December 09, 2000                   Veteran to get rare Silver Star                   By MICK HOLIEN of the Missoulian                   U.S. Army Capt. George M. "Sonny" Gratzer left Vietnam in the midst of a                   furious firefight during the 1968 Tet Offensive. A medical helicopter plucked him                   from the ground after he was seriously wounded.                   Now, more than three decades later, the Butte native and University of Montana                   graduate is being honored with a second Silver Star and first oak leaf cluster. He                   distinguished himself during six February days in Vietnam while he was in                   command of a mechanized infantry company.                   The award will be presented Saturday by Lt. Col. James Clegg, the commanding                   officer of the University of Montana's ROTC unit, prior to the playing of the                   national anthem at the UM-Appalachian State I-AA semifinal football game.                   "It's very rare," said Clegg of the second award.                   The Silver Star ranks below only the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service                   Cross and Distinguished Service Medal in significance.                   The medal is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United                   States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing                   foreign force.                   In Vietnam, 155 Medals of Honor, 850 Distinguished Service Crosses and                   21,000 Silver Stars were awarded.                   Heavily decorated for his service in Vietnam, Gratzer initially received a single                   Silver Star, as well as the Bronze Star (first oak leaf cluster) and the Purple Heart                   (second oak leaf cluster.)                   "While in command of a mechanized infantry company with an attached tank                   platoon ... (Gratzer) skillfully and courageously exposed himself to extreme                   enemy fire while directing return fire using his tanks, machine guns and supporting                   artillery," reads a presidential citation.                   "His actions contributed immeasurably to the battalion's success and helped save                   the lives of his men," continues the citation.                   Gratzer was attached to Team Bravo, an infantry company in the south jungles of                   Vietnam, chasing the Headquarters Company of the 7th North Vietnamese Army.                   The soldier's job was to keep the landing zone open during the day and chase the                   enemy at night.                   "We killed quite a few people coming in and we had to firefight all the time," he                   said. "It was a long and arduous deal."                   On Feb. 9, after several members of his unit were wounded or killed, Gratzer                   was shot in the left side, with the bullet cutting six nerve roots before exiting his                   right side.                   With a medic at his side, Gratzer handed off command to one of his lieutenants,                   but the fighting was too extreme for a med-evac helicopter to land when it                   arrived.                   "I was yelling, fighting the pain," he remembers. "It was so intense. That was the                   only way I could stay awake and I was afraid if I went to sleep."                   He was flown to a MASH unit, then on to the 24th Evacuation Hospital in Long                   Binh and on to Japan and eventually back to the United States for rehabilitation.                   He eventually was medically retired.                   About three years ago, his former battalion commander mentioned his awards,                   believing Gratzer had received a Distinguished Service Cross and several Silver                   Stars.                   When Gratzer told him he had a single Star, and after Gratzer's inquiry to the                   Military Awards Division was ignored, the commander put into motion the                   congressional paperwork to see that Gratzer was finally recognized.                   Three other surviving members of his unit wrote support letters.                   There is other Silver Star paperwork he's seen that is dated earlier than this                   recognition, so there could even be a third Silver Star pending, said Gratzer.                   "I appreciate it," he said. "I'm filled with pride about it. ... I was happy and a little                   stunned to have it in hand."

Color Guard enters the Stadium National Anthem LTC Jim Clegg is the presenter       Karen Doran on the left     Daughter Rachel Strange LTC Jim Clegg presenting Sonny Gratzer with The Silver Star Sonny bubbling with pride for a long over do thank you by the Montana fans Sonny's sister Karen Doran     Sonny Gratzer      LTC Jim Clegg     Daughter Rachel Strange Rachel gives Dad the big congratulations!