Vietnam vet may get Silver Star after 44 years

SF vet may get Silver Star after 44 years
By Bill McCleery
The Indianapolis Star
Posted : Thursday Apr 5, 2012

MICHELLE PEMBERTON / THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR Former Army Sgt. Frank Spink holds a Silver Star given to him by a fellow veteran and a copy of the original orders issued July 26, 1968 awarding him a Silver Star.

PLAINFIELD, Ind. — Army Sgt. Frank Spink was pulling overnight guard duty when he heard movement in the South Vietnamese jungle.

He listened, then realized enemy soldiers were approaching the U.S. Special Forces camp in Dak Pek, a village in Kontum province.

Spink quickly notified his platoon leader, rousted fellow soldiers and, in the darkness, opened fire on North Vietnamese troops. Aerial gun support helped to push back attackers.

During the fight that early June morning nearly 44 years ago, an enemy rocket exploded on Spink’s bunker. He was left with a mangled right arm that ultimately was amputated.

Spink’s action helped his unit repel the enemy and avoid heavier losses, said his platoon leader, Lt. John McHenry, now retired.

The soldier’s valor, according to orders written the next month by military brass, earned the Indiana veteran one of the Army’s highest honors for heroism: the Silver Star.

But Spink, now 66, never received the honor.

He never even knew he had been in line to receive it until last month. McHenry and another retired soldier are leading efforts to persuade military officials to award the medal they think Spink deserves.
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