In the days leading up to the 1967 Veterans Day Parade in Auburn, there was much excitement because for the first time a Congressional Medal of Honor winner would ride in the parade. Alford McCommick moved to Auburn in the early 1960s and, according to the June 30, 1966, Auburn Journal, received the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Harry S. Truman at a White House Ceremony on June 14, 1946. He won the award for bravery while a prisoner of war at Odowell [O’Donnell] Prison Camp during the Bataan Death March.
On Oct. 20, 1970, McCommick made the news again by attending an intense Placer County Board of Supervisors meeting. The meeting was a media frenzy as one item on the agenda dealt with the contentious issue of Dr. Kenneth Fox’s “Why” statue that was installed in front of the Placer County Administration Building on Fulweiler Avenue earlier in the year.
Some of the board members felt it expressed an anti-Vietnam War sentiment, something Dr. Fox denied, and wanted it removed. Crammed in the board chambers with reporters were 200 people, nearly all in support of Dr. Fox and his statue. Speaking in support of the statue were veterans from every 20th century war thus far. Included in those speaking in support of the statue was Alford McCommick who said, “I don’t believe in destroying or putting out of sight a statue like this…”
It’s unclear if the parade of veterans speaking in support of the statue swayed them, but ultimately, the board voted 3-2 to keep the statue in front of the Placer County Administration building.
McCommick, however, was a fraud. A search of the Congressional Medal of Honor database reveals no one named “Alford McCommick” was ever awarded the medal. Further, a search at the Truman Library does highlight a Congressional Medal of Honor ceremony on the White House grounds on June 14, 1946, but McCommick isn’t among the five men who were given medals at this ceremony. “Alford McCommick” was an alias. His real name was Milo Clarence. He was born in Maine in 1923 and was deported from Canada in 1955. We don’t know much else about him.
Although the U.S. Supreme Court has twice affirmed that falsely presenting oneself as either a veteran or the recipient of any medal is protected speech, Stolen Valor remains an important issue to veterans.
Dr. Fox’s statue was dedicated to veterans of wars past, present and future. It honors their service and stands as a reminder of the true cost of war.
The Placer County Department of Parks and Open Space just completed a re-landscaping around the statue in time for Veterans Day. Please take a moment to visit the statue and reflect on what it means to you.
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