West Lafayette, IN—Congressman Steve Buyer today oversaw the ceremonial presentation of several military decorations to veterans and their families from area communities.  The Bronze Star and Purple Heart were among the many service medals presented at the ceremony held in McArthur Auditorium at the Indiana Veterans’ Home.  They were awarded to veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.  The family members of those service-members who have passed accepted the awards on their behalf.    

Congressman Buyer who continues to serve as a colonel in the Armey Reserves said, “It is truly an honor to be here today, surrounded by these heroes, their families and the families of those service-members who are no longer with us.  Those receiving decorations and their families know firsthand the sacrifices that have been made to defend the freedoms that we enjoy here in this country,”           

Details of those who received medals today included: 

PFC Eugene Linder of Buck Creek, Indiana

Medals presented to Mary Lou Gramman (daughter) and Gordon Mattox (son-in-law)

Time of Service:  World War II

Medals:        Bronze Star

Purple Heart

Good Conduct Medal

Meritorious Unit Commendation

American Campaign Medal

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal & Bronze Star Attachment (Double)

World War II Victory Medal

Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award 

PFC Eugene Linder was born on August 23, 1921.  He was inducted in to the Army on August 23, 1944 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana.  He served in the United States Army during World War II with Company L, 317th Infantry Regiment 90th Infantry Division.  He was an automatic rifle marksman who fought in the Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns earning numerous medals including the Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Medal w/2 Bronze Stars, Honorable Service Lapel Button WW II, and Sharpshooter Badge w/rifle bar. 

PFC Eugene Linder was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Medal w/2 Bronze Battle Stars (The Rhineland Campaign and Central Europe Campaign).   

Technician Fifth Grade Rex Kepler of Lafayette, IN          

Time of Service:  World War II

Medal:          Bronze Star 

Rex Kepler was born on February 12, 1921 in Crawfordsville, IN.  He entered active service on 23 August 1944 in Indianapolis, departing the United States for the war zone on 15 March 1945 arriving in Central Europe on 26 March 1945, assigned to Company B, 5th Infantry Regiment.  He returned to the United States on 4 July 1946 and was discharge at the convenience of the government on 10 July 1946 at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin.  During his time in service in Central Europe he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Army of Occupation Medal – Germany previously awarded. 

Today Rex will receive the Bronze Star Medal awarded to those World War II Infantrymen who were awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) or the Combat Medical Badge (CMB) retroactive to December 7, 1941. 

PFC Dorsey G. Layton of West Lafayette, IN

Presented to Florence Layton (wife)

Time of Service:  World War II

Medals:        Purple Heart

Good Conduct Medal

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal & Bronze Star attachment (single)

World War II Victory Medal

Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII

Expert Badge w/machine gun bar, submachine gun bar & rifle bar

Sharpshooter Badge w/ carbine bar 

Dorsey G. Layton was inducted into the United States Army on 28 September 1942 at Lafayette, Indiana.  He left the United States on 27 February 1944 and arrived in the European Theater on 11 March 1944 where he participated in the Battle of Normandy.  He was wounded on 8 August 1994 in combat action in France.  He returned to the United States on 28 October 1944 and was discharged on 7 December 1944.  During his time in service he received the Purple Heart Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/one bronze star attachment (Normandy),  World War II Victory Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button World War II, Expert Badge w/Machine Gun Bar, Rifle Bar & Submachine Gun Bar, Sharpshooter Badge w/Carbine Bar. 

PFC Dorsey Layton is awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/ bronze star attachment (Normandy).  Normandy 6 June-24 July 1944 

PVT Coy Ramey of Lafayette, IN

Presented to Joyce Ramey(wife) and Jeffrey Ramey (son)

Time of Service:  Korean War

Medals:        Purple Heart

                    Meritorious Unit Commendation

                    Army of Occupation Medal w/ Japan clasp

          National Defense Service Medal

          Korean Service Medal & Bronze Star Attachment (triple)

          Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award

          United Nations Service Medal 

Coy Ramy was born on January 5, 1932 in Appalachia, Virginia.  He entered the Army on 19 Nov 1949 at Bristol, Virginia.  He was sent to Korea with his unit where he received a Purple Heart from wounds he received on 28 November 1950.  He was discharged from the service on 29 October 1964 at Fort Lee, Virginia.  During his time in service, Coy earned the Purple Heart Medal; Meritorious Unit Commendation; Army Occupation Medal w/Japan Clasp; National Defense Service Medal; Korean Service Medal w/Bronze Star Attachment (triple); Combat Infantryman Badge; United Nations Service Medal. 

Specialist Five Donald Claxton of Lafayette, IN

Time of Service:  Vietnam War

Medal:          Purple Heart 

Donald Claxton was born on February 17, 1947 in Lafayette, Indiana.  He enlisted in the Regular Army on 3 January 1967 for a period of three years in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Upon completion of Basic Combat Training and Advance Individual Training he was awarded Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 71B (Clerk Typist).  He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 25th Infantry Division and sent to Vietnam on 31 March 1968.  On 26 September 1968 he was promoted to Specialist Five and reclassified into MOS 71L (Administrative Specialist).  On 20 November 1968 his base camp came under heavy enemy rocket and mortar fire, he was wounded as a result of hostile action.  He was released from Active Duty on 16 December 1969 at Fort Benning, Georgia.  Medals earned during his time in service include:  the Purple Heart; Bronze Star w/one Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Good Conduct Medal; Army Commendation Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal w/2 bronze stars; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/1960 device; 2 overseas bars; and Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge w/rifle bar. 

Specialist Four Larry L. Davis of West Point, IN

Time of Service:  Vietnam War

Medals:        Bronze Star Medal

                    National Defense Service Medal

                    Vietnam Service Medal & Bronze Star attachment (single)

                    Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award

                    Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon w/device (1960)

                    Sharpshooter Badge w/rifle bar 

Larry L. Davis was born on August 15, 1945 in Lafayette, Indiana.  He inducted into the Army in Indianapolis, Indiana on 24 August 1965.  After his Basic Combat Training he attended Radio School at the Armor Center, Ft. Knox, Kentucky, where he received the Military Occupational Specialty 05B20 (MOS).  From there he was assigned to the 5th Special Forces as a Military Advisor.  Most of their operations were conducted in Cambodia.  Larry was released from Active Duty on 23 August 1967.  During his time in service he earned the following medals:  Bronze Star Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal; and Sharpshooter Badge w/rifle bar.

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