Photos and story by John Temple Ligon Temple@TheColumbiaStar.com

Four recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor honored in Camden are James Livingston, captain, Marine Corps; Charles Murray Jr., 1st Lieutenant, Army; John Baker Jr., sergeant, Army; and Michael Thornton, petty officer, Navy.

At the Camden home of Kathleen and Woody Cleveland Tuesday night, Sept. 8, The Citadel and The State Guard joined forces with about a hundred guests to honor living recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Four recipients with South Carolina connections were present to recall the day and the place each award was warranted: John Baker Jr. (Nov. 5, 1966 Vietnam); James Livingston (May 2, 1968 Vietnam); Charles Murray Jr. (Dec. 16, 1944, France) and Michael Thornton (Oct. 31, 1972, Vietnam). Two others, who were not present, are also connected with South Carolina: Francis S. Currey (Dec. 21, 1944, Belgium) and John McGinty (July 18, 1966, Vietnam).

There are only 102 living Medal of Honor recipients. One died Tuesday, Sept. 8, the day of the Cleveland reception. The average age is 75. Recipient Mike Thornton warned the guests the 2010 Charleston convention could probably be the last such event.

Columbia attorney and host for the evening, Woody Cleveland The Citadel and The State Guard are the co- host organizations for the 2010 Medal of Honor Convention in Charleston. The social gathering at the Cleveland home was a purposeful kickoff opportunity for the fundraising campaign.

Attorney Gene Rogers, convention chair, declared the total cost was expected to reach $1 million. Rogers asked the guests for financial support, as did Charleston chair Myron Harrington, a retired colonel in the Marine Corps and a representative for The Citadel. Nelson Lacy, president of The S.C. State Guard also voiced a heartfelt appeal for financial support.

Columbia's John Baker and South Carolina Attorney General Henry Dargan McMaster Penny and Morris Blachman, USC Carol Taber, president of Family Security Foundation and W. Thomas Smith Jr., military analyst Columbia attorney Gene Rogers and South Carolina's Mike Thorton Columbia's Sally McCrady Lesley and Camden's Moultrie Burns S. C. Adjutant General Stan Spears and John Green, Green Realty, Columbia Kelly Payne, finance co- ordinator for Eckstrom's re- election, and Richard Eckstrom, S.C. comptroller general Myron Harrington, The Citadel