Two heroes of past wars receive overdue honors
Published: March 28, 2006
33 years ago. Her husband is a Vietnam War veteran and her father-in-law and his brothers served in World War II.
Before she could arrange Saturday’s ceremonies, she had to get permission from the soldiers’ surviving relatives, which was no easy task.
Shiels left behind no children when he died in 1943, but she eventually tracked down the descendants of his brother, Maj. and Dr. John Wilson Shiels.
Peevyhouse’s next mission is to find the relatives of another San Francisco Medal of Honor winner so his grave can be marked.
So far, she hasn’t had any luck finding descendants of Charles Felix Kauffman, who was born Feb. 10, 1844, in Strasburg, France, and died Sept. 30, 1905, in San Francisco. She’s asking descendants of Edward P. Kauffman, Everall W. Arnold or Hazel Mae Kauffman Osborn to contact her at (408) 224-5757.
Saturday was National Medal of Honor Day, marking the 143rd anniversary of the day the first medals were awarded during the Civil War.
Alison Giesea Adams of Kentfield said she didn’t know much about her great great uncle until Peevyhouse contacted her family. Now, she’s proud.
“Each one of us in the family will stand a little bit taller after this honor and strive a little bit harder each day to make these gentlemen proud of us,” Adams said.
Only 0.1 percent of all veterans are Medal of Honor winners.
“This is just an incredible story and an incredible man who left a legacy for all of us to follow,” said retired Maj. Gen. Roger Brautigan, undersecretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs.
His only surviving relative, niece Philis Ludlam Gold of Greenwich, Conn., was unable to attend Saturday’s ceremony.
“This holiday should be one of our most revered. Unfortunately, most Americans don’t even know about it,” said Col. Richard Mollica, deputy chief of staff for the 91st Division.
If you enjoyed this good news Subscribe to Good News Blog
Share this
To share this simply copy and paste one of the below URL's: