Uncommon valor cited

The article, “Medal of Honor recipient recognized” (BDN, Dec. 20), prompted me to recall the time when I met Ed Dahlgren.

Years ago the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative postage stamp in honor of all veterans who received this medal for the highest acts of bravery in combat. Each living veteran who had received this medal was located and presented a plate of the new stamp.

I was requested by the Bangor postmaster to present the plate to Dahlgren at the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone in a ceremony at the officers’ club. I contacted Red Stitham, who was the postmaster of Mars Hill and organizer of the presentation. He told me what this “kid from the farms of Aroostook” did in France during World War II.

I read over and over the citation by President Harry Truman – a pretty good soldier himself in 1918 – about the bravery and leadership of Lt. Dahlgren.

After the presentation ceremony I talked for a while with Dahlgren and spoke of our common Swedish heritage and I recall his kind, friendly manner. It reminded me of something someone said of another citizen soldier of another time, Joshua Chamberlain, who had the soul of a lion and the heart of a woman.

To Dahlgren and many others of that generation, America, and, it might be said, the world, owes everything. Everything.

John Wedin

Orrington