Putnam County Will Honor Four War Heroes At Kent Park

PUTNAM COUNTY, N.Y. -- Four Sheriff's Office patrol boats will be christened with the names of four local war heroes at a ceremony that will be held on Thursday.

Major General Gouverner K. Warren, who lived in Cold Spring, s best-known as The Hero of Little Round Top for his organizing of a hasty last-minute defense of that tactically important hilltop at the Civil War battle of Gettysburg.

The christening of boats to honor local war heroes was announced by Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith and Chairman Art Hanley of the Putnam County Joint Veterans Council, and Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell.
Photo Credit: *File*

Cassandra Huerta

05/10/2015 1:30 p.m.

The ceremony will take place at Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park at 7 p.m. The park is off Gipsy Trail Road in Kent. The public is invited, and refreshments will be served beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. John C. McCloy was the recipient of two Medals of Honor – one of only 19 individuals ever to receive the Medal twice – and The Navy Cross. He hailed from Brewster.

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Albert L. Ireland was awarded the Purple Heart Medal nine times for wounds received in action, the most Purple Hearts ever awarded to a single member of the armed forces. He was a resident of Nelsonville.

Army Maj. Gen. Gouverner K. Warren is best-known as “The Hero of Little Round Top” for his organizing of a hasty last-minute defense of that tactically important hilltop at the Civil War battle of Gettysburg. He was a graduate of West Point and lived in Cold Spring.

Air Force Master Sgt. William A. Todd was just 22 years old on March 29, 1972, when his plane went missing over Vietnam. Listed as missing in action for some 14 years, he was confirmed as being killed in action in 1986. He resided in Mahopac.

“The four honorees all served their country with great devotion, bravely and heroically; it is most fitting that that we honor these outstanding sons of Putnam County in this way,” said Sheriff Donald B. Smith, a retired Army brigadier general.

Joint Veterans Council Chairman Art Hanley, a veteran, agreed. “The four veterans being honored in this way really represent all their fellow soldiers, airmen, sailors, Coast Guardsmen and Marines, and seeing their names on the patrol boats will be a reminder to all of us of the sacrifices of all our veterans and the debt of gratitude we owe to them as a nation.”

“Putnam County has been blessed to have many native sons and daughters, exemplified by these four fine men, who have answered the call to serve our country and who have done so with honor and distinction,” said County Executive MaryEllen Odell.

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