Q: The Associated Press article on the new Medal of Honor winners didn't mention Melvin Morris' rank or if he stayed in the military for any length of time. — Tom Cotton, Senoia
A: Staff Sgt. Melvin Morris is one of 19 Hispanic, Jewish or black veterans — out of a group of 24 — who will receive the Medal of Honor after it was decided they had been passed over because of race or ethnicity. Morris, a former Green Beret and one of three of the group who is alive, spent 22 years in the U.S. Army and was decorated three times during the Vietnam War. He will receive the nation's highest military honor for recovering the body of his master sergeant despite being wounded three times during a mission in 1969. A 12-year investigation by the Pentagon into discrimination in the U.S. Armed Services resulted in the new group of recipients. The medals will be awarded in a White House ceremony on March 18.
Q: Since Georgia has 159 counties, does it also have 159 sheriff departments? What about county school systems? — Bill Markert, Decatur
A: Each of Georgia's 159 counties has a sheriff's department and a school system, according to the Georgia Sheriffs' Association and the Georgia Department of Education. There were also 21 city school systems in the state in the 2012-13 academic year. Sheriffs, clerks, probate judges and tax commissioners are elected to four-year terms in every county in Georgia, Terry Norris, the executive director of the Georgia Sheriffs' Association, told Q&A on the News in an email.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
About the Author
