Mark Hackel issued the following announcement on Dec. 15.
New Baltimore Wreaths Across America at St. Mary's Cemetary with Lt. Col. Donald 'Digger' Odell. The Wreaths Across America mission is to “Remember, Honor, Teach – Remember the fallen . . . honor those who serve . . . teach our children the value of freedom. Donald E. “Digger” Odell, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and Harrison Township, Mich. resident, whose address from October 1967 to March 1973 was the notorious North Vietnamese prisoner of war camp known as the “Hanoi Hilton.” Odell was released from confinement on March 14, 1973 and returned to Mt. Clemens, after a brief hospitalization, on April 7, 1973. He was medically retired from the Air Force on March 11, 1975 because of his combat-inflicted injuries, related to his captivity.
His military awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service medal with 11 Bronze Battle Stars and the Prisoner of War Medal. He also holds the Daughters’ of the American Revolution Medal of Honor.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Mark Hackel
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