Glendale Vietnam veteran awarded Silver Star 45 years after rescue
The Republic
Perry Vandell
May 9, 2017
Smoke and fire enveloped the afternoon of April 18, 1972.
The town of An Lộc in South Vietnam was under siege by the Viet Cong, who had the area surrounded. Hercules C-130s tried dropping supplies to the defenders, but the Viet Cong’s anti-air weaponry often shot at them before they could make the drops.
Spc. 4 Leonard "Bruce" Shearer, who now lives in Glendale, was part of a four-man crew manning a Bell UH-1H Iroquois or "Huey" helicopter tasked with reporting enemy troop movement. The helicopter crew had to cut its reconnaissance mission short, however, when Shearer noticed a C-130 engulfed in flames as it streaked across the sky.
It never happened — until the Air Force got involved.
In 2005, the Air Force held a ceremony in Little Rock, Ark. where it awarded Silver Stars to the six U.S. C-130 crewman. It also recognized Shearer and his former crewman — who were in attendance — for their efforts, but was surprised to learn the Army hadn’t done the same for them. Air Force officials began asking questions the rescuers had kept to themselves for decades.
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Vietnam Veterans Memorial Vandalized In Philadelphia
Philadelphia Patch
By Max Bennett (Patch Staff)
May 9, 2017
Police said the male spray painted a band's upcoming album release onto the sidewalk inside the Veterans Memorial then fled in an unknown direction.
PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia Police are seeking two people who were seen on camera allegedly vandalizing a veterans memorial in the city recently. Police said anyone who can identify the two should contact police immediately.
According to police, the vandalism occurred on April 23 at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Front and Spruce streets.
In the footage released by police, the two suspects walk up to the memorial, the male places a stencil on the ground, and spray paints the ground while the female watches.
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Vietnam War veteran gets emotional homecoming decades after his service
KETV
Erin Hassanzadeh
May 5, 2017
Elkhorn, NEB. —
Tom Meradith said when he came back after two tours in Vietnam, his 1967 homecoming was anything but heartwarming.
Meradith was one of the nearly 650 Vietnam veterans from Nebraska that took the honor flight in Washington DC on Monday.
Meradith is the Chaplin for the Brookestone Meadows Care Center in Elkhorn. Staff, residents and patients there wanted to make sure he got a proper homecoming this time around.
Around 75 people lined the halls of the center with yellow roses to surprise Meradith after the trip.
The surprise brought him to tears.
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Retired Marine Corporal defies odds, graduates from University of Kentucky
WDRB NewsPosted: May 07, 2017
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A retired Marine Corporal who lost both his legs and his sight received his diploma from the University of Kentucky on Friday.
Matt Bradford was severely hurt back in 2007, when he lost both his legs and his vision. But in April of 2010 he defied the odds and became the first blind, double amputee to re-enlist in the Marines.
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WDRB 41 Louisville News
Navy Seabee Identified As Victim Of Fatal Motorcycle Crash
Associated Press
Published: May 8, 2017
BILOXI, Miss. (AP) – A Navy Seabee stationed in Gulfport has been identified as the man who crashed his motorcycle on a state highway and died.
The Sun Herald reports that Harrison County Chief Deputy Brian Switzer says 27-year-old Jimmy Truong, of San Diego, lost control of the bike and went over an embankment on Saturday.
Authorities say he was wearing a helmet and protective gear.
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