Three-fourths of my grandparents were WWII veterans and I wish I could express how much gratitude I have for that.

Whilst I belong staunchly in the pacifistic camp, I nevertheless hold those who give their service, honor, and sometimes their lives in the highest esteem possible. Though I am, in the strongest terms, opposed to the war in Iraq, and I believe that violence is an unacceptable element of humanity–call me idealistic or naive, that’s all right–I believe that the sacrifices made by those who put their lives on the line in the military can never, ever be honored enough. The lack of veterans’ support services in this country sickens me; occasional misdirected anti-war sentiment focused on the men and women of the armed services is tragic. Hate the war, love the troops. As it were.

My paternal grandfather, Nelson Clifford Gardner, was a Navy lieutenant stateside during WWII. His business was munitions (he went on to make a career of rocket propellants and the like). I have in front of me a mimeograph of a typewritten letter signed by the then Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal.

It reads:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY AND MARINE CORPS MEDAL to

LIEUTENANT NELSON CLIFFORD GARDNER, UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

“For heroic conduct on the occasion of an explosion at Triumph Explosives, Inc., Elkton, Maryland, on May 4, 1943. Arriving at the scene immediately after an explosion had demolished one building, started serious fires and scattered flaming material throughout the wide area, Lieutenant (then Lieutenant, Junior Grade) Gardner immediately entered the tracer igniter assembly building despite the extreme danger of further imminent detonations and assisted in carrying dazed and injured personnel to safety. Working desperately to clear the flaming structure, he succeeded in completing his perilous task just before it collapsed. Sighting a man pinned in the wreckage of the canteen, he again risked his life to effect a rescue and, after soaking himself with water from a broken sprinkler main, made three valiant attempt to enter the area but was driven back by the intense heat. Then, voluntarily joining the fire fighting party, he dauntlessly continued his determined efforts to control the blaze and protect other buildings from fire. Lieutenant Gardner’s daring initiative, prompt action and self-sacrificing devotion to the completion of a hazardous task in the face of grave peril contributed to the saving of many lives and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

For the President,

[James Forrestal]

Secretary of the Navy

A few remarks. One, this is interesting. A few brief news accounts explain that at least 15 people died and many were injured in the explosion. From the AP wire:

“An official statement from Army and Navy officers and BENJAMIN F. PEPPER, Triumph president, paid high tribute to naval officers and company employes “who did notable rescue work in utter disregard of their personal safety.”"

I am not certain how many people have been recipients of the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, but I understand it is the second-highest civil award of its kind. It is ironic that I will not have children yet find genealogy fascinating. If I can find time sometime in my life, I’d like to learn more about this event.