Medal of Honor awarded to Vietnam vet

A deceased Vietnam veteran is finally being awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in 1968 that resulted in his death. The Medal of Honor was at first denied by President Johnson who didn’t want the public to know that he was aware of actions being conducted in the neutral country of Laos during his term. (Military dot com link)

Richard Etchberger, a chief master sergeant in the Air Force, was selected to work at the radar station and was converted into a civilian employee of Lockheed so his presence in Laos would not technically violate that country’s neutrality.

The radar station directed 507 strike missions against North Vietnamese targets from November 1967 until March 11, 1968, when enemy soldiers engaged the facility in a fierce battle, according to the Air Force.

Under withering fire, Etchberger loaded wounded comrades into slings to be raised into a rescue helicopter before coming aboard himself. He was mortally wounded by an armor-piercing bullet that had ripped through the chopper. He was 27.

He was awarded an Air Force Cross in a secret ceremony at the Pentagon.

I remember how Nixon was excoriated for his military operations beyond South Vietnam’s borders. Even John Kerry tried to tell tall tales about Nixon that were burned into his memory before Nixon became president. Never a word about Johnson’s involvement in extra-war operations. I also remember Johnson marking targets for bombing runs in the war, so obviously he knew about operations in Laos which resulted in this airman’s death.

And I can hear the phony soldier stories now about how some technicality kept them from getting their Medal of Honor.

I read the article before I left for Indianapolis, but thanks to Tman for reminding me this morning.

Category: Politics