Published on 10/19/2007

The decoration was presented to Lunney at a ceremony in the Croatian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York on Sept. 26th 2007. Admiral Lunney invested a lot of efforts, time and enthusiasm to find the family of Croat Peter Tomich, who was killed in the attack on Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941, so as to present them with the Congressional Medal of Honor.

We honor our Croatian friends

President Mesić decorated the retired US Admiral Lunney

26 September 2007 - New York

Croatian President Stjepan Mesić has decorated retired US Admiral J. Robert Lunney with the Order of Trefoil. The decoration was presented to Lunney at a ceremony in the Croatian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York on Wednesday. Admiral Lunney invested a lot of efforts, time and enthusiasm to find the family of Croat Peter Tomich, who was killed in the attack on Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941, so as to present them with the Congressional Medal of Honor, President Mesić said.

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress, it is often called the Congressional Medal of Honor. The decoration was presented to Tomich's family on the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier in the southern Adriatic city of Split on 18 May 2006, sixty-four years after US President Franklin D. Roosevelt awarded it to this brave Croatian emigrant.

Tomich was decorated for distinguished conduct in the line of his profession, and extraordinary courage and disregard of his own safety, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor by the Japanese forces on 7 December 1941.

At the ceremony on Wednesday, Admiral Lunney said the US Navy had not encouraged him to search for Tomich's family, on the contrary the Navy said this was irrelevant, adding that he was alone in his efforts and was exceptionally proud to receive this Croatian state decoration.

http://www.predsjednik.hr/default.asp?mode=1&gl=200709270000007&jezik=1&sid=

26.09.2007. - New York

Govor predsjednika Mesića prigodom dodjele odlikovanja admiralu Lunneyu

Gospodine admirale,
Uvaženi gosti i uzvanici,
Gospođe i gospodo,

Čini mi osobito zadovoljstvo što mogu odlikovati čovjeka koji je posvetio mnogo energije, mnogo vremena i mnogo entuzijazma tome, da privede kraju priču započetu u vrijeme II. Svjetskog rata. Pomogao je pronaći obitelj Hrvata poginuloga u napadu na Pearl Harbour, kako bi joj bilo predano visoko odlikovanje kojime je taj pripadnik američkih oružanih snaga, naš zemljak, bio odlikovan.

Ta divna ljudska priča, priča o herojstvu u teškim vremenima kojima su carevali smrt i razaranje, dobila je svoj pravi i logičan kraj kada su članovi obitelji vojnika koji nije štedio sebe da bi spasio druge i koji je u tome plemenitom naporu dao svoj život, primili njemu namijenjeno priznanje.
A potpuni kraj ta priča dobiva danas, kada - kao Predsjednik Republike Hrvatske - mogu odati priznanje čovjeku kojemu zahvaljujemo što se to moglo dogoditi.
Prilika je to i da se podsjetimo II. Svjetskog rata, velike, globalne bitke za slobodu pojedinaca i naroda, za slobodni razvoj država, za demokraciju i ravnopravnost. I - nemojmo zaboraviti - prilika je to da se podsjetimo i ratnoga savezništva iskovanog u toj borbi, savezništva što je jedan od nezaobilaznih temeljaca hrvatsko-američkog prijateljstva.

Na tradicijama odnosa stvorenih u tim, danas već dalekim danima, valja graditi dalje - mada u promijenjenim uvjetima i u svijetu u kojemu se vode neke druge bitke i neki drugi ratovi. No, ideali generacije koja je na svojim plećima iznijela teret II. Svjetskog rata, ideali mira i suradnje i danas bi trebali biti ključne odrednice ponašanja odgovornih država, svih država, na svjetskoj sceni.

Gospodine admirale, zahvaljujem na naporima koje ste neumorno poduzimali, čestitam Vam na uspjehu kojime su oni bili okrunjeni i sa zadovoljstvom Vam predajem Red hrvatskog trolista.

http://www.predsjednik.hr/default.asp?mode=1&gl=200709270000005&jezik=1&sid=

In friendly atmosphere President Mesic, Admiral Lunney and Nenad Bach

26.09.2007. - New York

Predsjednik Mesić dodijelio odlikovanje američkom admiralu J. Robertu Lunneyu

Na prigodnoj svečanosti u Stalnoj misiji RH pri UN-u u New Yorku, hrvatski je predsjednik Stjepan Mesić u srijedu dodijelio odličje Reda hrvatskog trolista američkom umirovljenom admiralu J. Robertu Lunneyu.

