2005 Society of The 3^rd Infantry Division Awards

At the 86^th annual reunion of The Society of the 3^rd Infantry Division in San Diego, California, Lynn Ball, Society Awards Chairperson, presented fourteen awards on behalf of The Society. Twelve of these awards recognized recipient’s service to the Society and/or their past military and civilian accomplishments, and humanitarianism. Two of the awards were announced for presentation to the family of MOH Recipient SFC. Paul R. Smith in honor of his heroic actions on April 4, 2003.

How Awards Were Determined: The recipient of the recruitment award was determined based on outstanding performance in recruiting new members, and the six President’s Special Awards for specific contributions to the Society were designated by Society President Jim Tiezzi. Recipients of the three Society Service Awards, the Associate Member Award, and the Audie Murphy Achievement Award were selected based on nominations sent to Lynn Ball who then prepared a package for each judge. The package contained all nominations, rules governing each award, and a ballot for each judge’s selections. The judges were our then Vice Presidents: Jerome Daddato, Central Region, and Carl Duncan, Western Region, with Society President Jim Tiezzi voting on behalf of Eastern Region Vice President Don Daly, who was out of the country during the voting period. The two MOH special tributes were announced for presentation to the family of MOH recipient SFC Paul R. Smith. (Jim Tiezzi accepted responsibility for delivering these awards, as no family representative was in attendance.) A list of the recipients and the awards received follows in the order in which they were presented:

·         LTC. Timothy R. Stoy, Recruiting Award and Society Dues paid for two years:

Direct assistance in recruiting 21 LIFE members: Outpost Europe #5845

·         Richard R. Guimond, President’s Special Award

Outstanding Membership Committee Work

·         Monika Stoy, President’s Special Award

Organizing Outpost Europe #5845 (Outpost number represents May 8, 1945.)

·         M.B. Etheredge, Director, H.E.A.R.T.S. Museum, President’s Special Award

Outstanding service in WWII and to the community and state

·         Immediate Past President Jerome A. Manley, President’s Special Award

Service as Society President, Executive Committee Member, and Outpost Officer

·         Sherman W. Pratt, President’s Special Award

Service as Judge Advocate and service to our country in WWII

·         Lynn D. Ball, President’s Special Award

Developing Scholarship Foundation as Not-for-Profit, serving as Awards Chairperson, service to the Constitution and By-Laws Committee, and as an officer of Outpost #35

·         Bruce A. Monkman, Society Service Award

Outstanding and Dedicated Service at Local and National Levels

·         Robert D. Bailey, Society Service Award

Outstanding and Dedicated Service at Local and National Levels and for service to our active troops and their families

·         Alta H. Milling, Society Service Award

Outstanding and Dedicated Service at Local and National Levels: Immediate Past Chairperson of the Society Awards Committee and current Editor of The Watch on The Rhine.

·         Helen Miceli, Associate Member Award

Outstanding and Dedicated service to the Society and to Outpost #22, work on reunions, and fund-raising efforts on behalf of worthy Society causes

·         Past President Jerry Cunningham Audie Murphy Achievement Award

Exemplary Military Service and Outstanding Dedication to Our Country and The Society of The Third Infantry Division and in the roles of President of the Society and Society Liaison to Fort Stewart

·         SFC Paul R. Smith, MOH Recipient

Special Gold Shield on Walnut plaque in commemoration of SFC Smith’s heroic actions on April 4, 2003. The plaque also featured an engraving of SFC Smith’s photograph

·         SFC Paul R. Smith, MOH Recipient

Framed tribute: superimposed over reproduction of MOH Medal and Ribbon was a certificate with details of Smith’s heroic actions

Lynn announced each award and the name of its recipient. Society President Jim Tiezzi, presented each award as the occasion was photographed. Following each presentation, Lynn read the recipient’s nomination and announced the name of its author. While the Awards Ceremony is a very solemn occasion, Lynn shared the humor associated with her own award. At the insistence of President Tiezzi, Lynn was to receive an award, also. However, since Lynn builds the President’s Awards, she had to generate her own award—which she referred to as a “Do-it-Yourself” award. Nevertheless, she is very proud of the recognition she received.

            While not so recognized at the Awards Ceremony but noteworthy nevertheless is the fact that Outpost #35 Member Justin Valle, a graphic artist, contributed his services in designing and producing the intricate artwork for SFC Smith’s tributes. We thank him for this and past services to the Society.

                                                                                                —submitted by Lynn Ball