Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) honored 11 local veterans during a ceremony at the Buffalo and Erie Country Naval & Military Park, awarding 73 service medals & ribbons earned by Western New York veterans Richard Cohen, Donald Cohen, Louis Harrison, Rose Hyman, Wade Lewis, Monica Lynch, Joseph Murphy, Richard Reisch, Tommie Wagstaff, Renee Wiley, and Edward A. Ziarnowski who served our country during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, as well as Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

“From fighting in World War II to, more recently, deploying to the Middle East, these brave men and women dutifully served our country and returned home to serve their communities with little fanfare and formal recognition of their service,” said Congressman Brian Higgins. “We are proud to present these local heroes with the military honors they rightfully earned. As a community and a nation, we are forever indebted to their service and the sacrifices they have made for our country.”

Seaman First Class Richard Cohen

In June of 1944, Richard Cohen’s ship, the SS Robert Eden was just off the coast of Omaha Beach in France during the Invasion of Normandy. As a Seaman First Class and Communication Liaison in the U.S. Navy, he helped to provide critical supplies for troops. After honorably discharging from the Navy, he returned to Buffalo and served for many years as a police detective.

Seaman First Class Cohen was awarded:

    Navy Good Conduct Medal
    American Campaign Medal
    European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
    WWII Victory Medal
    Honorable Service Lapel Pin

U.S. Army Technical Sergeant Donald Cohen

Donald Cohen joined the U.S. Army in February of 1943 as a member of the 97th Infantry. Serving in this specialized company, he was involved in battles in Central Burma, China, and India.

Technical Sergeant Cohen was awarded:

    Bronze Star Medal for meritorious and heroic achievements
    Good Conduct Medal
    Presidential Unit Citation, an award recognizing units for extraordinary heroism in action against armed enemy forces
    American Campaign Medal
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/3 Bronze Service Stars
    WWII Victory Medal
    Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award
    Expert Infantryman Badge
    Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII
    Expert Badge with Carbine Bar
    Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar

U.S. Army Specialist Four Louis Harrison

At only 17 years old, Louis Harrison marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. and then went on to serve in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971. Becoming a Specialist Four, he deployed to Vietnam and Communist China as a medical specialist serving with the 1st Cavalry Division and 15th Medical Battalion. Harrison cared deeply for his fellow soldiers, always going first to scope out the enemy. Despite nearly being killed by a grenade, he never missed the enemy, earning himself the nickname “Hawkeyes.” After his service, he returned to the 6th Ward in New Orleans where met the love of his life, Clementina. Later, in 2005, he moved to Buffalo.

Specialist Four Harrison was awarded:

    Bronze Star Medal for meritorious and heroic achievements
    Army Commendation Medal
    National Defense Service Medal
    Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars
    Combat Medical Badge 1st Award
    Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Device
    Expert Badge with Rifle Bar

Louis Harrison’s wife, Clementina was also presented with:

    Deceased Vietnam Veteran’s Surviving Spouse Pin

The pin was among those authorized by Congress to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. The Commemoration pledges to honor United States Veterans who served in active duty in the United States Armed Forces between November 1, 1955 and May 15, 1975, regardless of location.

U.S. Army Specialist Rose Hyman

Specialist Four Rose Hyman, a native of Buffalo, served in the U.S. Army from February 1984 to October 1989. After honorably discharging from the Army, she continued to diligently serve her country and fellow veterans. She completed Military Veteran Peer Network Basic Training and went on to work at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Buffalo and Philadelphia, as well as the VA Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

Army Specialist Hyman was awarded:

    Army Achievement Ribbon
    Good Conduct Medal
    Army Service Ribbon
    Marksman Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar

U.S. Navy Radio Operator Wade Lewis

Radio Operator Wade Lewis enlisted in the U.S. Navy at just 19 years old, becoming a trailblazer as an African American solider while serving in the Korean War. He served on the destroyer escorting the USS Greenwood. This past year, he participated in a Buffalo Honor Fight.

Radio Operator Lewis was awarded:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal with Europe Clasp
    National Defense Service Medal
    Honorable Discharge Button

U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Monica Lynch

Upon enlisting in the U.S. Marines Corps, Corporal Monica Lynch deployed to Saudi Arabia and the Emirate of Kuwait where she participated in ground combat during Operations Desert Storm and Shield. She and her fellow service members faced multiple chemical warfare attacks but were ultimately successful. A pioneer for Black women in the U.S Marine Corps, when Lynch joined just 4% of all active U.S. Military personnel were women. She is likely one of the first Black women from Western New York to serve in combat and receive the Combat Action Ribbon while serving in the United States Marine Corps.

Corporal Lynch was awarded:

    Combat Action Ribbon for active participation in ground combat during Operation Desert Storm during the period January 17 to February 28, 1991
    Navy Unit Commendation awarded to a Marine Expeditionary Force for service during the period August 14, 1990 to April 16, 1991
    Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
    National Defense Service Medal
    Southwest Asia Service Medal with Three Bronze Campaign Stars
    Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with One Bronze Star
    Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
    Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
    Rifle Marksman Badge, and Various other medals.