Admiral Lunney posvetio je mnogo energije, vremena i entuzijazma da pronađe obitelj Hrvata Petera Tomicha poginulog u napadu na Pearl Harbour 7. prosinca 1941., kako bi joj predao kongresnu Medalju časti kojom je za hrabrost odlikovan Tomich, rekao je predsjednik Mesić. Kongresna Medalja časti, najviše američko vojno odličje, uručena je obitelji Petera Tomicha na nosaču aviona USS Enterprise u Splitu 18. svibnja prošle godine, 64 godine nakon što ju je predsjednik Franklin D. Roosevelt dodijelio tom hrabrom hrvatskom iseljeniku. Nadnarednik Tomich, "Chief Watertender" - zapovjednik stroja na USS Utah, umro je herojski, zaštitivši posadu broda, jer je spriječio eksploziju parnih kotlova čime je izbjegnuta veća tragedija. U japanskom napadu na Pearl Harbour USS Utah je pogođen avionskim torpedom i potopljen, povukavši u smrt više od 50 mornara. Dok su svi napuštali brod, Tomich se spustio u strojarnicu da pomogne drugima izaći i spriječi eksploziju kotlova, svjedočili su preživjeli mornari.

"Ta divna ljudska priča, priča o herojstvu u teškim vremenima kojima su carevali smrt i razaranje, dobila je svoj pravi i logičan kraj kada su članovi obitelji vojnika koji nije štedio ni sebe da bi spasio druge, dajući svoj život u tom plemenitom naporu, primili njemu namijenjeno priznanje. A potpuni kraj priča dobiva danas, kada kao predsjednik RH, mogu odati priznanje čovjeku kojem zahvaljujem što se to moglo dogoditi", rekao je hrvatski predsjednik.
Istaknuo je kako je dodjela Reda Hrvatskog trolista admiralu Lunneyu prilika da se podsjetimo ratnog savezništva iskovanog u II. Svjetskom ratu, "savezništva što je jedan od nezaobilaznih temeljaca hrvatsko-američkog prijateljstva".

Zahvaljujući na priznanju, umirovljeni admiral kazao je kako je "zapovjednik Tomich, hrvatski iseljenik, iskazao izvanrednu hrabrost" i da je kao "istinski mornarički heroj nagrađen najvišim američkim priznanjem - Medaljom časti". Opisao je svoje dugogodišnje traganje za najbližim Tomichevim rođakom, koje ga je 1997. odvelo na put u Hrvatsku, u Prolog kod Vrgorca gdje je Tomich rođen 1893. Enigmu je riješio u Franjevačkom samostanu u Humcu, gdje su u matičnim knjigama pronađeni svi podaci o Tomichu te je utvrđeno da mu je najbliži rod Srećko Herceg-Tonić, odlikovani branitelj iz Domovinskog rata.

Citirajući riječi bivšeg američkog predsjednika Johna F. Kennedya, da se "nacija pokazuje po ljudima koje daje, ali također i po ljudima koje odlikuje, ljudima kojih se sjeća", admiral Lunney rekao je da američko prijateljstvo s Hrvatskom treba rasti na temelju časne povijesti, povijesti zajedničkih univerzalnih vrijednosti. "Naše dvije zemlje bile su i bit će istinski saveznici", rekao je.

Admiral Lunney se zahvalio za pomoć Adamu S. Eterovichu iz Hrvatskog genealoškog društva u Kaliforniji, zagrebačkom novinaru Vjekoslavu Krsniku, splitskom slikaru Zvonimiru Mihanoviću, Edu Andrusu, predsjedniku Nacionalne federacije američkih Hrvata, zamjeniku stalne predstavnice RH pri UN, veleposlaniku Amiru Muharemiju te, kako je rekao, "velikom hrvatskom domoljubu Nenadu Bachu", njegovom osobnom prijatelju. Admiral je kasnije rekao kako ga u Ratnoj mornarici nisu ohrabrivali na traganje za Tomichevim rodom, već su mu dapače govorili kako to nije važno, tako da je to uglavnom bio njegov vlastiti angažman i stoga je iznimno ponosan na uspjeh i primljeno priznanje.

