A long time coming--Medals well deserved

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shandresha Mitchell
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Sixty-seven years after his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class McPherson Plecker finally received the nine military decorations he earned for his service during World War II, defending Wake Island and enduring four years as a prisoner of war in Japanese war camps. Plecker was born in Dayton, Ohio on Nov. 2, 1921, and entered the Navy on April 16, 1940.

He completed boot camp at Great Lakes, Ill., and was assigned to the Pacific Fleet aboard the destroyer, USS Schley DD103.

In mid-1940, Plecker was stationed at Pearl Harbor until being reassigned to Wake Island. He arrived at Wake Island in late Novermber, 1941, aboard the USS Wright CVL-49.

During an attack on Wake Island on Dec. 8, 1941, Plecker was wounded when a Japanese bomb blew him off the back of a truck; he still retains the shrapnel scars on his chest and left arm.

While defending Wake Island on Dec. 23, 1941, Plecker was captured by the Japanese and endured four years of numerous beatings and bodily injuries in Japanese and Chinese war camps (Fukuoka POW Camp #1 and Kashii Pine Tree Camp, respectively) until he was repatriated in September 1945.

Plecker's honorable discharge, dated April 19, 1946, failed to mention portions of his service, wounds received during combat, his ex-POW status, and the nine medals to which he is entitled.

When asked why he never spoke up about his missing medals Plecker responded, "I'm quiet."

Since last year, Plecker, close friend Carlton L. Weidemeyer, Congressman Gus M. Bilirakis' office and Lisa Jones, a licensed mental health counselor with Suncoast Hospice in Pinellas County, have worked diligently to obtain and submit all the required documentation to request his naval records reflect his ex-POW status and medals earned.

"He is a simple man who successfully forged ahead after being liberated and honorably discharged," said Jones. "Mr. Plecker is also a selfmade man that has always provided for his family, financially and emotionally."

During the past week, the inaccuracies in Plecker's naval records have finally been rectified and he has received confirmation of his eligibility to receive the medals.
Plecker stated, "I'm surprised at what's going on, and I think it's wonderful they put up their time for it."

Plecker's records will now reflect the nine medals he has earned:

· American Defense Service Medal (for service between 1939 and 1941 aboard USS Schley in Hawaii & Wake Island)
· American Campaign Medal WWII (for service between 1941 and 1946)
· Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal WWII (with one battle star for the defense of Wake Island, Dec. 8-23, 1941)
· Purple Heart (for two wounds received during invasion on Wake Island)
· Prisoner of War Medal (for imprisonment 1941-1945 in China and Japan)
· Navy Good Conduct Medal for WWII (for service between 1941 and 1946)
· WWII Victory Medal
· Combat Service Action Ribbon
· Presidential Unit Citation (for the Defenders of Wake Island).
"I have had the honor of providing support to Mr. McPherson Plecker," Jones said. "It was my hope that Mr. Plecker experiences the honor of having these medals presented to him instead of to his family, posthumously."

An award presentation ceremony was held at The Plaza at The Palms of Largo on Sept. 14, to present McPherson Plecker with his medals.