U.S. Navy Coxswain Joseph Patrick (Jody) Murphy

Joseph Patrick “Jody” Murphy enlisted in the U.S. Navy in January 1943. While serving, he achieved the rank of Coxswain, the person in charge of navigating and steering the ship upon which they serve. He was a member of the Special Forces Navy Frogman Underwater Demolition Team designed to conduct underwater operations to stealthily breach enemy positions. He served aboard the destroyer tender, USS Melville, and the attack cargo ship USS Circe in the Pacific Theater. After honorably discharging from the Navy, Murphy became an Iron Worker out of Local 6 in Buffalo.

Coxswain & Frogman Murphy was awarded:

    American Campaign Medal
    European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
    Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 1 bronze service star
    World War II Victory Medal
    Honorable Service Discharge Button

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Richard Reisch

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Richard Reisch arrived on the battlefield in Vietnam in December of 1970 and fought in combat until 1971. He then was stationed at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina and went to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey where he was a Signal School instructor until he was transferred to Berlin where he served from June 1974 to May 1977. He served as a Radio Repairman and a Non-Commissioned Officer of Special Radio Projects.

Staff Sergeant Reisch was awarded:

    Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces from December 1970 to December 1971 in the Republic of Vietnam
    Army Commendation Medal
    National Defense Service Medal
    Army of Occupation Medal with Berlin Airlift Device
    Vietnam Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars
    Good Conduct Medal

The Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin comes from the American Vietnam War Commemoration, which was authorized by Congress to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. The Commemoration pledges to honor United States Veterans who served in active duty in the United States Armed Forces between November 1, 1955 and May 15, 1975, regardless of location. Congressman Higgins also presented Staff Sergeant Reisch with the:

    Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin

In addition to these U.S.-issued medals, Reisch was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and the Civil Actions Unit Citation for saving lives during a Typhoon and repairing the roof of a building that was nearly destroyed.

Richard Reisch’s wife, Barbara the love of his life, is also a veteran. They met in Berlin where they were stationed. She received a certificate from the US Army for fighting for freedom while living in Berlin.

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Tommie Wagstaff

Enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1992, Staff Sergeant Tommie Wagstaff served for over 20 years, receiving honorable remarks from superiors throughout his career. He had sound judgment, and boundless enthusiasm, performed well under external stress, was a dedicated leader, and placed his fellow soldiers' needs above his own.

Staff Sergeant Wagstaff was awarded:

    Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with One Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
    National Defense Service Medal
    Armed Forces Reserve Medal and Letter M Device
    Army Service Ribbon
    Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar
    Global War on Terror Service Medal
    Afghanistan Campaign Medal With One Bronze Service Star
    Overseas Service Ribbon

U.S. Army Reserve Sergeant Renee Wiley

Sergeant Renee Wiley enlisted into the U.S. Army Reserves in November of 1978. She worked at the 865th General Hospital as Emergency Treatment NCO, providing emergency and routine outpatient medical care. While rising to the rank of Drill Sergeant in the Army, she served the community as a Sex Crimes Investigator for the Department of Corrections. Despite balancing dual careers, she excelled in all her work and felt truly fulfilled in her positions. Her dedicated and selfless devotion to duty in support of the U.S. Army in a difficult and ever-increasing national security role demonstrates the key qualities of the Citizen-Soldier.

Sergeant Wiley was awarded:

    Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal
    Army Achievement Medal
    National Defense Service medal
    NCO Professional Development Ribbon and numeral 2
    Army Service Ribbon
    Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar

U.S. Army Sergeant Edward A. Ziarnowski

Sergeant Edward A. Ziarnowski joined the U.S. Army on July 7, 1942, and entered active service at Fort Niagara, NY, just two weeks later on July 21, 1942. He served in the European-African Theater from July 1943 to June 1945 as an Auto Equipment Operator and a Pistol/Rifle Marksman. After serving, Ziarnowski went on to work in a local Chevrolet plant and was the President of UAW 774 for 16 years. He worked to provide members with greater recreational, health, and educational opportunities that most unions did not offer at the time. Ziarnowski also assisted in starting the UAW satellite for the Children’s Hospital Telethon. In addition to his military honors, he also received a civilian award from the Am-Pol Eagle for his contributions to local labor.

Sergeant Ziarnowski was awarded:

    Good Conduct Medal
    American Campaign Medal
    European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars
    World War II Victory Medal
    Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp
    Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII
    Marksman Badge with Pistol Bar and Rifle Bar

Over the years Congressman Brian Higgins’ Office was able to obtain nearly 2,000 medals for veterans and family members of veterans in WNY. Any veteran or family of a veteran seeking assistance with obtaining military service medals, veteran benefits, or service-connected matters can reach out to Congressman Higgins’ office at 716-852-3501.