Medallion of Honor Presentation Ceremony Macon County Honors Two Favorite Sons

Here is the video of the Macon County Medallion of Honor presentation ceremony that took place in Franklin, NC on September 26, 2012. Nat Henry and Dr Thomas McNish were the honorees. Both were POWs for several years in North Vietnam.


Here is the resolution for Nat Henry:


Macon County
Medallion of Honor
Resolution
WHEREAS, Nathan B. Henry is a native and lifelong resident of Macon County, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Nathan B. Henry a Vietnam Veteran, was the sole survivor from Headquarters Platoon in a battle on July 12th, 1967 in Ia Drang Valley, Pleiku Province, Republic of Vietnam between Company B 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Division and the (NVA) North Vietnamese Army; and

WHEREAS, Following that battle, Nathan B. Henry was captured by the NVA, and subsequently remained a prisoner of war (POW) for almost six years where he endured the brutality and depravation of NVA and Vietcong (VC) POW camps until his release on 5 March, 1973; and

WHEREAS, Nathan B. Henry has been recognized for his outstanding service and bravery to the United States of America by being awarded two (2) Silver Stars, and two (2) Bronze Stars and ; and two (2) Purple Hearts with Oak Leaf Clusters along with numerous other medals for valor; and

WHEREAS, Nathan B. Henry has always made himself available to promote veterans and other humanitarian efforts, and is representative of the struggles of Vietnam Era Veterans; and

WHEREAS, after his release he returned home to the Burningtown Community of his native Macon County, where he graduated from Haywood Community College with a degree in horticulture; and

WHEREAS, Nathan B. Henry has continued to serve his community in various volunteer capacities including being an original member of the Burningtown Volunteer Fire department, where he was instrumental in securing a donation of land for the construction of the present fire department, and as a charter member, serving two terms as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Macon County Vietnam Veterans Chapter 994; and

WHEREAS, Nathan B. Henry has always made himself available to promote veterans and other humanitarian efforts, and is representative of the struggles of Vietnam Era Veterans; and

WHEREAS, Nathan B. Henry is a much sought after speaker at military events, is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion; and

WHEREAS, the Macon County Board of Commissioners and the Franklin Town Board desires to honor Nathan B. Henry for his sacrifice and dedication to his country and his community,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Macon County Board of Commissioners does hereby proclaim and honor Nathan B. “Nat” Henry”, for his bravery, fortitude, and service to the United States of America and Macon County; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Macon County Board of Commissioners hereby awards the Macon County Medallion of Honor to Nathan B. “Nat” Henry in recognition of his unselfish service and contributions to Macon County and North Carolina.

---

and the resolution for Tomas McNish:


Macon County
Medallion of Honor
Resolution
WHEREAS, Dr. Thomas M. McNish was born May 1st, 1942 in Madison, Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, The McNish Family moved to Franklin, Macon County, North Carolina in 1945; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McNish grew up in Macon County, North Carolina, graduating from Franklin High School in May, 1959; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McNish attended North Carolina State University for one year before entering the United States Air Force Academy where he graduated June, 1964; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McNish entered Pilot Training at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, and received his wings in September, 1965; and

WHEREAS, after completing advanced Pilot Training at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Dr. McNish was assigned to Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand in June, 1966 where he flew 45 combat missions over North Vietnam before being shot down and captured near Hanoi on September 4th, 1966: and

WHEREAS, Dr. McNish was repatriated after serving six and one half years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McNish in 1973 enrolled in Emory University School of Medicine and graduated June, 1978; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McNish went on to complete his residency in Aerospace Medicine at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas graduating June 1983; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McNish earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health and is Board Certified by The American Board of Family Practice and The American Board of Preventive Medicine; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McNish also distinguished himself as a Top Pilot and graduated in the A-10 program and was awarded The Top Gun Trophy; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McNish continued his career by serving as Chief Aero Medical Services and Commander of The Transportable Hospital at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina, Commander USAF Hospital Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina, Commander of the 833rd Medical Group and the 833rd Tactical Hospital at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, Chief of Flight Medicine in the Office of The Air Force Surgeon General, Senior Military Consultant to the Surgeon General in Aerospace Medicine, Command Surgeon Office of the Air Force Reserve, Pentagon, Washington, DC completing 30 years of active duty and retiring with the rank of Colonel in 1994; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McNish’s awards and decorations include the Silver Star, with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with “V” device for Valor, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Purple Heart with One Oak Leaf Cluster, Prisoner of War Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and Vietnam Service Medal with Fifteen Campaign Stars; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McNish played a key role in the repatriation of POW’s from Desert Storm; and

WHEREAS, Macon County is proud of the lifetime of sacrifice and distinguished Military service by one of our own, Dr. Thomas M. McNish; and

WHEREAS, The Citizens of Macon County by and through the Macon County Board of Commissioners wish to formally recognize and honor the extraordinary service and achievements of Dr. Thomas N. McNish;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Macon County Board of Commissioners does hereby award to Dr. Thomas McNish the Macon County Medallion of Honor in recognition of his unselfish service and contributions to Macon County and North Carolina

Read More

Nathan Henry, Dr. Thomas McNish to be awarded Macon County Medallion of Honor

PRESS RELEASE


Macon County Board of Commissioners
News Release
Monday, September 17, 2012


Nathan Henry, Dr. Thomas McNish to be awarded Macon County Medallion of Honor

The Macon County Board of Commissioners will honor two men from Macon County who were among the longest serving prisoners of the Vietnam War in a special ceremony in Franklin on Wednesday, September 26.

Nathan B. “Nat” Henry, a lifelong Macon County resident, and Dr. Thomas M. McNish, who grew up in Macon County, will each receive the Macon County Medallion of Honor during the ceremony, scheduled for 2 p.m. at the gazebo on the square in downtown Franklin.

Henry and McNish will become the second and third recipients of the award, following action by the commissioners at their meeting on September 11.

Henry endured almost six full years of captivity in a POW camp from 1967 to 1973, after being the lone survivor from a battle on July 12, 1967. He returned home to his native Burningtown Community, and has served in various volunteer capacities, including being an original member of the Burningtown Volunteer Fire Department. A resolution adopted by the commissioners states that Henry “has always made himself available to promote veterans and other humanitarian efforts, and is representative of the struggles of Vietnam Era Veterans.”

Dr. McNish, who is a 1959 graduate of Franklin High School, served as a U.S. Air Force pilot who was shot down and captured near Hanoi on September 4, 1966, and would spend some six and one half years as a prisoner of war. He would go on to complete 30 years of active duty, retiring with the rank of Colonel in 1994. A resolution adopted by the board states that “Macon County is proud of the lifetime of sacrifice and distinguished military service by one of our own.” Dr. McNish currently resides in Texas.

###

For more information, contact Macon County Manager Jack Horton at 349-2025.

The Macon County Medallion of Honor has previously been awarded to Phil Drake.

Read More