{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://barletta.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-barletta-presents-overdue-medals-to-veterans", "Rep. Barletta Presents Overdue Medals to Veterans", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Lou Barletta", "B001269", "barletta.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Barletta presents medals to veterans in a ceremony at his Hazleton office.\u00a0 From left to right: Jan Branger, Curtis A. Ashner, (son of Curtis Ashner), R. June Kissinger, (sister of Edwin Kishbaugh and Gold Star recipient),\u00a0 James Rosengrant, Charles Zunski, (brother of Edward Zunski).\nHAZLETON \u2013 Congressman Lou Barletta, PA-11, today presented long overdue medals to five veterans of the United States military \u2013 and one Gold Star recipient \u2013 during a ceremony at his Hazleton district office.\u00a0 Recipients of the medals were Army veteran Curtis A. Ashner (deceased) of Lake Harmony, Army veteran Jan Branger of Drums, Army veteran Edwin R. Kishbaugh (deceased) of Stillwater, Navy veteran James Rosengrant of Tunkhannock, and Army veteran Edward Zunski (missing in action) of Hazle Township.\u00a0 In addition, R. June Kissinger, sister of Mr. Kishbaugh, received the Gold Star Lapel Button, signifying the loss of her brother\u2019s life during armed conflict.\nIn all cases, the medals were awarded for the first time, despite their having been earned during service.\u00a0 In Mr. Kishbaugh\u2019s case, the medals were issued for the first time under Permanent Orders 286-11, 286-12, 286-13, and 286-14, dated October 12, 2016.\u00a0\n\u201cWe ask the brave men and women of our armed forces to travel to foreign lands to fight for our freedoms,\u201d Barletta said.\u00a0 \u201cIt is the very least that we can do to honor their service, and to present them with the medals they have earned. The presentation of these medals represents the gratitude of a nation, in recognition of the selfless service these veterans performed.\u201d\nReceiving medals were:\nCurtis A. Ashner (deceased), U.S. Army, World War II: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; and Army of Occupation Medal and Japan Clasp.\u00a0 The medals were presented to his son, Curtis A. Ashner.\nJan Branger, U.S. Army, April 1964 to April 1967: Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Expert Badge and Pistol Bar; and Marksman Badge and Rifle Bar.\nEdwin R. Kishbaugh (deceased), U.S. Army, World War II: Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service Stars; World War II Victory Medal; and Combat Infantryman Badge.\u00a0 Mr. Kishbach was killed on February 29, 1944 and was buried as an unknown in the American Military Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy.\u00a0 Identified in November of 1944, his remains were disinterred and returned to the United States in July of 1948.\u00a0 He was reburied at the Elan Memorial Park Cemetery in Bloomsburg.\u00a0 The medals were presented to his sister, R. June Kissinger.\nJames Rosengrant, U.S. Navy, November 1961 to November 1963: National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Cuba); Navy Expeditionary Medal (Cuba); and Navy \u201cE\u2019 Ribbon (denotes permanent duty on U.S. Navy ships that have won a battle efficiency competition).\u00a0 Mr. Rosengrant served aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, America\u2019s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, on its maiden voyage beginning in January of 1962.\u00a0 In February 1962, the Enterprise was a tracking and measuring station for John Glenn\u2019s first orbital flight aboard Friendship 7. \u00a0As part of the crew, Mr. Rosengrant served aboard the Enterprise as it was dispatched to address the Cuban Missile Crisis.\nEdward Zunski (Missing in Action), U.S. Army, World War II: Bronze Star Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award; and Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII.\u00a0 Mr. Zunski was declared missing in action in Germany on April 8, 1945.\u00a0 His medals were presented to his brother, Charles Zunski.\nR. June Kissinger: Gold Star Lapel Button. Ms. Kissinger received the Gold Star Lapel Button in honor of her brother, Edwin R. Kishbaugh, who was killed in action in World War II.\u00a0 The Gold Star Lapel Button was authorized by an Act of Congress in 1966 as an official decoration for the public identification of family of fallen service members.\u00a0 The Gold Stars are issued to the direct next of kin of United States service members who lost their lives in armed hostilities\nRep. Barletta frequently presents medals which were lost or never awarded for a variety of reasons, including fire, lost records, or discovery of old records.\u00a0 Veterans and their families wishing to secure medals for themselves or loved ones can contact the Congressman\u2019s offices in Washington, DC (202-225-6511), Hazleton (570-751-0050), Harrisburg (717-525-7002), Carlisle (717-249-0190), or Sunbury (570-988-7801).", 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": ["http://barletta.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-barletta-presents-overdue-medals-to-veterans"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8172839879989624, "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"}