On Friday, a public ceremony was held to present a Purple Heart to a U.S. Army veteran nearly 60 years after being wounded in combat during the Vietnam War.
Staff Sergeant Thomas Martin finally received the Purple Heart he earned for wounds he sustained on September 16th, 1967, while serving with the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.
SSGT Martin tells us how he felt about receiving the award. "I'm certainly honored to receive the Purple Heart and honored to have all these people come and attend and show their support and their honoring of veterans. Spectacular, spectacular, and it's very humbling."
Thomas was also part of the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. we covered last month. His son was also there. They're both veterans. While we heard his story of combat during that time, on Friday we finally got to see him get the medal he earned during his service.
SSGT Martin says, "It's hard to discern what it means. It's a name, just for me, but it's for the men and women that you fight with that are in combat, and it's also for the names of all the people on the wall that gave the ultimate sacrifice. They are the true heroes."
Senator Jacky Rosen's office presented the former Army Staff Sergeant with the Purple Heart during the ceremony on Friday at the Nevada Veterans Memorial Plaza.
Senator Rosen secured the award for SSGT Martin, who was injured by a punji stake in September 1967 while conducting a helicopter assault during combat operations in Vietnam, after not receiving it for nearly sixty years due to administrative oversights.
Senator Rosen says, "Staff Sergeant Thomas Martin bravely and courageously served our nation during the Vietnam War, and he was injured while fighting to protect our freedoms. Unfortunately, decades of delays prevented Staff Sergeant Martin from receiving the Purple Heart and properly recognizing his bravery and sacrifice during his time in uniform."
The senator continued, "My team and I help Staff Sergeant Martin, a Nevada veteran and Purple Heart recipient, with issues in the federal government or navigating union agencies."
The Purple Heart is the oldest U.S. military award, and it's awarded to service members who are wounded or killed in combat.
SSGT Martin says, "I just want them to think about all the veterans that have sacrificed in all the wars in the country. Without veterans, the country wouldn't be what it is today.”
