Very Nice Airborne Find

[skir]

Had to work today and with nothing happening went to the local antique mall at lunch. Came across this desk nameplate. I liked the sandcast 2nd award CIB and senior Pilot wing and the wing detail in the senior Para wing ( German made?). Got home and did a quick search of the Col. and found out his amazing Career. Just Wow. Anyway hope You all enjoy.

[carrabassett]

Very nice, great find!

[firefighter]

Very cool find and a neat desk plate.

 

http://home.comcast.net/~vwgoodrich/col_.htm

 

This is from the VHPA website;

 

 

MERTEL KENNETH D

COL Kenneth D. Mertel was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 10/11/2006 at the age of 82
Williamsburg, VA
Flight Class 58-18
Date of Birth 06/08/1924
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 145 CAB in 62-63, 1 CAV in 65-66, 11 CAG in 70-71
This information was provided by Kevan Mynderup, 145 CAB Association

More detail on this person: WILLIAMSBURG - Colonel Kenneth D. Mertel, Infantry, US Army Retired, 82, died at home in Williamsburg, Virginia on 11 Oct 06. A veteran of 33 years in the US Army, Ken retired in 1975. Upon retirement, he devoted 20 years of public service to the Coast Guard Auxiliary, serving at every level from flotilla to national. He also served one year in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941. Enlisting in the Army in June 42, he graduated from Infantry OCS in 45 as a Second Lieutenant. Winning a Regular Army Commission in 46, he served two tours as a combat Infantry rifle company commander in Korea in 1952-53. During three Vietnam tours, Ken commanded both Infantry and Aviation units at battalion, group and brigade level. Two tours were with the 1st Air Cavalry Division. Ken was a graduate of Mountainburg High School in Arkansas, the University of Georgia and Boston University. His military education included Ranger, Airborne, Fixed and Rotary Wing courses as well as the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. He was awarded a Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, five Legions of Merit, five Bronze Stars, and fifty Air Medals. Born in Bennett, Colorado in 1924 to Alonzo and Cora Mertel, Ken is survived by his faithful poodle, Bo; his daughter Maria Cochrane and husband Michael and their sons Graham and Wes Cochrane. He was married to the late Molli Mertel. Memorial Services will be conducted Monday, 23 October at 11 am at Patriots Colony Assisted Living in Williamsburg by Chaplain Janna Roche and Tuesday, 24 October at 11 am at St. John's Episcopal Church in Hampton by Ken's niece, the Reverend Darby Oliver Everhard of Cincinnati. Committal with military honors in the adjacent cemetery will follow Tuesday's service. A catered reception will be held in St. John's Parish Hall. Ken deeply loved his dogs and his family. His country and the US Army were close to his heart. He wanted to be remembered as a man of courage, a warrior. His motto was DRIVE ON –ALL THE WAY. Memorials may be sent to Heritage Humane Society, 430 Waller Miller Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185. Published in the Daily Press on 10/22/2006.

This information was last updated 03/01/2009

[skir]

http://www.jumpingmustangs.com/allbrigade.html

[eagle5036]

Wow! This is a great find!

[skir]

Thanks Firefighter for the great link. Having the desk plate from the Man who Organized and Commanded one of the shortest lived US Army Airborne units in US History is truly a corner stone of the collection. Also, never knew that the 1st Cav. Div. was slated to be fully Airborne qualified. Some great history found among a bunch of glasses.

[Dakota]

Very cool find and a neat desk plate.

