Second Highest Civilian Award Presented to Deputy Comptroller
Sam A. Morasco, deputy comptroller, Berlin Brigade, received the Department of the Army Meritorious Civilian Service Award at a brief ceremony Wednesday, March 20, in the office of the US. Commander, Berlin, Major General R. G. Fergusson.
The decoration is the Department of the Army's second highest honorary award fof civilian employees. The Commander-in-Chief, U.S.Army Europe, General James H. Polk, awarded the decoration to Mr.Morasco for his "meritorious performance of duty as Financial Manager, Comptroller Division, Berlin Brigade, during the period March 1955 to September 1967." Mr. Morasco was cited for his "exemplary performance of duty which set an outstanding example of competence and achievement, and served as an inspiration to others." The citation continued, "His professional competence, exceptional leadership, and devotion to duty reflect credit upon himself as well as upon the United States Army." With Mr. Morasco as he received the decoration from General Fergusson were his wife, Juanita, and Lieutenant Colonel William B. Holwick, assistant chief of staff, Comptroller, Berlin Brigade.
Three of the Morasco's five children, two sons and a daughter, reside with them in Berlin. Their oldest son, Michael, is a student at Saint Mary's University, San Antonio, Tex., and Sam, Jr., is currently studying at the University of Maryland in Munich, Germany.
Mr. Morasco enlisted in the US. Army Medical Corps in January 1942. He was commissioned from the Medical Field Service Officer Candidate School at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania in December 1944. Leaving the military service in May 1948, he accepted federal employment with the Civil Affairs Division, Headquarters, European Command at Frankfurt, Germany. He returned to the United States in March 1951 and a position with the Veteran's Administration in Washington, D. C. In November 1952, he transfered to the Office of the Comptroller, Department of the Army. Returning to Europe in January 1954, he served as a budget analyst in the Office of the Comptroller, Headquarters, US. Army, Europe, before coming to Berlin in March 1955.
Mr. Morasco has served in several important positions in the Berlin Brigade Comptroller Division 'including that of Acting Comptroller. Mr. Morasco was born at Spelter, West Virginia and graduated from Victory High School, Clarksburg, West Virginia. He later attended Strayer Business College, Washington, D. C. and has also studied at the University of Maryland in Europe.
"Outstanding-Performance Rating" awards were presented to four civilian members of the Berlin Bri-
gade last week during a ceremony presided over by Brigadier General James L. Baldwin, commanding
general, Berlin Brigade. The awards for meritorious service were presented to, Sam A. Morasco,
assistant chief of staff, Comptroller; Alfred H. Crisp, deputy Brigade engineer; Mather M. Hyatt, acting officer in charge and accounting officer, Subsistence Branch, Supply and Services Division; and Ensio M. Lindroth, chief, General Equipment, Maintenance Branch.
Mr. Morasco was commended for his duties as deputy comptroller and comptroller "during the period from 1 August 1965 to 31 July 1966, when the development and execution of the German fiscal year 1966 deutsche mark budget under his leadership and the rapport he personally established with the Department of Defense Comptroller in deutsche mark apportionment actions have greatly enhanced the image of Berlin Brigade."
Mr. Crisp's citation read in part, "During the period 1 October 1965 to 30 September 1966, Mr. Crisp contributed in large measure to the, development of plans and programs to provide better facilities and improved engineering services for the American Community in Berlin. Through his initiative and willing ness to aevote many extra hours of effort, Mr. Crisp was singularly
responsible for significant improvements in the operations and effectiveness of the Engineer and In-
stallations Division."
Mr. Hyatt was commended for "his keen sense of duty combined with his superior knowledge and
experience of commissary and subsistence operations which enabled him to routinely supply Berlin
with subsistence under the most adverse and peculiar situations. Mr. Wyatt's outstanding ability as
a manager, programmer and supervisor resulted in numerous improvements within the subsistence
operations of the Berlin Brigade during the period 1 September 1965 to 31 August 1966."
Mr. Lindroth's citation read in part, "The Heavy Equipment Maintenance Branch, Engineer Division
became part of the Maintenance Division during the period of August 1965 to July 1966. As chief of
the newly organized branch, Mr. Lindroth retained responsibility for maintenance of engineer heavy
equipment and accomplished the reorganization without a noticeable decrease in production."