It was announced today that the Silver Star Families of America has presented the first allied service member a Silver Star Service Banner.
Janie Orman, National President of the SSFOA stated, “We are honored to issue the Silver Star Banner to Anthony W. Pahl OAM who served along side our troops in Vietnam.”
“Anthony "Aussie Bard" Pahl enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1967 at the age of 17 and served for over 20 years. He was stationed at numerous Air Force bases throughout Australia and served as a helicopter gunner in Viet Nam with 9 Squadron RAAF in 1969 – 1970, and was based in Malaysia for 3 years (1973 -1976). He and Maria, his wife since February 1968, have two married daughters and two grandsons, all of whom live in America. An Australian Viet Nam Veteran, Anthony has been in receipt of the Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (T&PI) War Disability Pension since 1992.”
Anthony Pahl has continued to serve his fellow veterans by hosting numerous web sites including those for the International War Veterans' Poetry Archives (IWVPA), the Royal Australian Air Force Viet Nam Veterans Association (RAAFVVA), and the International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering – Canada Branch (ICROSS Canada). The IWVPA site, in particular, is a personal website created in January 2001 as a coping strategy to assist Anthony to deal with war related PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
“Allied personnel cannot apply for the Silver Star Service Banner. It is awarded strictly on a case by case bases by the Board of Directors,” Orman continued.
“The unique relationship between our Australian brothers and sisters and the United States is one we hold close to our hearts. Whenever crises arise the Australians have always been by our side. For this and for their love of freedom we honor them,” Orman concluded.
http://www.silverstarfamilies.org/
www.silverstarfamilies.org
