Larson Presents Local Veterans With Medals
Hartford, CT – Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) awarded medals to Wethersfield resident and Korean War veteran Herbert Hoover Northrop and the family of Newington resident and World War II veteran Andrew H. Christensen Monday morning at the Pitkin Community Center in Wethersfield.
“Corporal Northrop and Staff Sergeant Christensen represent everything that is great about our nation,” Larson said. “These two men answered the call when our nation needed them the most and sacrificed so much. Like so many of their generation, these men either did not accept or did not realize they were eligible for these medals and it is an honor to be able to make sure they were delivered.”
Corporal Northrop, joined by his daughter Deborah E. Northrop, received the National Defense Service medal, the Korean Service Medal with 1 bronze service star and the United Nations Service medal. A veteran of the Korean War, Corporal Northrop enlisted in the Army on September 29, 1952 and served until September 15, 1954. A member of the 25th “Lightning Division” out of Hawaii, Corporal Northrop served in Korea right up until the Armistice was signed. Upon leaving the Army, he worked at Aetna Insurance for 39 years.
A World War II veteran that saw action in both the North African and European theaters, Staff Sergeant Christensen passed away in September of 2010. Today his wife, Ruth and son, Bob received the Bronze Star, Army Good Conduct Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation, the American Defense Service medal, the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon with four bronze service stars with arrowhead, the World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII, and the Sharpshooter Badge.
During Staff Sergeant Christensen’s service in 2010, his family noticed that his grave marker indicated he had received the Bronze Star. Confused that they had never seen the award, the Christensen family reached out to Congressman Larson’s office to investigate. The Congressman’s office was able to recover the Bronze star and present it to the Christensen family today.
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