Nearly 41 years after making the ultimate sacrifice in the service of his country and defending his comrades Wellsville native Melvin Newlin was inducted yesterday into the the Ohio Military Hall-of-Fame in Columbus. Taken from the pages of ohioheros.org is first a description of the OMHOF meldal awarded in yesterday's ceremonies. Following that is a copy of Newlin's Medal-of-Honor citation.
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Description of OMHOF Medal Ed Arthur envisioned and designed the Ohio Medal of Valor over a period of time beginning in 1990. It represents all that its recipients sacrificed for freedom as well as singles out the recipient as representing his or her home state - Ohio.
Most importantly, Arthur wanted all its recipients to be proud to wear this medal to share their love of their country and the State of Ohio, and so that the greater population can reach out to the veteran and reciprocate that respect and devotion to service.
Components of the Medal: The green wreath in the background is in memory of those soldiers who died in battle, but are not to be forgotten.
The cross is not a religious symbol, but rather represents the four corners of the world in which our military have served.
The eagle is present because this award is for having served in a national military branch of service.
The state outline with the state pennant inside this outline represents that its recipients were either born in the State of Ohio or inducted into a national branch of service while in the State of Ohio.
So as not to be confused with other awards, Arthur wanted all who see its recipient wearing this medal to have no doubt as to why it was awarded - hence the word "Valor."
The red and white ribbon attached to the medal is symbolic of the blood that was shed and the lives that were lost.
The adaptation of red, white, and blue within the medals are symbolic of our nation's Stars and Stripes and the State of Ohio pennant colors and what they represent.
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Private First Class Melvin E. Newlin
Class of 2008
United States MarinesMedal of Honor
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machine gunner attached to the First Platoon, Company F, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, First marine Division, in the Republic of Vietnam on 3 and 4 July 1967. Private Newlin with four other Marines, was manning a key position on the perimeter of Nong Son outpost when the enemy launched a savage and well coordinated mortar and infantry assault, seriously wounding him and killing his four comrades. Propping himself against his machine gun, he poured a deadly accurate stream of fire into the charging ranks of the Viet Cong. Though repeatedly hit by small arms fire, he twice repelled enemy attempts to overrun his position. During the third attempt, a grenade explosion wounded him again and knocked him to the ground unconscious. The Viet Cong guerillas, believing him dead, bypassed him and continued their assault on the main force. Meanwhile, Private Newlin regained consciousness, crawled back to his weapon, and brought it to bear on the rear of the enemy causing havoc and confusion among them. Spotting the enemy attempting to bring a captured 106 recoilless weapon to bear on other Marine positions, he shifted his fire, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and preventing them from firing the captured weapon. He then shifted his fire back to the primary enemy force, causing the enemy to stop their assault on the Marine bunkers and to once again attack his machine gun position. Valiantly fighting off two more enemy assaults, he firmly held his ground until mortally wounded. Private Newlin had single-handedly broken up and disorganized the entire enemy assault force, causing them to lose momentum and delaying them long enough for his fellow Marines to organize a defense and beat off their secondary attack. His indomitable courage, fortitude, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of almost certain death reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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I never knew Melvin Newlin but it is never too late to say thank you. He is one of the many veterans and active military that Wellsville is home to. I think he is the only Medal-of-Honor recipient we have. Correct me if I'm wrong. Hopefully the sacrifices of all our veterans are never forgotten. Pictured above is Newlin and the OMHOF medal.
ole nib
6 comments:
To have a CMO in Wellsville is something we can all be proud of, whether we served in the military or not. Some people may think that people are making a big deal about this but I don't think so. It is like reading a script to a movie. You want to know alot more about Melvin and what led up to his decision to enlist.
Sometimes when I go to Springhill Cemetery I either stop by his grave or make it a point to look over at his headsone.
If there are people out there who don't know who Melvin is or what he did, there is site to go to: Medal of Honor.com, it gives a list of all the medal winners by state, city and where they enlisted. There is a picture of their headstone and what happened to them to be honored in such a way. It is a site worth visiting.
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/
Nib:
I feel it is appropriate to honor
Mr. Newlin. Everyone should check out the picture painted by artist '
Gina Hampson down by the Riverside Roadhouse. It is a wonderful tribute. I do have to say, I didn't understand Lucille Houstons
comment in todays paper that there should be a mural on the flood wall to honor all the victims of war in Wellsville. If she takes a look, there is one. It represents every branch of the service and every war and all who gave the ultimate sacrifice. It was sponsored by a man who lost a brother and the family is from Wellsville. It is a great tribute also. Everyone should check it out too. We should be proud of all our servicemen, living and fallen. Where would we be without them?
"I do have to say, I didn't understand Lucille Houstons
comment in todays paper that there should be a mural on the flood wall to honor all the victims of war in Wellsville."
Jesus, is this woman NEVER going to retire and keep her nose OUT of the news, where it never belonged in the first place?!
Ms. houston should really do some research before she puts her comments out in the public domain. What a slap in the face to the family that paid for that wonderful painting as a memorial to all of Wellsville's fallen hero's. It also seems like a shot at the artist who painted that absolutely stunning full portrait of Mr. Newlin by the RoadHouse.. not to mention the subtle implication that Wellsville should do more to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrafice. I am proud of all our memorials to these brave people and I appreciate the time and effort it took from many of our citizens to have them. Maybe Ms. Houston should try more to appreciate what we have already done (this includes our veterans) to honor our fellow citizens than to keep insinuating that we (Wellsville) do not do enough. I suggest Ms. Houston pay for a memorial to our armed services by having a mural painted (by the artist she has insulted by ignoring her work) on that huge outside wall of the VFW.
Loosewheel:
I love that idea. Why doesnt Lucille pay the artist to paint something she deems good enough to satisfy her need for more memorials. The old bat could open up her purse strings and quit complaining. Then people would post nice things about her for a change.
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