Homeless Vietnam Veteran beaten to death

Dead man found in Norwood was Vietnam veteran
Boston Globe
By Evan Allen
GLOBE STAFF
FEBRUARY 01, 2014

SOMERVILLE -- The Somerville man whose battered body was found Wednesday evening dumped behind a Norwood Middle School was a Vietnam veteran who had recently listed his address as the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, state officials said Friday.

Vincent A. Lalli, 66, joined the US Navy in November 1967 and was honorably discharged in September 1971, said John Paradis, spokesman for the state Department of Veterans’ Services.

Lalli was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with one star, Paradis said. While information about his deployment was not available, the Vietnam Service Medal is awarded only to service members who supported operations in Vietnam, a Navy official said.

A dogwalker found Lalli’s body in a wooded area behind the Dr. Philip O. Coakley Middle School on Washington Street in South Norwood at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. His death is being investigated as a homicide, and authorities have said they believe Lalli was killed elsewhere.
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