Arkansas’ last living Medal of Honor recipient was remembered as a courageous man who did all he could to help fellow soldiers.
Gov. Mike Beebe and others gathered Saturday to mourn the loss of Nick Bacon, the former director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs who died of cancer July 17 at the age of 64.
Bacon served in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1984 and was awarded the nation’s highest military honor for his actions during a 1968 battle in Vietnam. Bacon was appointed to the veteran’s position in 1993.
Beebe says Bacon’s training and courage earned him the Medal of Honor, but his character defined how he used it afterward.
Bacon was buried at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery.