FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 17, 2004
SCHUMER AWARDS MADISON COUNTY KOREAN WAR HERO THREE MEDALS
OF HONOR
Schumer helped to obtain the National Defense Service Medal,
Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal for Hamilton
resident William Edmonston for his service during the Korean War
Senator awards Edmonston the medals in ceremony today
US Senator Charles E. Schumer today awarded Madison County war
hero William Edmonston three medals of honor for his service during
the Korean War. Schumer helped to obtain the National Defense Service
Medal, Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal
for Mr. Edmonston and awarded the medals to him at a ceremony today
in New Hartford.
“In Korea, Mr. Edmonston was a pioneer in training soldiers
for shell shock and his bravery and service made a world of difference
for so many of the soldiers on the front line over there,”
Schumer said. “His work made the pains of war a bit more tolerable
for those men and women and forty years later, I’m glad to
help see that he gets his due recognition from the United States
military.”
Mr. Edmonston served as an officer in the Medical Service Corps,
serving an eight month tour in Korea from 1953 to 1954. In Korea
(1953-1954) he served as an officer in the Army's Medical Service
Corps. The Medical Service Corps served as the military’s
hospital administrators. Mr. Edmonston was with the 212 Psychiatric
Detachment of the 123 Medical Holding Company. This particular unit
was the only one in Korea and a first of its kind. Previously, soldiers
who were thought to have "shell shock" (now known as Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder) were immediately sent home to the US.
Instead Mr. Edmonston’s unit intervened and provided psychiatric
social work.
In October 2004, Mr. Edmonston reached out to Schumer’s office
looking for help in obtaining the three medals. As a result, Schumer
secured the National Defense Service Medal for honorable active
duty service; the Korean Service Medal for his participation in
military operations within the Korea; and the United Nations Service
Medal for his service on behalf of the United Nations in Korea.
Mr. Edmonston began his military service when he enrolled in the
ROTC program at John Hopkins University where he majored in psychology.
Shortly after graduating he was commissioned and sent to Korea.
After his service, he taught at Washington University in St. Louis
and then spent 30 years at Colgate University teaching psychology
and neuropsychology. He has been retired for 11 years. Mr. Edmonston
and his wife have three children and two grandchildren and live
in Hamilton.
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