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| Seared into 84-year-old Fred Churchill’s memory is the day his platoon wandered into a German trap during World War II – and how the G.I.s heroically helped each other scramble to safety amid a flurry of bombs. Yesterday, surrounded by family members at his Harlem home, Churchill was finally honored for his bravery.
“My main concern is that my boys get recognized for what they did,” Churchill said of his fellow platoon members. “I didn’t do this on my own.” The frail grandfather of 30 vowed to preserve the tale of the 62-member African-American platoon. “They knew they were walking into hell,” said the Chicago native as he gripped a cap pinned with war decorations. “We all stuck together.” Churchill was presented with a certificate of merit on behalf of the veterans officials, the Army and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York hospice care. Rachel Albert, a representative of the nurse service, presented the award to Churchill and said his heroic efforts had gone unrecognized for too long. “Fred, your platoon endured perhaps even more than the usual hardships,” she read from a prepared statement. “As one of very few African-American companies, your sacrifices were not appreciated as they should have been.” Churchill was injured by a concussion bomb and received the Purple Heart. The platoon received the Bronze Battle Star but remained largely unrecognized after the war. Churchill wrote a letter in January to local politicians calling on them to recognize the bravery of “an amazing group of soldiers.” The certificate commemorated the 3-1/2 years Churchill – who suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder – spent as a member of the platoon. “It meant the world to him,” said his grandson Anthony Perry, 20. “Just him as a person, he makes sure he gives everyone recognition.” Though Churchill said he thought his platoon should have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, Perry said his grandfather was content nonetheless. “He’s proud of himself, too,” Perry said. “I’m happy for him ’cause this is all he talks about.” Originally published on November 11, 2006
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Posted on November 12, 2006 by D. Bell