This afternoon I received a call from a newspaper reporter wanting to know how to get in touch with my father. I asked why and she said to interview him about his award, then asked what I thought of it. I had no idea what she was talking about and told her so. She advised he was receiving the Congressional Gold Medal tomorrow in Salina! Tried calling my dad thereafter and finally found out it was for his Civil Air Patrol Service as a kid the year before he entered the army. He didn't think it was a very big deal so didn't bother telling me. I then pointed out that the medal is the highest civilian award given by the government. He still wasn't impressed, saying all they'd done was their jobs. My wife found the following link where they had a brief interview with him: http://www.capgoldmedal.com/stories/the-way-we-live/#.VV-tsstFDX4

My father is Jack Atherton. That was his "summer of '42".

sounds like a great dad!

Good for him...

Congrats! you should be very proud of him. He and those like him prove time and again why they are "The Greatest generation"!

Congratulations on a great award.