Record 514/959 |
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Description
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| Freedom medal. Gold colored medallion suspended from a purple, blue, yellow, orange, red and white stripped ribbon; small metal ring attachment between medallion and ribbon; metal bar with straight pin attachment on back of ribbon. Medallion has raised design of woman in long gown holding a broken sword by the grip in one hand and broken off blade in other hand, one foot rests upon a helmet with sun and rays behind and "WORLD WAR II"; reverse has raised "FREEDOM/FROM FEAR AND WANT" above a laurel(?) leaf stem, "FREEDOM OF SPEECH/AND RELIGION" below; around perimeter is "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1945". Earl Valentine Muza was born in Oshkosh, WI November 24, 1915, the son of John Muza. He attended Oshkosh High School and worked for Deltox Rug Company. He married May Ruth Granberg on September 21, 1940. He entered the United States Navy on November 24, 1943. After completing his training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, he was assigned to the USS LST (Landing Ship Tank) 289 in the European Theater. During practice landings for the D-Day Invasion on April 28, 1944, his ship and others were attacked by German E-boats off the coast of England near Slapton Sands. Earl rescued one shipmate and was attempting to rescue another when he received a compound fracture to the head. He died shortly after and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. His body was returned to Oshkosh and buried here on July 20, 1948. |
Medal
-WORLD WAR II
-Copyright Oshkosh Public Museum
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION ~ For access to this image, contact scross@ci.oshkosh.wi.us
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION ~ For access to this image, contact scross@ci.oshkosh.wi.us