Peters Presents Michigan WWII Veteran’s Family with Medals and Honors
Michigan Resident, U.S. Navy Fireman 1st Class Clifford Conrad Served in Pacific Theater
SAGINAW, MI – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today presented six medals and honors to the family of Fireman 1st Class Clifford Conrad, a World War II veteran. Conrad, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 77, was a resident of Genesee County and served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater, including Pearl Harbor. Peters’ office helped secure the commendations after being contacted by Mr. Conrad’s family to ensure his contributions to our nation were properly honored. The awards presented included the World War II Victory Medal, World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button, Navy Occupation Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon.
“Fireman Conrad selflessly risked his life to protect his fellow servicemembers during the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, and his actions demonstrate why we call these fighters the Greatest Generation,” said Senator Peters, a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. “It is the valor and courage of servicemembers like Fireman Conrad that makes our military the finest in the world, and I am honored to present these awards and recognitions to Mr. Conrad’s family in honor of his service during World War II.”
Clifford Conrad was born in Elmira, New York. Orphaned at a young age, he enlisted to join the U.S. Navy in 1941. Fireman 1st Class Conrad was stationed at Pearl Harbor during the attack by Japanese forces in December 1941, where he sustained wounds and bone damage in an effort to protect a friend from incoming attack. He went on to recover and serve for three years in the Pacific Theater on six different ships.
After he was honorably discharged, Mr. Conrad worked at the U.S. Postal Service in New York before settling in Michigan in 1965, where he was a vehicle inspector at Buick City in Downtown Flint until his retirement in 1983. Mr. Conrad lived with his family until he passed away in 2005.
Senator Peters, the son of a World War II veteran, a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has been a strong voice in Congress for our nation’s veterans. Last year, the President signed into law Peters’ amendment to help veterans erroneously discharged from the military due to behavior linked to mental traumas, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
