Page 9 - Sojourner Newsletter-Spring 2023 v.3

Volume 100, Issue 2 9

HISTORIAN’S CORNER (HEROES OF ‘76)

GEN Jonathan Wainwright Award
Edward W. Nolte, National Heroes of ‘76 Historian
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In 1990, Bro. Jonathan M. Wainwright, Jr., Commander, US Navy (Ret.), son of Bro. and General Jonathan
M. Wainwright, US Army (Ret.), a WWII Medal of Honor recipient, endowed an annual award to honor the
most outstanding Heroes Camp for the year. Because it was not initially presented annually, nor to a Camp,
Bro. Clarence M. Nelson, National Commander at the time, restated and expanded the criteria, which are
contained in the current Heroes Manual. The nomination for Camps, vice individual Heroes, shall be based
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on the overall Camp performance in carrying out the purposes of the Heroes of `76 for the year. Criteria
include Flag Team presentations, Encampments sponsored and attended, ritual work memorized, bivouacs
held, recruits initiated, members in Colonial or Field Uniform and Tricorn Cover, ROTC awards presented,
and any other information or activity as deemed appropriate. The Camp is selected by the National Heroes
Awards Committee with the approval of the National Commander. The General Jonathan Wainwright
Award consists of an appropriately inscribed plaque bearing the National Seal of the Heroes of `76 . The
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National Commander presents the Award at the National Encampment, typically at the Bennington Banquet.

General Jonathan Wainwright Award Recipients
1990: West Point Camp, Ventura County #494
1994: Monte Sano Camp, Redstone #353
1996: MAJ Walter F. Junkins, BG James Chambers Camp, Penmar #532 (Now IM)
1998: Constitution Camp, San Diego #45
2000: Lew Wallace-Tippecanoe Camp, Indianapolis-Ft Harrison #66
2002: Light Horse Harry Lee Camp, Old Dominion #364
2003: Tun Tavern Camp, Camp Lejeune #329
2009: Marvin Shields Camp, Olympic #539
2010: Andrew Jackson Camp, Northeast Florida #435
2011: MAJ Samuel H. Parsons Camp, Anson Jones #507
2012: John Stark Camp, Green Mountain #527
2014: Alamo Camp, Fort Sam Houston #17
2016: Joseph Warren Camp, Omaha #19
2018: John J. Pershing Camp, Pasadena #265
2022:GEN Oglethorpe Camp, Clarence H. Cohen #162

Fifteen Camps have received the General Jonathan Wainwright Award, but even with Bro. Nelson’s
guidance, the Award was not presented for 18 of 33 opportunities, thus not honoring General Wainwright’s
legacy, fulfilling his son’s intent, and following Bro. Nelson’s guidance to his successors as National
Commander. History is what it is, but we can improve the future. Since the award is intended to be
presented annually, and it has only been presented in 13 of 28 years since its inception, it is incumbent upon
the National Commander to ensure a deserving Camp receives the Wainwright Award.

Since 164 Operational and At-Large Chapters currently host 153 Camps (94%), two points deserve
attention. First, with only 15 Camps having received this Award, the National Commander has 131 Camps
from which to select. In F-15 pilot lingo, this is a “target-rich environment.” Second, eight Operational
Chapters (#84, #438, #551, #558, #562, #563, #566, #568, & #997) do not have a Camp, could charter one,
and thus become eligible for the award. The best time for these Chapters to charter a Camp was years ago.
The next best time is NOW! Charter a Centennial Camp in your Chapter and don’t let this once-in-a-
lifetime opportunity slip away. Make it happen!