For Release: Monday, November 15, 2004
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

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

Belleville, IL - Area veterans were honored on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 by U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello, (D-IL) during ceremonies held at his Belleville District Office. Congressman Costello presented military medals to the wife of U.S. Army veteran, Henry E. Bunder, U.S. Army veteran, William Reed of Red Bud, Illinois and to Rachel Zirkelbach, daughter of Cletus Zirkelbach of O'Fallon.  

Henry Bunder, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and former Mayor of Washington Park, Illinois was a Medium Tank crewman who participated in the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central European Campaigns during World War II. He entered the Army in June, 1943 and was discharged in January, 1946. Mr. Bunder is currently a resident of the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy, Illinois and his wife Betty accepted the medals on his behalf. Among the medals he received were the Bronze Star, the Presidential Unit Citation and the Good Conduct medal.

William Reed of Red Bud, Illinois was also a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He first entered active duty in October, 1944 and was discharged in October, 1945. He re-enlisted that same month and was later discharged in 1946. Crewman Reed served in the Pacific as a rifleman. Among the medals he received from Congressman Costello were the Bronze Star, the Good Conduct medal, the American Campaign medal and a Marksman Badge with Rifle bar.

Costello also presented medals to honor the military service of the late Cletus Zirkelbach of O'Fallon, Illinois. Congressman Costello presented the medals to Mr. Zirkelbach's daughter Rachel. Ms. Zirkelbach requested Congressman Costello's help in obtaining her late father's service medals. Cletus Zirkelbach, who passed away in 1997, was a U.S. Army veteran of WW II who served in several campaigns in Europe. Among the medals awarded posthumously to Mr. Zirkelbach were the Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Star attachment and the WW II Victory medal.

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