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American. So I just thought I would write to let them know what an American is, so they would know when they found one.

An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani, or Afghan. An American may also be a Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.

An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them choose.

An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.

An American is from the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each man and woman to the pursuit of happiness.

An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need. When Afghanistan was overrun by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country. As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan. The best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best athletes.

Americans welcome the best, but they also welcome the least. The national symbol of America welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed.

These in fact are the people who built America. Some of them were working in the Twin Towers in the morning of September 11, earning a better life for their families. [i've been told that the people in the Towers were from at least 30, and maybe many more, other countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.]

So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history of the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.

So look around you. You may find more Americans in your land than you thought were there. One day they will rise up and overthrow the old, ignorant, tired tyrants that trouble too many lands. Then those lands, too, will join the community of free and prosperous nations.

And America will welcome them.

Origins: As the reaction to pieces from a Canadian broadcaster and a Romanian journalist demonstrate, Americans take great delight in encomiums to America and Americans authored by citizens of other nations.

This "What is an American?" piece was penned by Peter Ferrara, an associate professor of law at the George Mason University School of Law in Northern Virginia. Mr. Ferrara's commentary was originally published in the National Review on 25 September 2001.

I received this tonight.

Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your site and efforts. I called several of the assisted living activity coordinators in the Charlotte, NC area and told them about your site. After initial reluctance, they review the information (thinking I was selling something) and then emailed me back telling me how much their senior citizens loved the music!

Great job and God bless!

Marc Gilland

Charlotte

Two links for veterans sites:

http://www.dav.org/

http://www.supportveterans.org/give_back_t..._vets/index.htm

We already have a great page on our site featuring Charles Wilber, but now I am delighted to say that I have been contacted by a gentleman today looking for info on his uncle, also with the 326th. Here is the letter.

-------

Hello Marion,

My name is Ron Day and I just happened across your web

site about the 326th Airborne Engineers. What I saw

was amazing! I couldn't believe it when I saw the 2

part photo's of Baker company 326th... because I have

the same photo's. My Uncle is in the right side photo.

Count fourth from the left of those sitting indian

style on the ground, in the center, and then go up one

(to the first row of those seated on the bleachers).

That is Sgt. Peter Paul Evans (called Paul by most).

I have been looking for years for any link to anyone

that may know anything about the 326th and what they

did during WWII. My Uncle Paul was awarded at least 2

Bronze Stars (one I believe as an end of tour type

award for participation in all of the major campaigns)

and one for actions at Carentan France. He was also

awarded at least 2 purple hearts. I believe both were

for wounds received at Bastogne.

He enlisted in West Virginia and was a carpenter by

trade.

Unfortunately, I have to report that he was killed in

1971. He limped somewhat from grenade shrapnel in his

knee, and one day limping/crossing a wide street in

Washington D.C. where he lived, he was run down by a

car and killed.

Do you know anyone that is still alive, that could

possibly know him? If so, is there anyway you could

possibly put them in touch with me?

I am retired from the Army myself and am the youngest

son of his sister. I have several photos and even

newspaper clippings of some of his letters that were

published in the local newspaper where he was from,

about some of the things he saw and did during WWII.

I can not express the pride I have for my Uncle's

service and the extreme respect I have for the every

day heroics of that generation... words are not

enough.

Please use the information about my Uncle which I have

provided. Pass it on... maybe there is a friend of his

out there that this info could mean a lot to.

Again, if there is anyone out there that you can put

me in contact with, that may have known my Uncle,

Please put them in contact with me.

Thank You very much for putting this information on

the web.

Respectfully,

Ron Day

I wrote back to him this morning and have forwarded his email to Doug, the son of Charles Wilber. I also sent him the phone number of Joe Grille, who was also in Co B, 236th. I am sure all involved with have much to share.

I am going to feature Ron's uncle on the site in the near future. Always grateful to have another great engineer on our site.