After many emails, calls and some paperwork that included the help of a congressman's office, Dad's military awards have been reinstated, and we have an addendum to his DD214 to note the revisions.
The addendum includes a few other awards of which we were not aware - a marksman award, a Vietnam campaign ribbon with two bronze stars indicating that he was involved in two campaigns in Vietnam, and an award from the Vietnamese government. It sounds like the military will be sending replacement medals for those awards that can be replaced. The award from the Vietnamese government cannot be replaced.
I am grateful to my cousin Susie who got the ball rolling on this and provided the proof we needed for the grave marker. It is nice that Jonathan will be able to have a bronze star in honor of Dad to display with the flag.
Our main concern was getting his bronze star reinstated and noted on his grave marker. Jonathan told me last night that Dad seemed unconcerned about the award. Dad told us when Mom died that he would not have credit for it because his commanding officer did not sign off on it when he was discharged. Jonathan said that Dad told him that they handed bronze stars out like candy during the Vietnam War, so he seemed unimpressed with it.
My opinion - if you jump into the line of enemy fire to protect your men, and they hand out candy for it, you might as well get your piece of candy.
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