The History of the Massachusetts Medal of Valor
A Legacy of Courage
The Massachusetts Medal of Valor is authorized by Chapter 33 of the Massachusetts General Laws, Section 67(b). The medal may be awarded to a member of the Armed Forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who, by reason of conspicuous gallantry at the risk of his/her life, above and beyond the call of duty, while performing military service, performs an outstanding act of heroism. The act performed must have been so notable and have involved risk of life so extraordinary as to set the individual apart from his/her comrades.
In 1958, when the first award was made posthumously by Governor Foster Furcolo to the family of 1LT James O. Conway, 101st Fighter Squadron, 102nd Fighter Group, Massachusetts Air National Guard, the Boston Globe described the Massachusetts Medal of Valor as being the Bay State's equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
1st Lt. James O. Conway, a 31-year-old fighter pilot, became a hero to the East Boston neighborhood around Bayswater Street in the autumn of 1954. On Oct. 2, Conway scrambled his F-94 Starfire jet interceptor off the runway of Logan Airport in East Boston. He and his wingman were ordered to pursue an unidentified plane off the coast of New England. Shortly after taking off, Conway's high-powered jet suffered a loss of power and became disabled. The fighter was fully loaded with ammunition and fuel and was headed directly toward the heavily populated Orient Heights residential neighborhood in East Boston.
Rather than eject and parachute to safety, 1LT Conway chose to remain at the controls of his disabled aircraft. Witnesses saw the flier nose his aircraft into a gravel seawall on Bayswater Street in order to avoid crashing into a row of homes. Two homes were partly damaged by fire from the crash and a third was struck with bullets. Though Conway was killed on impact, no one on the ground was injured. The late Cardinal Richard Cushing, speaking at a memorial Mass for Conway in 1954 said, "Lieutenant Conway died in a perfect act of love - giving his life to save others." (1.)
Rather than eject and parachute to safety, 1LT Conway chose to remain at the controls of his disabled aircraft. Witnesses saw the flier nose his aircraft into a gravel seawall on Bayswater Street in order to avoid crashing into a row of homes. Two homes were partly damaged by fire from the crash and a third was struck with bullets. Though Conway was killed on impact, no one on the ground was injured. The late Cardinal Richard Cushing, speaking at a memorial Mass for Conway in 1954 said, "Lieutenant Conway died in a perfect act of love - giving his life to save others." (1.)
Since 1958, the Massachusetts Medal of Valor has been awarded to six soldiers and one airman, with the first being presented to Staff Sergeant William D. Thomas on 9 December 1978. On 16 December 1977, Staff Sergeant Thomas, HQs, 1-101 Infantry, 26th Infantry Division, along with Captain Brian F. Sullivan, the Race Relations/Equal Opportunity Officer from State Headquarters Massachusetts National Guard and a few other determined rescuers, pulled a motorist from his overturned and burning truck. The risk of explosion, which endangered the lives of all present, was imminent throughout the rescue and the truck burst into flames immediately after the driver was pulled free from the cabin.
Two other awards of the Massachusetts Medal of Valor would be made in December 1978 for actions during the Blizzard of '78. One to SP4 Ronald J. Roberts, HQs, 26th Cavalry, 26th Infantry Division and the other to 2LT John M. Kretas, Company B, 2nd battalion, 181st Infantry (Mechanized).
On February 8, 1978 while on emergency state active duty in the city of Revere, SP4 Ronald J. Roberts rescued an elderly woman who was trapped, without heat or electricity, on the second floor of her house which was surrounded by three to four feet of icy water. Sergeant Robert L. Faticanti, together with SP4 Roberts, rowed a boat to within thirty feet of the house. Faticanti stayed with the boat to maneuver it away from currents which might have swept it away, while Roberts, in an insulated wet suit, moved by foot through the icy water to the house where he rescued the elderly woman. He carried her in his arms to the boat and lifted her to Sergeant Faticanti, who comforted the woman while Roberts pushed the boat some fifty feet to shore. SP4 Roberts suffered frostbite in the process. For his selfless action he was awarded the Massachusetts Medal of Valor, while Faticanti received the Massachusetts Medal of Merit. (2)
Second Lieutenant John M. Kretas, a Platoon Leader with Company B, at great personal risk, rescued two girls being held hostage in a burning dwelling on February 8, 1978, while on duty during the blizzard. Kretas retired as a Captain in 1990, but later returned to active duty, serving as a Special Forces soldier during Operation Desert Storm, during which time he was recommended for the Silver Star, but humbly deferred to a subordinate whom he thought was more deserving of the award. John retired as a Major after the war and passed away, a true hero, on 3 October 2011.