Nenad Bach, hrvatski glazbenik i kulturni promotor u SAD, kazao je kako je on potaknuo zamisao da Hrvatska odlikuje admirala Lunneya, te dodao kako i Peter Tomich kao snažna hrvatsko-američka spona u domovini zavrjeđuje barem spomen-ploču. Prije dodjele odlikovanja admiralu Lunneyu, predsjednik Mesić sastao se s predsjednikom Republike Latvije Nj.E. g. Valdisom Zatlersom s kojim je razgovarao o jačanju bilateralnih odnosa dviju zemalja, te s albanskim premijerom Salijem Berishom.

http://www.predsjednik.hr/default.asp?mode=1&gl=200709270000002&jezik=1&sid=

President of NFCA Ed Andrus with Admiral J.Robert Lunney

Admiral J.Robert Lunney, Ambassador Neven Jurica and President Stjepan Mesić

RADM J. ROBERT LUNNEY, NYNM (Ret.)
26 September 2007
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations
820 2nd Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10017

[Acknowledge introduction and recognize distinguished guests]

           During World War II at the age of 17, I was assigned to the Naval Amphibious Forces, Pacific and while passing through Pearl Harbor I viewed the capsized hulk of the USS UTAH. Only years later did I learn that over fifty crewmen, including Chief Petty Officer Peter Tomich, are still entombed to this day in the sunken ship.

          Chief Tomich, a Croatian immigrant, in exhibiting extraordinary courage clearly displayed the true meaning of his adopted country - the land of the free because it is the home of the brave. A true Naval hero he was awarded our nation's highest recognition - the Medal of Honor.

          Unfortunately over the years Chief Tomich's family was not located and his Medal was never presented to his next of kin. However, I decided to locate the relatives of Chief Tomich when with my wife, Joan, and son, Alexander, I planned a visit to Croatia in 1997. When learning of this, Admiral Rosen strongly encouraged me and had New York Naval Militia military orders issued directing me to investigate and identify an appropriate next of kin to whom the Medal could be presented.

          The search for Chief Tomich's family was very successful because of the substantial assistance of many Croatian friends who should be recognized here today. After I reviewed the Chief's entire Navy record, Adam S. Eterovich of the Croatian Genealogical Society generously provided me with important background information on the Tomich family. Together with the valuable guidance from journalist, Vjekoslav Krsnik, we set out on our search. Arriving in Croatia we received outstanding cooperation from our good friend Zvonimir Mihanovic who arranged for our travels into Bosnia. He enabled us to visit the Franciscan Abbey in Humac where the Superior of the Abbey, Fra Dragicevic, gave us full access to the birth, baptismal, marriage and death records of the Herceg-Tonic family.

           Also, here in America I have had the strong support of Ed Andrus, President of the National Federation of Croatian Americans and my good friend, a great Croatian patriot, Nenad Bach. After an extensive examination of the documentary proof of Chief Tomich's background and family we traveled to his home town, Prolog, where Chief Tomich was born in 1893. We had the great pleasure of meeting his entire family. There we were most pleased to identify Srecko Herceg-Tonic, a highly decorated hero of Croatia's recent war for independence, as the appropriate representative to be presented with the Medal of Honor. Throughout my investigation and acquisition of all the documentary evidence I had the skillful and loyal assistance of Juliana Velcic, an outstanding friend and interpreter.

          During the course of my investigation I also had the pleasure of speaking with some of the UTAH survivors, all of whom spoke most favorably of their leader, Chief Tomich, who held the highest enlisted rating in the Navy. His shipmates remember his quiet demeanor, someone who rarely spoke of a family but who was constantly concerned about his men. Survivors dramatically related how the UTAH capsized within 12 minutes of the attack with the Japanese machine gunning the crew as they abandoned ship. For over twenty years the Navy was Chief's Tomich's family and this was clearly evidenced when one of his shipmates told me as he was escaping the engine spaces Chief Tomich was going down the ladder to secure the boilers and insure that all his men were out safely. With this courageous act he saved many lives and sacrificed his own so that others would live. Other survivors spoke of Chief Tomich's leadership qualities and his high expectations for his men.

