Wayne Gerlach, World War II veteran, receives his awards
Monday evening, Aug. 8, during the Cowles American Legion meeting, Wayne Gerlach, 98, was presented medals he earned during World War II. The reception included a large cake decorated with the U.S. Flag.
Wayne Gerlach, 98, a resident of Cowles, Neb., was honored last Monday night at the Cowles American Legion 116 meeting. Attending were members of the Cowles Legion, Wayne's family and friends. Retired Major General Charles Barr, Liberty, Neb., presented Wayne with medals, badges and awards he should have received for his active duty during World War II. But because of paperwork problems and time, no one in the government offices got around to giving him the awards.
When Commander Barr and his wife came to Red Cloud for an open house for their daughter, Jenny Wickham, a nurse practitioner at the Webster County Hospital, he met Wayne. The two visited about their military careers for quite awhile. Over the years Commander Barr was active helping service men attain medals from their military career. When Commander Barr found that Wayne had not received the medals he had earned, he was on a mission. This man would get the medals he deserved. Commander Barr wrote letters and made phone calls.
Wayne served with the Unites States Army 42nd Infantry Division, also known as the Rainbow Division because their unit patch looks like a rainbow. When choosing a design for the patch, the soldiers decided a rainbow was fitting because they were composed of soldiers from every state. Instead of a full arch, it is only 1/4 because they left half their soldiers behind on the battlefield.
Wayne also served with the 222nd Infantry Regiment.
At the Cowles Legion meeting, Commander Barr presented Wayne Gerlach with a shadow box filled with the following medals: Bronze Star; Good Conduct Medal; European, African, Middle East conflict campaign medal with two service stars - Rhineland and Central Europe; and the World War II Victory medal. The shadowbox contains the Combat Infantry Badge; Caliber 30 Marksman Machine Gun Badge - M1 Rifle Marksman Badge; and the Mortar Marksman Badge. Included in the shadow box are shoulder division patches and the WWII Honorable Service lapel pin. Some call it "Ruptured Duck" since it resembles an ugly looking eagle. At the top of the shadow box is Wayne's Certificate of Commendation who served from July 27, 1944 to June 17, 1945.
After 77 years, Wayne has received his awards for his service to our country. Freedom is never free.
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