Vietnam Alpha Company Vet honored

Lockport turns out to honor Vietnam vet

November 1, 2009

By TONY GRAF tgraf@scn1.com
LOCKPORT -- More than 300 people gathered Friday night to recognize the heroism of Francis "Bud" Smolich, a Vietnam veteran whose Army unit was honored by President Obama in October.

A large screen was set up at the Lockport Veterans of Foreign Wars post, and the crowd watched a video of Obama's speech in the White House Rose Garden.

For a good portion of the video, Smolich is just to the right of the president, standing behind him.

Smolich, of Lockport, was a sergeant in Alpha Troop, First Squadron, 11th Armored Calvary Regiment. In March 1970, Alpha Troop rescued another unit that had walked into an ambush by the North Vietnamese Army.

Alpha Troop is now the recipient of the Presidential Unit Citation. Smolich has the small blue ribbon, along with his two Bronze Stars.
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Lockport turns out to honor Vietnam vet