For Release: Friday, October 18, 2002
Contact: Frank Miles: (618) 233-8026

U.S. CONGRESSMAN JERRY COSTELLO PRESENTS MEDALS TO AREA VETERAN

Granite City, IL -- On Friday, October 18, 2002, U.S. Representative Jerry Costello, (D-Ill) presented several military medals to honor the military service of Harold Fisk of Granite City, Illinois at his Granite City District office.

Mr. Fisk, who served in the U.S. Navy contacted Costello to help him get his medals for his children and grandchildren. Fisk served on the USS. Maryland during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The Maryland was hit by a torpedo and sank at the bow. It was tied up next to the USS Oklahoma, which capsized after also being hit by an aerial torpedo. Fisk and the other men of the Maryland rushed to the aid of survivors on the Oklahoma.

Mr. Fisk received several medals including the Good Conduct Medal, the WW 2 Victory medal, the Honorable Service Lapel Pin and the American Defense Medal.

On Friday, Costello also awarded Mr. Fisk, the Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal (which features the USS Maryland).

Costello said that "securing and awarding these medals to veterans, who have had difficulty obtaining them, is one of the most rewarding things I do as a US Congressman".

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