Korean War veteran in Raynham to receive Bronze Star for his service

From Wicked Local-East Bridgewater: Korean War veteran in Raynham to receive Bronze Star for his service
Raynham — A couple living in Raynham — both of them Korean War veterans — are being honored for their military service.

Robert and Cesina Mayers are each being recognized for their efforts during the Korean War. Robert Mayers earned a Bronze Star, but wasn’t aware of it until recently applying for medical benefits.

“I am kind of shocked really,” said Robert Mayers, formerly of Attleboro. “It’s a big surprise. I’m happy with it. And now that I will receive it, it’s quite a thing. It’s quite an honor to receive it.”

Separately, Cesina Mayers, who also served during the Korean War, has been invited to a March 9 event at Arlington Cemetery to recognize women’s leadership in the military, she said.

The couple’s family held a celebration to honor Robert Mayers in late November at the American Legion in Seekonk, attended by State Rep. Steven Howitt. The family organized the party after applying for medical benefits during the summer and discovering that Mayers’ military discharge form noted that he received a Bronze Star.

Howitt, a Republican from Seekonk, passed on the news about how the family discovered that Mayers earned a Bronze Star but never received the medal, said the couple’s daughter Tina Pothier. Now, she said, the Army’s Col. David Clark plans to pin the award on the Korean War vet during a State House ceremony.

“When (Howitt) passed it along, and I guess it really enticed the colonel — the story of how he never actually got it,” Pothier said.

Pothier said Clark called her, and she told him that the family bought a replica of the Bronze Star to give to her father. But she said Clark told her that wasn’t good enough, and gave her instructions on getting an official medal.

“Col. Clark is going to come down personally and pin it on my dad at the State House, sometime this spring,” Pothier said. “We are waiting to find out when.”

Pothier said Attleboro Mayor Kevin Dumas also attended the celebration at the American Legion, and presented Mayers a commemorative Attleboro coin. She said Dumas also read a proclamation in honor of Mayers issued by Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson, and added that State Sen. James Timilty, D-Walpole, also attended.

Cesina Mayers said it was a pleasant surprise to find out that her husband received the Bronze Star, although adding they are not certain what specific actions he received it for. His daughter said the family believes it was likely for one incident in Korea when Robert Mayers pulled one of his buddies underneath a truck out of the line of fire. “No one ever told him about it,” Cesina Mayers said. “But it was entirely our fault. We never looked at the DD-214.”

While her husband is being honored for his service, so is Cesina. Speaking of the event at Arlington National Cemetery to commemorate women who served, she said she plans on going.

“But I’m worried,” she said. “The only thing I’ve got to remind me of being in the veterans is an old moth-eaten hat that I have. I got a uniform, but it wouldn’t fit on my right leg. But it should be a good trip.”