          In honor of Chief's Tomich's sacrifice, the Navy, in World War II, commissioned a Destroyer Escort, the USS TOMICH. Also in his honor, the Navy established the Senior Enlisted Academy, named "Tomich Hall", in Newport, Rhode Island. Significantly, the motto of the Academy is, "Leadership by Example".

          And what now?. The reason we accept awards is to invigorate others to do good in the world, as individuals, groups and whole countries. Croatia is a small country compared to America but if we calculate the contributions of Croatian Americans then the size does not matter as witnessed by the valor of Peter Tomich. Our friendship should grow on the basis of honorable history - a history of shared values - values that are universal and destined to radiate throughout the world. Our two nations have been and will be true allies.

          As President John F. Kennedy stated, "A Nation reveals itself by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers". Today we honor Chief Tomich and we will always remember him.

           Thank you,

Formated for CROWN by Nenad Bach
Distributed by www.Croatia.org This message is intended for Croatian Associations / Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions / articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, please delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know! Or simply...enjoy and spread the word and good vibrations

Top Croatian Award to Templar

Top Croatian Award to Templar

President of Croatia Stjepan Mesić and Admiral J.Robert Lunney

The Order of the Croatian Trefoil (roughly equivalent to the United States Medal of Freedom - for extraordinary merit, in exceptional circumstances) was awarded to Rear Admiral Chevalier J. Robert ("Bob") Lunney, GOTJ, of the Order of Saint Patrick of the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, by the Honorable Stjepan Mesić, President of the Republic of Croatia. The award was presented on September 26, 2007, at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations. The award was timed to coincide with the visit of President Mesić to the General Assembly of the United Nations.

The award was presented in recognition of the personal initiative and the essential role played by Rear Admiral Lunney in getting the only posthumously awarded Medal of Honor never presented to a next of kin awarded to the appropriate person. The Medal of Honor in question was awarded to Chief Watertender Peter Tomich, who was killed in action during the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on Sunday, December 7, 1941. Chief Tomich, aware that the ship would likely capsize, and that the Captain had ordered the crew to abandon ship, rushed down to the boiler rooms, ordered his men to leave and then, himself, put out the fires and secured the boilers thus preventing the large explosions which would have occurred had the ship capsized with the boilers on line. In so doing he saved countless lives, but at the sacrifice of his own.

In 1997, Rear Admiral Lunney undertook to find the next of kin of Chief Tomich, a Croatian national, who, after serving in the US Army in the First World War, joined the US Navy and rose to the highest enlisted rank, Chief Petty Officer. When Tomich (as Navy records had his name) emigrated to the United States, Croatia was part of the Empire of Austria-Hungary; previously it had been occupied by the Turks. Consequent to the First World War it was part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes - later Yugoslavia. In 1991 the Republic of Croatia (Republika Hrvatska) declared its independence, and, after a long and costly war, accomplished its undisputed re-emergence as a sovereign state as part of the Dayton Accords in 1995. So, finding the records, and making the connection with a man who was born Peter Herzeg-Tonić during the reign of Emperor-King Franz Josef of a Habsburg Austro-Hungarian Empire-Kingdom that later went out of business in 1918, was no simple task.

While Bob Lunney undertook this patriotic quest relying entirely on his own resources, he was not without allies in his knight-errantry. Rear Admiral Companion Robert Rosen, of the Order of Merit, and (until June of 2007) Commander of the New York Naval Militia, authorized him to execute the mission on behalf of the NY Naval Militia. The Croatian Genealogical Society were extremely helpful in the defining of the parameters in which the search would be undertaken. However, between Turkish invasion and occupation, wars, revolutions and world wars, civil records could not be presumed to be complete. There is, however, a most reliable source of vital records which has survived all of the aforementioned travails. It is the records of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), the Franciscans, who went underground and continued to minister to the people, for centuries, throughout Turkish, Nazi and Communist occupations. In this instance the necessary vital records were found in the Franciscan Abbey in Humac.

