Posthumous Purple Heart awarded to U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Sloat
DOVER-FOXCROFT — A Marine from Dover-Foxcroft who perished in the crash of a Marine HMH Squadron 463 helicopter in Vietnam on Feb. 18, 1971 was honored with the presentation of the Purple Heart on the afternoon of Aug. 15 at the Dover-Foxcroft American Legion. Thanks to the efforts of his fellow Marines, the award was bestowed 47 years later upon U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Gregory A. Sloat — who was 21 at the time of the crash — with the Purple Heart presented to his mother Clarice Sloat Call.
Those filling the American Legion Post learned that the original Purple Heart was established by George Washington in 1782 and a century and a half later the honor was reauthorized in recognition of the 200th anniversary of Washington’s birth. The decoration is today awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving in the U.S. military.
“It is my honor to be here today representing the State of Maine,” Rep. Norm Higgins, I-Dover-Foxcroft said after the Purple Heart was formally presented to Sloat Call by a trio of Marines. Higgins then read a Memoriam Sentiment from himself and Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville on behalf of Sloat.
“In addition I have a flag from the State of Maine to present as well,” Higgins said, saying the flag was flown in Augusta on Aug. 2.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
PURPLE HEART FOR U.S. MARINE SGT. SLOAT — A posthumous Purple Heart for her son was presented to Clarice Sloat Call on Aug. 15 at the Dover-Foxcroft American Legion on behalf of U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Gregory A. Sloat. Sloat perished in the crash of an HMH 463 helicopter in Vietnam on Feb. 18, 1971. Thanks to the efforts of his fellow Marines, an investigation determined that Sloat and the other eight on board the helicopter all are eligible for Purple Hearts.
Sloat’s younger brother retired U.S. Marine Col. Barton S. Sloat said earlier this year he was contacted by an investigator seeking the next of kin for Gregory A. Sloat. The younger Sloat said William Whitehurst, who served with his brother, learned that five crew members and four passengers aboard the HMH 463 helicopter had not received Purple Hearts and he wanted to be sure the nine all received the honor.
Barton S. Sloat said an investigation determined that the HMH 463 helicopter crash cause was enemy fire and not a mechanical issue, changing the status of the nine on board from non-combat causality to killed as a result of enemy action and allowing them all to be eligible for the Purple Heart.
“‘We will never forget our lost brothers and the service they gave to our country,’” Sloat said in reading a letter written Whitehurst.
Sgt. Sloat
“That was something he didn’t have to pursue but that is something he felt in his heart he had to make right,” Barton S. Sloat said.
He said in 1999 while teaching at the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Va. he was able to travel to Vietnam, including Da Nang Air Base. Sloat said the base is located next to the Marble Mountains and a piece of the material from Vietnam was made into a desk name plate.
“That was a connection to where Greg last served,” the younger Sloat said.
“The faithfulness of those Marines who sought the truth 47 years later means a lot to our family,” he said.
Sloat Call then stepped to the podium to share some memories of her son. She said in November of 1970 the family received a letter saying he had been on a night flight when the helicopter he was on was shot through but the aircraft made it back to base safely.
She then shared the poem “Marines Don’t Cry” with its last words, “It’s my prayer you will be through when this year is through, Marines don’t cry but mothers do.”
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
THE FAMILY OF U.S. MARINE SGT. SLOAT — The family of posthumous Purple Heart recipient U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Gregory A. Sloat poses for a picture after the honor ceremony with the U.S. Marines on Aug. 15 at the Dover-Foxcroft American Legion. Sloat’s mother Clarice Sloat Call of Dover-Foxcroft holds her son’s Purple Heart next to her daughter Heidi Dow and son retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Barton S. Sloat.
A Christmas card in December of 1970 said Gregory A. Sloat planned to be home for the holidays a year later, his mother said. “It was Feb. 23 when we got the news all the Marines on board were killed instantly,” Sloat Call said.
“After 47 years I am thinking it feels so good those Marines, his buddies, thought enough of him to get things settled right,” she said before those in attendance all rose for a standing ovation.
Sloat Call said she wanted to end the presentation with a story to put a smile on everyone’s face, “My favorite thing that happened in Greg’s childhood.”
She said when her son was five in 1954 he was playing in the shed and then came back into the house excitingly saying, “‘I know how to saw.’”
Sloat Call said she went to see what her son wanted to show her and “there on the floor was a wooden snow scoop and there on the floor was a handsaw.” She saw that several pieces of the scoop had been sawed off, making the tool unusable for clearing snow.
“I said ‘oh, you’ve got to show Daddy,’” Sloat Call said.
Later that day Sloat’s father Harley Sloat, himself a Marine during World War II, took a look inside the shed. “‘Oh Greg does know how to saw, I think I’m going to have to go back to the old shovel for the driveway,”’ Sloat Call said.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
THANK YOU FROM THE STATE OF MAINE — Rep. Norm Higgins, I-Dover-Foxcroft presents a flag and Memoriam Sentiment to Clarice Sloat Call, mother of U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Gregory A. Sloat who was posthumously presented with the Purple Heart during an Aug. 15 ceremony at the Dover-Foxcroft American Legion.