Sailor gets WW II medal

It warms my heart greatly to have been a part of this story. I am presenting here three articles, one from the Morning Sun, one from the Parsons Sun and one from the author of the book that was instrumental in making this happen.

Congradulations, Mr. James Dreiling.

By TRISH HOLLENBECK Morning Sun Staff Writer

During a swing through Pittsburg, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback presented the Purple Heart for being wounded in combat to veteran James Dreiling, Parsons, KS. Tuesday during the Pittsburg Noon Rotary Club meeting. James Dreiling served in the U.S. Navy on an aircraft carrier, where he was knocked overboard after an aircraft was coming in to land on the carrier. He was rescued by a destroyer cruising in the vicinity.

Sen. Brownback gave Mr. Dreiling the award "on behalf of a grateful nation." Mr. Dreiling humbly thanked members of Rotary and guests who gave him a standing ovation for his service to the nation.

Sen. Brownback said he enjoys presenting medals to veterans and noted that, in many cases, it is the daughters of the veterans who are the primary "agitators" in getting medals awarded after several years. He acknowledged Mr. Dreiling's three daughters: Cecilia Baugher, Parsons, KS. who was the main one who worked to get the medal; Cynthia Bender, Kansas City, Mo., and Christine Norwood, Tulsa.

U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) prepares to present the Purple Heart to World War II veteran

James Dreiling at Tuesday's meeting of the Pittsburg Noon Rotary Club.

November 23,1999

James Dreiling was wounded when he was knocked off an aircraft carrier during operations at sea.

Sailor gets WW II medal By Gary Van Cleave, Parsons Sun

Mary Dreiling always thought her husband should receive the Purple Heart. This week, she and other members of their family saw it happen. "I'm thrilled. I always felt he should have had it and he never thought so," Mary Dreiling said. "He just put it aside."

Jim Dreiling of Parsons received his Purple Heart in Pittsburg from Sen. Sam Brownback on Tuesday. In addition to Jim and Mary, their three daughters Cecilia, Cynthia and Christine and other family members were in attendance.

"I can't explain it. I'm pleased," Mr. Dreiling said of receiving the medal that is awarded to those wounded in combat. "I know my daughter, Cecilia, inquired about it, but I never thought much about it. "I'm stunned. I wasn't expecting this. My family kind of sprung it on me."

"Dad never spoke much about the war (World War II). I think only twice in my life, and I'm 48, has he spoken about his experiences in the war," Cecilia Baugher said.

About a year ago, Cecilia and her dad were working on the Internet and they found the Web page for the USS Petrof Bay CVE-80 - the aircraft carrier Jim was on in World WarII during the South Pacific invasion of the Philippines and a battle with a Japanese fleet. "My dad all of a sudden opened up and he talked and he talked and he talked about how the planes came in on this ship. Afterward, I went to the Web page on my computer and signed the guy's (Ivor Jeffreys) guest book that had this web page. I thanked him and told him that my dad opened up and started talking about World War II."

Cecilia ended up finding a book called "Escort Carrier WW II: War in the Pacific on the Aircraft Carrier USS Petrof Bay" by Rick Cline, whose father was also on board the ship.

According to the book, four FM-2 fighter planes had been launched that day. As they returned to the ship, "the second FM-2 fighter to touch down missed the arresting gear cable and crashed through all of the flight deck barriers," the book said. "One FM-2 fighter, parked on the flight deck, was knocked overboard and two other aircraft were damaged. Two other top-side crewmen were tossed overboard and three more were injured." One of the crewmen tossed overboard was Jim Dreiling.

"He doesn't remember hitting the water," Cecilia said. "He just remembers dog-paddling in the water with a broken leg and seeing his ship about a mile away." Mr. Dreiling, who was rescued by the destroyer USS TAYLOR (DD-468), suffered a broken leg, cuts and gashes. "You name it," Mr. Dreiling said.

"The other man overboard was Harry Talbot, Seaman First Class," the book said. "Before the USS Taylor could reach Talbot, he was seen sinking beneath the waves and was never recovered. Officially, the USS Petrof Bay listed Harry E. Talbot as 'killed in the line of duty."'

After being rescued, Dreiling asked his commander while lying on a stretcher if he would get a Purple Heart. "His commander said: 'Don't count on it, son,' ' Cecilia said.

Mr. Dreiling spent seven months in a hospital recovering from his injuries. He went on to a 32-year career with the United States Postal Service before retiring in 1980. He worked at post offices in Kansas City, Mo., and Overland Park. Since 1980, he and his wife have made Parsons their home.

Since his retirement nearly 20 years ago, Mr. Dreiling said he has done "not very darn much. I've had arthritis in my spine so I've been limited physically. But I spend time on my amateur radio, wood working and gardening." He grew up in Kansas City, Kan., and left Wyandotte High School to join the Navy when he was 17. "I'm glad I got to do what I did," Mr. Dreiling said of his time in the Navy. Asked if he would change anything if he could do it all over, his answer was simply: "No." "He never complained about it, he never talked about it," Cecilia said of her dad's war injuries. "He just kept on going." And unlike what his commander told him, he did get a Purple Heart.

BOOK REVEALS PURPLE HEART CANDIDATE!

The latest news from R.A. Cline Publishing

James E. Dreiling of Parsons, Kansas, a WW II Navy Veteran, has received the Purple Heart Medal, 55-years after his injury! Dreiling was injured in a bizarre flight deck accident on board the carrier USS Petrof Bay in October of 1944. One of two crewmen who were accidentally thrown over the side of the carrier on the final day of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Dreiling was rescued from the ocean by an escorting destroyer - the other man was lost at sea. In the accident, James Dreiling suffered a broken left leg.54-years later, (in 1998), Dreiling's daughter, Cecilia Baugher purchased Rick Cline's book "Escort Carrier WW II" which she found at the USS Petrof Bay web site. Upon reading the book, which is about the Petrof Bay, Baugher said; "To my surprise my dad is mentioned in the book [and] the book told of his experience." When she read the other crewman was classified as 'killed in the line of duty' Baugher said "It really sparked us to seek this further." Continuing, Baugher wrote; "We got together and decided to see if dad qualified for the honor of the Purple Heart. I sent copies of the title page of your book ["Escort Carrier WW II"] and the pages with the incident on them to our Senator's office to see if he could help. I had everything that was needed including medical records stating he had been injured in the line of duty. In two days I received a letter back requesting all the records I could come up with on dad. I received word [11-1-99] from our Senator's office that they have received the Purple Heart and Senator Sam Brownback will present it to him in Pittsburg, Kansas." On November 23, 1999, in front of National television and print media, Senator Sam Brownback presented James E. Dreiling his Purple Heart, "On behalf of a grateful nation." During the presentation, Dreiling received a standing ovation. Congratulations to Mr. Dreiling, "Well Done!"

Return to the USS Petrof Bay - CVE-80