CA Governor Pardons MOH Awardee for Drug Conviction
Sergeant Richard “Butch” Penry
Gov. Newsom pardons Petaluma Vietnam War hero for drug offenses committed after returning home
By John Ramos
On Friday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a posthumous pardon to a North Bay Vietnam War hero for drug offenses committed after returning home.
The park overlooking downtown Petaluma is named for Richard Allen Penry, a man who has come to symbolize those who fought in Vietnam, both for their courage and for what they had to endure when they came home.
Now, it appears, there is finally some understanding that you can’t judge one without considering the other.
It was during Vietnam that they created the POW/MIA flag to remember those who were left behind. In some ways, it even represents those who came back.
Sgt. Penry, known by most as “Butch” was, by any account, a major hero. One evening in 1970, his platoon was ambushed and virtually all of his buddies were seriously wounded.
All night, he alone held off enemy fighters and when dawn broke, he carried 18 men to safety, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor.
But then he returned to the United States, where people hated the war but took it out on the soldiers.
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Penry was in the grips of PTSD and turned to drugs to try to deal with it. He was arrested in 1973 for trying to sell $950 worth of cocaine.He served seven months in jail and it looked like that would be his legacy when he died in 1994 at age 45. But years later, other veterans who heard his story took up his cause, led by retired Major Andrew LeMarQuand, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“I started to reach out to a lot of people I served with,” said LeMarQuand, “and it’s very well known now that war trauma causes PTSD, and that PTSD is leading to suicide and high rates of drug addiction and whatever people choose to cope in my generation. And then it became very clear to me that Sgt. Penry never stood a chance.”
But now, after decades of red tape, Newsom has pardoned Penry.
Butch’s citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Penry, Company C, distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman during a night ambush mission. As the platoon was preparing the ambush position, it suddenly came under an intense enemy attack from mortar, rocket, and automatic-weapons fire which seriously wounded the company commander and most of the platoon members, leaving small isolated groups of wounded men throughout the area. Sgt. Penry, seeing the extreme seriousness of the situation, worked his way through the deadly enemy fire to the company command post where he administered first aid to the wounded company commander and other personnel. He then moved the command post to a position which provided greater protection and visual communication and control of other platoon elements. Realizing the company radio was damaged and recognizing the urgent necessity to reestablish communications with the battalion headquarters, he ran outside the defensive perimeter through a fusillade of hostile fire to retrieve a radio. Finding it inoperable, Sgt. Penry returned through heavy fire to retrieve two more radios. Turning his attention to the defense of the area, he crawled to the edge of the perimeter, retrieved needed ammunition and weapons, and resupplied the wounded men. During a determined assault by over 30 enemy soldiers, Sgt. Penry occupied the most vulnerable forward position, placing heavy, accurate fire on the attacking enemy and exposing himself several times to throw hand grenades into the advancing enemy troops. He succeeded virtually singlehandedly in stopping the attack. Learning that none of the radios were operable, Sgt. Penry again crawled outside the defensive perimeter, retrieved a fourth radio, and established communications with higher headquarters. Sgt. Penry then continued to administer first aid to the wounded and repositioned them to better repel further enemy attacks. Despite continuous and deadly sniper fire, he again left the defensive perimeter, moved to within a few feet of enemy positions, located five isolated wounded soldiers, and led them to safety. When evacuation helicopters approached, Sgt. Penry voluntarily left the perimeter, set up a guiding beacon, established the priorities for evacuation, and successively carried 18 wounded men to the extraction site. After all wounded personnel had been evacuated, Sgt. Penry joined another platoon and assisted in the pursuit of the enemy. Sgt. Penry’s extraordinary heroism at the risk of his own life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Not sure what issue was resolved here, but if it can help with PTSD awareness and treatment, well done. Thanks to one of our Usual Suspects for the link.
Category: Army, Congressional Medal of Honor, Vietnam
Rest in eternal peace Sgt. Penry.
Thanks for posting about this, AW1Ed.
He spent his much of his life living under the stigma of his conviction.
It made his life more challenging and in many ways overshadowed his heroic actions because he was treated as a felon.
He died young of a complex autoimmune syndrome including Lupus.
Sad story of a man that lived and died in an era when veteran were not given the mental health, substance abuse, and rehabilitative services they deserved.
Well said.
Agreed.
An Honored Place in Valhalla awaited this Warrior. We know he made it there, he had his Hell on Earth…abroad and at home.
Rest in Peace, “Butch”. You were one hell of a Soldier!
SALUTE!
Damn. Just, damn.
“Sam Stone was alone
When he popped his last balloon….”
john Prine said it well.
Every once in a great while Newsome can do something right. What was resolved here? Nothing, but it does draw more attention to substance abuse problems that some afflicted with PTSD suffer.
A few years ago we had to fire a good officer who had served in the Army. He was honored with a PH and BSM for actions when he was in Iraq when his track was bombed and he lost two good friends. However he picked up a marijuana habit that he simply couldn’t kick which was incompatible with law enforcement service. It was his way of zoning out and dealing.
Like the rest of the ‘Nam Vets, he deserved better. He rose to the occasion but the rest of the society failed to do so for him. RIP Sir.