Vietnam Vet Maj. Donald Graham to receive 2 Silver Stars

BOB PENNELL / THE (MEDFORD, ORE.) MAIL TRIBUNE VIA AP Retired Army Maj. Donald Graham will receive two Silver Stars and other medals during a ceremony Aug. 27. Graham was nominated for the medals during the Vietnam War but only recently learned they had been awarded.

Vietnam vet to receive forgotten Silver Stars

By Paul Fattig - The (Medford, Ore.) Mail Tribune via AP
Posted : Wednesday Aug 26, 2009 8:46:34 EDT

MEDFORD, Ore. — As a retired Army major who did two combat tours in South Vietnam, longtime Medford resident Donald Graham has always had high regard for Silver Star recipients.

After all, he knew they had put their lives on the line for their fellow soldiers and were recognized with the Army’s second-highest award.

“I was put in for three Silver Stars — one was downgraded to a Bronze Star,” said the soft-spoken veteran. “But I never heard anything about the Silver Stars after they put me up for them.”

After completing 20 years in the Army, Graham, 68, went on with his life, joining the U.S. Postal Service and retiring last year after 17 years.

It was only within the past month that he learned from the Jackson County Veterans Service Office that the Army had indeed awarded him two Silver Stars for bravery during combat in two separate missions more than 35 years ago. The information came up during a check of his military records he had requested.
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Vietnam vet to receive forgotten Silver Stars