AUGUSTA, ME – Today, U.S. Army veteran Oscar Gerry of Oakland finally received the set of medals and decorations he earned for his service in the military, including several awarded for his service in Bosnia during the peacekeeping operation. In a ceremony held at Senator Angus King’s office in Augusta, Claire Bridgeo, a Constituent Service Representative for Senator King, along with Peter Ogden, the Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans’ Services, presented Mr. Gerry with a total of seven decorations, including the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, among several others.

Senator King’s office helped to secure the medals for Mr. Gerry, who originally reached out to Senator King when he was experiencing difficulty accessing the health benefits he earned through his active-duty service. In helping Mr. Gerry obtain his benefits, Senator King’s office learned that he had not received his due recognition and that his official record did not reflect the full level of benefits to which he is entitled. Senator King’s staff worked with the Army’s Awards and Decorations Branch to secure the awards and decorations so that Mr. Gerry’s record accurately reflected his service and so that he would receive his proper level of health benefits.

Senator King was unable to attend the ceremony today due to Senate business in Washington, but expressed his appreciation and congratulated Mr. Gerry in a video message that was played at the event and which can also be seen HERE.

In his message to Mr. Gerry, Senator King said, “I’m so glad that you’re finally getting the medals that you earned in Bosnia that you so richly deserve…I’m awfully proud to have a guy like you in Maine. The work that you’re doing is important, and certainly the work that you did for your country was important – now almost 20 years ago. Thanks again and congratulations.”

Mr. Gerry joined the U.S. Amy in May of 1995 and was a mechanic in the 2^nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. He served in Bosnia from August of 1997 until April of 1998, and left the Army in May of 1998 with the rank of Specialist. Mr. Gerry lives in Oakland with his wife Kimberly. He has 3 children, 5 step-children, and one granddaughter. He works as an assistant manager at the Pan Am Railways Waterville Mechanical Department.

A full list of the awards and decorations that Mr. Gerry received today is as follows:

Army Achievement Medal

Army Good Conduct Medal

National Defense Service Medal

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

Armed Forces Service Medal

Army Service Ribbon

Army Lapel Button

Peter Ogden, Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans’ Services and Claire Bridgeo, a Constituent Service Representative for Senator King, present Mr. Oscar Gerry with his service medals and decorations.

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