Eventually
I came back to the States and to the Philadelphia Navel Hospital
where I spent several Months and a series of operations on
my foot. Finally in March of 1972 I was retired from the U.S.
Air Force because of my disability.
After my initial operation, once
I came out of recovery, a team of Officers came around to
each of us in this big room and formally presented us with
a beautiful certificate along with the Purple Heart ribbon.
The following day once I felt a little better I was looking
over my Certificate and discovered that they had me down as
a Spec 5 in the Army instead of a Sgt in the Air Force. I
told my attending nurse and she got one of the Officers from
that unit and he told me that they would get it straightened
out. He would contact the Air Force Unit that I was assigned
to and I would have a corrected certificate as soon as possible.
I left the next day
for a hospital in Japan for another operation, and then onto
Philadelphia
Navel Hospital where I received a series of operations. I
guess because of all the confusion at the time in the middle
of the War this never got straightened out and subsequently
it never got put in my military records about the Purple
Heart.
Back in May 16, 2002
I contacted my local Congressman Tim Holden to see if he could
do anything for me. I gave him a copy of all the records that
I had from back then and he in turn went through his Congressional
Liaison Department of the Air Force Col. Pete Bruce. And on
October 24, 2002 I was contacted by Tim Holden's Office that
they had my Purple Heart and special Order and Certificate.
Finally, after 33 years, I
got my Purple Heart and it was made an official part of
my permanent military record. I wanted to have a formal presentation
from Tim Holden's Office but this never happened. Maybe something
can be done in the future.
I trust this information is OK. I would like to thank you
for all that you are doing on behalf of our cause. You guys
are doing an outstanding job!!
Henry L. Lesher
Ouch!