Evening star., 1951-07-29
Legion Medal ofHonor
Goes 10 Three OF
Truman S Guards

of whom was killed protecting
President Truman. have been
awarded the American Legion
medal of honor.
At the 33d convention, Just con-
cluded, the District of Columbia
Department conferred medals on
Leslie Coffelt, Joseph Downs and
Donald Birdsall, guards and mem
bers of Stephen P. McGroarty
post. Mr.. Coffelt was killed and
the other two were wounded in an
abortive attempt on the presi-
dents life last November /.
The Watson B. Miller award for
the outstanding Legionaire of the
year was awarded to Charles r.
Garity, former Commander of the
National Cathedral post. The
Robert A. Ralph trophy for the
outstanding Commander Of the
year went to Robert L. Ward CT
the Building and Construction
Trades post. The Guy c. Nadeau
award for the greatest service to
veterans in local hospitals was
made to the newly elected de-
partment commander, William j.
Hoffman.
The John F. O'Meara bloodhank
trophy to the post contributing
the greatest amount of blood dur
ing the year went to the Kenneth
II Nash post, and the James F.
Fahey trophy for the greatest
amount of activities in the Sors Of
the Legion program went to the
Woodbridge post. The Abner A.
Lakenan Memorial trophy, to the
post winning the Legion Bowling
Championship, went to me Sergt
Jasper post.
Seven members received the
Legion's silver Medal t Merit and
six others won the bronze Medal
of Merit on the recommendation
of the retiring Department Comdr.
Walter L. Morgan; twelve mem
bers of the National Guard of
Honor were also signally honored
when four were presented medals
and eight others were awarded
bars for having made the largest
percentage of turnouts with the
guard during the past year.
OF the 10 awards made to posts
for outstanding achievement in
membership. five went to the
Building and Construction Trades
Post. These were the John Lewis
Smith, Quentin Roosevelt. Paul J.
McGahan, Ernest Dwyer and
Frank Buckley trophies. The U.
G. McAlexander Post won the
Washington Trophy, and the Jane
A. Delano Post received the Julius
I. Peyser Trophy. The Internal
Revenue Post won the Delaware
Trophy and the George S. Patton
Tank Corps Post won the Quentin
Roosevelt Trophy. Costello Post
received the Frank L. Peckham
Trophy.
Distinguished certificates went
to number of citizens who have
assisted the Legion substantially
during the past year. These went
to Arthur c. Mayo, district man
"a. +, Chevrolet Motor Co.; Gus
tave A. Miller, city editor of the
Times-Herald; Howard P. Bailey
and James T. Bergman of The
Evening Star; DR.. Charles NJ.
Griffith. head of Mount Alto Hos
pital; Clark Griffith, owner of the
Washington Senators; Michael L.
Looney and z. D. Blackstone
members of Washington Welfare
Council; William E. Leahy, Frank
D. Norton. Harold E. Knight, jr..
Haven D. Umstott and Robert
Sprinkel.
Play-off games in the American
Legion Junior Baseball League are
scheduled to take place if needed
next Thursday, Saturday and Sun
day, the winning team to go to
ParkerSburg, w. Va, to represent
this city in the regional play-offs
August II to 10. The National
Sectional play-offs will take place
lat Griffith Stadium August 27 to
20 and the national finals will be
staged at Briggs Stadium in
Detroit early in September.
Bobby Yates and Dick Combs
who were sponsored by the Sergt.
Jasper post in the annual Soap
Box Derby. both won a host of
prizes including bicycles. The lat
ter went all the way to the Glass B
finals.
The post was also honored when
its No. l team in the American
III