SP4 John D'Entremont received the Massachusetts Medal of Valor on 18 January 1979. His award was also for Blizzard of '78 related heroism. SP4 D'Entremont, D Company, 114th Medical Battalion, 26th Infantry Division, Massachusetts Army National Guard, while on duty during the blizzard, made his way up the fire escape of a burning building, kicked in a window and escorted two screaming terrified adults to safety. He then forced his way back up the fire escape to the third floor and kicked in another window to rescue a baby. Upon exiting and finding the lower floor engulfed in flames, SP4 D'Entremont placed the baby inside his field jacket, zipped it up so that only the child's head was sticking out and, while clutching the child in his arms, jumped from the fire escape into a snow bank below, thereby rescuing the child at the risk of his own life.
The next award of the Massachusetts Medal of Valor was made on 22 March 1979 to MSG Thomas A. Guenette, Operations, Training and Readiness Specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd, Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Massachusetts Army National Guard. On 21 December 1978, MSG Guenette, at great personal risk, stopped a run-a-way driverless 45 passenger bus. The vehicle was moving in a circular pattern, going about 20 miles an hour in reverse. MSG Guenette dove into the bus and brought it under control on the snow and ice covered pavement.
Captain Brian F. Sullivan, a Vietnam Veteran and Bronze Star recipient, received the Massachusetts Medal of Valor on 6 November 1979, for the same lifesaving action that SSG William D. Thomas was involved in on 16 December 1977.
The Massachusetts Medal of Valor was presented for permanent display in the Rotunda at Arlington National Cemetery's Amphitheatre in a special ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, DC on April 23, 1982. It was presented in remembrance of those citizen soldiers of Massachusetts who by voluntary act distinguished themselves by gallantry to secure the safety of the people of Massachusetts. The medal joined those of other states on display as a lasting memorial to be viewed by the millions of Americans who visit that national shrine. It was the first and last time that the surviving recipients of the Massachusetts Medal of Valor gathered together, as they were honored at a luncheon at Fort Myer after the ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The last award on record of the Massachusetts Medal of Valor was made to Master Sergeant Carl W. Roth III of the 102nd Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard on 10 October 1985. On 30 April 1985 MSG Roth came upon an accident scene. A vehicle had gone out of control and landed upside down submerged in a reservoir in approximately six feet of water. MSG Roth dove into the water, opened the vehicle door and rescued one of the occupants by swimming with the victim to shore. MSG Roth then swam back to the submerged vehicle to attempt to rescue the second occupant without success.
Five years later, In 1990, an intersection at 1LT James O. Conway's crash site in East Boston was renamed James O. Conway Way. In September 2004, the Massachusetts Port Authority established a memorial plaque on Bayswater Street in East Boston in honor of 1LT Conway's sacrifice 50 years earlier. Among the dignitaries present at the dedication was an honor guard and the Commander of the 102nd Fighter Wing at the Otis Air National Guard Base.
1LT James O. Conway will forever be remembered for his valiant efforts, and will always hold a special place in the hearts of the people of East Boston. His legacy and that of the subsequent recipients of the Massachusetts Medal of Valor continues today with the brave soldiers and airmen who have been deployed from the state's National Guard in the global war on terror and those Guardsmen and women who responded during the recent Boston Marathon bombing. The heroism, courage and personal sacrifice of our Medal of Valor recipients reflects the highest credit on themselves, their units and the Massachusetts National Guard.
1LT James O. Conway will forever be remembered for his valiant efforts, and will always hold a special place in the hearts of the people of East Boston. His legacy and that of the subsequent recipients of the Massachusetts Medal of Valor continues today with the brave soldiers and airmen who have been deployed from the state's National Guard in the global war on terror and those Guardsmen and women who responded during the recent Boston Marathon bombing. The heroism, courage and personal sacrifice of our Medal of Valor recipients reflects the highest credit on themselves, their units and the Massachusetts National Guard.
1. Cliff McDonald, 102nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs, "East Boston Neighborhood Honors Cold War Hero," Oct, 2004
2. Interview with Robert Faticanti, July 1, 2013
