Molly McCoy, Special to the Daily Herald

For nearly 40 years the Freedom Festival Gala committee has presented prestigious Freedom Awards to people who have made a difference throughout the world.

From defectors of the Iron Curtain to doctors without borders, military heroes to religious leaders and government officials, the Freedom Festival Gala has been a smaller, but vital, part of the Freedom Festival. The 2023 gala itself was held at the Utah Valley Convention Center.

On Thursday, in keeping with its decades old tradition, the gala committee honored those of “the greatest generation” — military men who served in World War II. The oldest recipient being 102 years old and the youngest just 95.

“Service screams from the lives of the people we’re honoring tonight,” said Dave McCann, the evening’s emcee.

Honored this year were George W. Ciampa, Ken Luttrell, John “Jack” K. Moran and Howard Kenton “Ken” Potts. The veterans or their loved ones were on hand to accept the awards.

George Ciampa

Molly McCoy, Special to the Daily Herald

Ciampa wanted to fly fighter planes. After high school, a 17-year-old Ciampa worked for a company that made planes for the war. The job proved temporary when he was drafted by the Army and assigned to the 67th Graves Registration Company.

“We had the solemn task of gathering and burying our dead in 17 temporary cemeteries throughout France, Belgium and Germany,” Ciampa said. “I was 18 years old and 112 pounds. It was my first time away from home. It was a terrible job.”

Ciampa returned home knowing that still, freedom does not ring for everyone. His most recent work includes starting a podcast that shares the experiences of Honor Guardians, people in Belgium and the Netherlands who care for the graves of American soldiers.

“I know the high price of freedom because I saw it every day for 11 months – including D-Day, Battle of the Bulge to the end of the war in Germany near Berlin. We gathered and buried the dead: 75,000 Americans and Germans. The Germans didn’t handle their dead, we did,” he said. “I saw far too many young men never being able to come home be a loving husband and father. That’s the sadness of the war.”

Ken Luttrell

“When I’m called part of the greatest generation I’m kind of humbled,” he told gala attendees. “I’m humbled to receive this coveted award, but those who didn’t make it deserve it more than me.”

Molly McCoy, Special to the Daily Herald

Sgt. Luttrell said his childhood was happy, even feeling the pangs of the Great Depression. Just out of high school in 1942, Luttrell received a draft letter and joined the U.S. Marine Corps.

He was assigned to the Joint Assault Signal Company and began radio school, joking Thursday that “radios weren’t what they are today.” After months of training, Luttrell and his squad participated in several battles including the invasions of Roi Namur, Saipan and Tinian.

On Feb. 19, 1945, Luttrell and his team were among the first wave of amphibious assault in the invasion of Iwo Jima. While the battle lasted 23 days, it only lasted three for Luttrell.

He was setting up a radio antenna when a high-velocity piece of shrapnel tore through his left cheek, exiting his right cheek. Blinded and semi-conscious, Luttrell was strapped down and loaded onto a landing craft. No one noticed he was drowning in his own blood, due to the chaos, but he was able to flip his stretcher over, allowing the blood to drain.

“I was just happy to be alive! I was lucky,” Luttrell said.

Jack Moran

Molly McCoy, Special to the Daily Herald

At 4:30 a.m. on a cold Christmas morning in 1944, a 19 year-old Moran sat in a snow bank eating his holiday meal, which consisted of a frozen turkey leg. He had just arrive at “the Bulge” in Belgium.

Moran enlisted in the Army at 17 and was soon assigned to the 87th Infantry, first seeing action in Metz, France.

After several battles, Moran’s squad headed for Belgium and the Battle of the Bulge. His squad leader was killed, promoting Moran to the position.

Moran’s unit was assigned to seize a road junction in the woods. As they advanced, they realized that the Germans had surrounded them, leading to days of the two sides exchanging gunfire. Moran said that eventually, the clouds lifted and the U.S. air raids began. The Germans started to retreat and the 87th division chased them out of Belgium.

At the end of the war, it was the 87th division that helped open up the Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald in Weimar, Germany, where Moran said they witnessed horrific, unforgettable conditions.

Ryne Williams, Daily Herald file photo

“I saw far too many young men never being able to come home be a loving husband and father. That’s the sadness of the war,” he said.

He was discharged on Jan. 6, 1946, returned home and married his sweetheart Grace and had a successful career in real estate.

Ken Potts

Potts, of Provo, was a humble, unassuming man who did not go out of his way to seek notoriety. After years looking to honor him, Potts agreed in March to receive the award. In April, though, Potts died just days after turning 102 years old.

His life story includes the day “that will live in infamy” — Dec. 7, 1941. Potts was serving on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor the day it the base was attacked. At the time of his death, Potts was one of two survivors left from the USS Arizona.

“Ken was above deck and with others abandoned ship to a transport craft that took them through a harbor in flames,” reads a passage in Stars and Stripes magazine. “The men scooped up sailors that were in the burning waters of Pearl Harbor and headed to Ford Island. Ken saved many lives and found the bodies of many others.”

To nominate someone for a future Freedom Award email a one-page summary of their accomplishments to http://freedomaward@freedomfestival.org.

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