November12, 2002
WKU Honors Four Alumni At
Veterans Day Ceremony
Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University honored four recipients of the Army Distinguished Service Cross at Saturday's Bowling Green Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony.
The four WKU alumni who have received the medal are Col. Sidney C. Carpenter, Lt. Col. Thomas Kenneth Hightower, Col. Raymond T. Nutter and Col. Elliott P. Sydnor Jr.
The Distinguished Service Cross Medal is the second highest medal that an individual can receive in combat, second only to the Congressional Medal of Honor. Carpenter earned his medal during the Korean War while Hightower, Nutter and Sydnor received their medals during the Vietnam War.
"Western Kentucky University is proud to have four outstanding graduates who have distinguished themselves by earning the Distinguished Service Cross Medal," said Donald Smith, executive director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving. "These four graduates have brought credit upon themselves, their alma mater and their country. It is time that we publicly recognize these graduates for their heroism so many years ago."
The Distinguished Service Cross Medal is awarded to a person who while serving in any capacity with the Army, distinguished himself or herself by extraordinary heroism; while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing or foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing Armed Force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
The act or acts of heroism must have been so notable and have involved risk of life so extraordinary as to set the individual apart from his or her comrades. In the Vietnam War, fewer than 1,000 solders received the Distinguished Service Cross medal out of more than 2.7 million troops who served.
Col. Sidney C. Carpenter of Bowling Green received the Distinguished Service Cross Medal in 1952 during the Korean War at the Battle of the Iron Triangle in Sniper's Ridge. He was senior advisor the 2nd Rock Division in the 9th Corps.
Lt. Col. Thomas Kenneth Hightower of Bowling Green received the Distinguished Service Medal on Feb. 14, 1967, during the Vietnam War in Bong Son Valley. He was a captain in the 1st Calvary Division.
Col. Raymond T. Nutter of Bowling Green received the Distinguished Service Cross Medal on Oct. 18, 1966, during the Vietnam War in Operation Crimson Tide. He was a major in the 13th Aviation Battalion.
Col. Elliott P. Sydnor Jr. of Fernandina Beach, Fla., received the Distinguished Service Cross Medal during the Vietnam War in the Son Tay Raid on Dec. 9, 1970. He was lieutenant colonel and ground force commander of the Son Tay Raid.
For more information, contact Andrea Haynes at (270) 745-6490. More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via E-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
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