Vietnam Vet Senior Chief Engineman Gerald E. Patterson finally gets medals

If you tend to not believe a Vietnam Veteran is due at least respect because of the fake veterans out there, try to give them the benefit of doubt because they very well maybe someone long overdue awards they earned. It breaks my heart to post about people posing as Vietnam veterans, especially Vietnam veterans claiming to have medals they did not earn but stories like this delight me beyond words.

Local Vietnam vet honored for heroism 42 years later
Posted by Kailani Koenig-Muenster at July 23, 2009

Four decades later, he is finally being honored.

On Friday retired Senior Chief Engineman Gerald E. Patterson of Renton will receive two awards for his heroism while fighting in Vietnam 42 years ago. He will be given a Navy Commendation Medal with Valor and a Presidential Unit Citation at the Whidbey Island Navy base.

"He told me about this situation that he was promised a medal at the end of his tour of Vietnam and it never materialized," said Buchanan, who later told Patty Murray's office about Patterson's story.

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Local Vietnam vet honored for heroism 42 years later