Speaking of French Hill, he was on hand the other day to award four Vietnam War vets Silver Stars for gallantry in action. Forty-five years to the day of their heroism.
Robert Frank, Robert Monette, John DesLauriers and Leonard Shearer saw a C-130 go down north of Saigon on April 18, 1972. The plane crash-landed in a marsh, making it difficult to get to the crash site. (One of the soldiers said getting to the wounded was like walking in molasses.) Somehow, the soldiers pulled five crew members to their helicopter, and took off to relative safety.
It took an act of Congress, or at least a telephone call to French Hill's office, to get the deserved recognition all these years later. But the medals finally came.
Who says all government stories are boring? Sometimes they read like a Tom Clancy novel.
From a grateful nation, thank you, gentlemen.
Editorial on 04/20/2017