The 2011 winners of the prestigious “Stars and Flags” military book awards were recently annnounced. In the category Non-fiction Biography “The Twins Platoon” tied for1st place. For a complete listing of all the winners click on the below link.
http://starsandflags.com/BA-2011-winners.html .
http://forestlaketimes.com/2012/01/11/twins-platoon-vietnam-story-wins-national-book-contest-award/
Pictured above are 21 of the 24 first sworn in on Labor Day 2011. On December 2, 2011 they completed their basic training. Both young ladies graduated from P.I. and recruit Eugene McGhee is right behind and should earn the title Marine before Christmas. The torch is being carried on in good hands.
(Click on the photo to enhance the picture)
Future Marines (Photo courtesy of USMC)
The Minnesota Twins Baseball Organization hosted a pre-game ceremony on September 5th, 2011, at Target Field, in commemoration of the original “Twins Platoon”, who likewise were sworn into the United States Marine Corps in June of 1967. Their stories are the subject of the book. The United States Marines Corps honors their service by proudly recognizing the Corp’s future enlisting 24 young men and woman into what is called “The Modern Day Twins Platoon”.
During the performance of the National Anthem three members of the Twins Platoon had the honor of raising the American flag during the 50th Anniversary of the Minnesota Twins Baseball organization. Clayton Carr, who fought and was severely wounded in the Battle of Hue City during TET 1968, is pictured saluting old glory after raising the flag on September 3, 2010. Mark Nelsen, Jeff Barnes and his brother Bill Barnes, also a Vietnam veteran, were the flag raisers for the other two days of the celebration weekend.
After reading the Twins Platoon, Anthony Johnson, United States Air Force, Alaska, wanted to do something to show Vietnam Veterans his appreciation and gratitude for their service to our country. At his own expense he designed and paid to have a commemorative coin made for each member of the Twins Platoon.
See Coin here then click on photo to enlarge it.
The “Road of 10,000 Pains” by Otto J. Lehrack is a very important addition to the collective written history of the Vietnam War. The events written about in this book tie to the experiences of the Twins Platoon. To learn more about this fine book go to the “Buy Related Books” link and click on the book’s title.
The New York Public Library has the “Twins Platoon” listed as recommended reading for teens under the category “War and Peace”. For more information go to the below NYPL sites.
http://www.teensreadtoo.com/NYPL07Page3.html
www.amazon.com/2007-NYPL-quot-Books-Teen/lm/R3QPF0D0EXA50N
The Television special “Spotlight-The Twins Platoon” originally aired in July 2007. It went on to win a regional Emmy for “Outstanding Documentary” and the Hatch Award for “Outstanding Marine Corps Documentary”. The military stories in the documentary are taken from the book “The Twins Platoon” by Christy Sauro. Fox Sports North (FSN) producer Trevor Fleck is pictured holding the awards.
The Twins Cities based Marine Wing Support Squadron 471 presented the author with a plaque for writing the book. The author was the 2006 Guest of Honor at 231st Marine Corps Birthday Ball. The plaque reads in part, “we wish to recognise your contributions to the history of the United States Marine Corps and the State of Minnesota.”
With unanimous support from the legislature, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed into law that March 29th is Vietnam Veterans Day. The pen is being given to Diane Finnemann, the sister of Twins Platoon member Wallace “Skip” Schmidt. She was a driving force behind the legislation. The author of the bill, Representative Larry Howes of Walker, Minnesota peers over her shoulder sharing the moment. The new law will change for the better the way many Vietnam Veterans view their service to our country and state.
It is worthwhile to listen to what Governor Pawlenty’s had to say about our Veterans. Click on the below link to hear the Govenor’s pod cast. It is 15 minutes long, so it may take a few minutes to load after you click on the link.
