Veteran receives recognition for supporting wounded warriors

By Mrs. Michelle Kennedy (Drum)April 3, 2013

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Division Command Sgt. Maj. Rick Merritt, left, and Staff Sgt. Gary Fields, 10th Mountain Division liaison officer at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, present Robert J. O'Malley with the Superior Civilian Service Medal signed by Secretary... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

For the past 12 years, one 10th Mountain Division veteran has been supporting his brothers-in-arms recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Robert J. O'Malley, a World War II veteran known as just "Bob" to his friends and colleagues, received special recognition and "thank you" from the division and the Army during a special Easter celebration for wounded warriors Sunday in Washington, D.C.

Division Command Sgt. Maj. Rick Merritt awarded O'Malley, who serves as the 10th Mountain Division Association's liaison at Walter Reed, the Superior Civilian Service Medal signed by Secretary of the Army John McHugh. Merritt surprised O'Malley with the award in front of more than 125 of his guests, including 10th Mountain Division Soldiers, Family Members and their friends.

"It feels good to get recognized," O'Malley said. "It draws attention that there's someone out here taking care of these (Soldiers)."

O'Malley said he began helping wounded warriors when the first Afghanistan veterans began arriving at Walter Reed 12 years ago.

"That's when I began setting up the program," he said. "Slowly but surely, we built up the program."

O'Malley supports wounded Soldiers not only with money donated to the 10th Mountain Division Association, but out of his own pocket. On several occasions, he has arranged for 100 or so Soldiers to dine at restaurants in the Washington D.C., area, which were paid with local donations and on O'Malley's own dime, according to Mike Plummer, president of the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division. O'Malley also takes patients to different sporting events in the area.

"Using his own and funds that he personally raised, he has taken busloads of wounded warriors to places of entertainment, major sports events and fine restaurants," Plummer said. "Annually, he arranges and pays for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and other holiday dinners for the Soldiers and their Family Members and significant others at some of the finest hotels in Washington, D.C."

In addition, O'Malley also provides dinners for Soldiers who can't go home for holidays and gives each amputee a 10th Mountain Division blanket, Plummer added.

However, his support of wounded Soldiers does not stop with his fellow 10th Mountain veterans; O'Malley said he makes a point to include Soldiers from other divisions too.

"I'm out of the 10th Mountain, but we should take care of our own," he said.

During deployments, Soldiers befriend others from different units and divisions across the Army. Likewise, 10th Mountain Division Soldiers often find friends during their recovery and treatment at Walter Reed, and O'Malley ensures those heroes aren't excluded from the fun.

"Those Soldiers rotate with the 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division over in Afghanistan," he said. "These guys hang out every day … how can I not include them? That's not right. They're comrades-in-arms.

"We include everybody. You better believe it," O'Malley added.

Because of O'Malley's tireless support of the division and the Army, Plummer wanted to formally recognize him.

"Every day, Bob turns words into action to demonstrate his and America's appreciation for our wounded warriors' sacrifices and service," he said. "His actions have made a significant positive impact on the morale and healing of our wounded warriors and merit this recognition."

Although O'Malley turned 90 in December, he said as long as donations are still coming in, he will continue supporting the wounded who arrive for treatment and rehabilitation.

For more information or to donate to the organization, email Plummer at plummike@aol.com.