KEY POINTS:
A lack of recognition of the role United States personnel played in recovery work after the 1979 Erebus disaster has upset a former US serviceman, who has accused New Zealanders of being "callous and self-centred".
Former US Navy photographer Richard L Horton, of Clarkston, Michigan, is upset that there has not yet been any acknowledgement of the US personnel who found the crashed Air New Zealand DC10 in Antarctica, or helped with the gruesome and dangerous job of recovering 257 bodies.
Last year many police officers and civilians who were involved in the disaster recovery mission were awarded New Zealand Special Service (Erebus) medals.
Citizens of other countries, specifically the US, are deemed eligible for the award, which was formally instituted in 2006.
But none have been awarded to US citizens because the Defence Force has not completed the paperwork required, The Dominion Post reported.
Mr Horton said an attempt was made last year to contact all those who helped so they could apply for the award but there had been no response to his inquiries since June.
He wanted recognition for the air crew who found the crash site, the helicopter pilots who made numerous dangerous flights to the scene, those who set up a makeshift landing site, and medical staff who helped with the recovery.
"Don't you think they are worth mention? Just how callous and self-centred are New Zealanders?
"I don't care if the New Zealand Government ever acknowledges my contributions but, at minimum, they should acknowledge the contributions (collectively) of all US naval and army personnel that assisted in the recovery efforts."
A Defence Force spokesman said a search for US citizens eligible for the medal was begun last year but staff changes and other workload commitments meant the formal offer of medals to the US government had not been completed.
He said the matter would be dealt with as soon as possible.
- NZPA
