Veteran finally receives his Bronze Star Medal for 1967 battle in Vietnam

Veteran finally receives his Bronze Star Medal for 1967 battle in Vietnam
By Dan Blottenberger, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Sunday, August 9, 2009
BAMBERG, Germany — The package Alfred Pankey had waited more than 40 years for finally arrived.

The retired Army staff sergeant, now 69, hobbled into the post office on crutches anxiously looking for his long overdue Bronze Star Medal with “V” device for his acts of valor in a battle that claimed the lives of nine of his comrades.

“Yeah man, I was awarded this in Vietnam, but I never received the medal,” Pankey said, proudly holding his newest possession.

“I’ve been trying to get this award for the longest time.”

After retiring in Germany with his family in 1982, Pankey began the process of searching through his military records and contacting his hometown retirement center to see what happened to his award. He said he sent numerous letters and made tons of phone calls.
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