WWII vets get long awaited recognition

When Honors Cadet Adam Whitsett accepted an internship with S.C. Representative Henry Brown in February, he had no idea that he would be helping honor veterans for service performed in World War II.

It all started when the congressman got a call from a friend, a World War II veteran, who had never received his Jubilee of Liberty medal for participation in the invasion of Normandy on D-Day. Brown began investigating and found that there were scores of Lowcountry veterans who never received the honors they were eligible for.

Working with Brown's military affairs and veterans advisor, Earl Copeland, Whitsett worked on the project until the end of May.

Through the American Legion and the Department of Veterans Affairs, Whitsett and Copeland made inquiries and located 109 veterans eligible for honors, ranging from the Bronze Star to the Purple Heart. And finally, in a special celebration on board the U.S.S. Yorktown on Memorial Day, the long forgotten veterans received the recognition they deserved.

"I enjoyed working on the project in Congressman Brown's office," Whitsett said. "It was really gratifying to see the veterans rewarded for their service. Everyone I interviewed was enthusiastic and appreciative."

Whitsett, a history major from Loretto, Tenn., is currently a senior at The Citadel, the Palmetto Battery Human Affairs Officer, a member of the 2003 Honor Committee, president of the Inn of Court and Phi Alpha Theta, and a member of the Mock Trial Team. He plans to attend law school after graduation.

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