Merkley Awards Military Service Medals to Veteran's Family

Press Release

In a ceremony at the VFW Veterans' Memorial in Salem today, Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley today presented the Crom family with long-lost service medals earned by Petty Officer Ronald Crom during his service in the U.S. Navy. Petty Officer Crom served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and passed away in July 2014 due to complications from Agent Orange exposure.

Petty Officer Crom's family has been working to get replacement service medals since the original medals were lost over the years. After running into roadblocks from the Pentagon bureaucracy, the family turned to Senator Merkley's office for help. Senator Merkley's staff was able to cut through red tape and help get the replacement medals.

"It's an honor to have helped to restore these medals to the family of Petty Officer Ronald Crom and honor his service to our country," said Senator Merkley. "Petty Officer Crom went to war for America, and ultimately died of complications resulting from that service. His service medals belong with his family, not tied up in some Defense Department bureaucratic red tape."

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