Politics & Government

WWII Vet from Palo Alto, Academy Appointees Honored at Moffett Ceremony

High school graduates from Los Gatos, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Woodside and San Jose are headed to the U.S. military academies. And John Indergand gets medals he was promised in 1945!

Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18) hosted a reception Wednesday at Moffett Federal Airfield in honor of this year’s service academy appointees from the 18th Congressional District and to formally award Palo Alto resident and war hero John Indergand with the Purple Heart, Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman Badge for his bravery in World War II.

Eshoo worked with the U.S. Army to obtain the medals for Indergand after she learned last year that they had never been awarded to him, despite letters from the U.S. Army indicating otherwise.

In 1945, Mr. John Indergand and 19 of his peers were awarded in a hospital the Purple Heart and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for their bravery in World War II. On that day, Indergand only received a piece of paper saying he would receive the award later, but he never got it.

On November 30, 2013, he contacted Rep. Eshoo’s office seeking assistance in obtaining the award

Rep. Eshoo and her staff followed up with the Department of the Army and was informed that Indergand needed to provide official documentation confirming his deployment and that he was entitled to awards for wounds received as a direct result of enemy action.

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Indergand provided the required documentation and Rep. Eshoo took it to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Awards and Decorations Branch in Kentucky.

On January 22, 2014, Rep. Eshoo received a letter confirming that Indergand would be receiving the Purple Heart and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster. 

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In addition to this award, they were also able to determine that he was entitled to a Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge.

2014 Service Academy Appointments

Every year, Rep. Eshoo nominates a number of outstanding young women and men who live in the 18th Congressional District to the U.S. Service Academies.

Ranked among the finest educational institutions in the world, the service academies prepare cadets and midshipmen for a lifetime of leadership and service in the Armed Services.

This year, 11 constituents from the 18th Congressional District were appointed to a U.S. Service Academy. They are*:

USMA (Westpoint)

Aaron Katzman, Menlo Park
Alec Smith, San Jose
Keegan Vega, Los Gatos
Rikki Fearon, Mountain View
Michael Trong Giao Nguyen, San Jose

USNA (United States Naval Academy)

Shane Artim, Woodside

USAFA (United States Air Force Academy)

Michael Hannigan, San Jose
Angela Karamanos, Los Gatos
Anson Cheng, Palo Alto
Byron Baker II, San Jose

*One appointee requested that their name not be released.




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