United States. Two Meritorious Service Medal Award Documents, Lieutenant Colonel Cheney Litton Bertholf, Jr.

1. Lieutenant Colonel Cheney L. Bertholf, Jr. 482-24-1467, Armor, United States Army was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for Outstanding Meritorious Service from June 1969 to June 1971, dated June 1, 1971 at the City of Washington, the award document signed by Lieutenant General C.E. Huychin, Jr., United States Army, Commanding, First United States Army and signed by Secretary of the Army Stanley R. Resor. His citation states: "The Commanding General First United States Army awards the Meritorious Service Medal to Lieutenant Colonel Cheney L. Bertholf Jr 482-24-1467 Armor United States Army: While serving as Professor of Military Science, United States Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Instructor Group, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, from June 1969 to June 1971, Lieutenant Colonel Bertholf distinguished himself by rendering outstanding meritorious service. Through his exceptional personal qualities and leadership traits, he has repeatedly demonstrated an organizational and managerial capability worthy of emulation. His untiring efforts, devotion to duty and insistence for superior results have materially improved the instruction of the Military Science Department at the University and have produced a lasting influence on the junior officers graduated from this institution. Lieutenant Colonel Bertholf's outstanding achievements and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.", with the official First United States Army foil seal affixed.

2. Lieutenant Colonel Cheney L. Bertholf, Jr. 482-24-1467, Armor, United States Army was awarded the First Oak Leaf Cluster to the Meritorious Service Medal for Outstanding Meritorious Service from June 1971 to February 1973, dated May 10, 1973 at the City of Washington, the award document signed by Lieutenant General Patrick F. Cassidy, United States Army, Commanding, Fifth United States Army and signed by Secretary of the Army Robert F. Froehlke. His citation states: "The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order, 16 January 1969, has awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (First Oak Cluster) to Lieutenant Colonel Cheney L. Bertholf, Jr, United States Army for outstanding meritorious service: Lieutenant Colonel Bertholf, Armor, distinguished himself by outstanding meritorious service as Chief, Unit Training Branch, Training Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Training, Headquarters, Fifth United States Army, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, from June 1971 to February 1973. Demonstrating extraordinary leadership ability, professional competence and mature judgment, he fulfilled his intricate responsibilities in a distinctively outstanding manner and consistently attained optimum results. Through his application of sound principles, personal initiative, and resourcefulness, he initiated policies and procedures which greatly enhanced training efficiency. By his singular managerial skill, decisiveness and executive ability, he contributed immeasurably to the smooth accomplishment of the mission of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Training. Lieutenant Colonel Bertholf's enthusiastic application of military and professional knowledge, pride in accomplishment, and ability to produce results of the highest caliber reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.", with the official Fifth United States Army foil seal affixed.

The actual award document and the citation for both (totaling four items) are printed on an off-white paper stock, measuring 267 mm (w) x 204 mm (h) each, and come in hunter green stiff-covered presentation folders bearing the United States of America War Office insignia on the cover. Near extremely fine.

Footnote: Cheney Litton Bertholf, Jr. was born on April 22, 1928 in Washington, District of Columbia, to Cheney Litton Bertholf, Sr. and Ruth E. Bierdemann Bertholf. He had a sister, Mary E. Bertholf. His career in the military began when he enlisted in the United States Army in 1945 at the age of 17. During the Vietnam War, 482-24-1467 Bertholf was Commanding Officer with the 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 50th Infantry Regiment in Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam, from February 1968 to July 1968, and was Lieutenant Colonel, Armor from June 9, 1969 to June 1, 1971. Upon his return from Vietnam, he was sent to complete his college education in an Army program called the "Bootstrap Program". Upon completion of his BA degree in Political Science at St. Benedict's College, he was posted at The Ohio State University for ROTC instructor duty and was there for the riots on campus. From Ohio, he was ordered to 5th Army at Fort Sam Houston for duty from June 1971 to February 1973 in the G-3 and then ordered to Panama as the Inspector General of the United States Southern Command. He retired from the Army in 1975 after a thirty year career, most of it spent in the Cavalry.

After retiring from the Army, Bertholf was to take several jobs, as well as working in real estate, until he got his Masters in Education from Rollins College and began teaching high school at Oviedo High School in Central Florida. While at the high school he was well known and liked and made it a point to highlight the duties of being a citizen and for the sacrifices made by our military to be respected. He put up and took down the colors at Oviedo High School during the ten years he was on staff. One of his students, Amanda Judd, upon viewing his online obituary in September 2017 had this to say about him: "He was one of the best teachers that I ever had. He had a way of bringing history to life. I was thinking about him as I was watching the documentary about The Vietnam War and the Tet Offensive. He told us an incredible story about his survival during that event. He told us that if we ever saw a protest 'beat feet the other way'. He also gave us a copy of the US Declaration of Independence/Constitution and said if he ever saw us outside of school and we had it, he would raise our grade by a grade level. I am 46 years old and still have the same copy that he gave us. He wrote me a letter of recommendation to college when I don't think that I deserved it. He was a wonderful person. I don't know if he knew this but we privately called him 'Papa Bertholf' because when you were in his class, you felt comforted. Everyone should be so lucky to have a teacher like him."

Lieutenant Colonel Bertholf's accumulated awards and decorations included: Vietnam Service Medal; France Medal of Freedom; Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Clasp; Air Medal with 16th Oak Leaf Cluster; Combat Infantryman Badge; Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device; Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device; Silver Star; Vietnam Parachutist Badge; Vietnam Armor Badge; Armed Forces Honor Medal; Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star; Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm; Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters; Presidential Unit Citation with three Oak Leaf Clusters; Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster; Legion of Merit.

Lieutenant Colonel Cheney L. Bertholf, United States Army, 1st Battalion (Mechanized) was awarded the Silver Star for actions during the Vietnam War, his citation stating "Lieutenant Colonel Cheney L. Bertholf, Jr. (ASN: 0-65202), United States Army, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with the 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 50th Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade, in action against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 3 February 1968. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army."

Lieutenant Colonel Cheney L. Bertholf, Jr. (Silver Fox-6) died on January 11, 2016 from recurrent prostate cancer, at the age of 87 in Altamonte Springs, Florida. He was survived by his two sons, Colonel Paul F Bertholf (Alida), United States Marine Corps and John L. Bertholf (Cindy) who was an 11B in the U.S. Army and became a Deputy Sherriff in Seminole County Florida, along with four grandchildren: Claire, Catherine, Alex and Holly. He always spoke with great pride of his time serving in the 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 50th Infantry Regiment. The casualties suffered by the Battalion were always on his mind and he remembered them in his daily prayers.