By Daniel L. Bamberg
Daniel@Centrevillepress.com
“We will never be able to do enough to honor the sacrifice he made for his country,” said Bibb County U.S. Veteran’s Affairs Officer Roger Kinard on Friday afternoon. Kinard and the V.A. office presented the family Sp. 4 Willie Gardner Junior with a framed case display of every medal and badge the local hero earned for his service. The actual metals and badges are in the family’s possession but this gift was a re-order of each decoration specifically for the purpose of honoring the local hero’s service.
It has been nearly 40 years since Gardner was killed after volunteering to lead a team through the jungle in Vietnam.
“I am sure some of that time has gone by quickly and other parts of it have gone by slowly as you’ve thought about him since his passing,” said Kinard.
A plague mounted on the display reads. “In memory of Specialist 4, Willie Gardner Jr. Company C 1st Battalion 46th Infantry 23rd Infantry Division.” Kinard also presented the family with a note expressing “how much we appreciate his sacrifice.” He didn’t read it aloud.
Last year, Haysop Creek Bridge in Brent was named “Sp.4 Willie Gardner, Jr. Memorial Bridge.” Gardner became the first black soldier to have a structure named after him in Bibb County.
Gardner was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge. He also earned qualification badges for standard combat rifle, automatic rifle, grenade, pistol, and machine gun. These awards are displayed in the case. Today young nieces and nephews who have only seen his charming smile in a now locally famous Army photo refer to him as Uncle Willie. His family has certainly never forgotten him as he is not only a permanent pride for they, but for an entire community.
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