A symbol of honor, respect

By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
For a Vietnam vet, what does a Quilt of Valor mean?
Veteran Richard Daniel Majercik of Thompson said: “Somebody cares, you know. They really care about us (now) when they spat on us (before).”
It’s a tangible symbol of the brotherhood, the camaraderie and being a patriot.
He is just one of many veterans in northeastern Connecticut who have been awarded a Quilt of Valor.
His journey through Vietnam began with a “chat” with the draft board. They couldn’t draft his brother, who was in med school, but “we can get you.” Majercik enlisted in the U.S. Army under the Military Occupational Specialty – memorial services as he was a graduate of New England Institute in Boston. 
It was 1967-1968 and after training, his orders to serve in Germany were rescinded and he was sent to Vietnam. Majercik was the first military embalmer in Vietnam. His first assignment was at a grave registration collection point with four others in An Khe in the Central Highlands where they went on search and recoveries. It was located next to a MASH unit, he said. The whole company was then transferred up to Da Nang to await orders to go further north. 
Majercik was pulled out and transferred to the U.S. Army Mortuary, Da Nang. The Army then pulled from its ranks soldiers qualified in mortuary services, as the civilian service hired couldn’t keep up with the demands at that point in the war. That was by order of General William Westmoreland, commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam.
In a letter of appreciation to Majercik in May 1968, the chief of the mortuary said: “You were the first military embalmer to be assigned to embalming duties … and have come through some difficult moments.” 
The chief also commended Majercik for preparing the remains of a French citizen (plantation owner) for shipment back to France. “You exhibited your professional skill by preparing his remains for viewing with the minimum of equipment. This brought appreciation from his family and great credit to yourself, the U.S. Army Mortuary, Da Nang, and the U.S. Government.”
Another letter of appreciation in June 1968 said: “During the TET Offensive of 1968 … you answered the call for volunteer embalmers to assist in the preparation of an otherwise insurmountable number of battle casualties. With your assistance we were able to return to the United States the embalmed remains of the largest number of battle casualties ever incurred in this conflict in a sixty-day period.”
He said when he was on the plane, leaving Vietnam, he didn’t look out the window. “I never looked back. It’s something you try to erase. I got out alive.”
Following his year in Vietnam, Sgt. Majercik was an instructor at the U.S. Army Quartermaster School (Memorial Activities Branch) at Fort Lee, Va., where he garnered more commendations. “Your performance has been unquestionably superior.” He received the Quartermaster School Distinguished Instructor Award in recognition of being a “truly outstanding instructor,” and he originated and revised instructional materials for the Memorial Activities and Graves Registration Officer courses. His name was added to a plaque in Mifflin Hall which was the command center at Fort Lee — a high honor. 
Fellow mortuary service member Phil Jeffries of Pennsylvania was with Majercik through the whole three years. He nominated Majercik for the Quilt of Valor, pointing to his calmness in terrifying situations and his professionalism.
Majercik said Jeffries had been presented with a quilt and had then thought to himself “Dick did so much more. He deserves one,” Majercik said he didn’t have any idea the Quilt of Valor existed until he was contacted by Megan Shake, the group leader for the Niantic Bay Quilters of the Quilts of Valor Foundation.
The certificate that goes with the quilt says: “The Quilts of Valor Foundation wishes to recognize you for your service to our nation. We consider it our privilege to do so. Though we may never know the extent of your sacrifice to protect and defend the United States of America, we award you this Quilt of Valor as an expression of gratitude from a grateful nation.” More than 400,000 quilts have been presented and each one is unique. The designs are created after talking with the nominator and the recipient. According to the Connecticut state coordinator of the Quilts of Valor Foundation: “We are hoping to someday cover all our service people who have been physically or emotionally touched by war. We hope that in holding their quilt, each recipient will know that they are thanked and kept in the thoughts and prayers of all of us.” 
The foundation was established in 2003. In that time, many veterans in northeastern Connecticut have been honored with one including Claudia Ludwig and Charles Gray-Wolf, Larry Christy, Michael Rocchetti, Michael Therrien. Ray Willliams, Archie Lapierre and many more.
After receiving the quilt, in his alone time, Majercik said the quilt brought back memories — and tears to his eyes. “What an honor.”

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captions, page 1:

Richard Majercik in Vietnam

Megan Shake presenting the quilt.

caption, page 7:

Far left: One side of the quilt with "One nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All." Top left: The other side of the quilt. Bottom left: The label on the quilt.

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