In the News

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright visited the Gino J. Merli Veterans’ Center in downtown Scranton Friday afternoon to give four area veterans some long overdue recognition.

The quartet were presented with the Korean Ambassador for Peace medal, an award jointly given by the United States and South Korean governments in recognition of U.S. servicemen who served during the Korean War.

The medal was given to Eugene Chikowski of West Pittston (U.S. Army), Frank Prokop of Wyoming (U.S. Army), Joseph Castellano of Scranton (U.S. Army), and U.S. Navy Seaman First Class Donald Liotta of Scranton (U.S. Navy).

Cartwright said honoring Korean War veterans is something that hits close to home for him, as his late father-in-law, Robert Munley, was himself a veteran of the conflict.

“Honoring Korean War veterans is as big of a priority as anything else,” Cartwright said. “I get choked up just talking about it, maybe because (Munley) just died a month ago.”

The two residents from Luzerne County honored, Chikowski and Prokup, both expressed admiration for Cartwright for honoring them in this way.

Chikowski was first drafted into the Army in March of 1951, and served as a mechanical draftsman and an engineer until December of the following year.

Prokop, meanwhile, enlisted in January 1949 and served until January 1952 with the 27th Regiment. Prokop was previously awarded the Purple Heart after sustaining a .50 caliber bullet wound to his right leg. During Friday’s ceremony, Prokop expressed gratitude that the bullet missed the bone and nerves in his leg.

Chikowski, who first found out he’d be getting the award about a week ago, seemed sincerely thankful.

“It’s a great honor,” he said. “I didn’t anticipate this.”

Prokop was also thankful for the honor.

“It feels really good,” he said. “It was very nice of (Cartwright) to do this.”

As another part of Friday’s ceremony, Cartwright also presented posthumous awards, including a Purple Heart, for Carbondale native Robert Jones (U.S. Army).

Jones’ son Allan accepted the awards on his father’s behalf.

While Jones was awarded these medals during his lifetime, his family could not find the medals after his passing, and Cartwright’s office arranged to present them to his family once again.