41.15.76

Medal, Military

Military Medal. Army Commendation Medal. (a) Box. Material: paper, plastic, textile. Size: 4 1/4" x 7" x 1" H. Description: blue plastic covered cardboard box; gold design on lid; gold print on lid: "United States of America"; cream silk lining inside lid top; cream felt lining inside lid bottom. (b) Medal. Material: textile, metal. Size: 1 1/" W. x 3" H. Description: green and white striped ribbon attached to pin backing; hexagonal medal attached to ribbon; American Bald Eagle in center, wing are open, shield on breast; eagle holding three arrows in its talons; reverse side: rectangle panel for engraving name, above the panel "For Military", below panel "Merit", single sprig of laurel at bottom. (c) Metal pin with green and white stripes inside case above medal. (d) Ribbon Bar. Material: metal, textile. Size: 1 1/2" W. x 1 /2". Description: green and white ribbon attached to two metal pins.

Maurice J. Hecht, son of Mrs. Ben Eichorst, 209 3rd Street N.E., Waseca, graduated from Morristown high school in 1938. Before entering the army he worked as a farmer and was inducted on August 9, 1941 at Fort Snelling. After graduating from radio school at Sioux Falls, SD Hecht earned his wings as an aerial gunner upon graduation from flexible gunnery school at Kingman, Arizona on 6 December 1943. Sergeant Hecht went overseas 11 May 1944 and his first mission was on June 4, 1944. Sergeant Hecht was awarded an Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters. On 22 October 1944, Hecht returned to the United States. Technical Sergeant Hecht was discharged at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin 5 September 1945. Maurice J. Hecht married Norma R. Draheim 22 December 1947 at St. John's Church in Waseca. Maurice has two brothers, Loren Hecht was with the Army and Ronald Hecht was with the Navy. A stepbrother, Lawrence Eichorst was with the Army.