Air Force posthumously awards Bronze Star

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON --  An Air Force chaplain’s assistant was posthumously recognized in a Brewer, Maine, ceremony Sept. 27 for his participation in a Korean War airlift that saved nearly 1,000 orphans.

Staff Sgt. Merle Y. Strang played a key part in evacuating orphans from war-torn Seoul, South Korea, to the safer Cheju-do Island. It was a role that Air Force Chief of Chaplains, Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Charles C. Baldwin honored with the presentation of the Bronze Star to Sergeant Strang’s brother, the Rev. Homer Strang.

“I know there are thousands of Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors who never receive a medal for what they did, but today we were able to present this one to this sergeant, and that’s a good thing,” Chaplain Baldwin said.

The Bronze Star is awarded to servicemembers in all branches of the military for combat heroism or meritorious service. Though 55 years have passed since the mission, Air Force leaders still felt it was important to recognize Sergeant Strang.

“It’s a great honor for me,” Chaplain Baldwin said. “This completes a part of chaplain history. Sergeant Strang is part of a great legacy of chaplain assistants and we got to honor him.”

In 1950, Sergeant Strang was a chaplain's assistant to Chaplain (Lt. Col.) R.L. Blaisdell, who was chaplain of the 5th Air Force in South Korea. As enemy forces advanced into the city of Seoul, the two Airmen worked to usher nearly 1,000 South Korean orphans -- ranging in age from 6 months to 11 years -- into twin-engine American transport planes that evacuated them to safety.

“(Sergeant Strang) wasn’t one to talk about what went on over there,” Reverend Strang said. “He said there was a plane flying back and forth with children on it, and sometimes they were shot at, which was scary. A lot of boys, though, never talked about (the Korean War).”

Unfortunately, Sergeant Strang did not live long enough to receive the medal himself, but the passage of time did not take away the feelings from the long-overdue recognition, said Reverend Strang.

“I know if (Sergeant Strang) was here, I doubt you’d get him to say anything about (the mission),” he said. “But this all means a lot. He was special, and I wish he could have been here, but he’s with the Lord now, and I’m perfectly happy to receive (the Bronze Star) for him.”