 

http://home.comcast.net/~vwgoodrich/col_.htm

 

This is from the VHPA website;

 

 

MERTEL KENNETH D

COL Kenneth D. Mertel was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 10/11/2006 at the age of 82

Williamsburg, VA

Flight Class 58-18

Date of Birth 06/08/1924

Served in the U.S. Army

Served in Vietnam with 145 CAB in 62-63, 1 CAV in 65-66, 11 CAG in 70-71

This information was provided by Kevan Mynderup, 145 CAB Association

More detail on this person: WILLIAMSBURG - Colonel Kenneth D. Mertel, Infantry, US Army Retired, 82, died at home in Williamsburg, Virginia on 11 Oct 06. A veteran of 33 years in the US Army, Ken retired in 1975. Upon retirement, he devoted 20 years of public service to the Coast Guard Auxiliary, serving at every level from flotilla to national. He also served one year in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941. Enlisting in the Army in June 42, he graduated from Infantry OCS in 45 as a Second Lieutenant. Winning a Regular Army Commission in 46, he served two tours as a combat Infantry rifle company commander in Korea in 1952-53. During three Vietnam tours, Ken commanded both Infantry and Aviation units at battalion, group and brigade level. Two tours were with the 1st Air Cavalry Division. Ken was a graduate of Mountainburg High School in Arkansas, the University of Georgia and Boston University. His military education included Ranger, Airborne, Fixed and Rotary Wing courses as well as the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. He was awarded a Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, five Legions of Merit, five Bronze Stars, and fifty Air Medals. Born in Bennett, Colorado in 1924 to Alonzo and Cora Mertel, Ken is survived by his faithful poodle, Bo; his daughter Maria Cochrane and husband Michael and their sons Graham and Wes Cochrane. He was married to the late Molli Mertel. Memorial Services will be conducted Monday, 23 October at 11 am at Patriots Colony Assisted Living in Williamsburg by Chaplain Janna Roche and Tuesday, 24 October at 11 am at St. John's Episcopal Church in Hampton by Ken's niece, the Reverend Darby Oliver Everhard of Cincinnati. Committal with military honors in the adjacent cemetery will follow Tuesday's service. A catered reception will be held in St. John's Parish Hall. Ken deeply loved his dogs and his family. His country and the US Army were close to his heart. He wanted to be remembered as a man of courage, a warrior. His motto was DRIVE ON –ALL THE WAY. Memorials may be sent to Heritage Humane Society, 430 Waller Miller Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185. Published in the Daily Press on 10/22/2006.

This information was last updated 03/01/2009

WOW! That man was through the thick of it.

 

Nice Find, never seen anything like it

 

D

[GoArmy2010]

Dear Skir,

 

With respect to your original post, i'm amazed to see this! Kenneth D. Mertel is my grandfather. I'm writing to ask if you'd be willing to discuss, offline perhaps, how you found the Desk Display bearing his name. Would you be willing to discuss potentially selling it back to my family? It would mean a lot to me, as I've stiven to emulate my grandfather and serve my country as he did.

 

I'm an infantry officer as well. My grandfather past away in 2006, my freshman year at the United States Military Academy. I've since served with the 101st Airborne Division, doing a tour with 2-327th IN to Afghanistan (OEF XII-XIII).

 

Understandbly, I would have to, and can prove that he is my grandfather.

 

Please consider my request Sir.

 

Thank you for reading.

[RAM1]

DEAR SKIR

 

IN REFERANCE TO THE DESK PLATE PURCHASE ABOVE. COL KENNETH D. MERTEL WAS MY UNCLE. HE WAS A BRAVE SOLDIER AND A TRUE HERO THAT LOVED HIS COUNTRY AND HIS FAMILY. THE DESK PLATE IS A PART OF THE MERTEL FAMILY HISTORY. I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER SELLING THIS ITEM SO IT COULD REMAIN IN THE FAMILY. THE PREVIOUS POST ABOVE MINE IS A REQUEST FROM KEN MERTEL'S GRANDSON TO PURCHASE THE PLATE AS WELL. PLEASE RESPOND BACK TO EITHER OF US CONCERNING THIS MATTER.

 

THANK YOU,

ROBERT A. MERTEL, JR.

[wolfedawg]

What are the odds???

[TrenchfootJoe66]

What are the odds???

 

Pretty good actually, It happens more than you might think. Unfortunately this sort of request has also been used as a way to scam people. Pretty sure that's not the case here though. Just goes to demonstrate the power of a Google search