The award of the Medal of Honor to Chief Tomich by President Franklin Roosevelt was given more tangible meaning for Bob Lunney when he saw the capsized hull of the battleship USS UTAH (where Tomich and 57 others of the crew remain entombed), as a seventeen-year-old Quartermaster striker, when he passed through Pearl Harbor during the Second World War, assigned to Naval Amphibious Forces, Pacific, enroute to Kwajelein in the Marshall Islands. In honor of Chief's Tomich's sacrifice, the Navy, in World War II, commissioned a Destroyer Escort, the USS TOMICH. For years the Tomich Medal of Honor occupied a place of honor in the State Capitol in Utah. The Navy also put special meaning to the example set by Chief Tomich in naming the Senior Enlisted Academy located at Naval Station Newport (Rhode Island), Tomich Hall. Bob Lunney pointed out that "significantly the motto of the Senior Enlisted Academy is 'Leadership by Example'." Another part of the odyssey of the medal was in a place of honor in Tomich Hall.

Rear Admiral Lunney is a former National President of the Naval Reserve Association, and, until recently, a practicing attorney in White Plains, New York, he is also the past Judge Advocate General of the New York Naval Militia. He set a very high standard for the quality of evidence he would need to even consider presenting a case to the Navy Department. After an extensive examination of the documentary proof of Chief Tomich's background and family he traveled to Prolog, where Chief Tomich was born Peter Herzeg-Tonić in 1893. He had the great pleasure of interviewing the entire Herzeg-Tonić family. The Franciscan's evidence met and exceeded the standard set by Judge Advocate General Lunney. Convincing the Navy of the validity of the case, however, took a follow-on crusade of several years.

But in 2006, Rear Admiral Lunney, in the company of Rear Admiral Rosen, was an honored guest on board the USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) off Split, Croatia, as Admiral Harry Ulrich, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, on behalf of the President of the United States, presented the Medal of Honor of Chief Watertender Peter Tomich to his kinsman, Lieutenant Colonel Srecko Herzeg-Tonić, himself a retired, and highly decorated, Croatian Army veteran of the Croatian War for Independence.

The visit of the President of Croatia to the United Nations in New York was the first opportunity for the Croatian nation to express their appreciation, at the highest level, for the good work of Rear Admiral Chev. Lunney (who also heads the OSMTH NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) advisory mission to the UN in New York). In accepting his award, Rear Admiral Lunney acknowledged the great honor, and, concluded his remarks by quoting another World War II Navy veteran, President John F. Kennedy, "'A Nation reveals itself by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers.' Today we honor Chief Tomich and we will always remember him."

Rear Admiral Lunney is no stranger to international affairs. Recalled to active duty during the Korean conflict he served in the US 7^th Fleet as a staff officer on the MSTS (Military Sea Transportation Service) SS MEREDITH VICTORY, both in the Inchon invasion, and in the Hungnam evacuation. The MEREDITH VICTORY was the last ship out of Hungnam, evacuating some 14,000 Korean civilians, in the greatest humanitarian evacuation ever undertaken by a single ship. The MEREDITH VICTORY was decorated with the Presidential Unit Citation by President Syngman Rhee of the Republic of Korea, and a "Gallant Ship" citation by special Act of the US Congress. In recent years, Bob Lunney, as a prominent member of the "Chosin Few," has served on the commission to recover the remains of American servicemen killed in North Korea, visiting both parts of Korea, as well as lecturing on Korea at the Naval War College.

Witnessing the award at the Croatian Mission to the UN were Bob's wife Joan and son Alexander (both of whom had accompanied him on his trip to Croatia), as well as a coterie of Croatian diplomats and military attachés, and also officers of the New York Naval Militia (in accordance with Title 10 US Code, and with protocols with the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, members of the Naval, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Reserves may volunteer to be available to serve their state through membership in the Naval Militia). Among those also in attendance were Marine Colonel Chevalier Wayne J. McGrath, GCTJ, GMTJ, Grand Chancellor of the Grand Priory of the United States of America, and Marine Lieutenant Colonel Chevalier Glen J. Sadowski, KCTJ and Naval Captain Chevalier Liam Murphy, GCTJ, GMTJ, all also of the Priory of Saint Patrick. Liam Murphy was with Bob Lunney in his home in Bronxville, New York in 1997, when Bob determined to see that justice be done to Chief Tomich, through locating his next of kin and seeing to it that the Medal of Honor would be properly awarded. In so doing, Bob Lunney brought honor to the naval service generally, to the Naval Militia, to the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, and also made a valuable contribution to Croatian-American relations. Well done!

