'I was just doing my job': Columbus-area veterans among military hall of fame inductees

Robert P. Wagner and his wife, Linda, traveled the world during Robert's time in the military.

The pair, who first met while both were working at Linmoor Junior High School (now Linmoor Education Center), moved 14 times in 31 years.

Still, Robert never forgot his hometown.

"Columbus has always been his home," Linda said, adding her husband was a rabid Ohio State Buckeyes football fan.

Robert Wagner, who died last year at the age of 71, was among the 17 veterans inducted Friday into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor during a ceremony in the atrium of the Ohio Statehouse.

Now in its 23rd year, the nonprofit hall of fame honors Ohio veterans and active-duty personnel who were awarded medals for specific acts of bravery and heroism in combat.

The class of 2022 includes five Silver Star, three Distinguished Service Cross, three Distinguished Flying Cross, and five Bronze Star with valor designation recipients (including Robert Wagner) as well as one Navy Commendation Medal with Valor recipient.

This year's recipients represent the Army, Army Air Corps, Marines, and the Navy. Seven, including Robert Wagner, were inducted posthumously.

Linda Wagner described her husband, who was awarded the Bronze Star with valor for his bravery during the first Gulf War, as a Marines' Marine.

"The guys loved him. No one ever said a harsh word about him," she said.

Gov. Mike DeWine had been scheduled to give the keynote address at Friday's ceremony, but was unable to attend after testing positive for COVID-19 on April 15.

Deborah Ashenhurst, director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, read from what DeWine had planned to say.

"These inductees faced overwhelming odds, confronted hostile forces, dodged enemy fire, remained calm in the face of danger and protected their brothers and sisters in arms in conflict in foreign lands," said Ashenhurst, who retired from the Army and the National Guard in 2015 after more than 37 years of service.

"We salute all of them for their service, which went above and beyond the call of duty," she said. "We are forever in their debt."

In addition to Robert Wagner, other inductees with ties to Greater Columbus include Richard Tangel, who as an Army sergeant was awarded the Silver Star while serving in Vietnam; the late Harold E. Sawyer, who as a captain and Tuskegee airman was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross while serving in World War II; Franklin D. Moore, who as an Army specialist was awarded the Bronze Star with valor while serving in Vietnam; and Lawrence Salisbury, who as a Navy fireman was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with valor while serving in Vietnam.

Moore, 73, of Delaware, said being inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor is "quite an honor."

"I was just doing my job, I didn't expect to be honored," he added.

mtrombly@dispatch.com

@monroetrombly

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Greater Columbus veterans inducted into Ohio Military Hall of Fame