{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/news-releases/mccaskill-secures-bronze-star-medal-for-st-louis-world-war-ii-veteran", "McCaskill Secures Bronze Star Medal for St. Louis World War II Veteran", "2015-12-14", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "MO", "Claire McCaskill", "M001170", "www.mccaskill.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "McCaskill Secures Bronze Star Medal for St. Louis World War II Veteran \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Senator advocated for veteran to receive award 60 years after combat \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 14, 2015\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tST. LOUIS U.S. Senator Claire McCaskills office today hosted a Bronze Star Medal ceremony honoring World War II veteran Vernon C. Crecelius, who was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his military service.\r\nOur veterans past and present have done the critical work of safeguarding our nations freedoms, said McCaskill, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the daughter of a World War II veteran. Each and every veteran deserves proper recognition for their brave and honorable service. One of the best parts of my job is to ensure we recognize and spotlighthowever long it takes the contributions of brave individuals like Mr. Crecelius.\r\nVernon C. Crecelius, a veteran of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, served in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in Normandy and Northern France. For his service in World War II, he was authorized a Bronze Star Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster  signifying an additional Bronze Star Medal  before his honorable discharge in 1945. Unfortunately, Mr. Crecelius never received the additional award of the Oak Leaf Cluster device. After McCaskills office submitted the necessary documentation, the U.S. Army confirmed Mr. Crecelius entitlement to the long-delayed award.\r\nThe medal was presented by Brigadier General Gregory Champagne, Assistant Adjutant General for Air, Missouri National Guard. Senator McCaskill has previously helped Missouri veterans and their families secure overdue combat awards, including Vietnam veteranPatrick Howe, Korean war veteranDencil Francis, Vietnam veteranWalter Sitzwohl, and Korean war veteran Reverend Leo Hardin.\r\nVisitwww.mccaskill.senate.gov/veteransto learn more about McCaskills fight for military veterans.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/news-releases/mccaskill-secures-bronze-star-medal-for-st-louis-world-war-ii-veteran"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5770131722092628, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}