President of Croatia Stjepan Mesić and Admiral J.Robert Lunney

More photos of a great atmosphere

Admiral Lunney with his wife Joan

Former UN Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey with president Stjepan Mesić in a friendly exchange

Former UN Ambassador Sacirbey with President Stjepan Mesić in a constructive dialogue

Admiral Lunney in the company of his son Alexandar and his wife Joan

Nenad Bach, Ed Andrus, president of NFCA, Admiral Lunney and Ambassador Sacirbey

Captain Charles Haunss, LCOL Glenn Sadowski, Richard Wagner, Admiral Lunney, CDR Phyllis Zagano. (front right Ambassador Amir Muharemi)

Joyous UN Ambassador Mirjana Mladineo, Admiral Lunney and Joan Lunney

Nenad Bach, President Stjepan Mesić and Vjera Bach in a freindly dialogue

John J. Caffrey, Admiral Lunney, Dr. Corinne Devereux and Bro. James P. Kearney

Captain Charles Haunss, Richard Wagner and Admiral J. Robert Lunney

Joan Lunney and President Stjepan Mesić

Dino Rulli Ph.D. , an honorary Croatian and a long time friend

Most of the photos by Marija Kundek, official photographer and Dino Rulli, Ph.D. a friend who volunteered.

Formated for CROWN by Nenad Bach
Distributed by www.Croatia.org This message is intended for Croatian Associations / Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions / articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, please delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know! Or simply...enjoy and spread the word and good vibrations

Croatian president awards Bronxville man who researched Medal of Honor recipient

Croatian president awards Bronxville man
who researched Medal of Honor recipient

By RICHARD LIEBSON
THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: September 27, 2007)

NEW YORK - A Bronxville man was presented with a medal by the president of the Republic of Croatia yesterday for his efforts to have a Pearl Harbor naval hero's Medal of Honor presented to his family in the Balkans.
J. Robert Lunney received the Order of the Croatian Trefoil from President Stjepan Mesic in a ceremony at the Croatian mission to the United Nations.
"This is indeed a great honor," Lunney said. "The reason we accept awards is to invigorate others to do good - as individuals, groups and whole countries. Our friendship with Croatia should grow on the basis of honorable history, a history of shared values - values that are universal and destined to radiate throughout the world."
Croatian and U.S. military and diplomatic officials, as well as Lunney's wife, Joan, and son, Alexander, attended the ceremony.
Lunney, who retired from his White Plains law practice this year, spent nearly a decade researching the story of Chief Watertender Peter Tomich, who was killed Dec. 7, 1941, aboard the USS Utah after it was hit by a Japanese torpedo and began to sink.
Tomich, a Croatian native who had joined the service in 1917, is credited with saving hundreds of his shipmates by ordering them to leave, then going alone below deck to shut off the Utah's boilers, preventing a massive explosion. Tomich and 57 crew members went down with the ship and remain entombed inside. There were 461 survivors.
Tomich was posthumously awarded the nation's highest honor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, but the Navy never was able to find any of his relatives. For decades, it remained the only Medal of Honor in the 20th century that was not presented to its recipient's family.
Lunney was a 17-year-old Navy enlistee when he saw the capsized hulk of the Utah while passing through Pearl Harbor during the war. Lunney, now a rear admiral in the New York Naval Militia, said he was always intrigued by the Tomich story.
He began to research Tomich and, with help from the Croatian Genealogical Society, discovered that the name had been changed from Tonic during his years in the service. In 1997, Lunney traveled to Croatia and found baptism records and other archives from a Franciscan church that eventually led him to Screcko Herzeg-Tonic, a highly decorated Croatian officer and distant relative of Tomich's.
It took several years for Lunney to convince the Navy of his findings, but last year he was a guest of honor aboard the USS Enterprise in Split, Croatia, when Adm. Harry Ulrich, commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe, presented Tomich's Medal of Honor to Herzeg-Tonic.
Mesic said through a translator that the award was bestowed upon Lunney "for his efforts and for his hard work. Admiral Lunney was the only one who worked so hard to find (Tomich's ancestors). It gives me great pleasure to present this to the person who showed such tireless efforts."
The Order of the Croatian Trefoil is awarded to Croatian and foreign citizens for extraordinary merit won for the Republic of Croatia in war, the direct threat of war, or in exceptional circumstances in peace.

Reach Richard Liebson at rliebson@lohud.com or 914-694-3534.

http://lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070927/NEWS02/709270385/1018/NEWS02