Posted on Jun 16, 2015
What's the opposite of Stolen Valor? Vietnam War Vet's Service Significant Despite Medal Confusion
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The dying man was a hero, it was determined -- the recipient of four Bronze Stars, the military's fifth-highest award. That would place Wilcher in a rare pantheon of military heros. It spurred a determined effort by two people with a deep love for veterans to obtain a replacement for the seemingly long-lost medals, which the family planned to bury with Wilcher, who was 66 when he died last week, just hours after the new Bronze Star arrived.
And Jackie Wilcher was ecstatic with joy upon finally learning something about what Sgt. Wilcher did in uniform.
It was a wonderful story, but as is often the case, it was too good to be true.
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/06/15/vietnam-war-vets-service-significant-despite-medal-confusion.html
And Jackie Wilcher was ecstatic with joy upon finally learning something about what Sgt. Wilcher did in uniform.
It was a wonderful story, but as is often the case, it was too good to be true.
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/06/15/vietnam-war-vets-service-significant-despite-medal-confusion.html
Posted in these groups: 
Honor
Vietnam War
Honor Vietnam War
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
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I can see how this can happen especially to the public who oftentimes have no idea about military service. When I returned from Vietnam and was discharged, my DD214 said Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star. Shortly thereafter, I received a DD215 with Vietnam service Medal with three bronze stars. I knew better as to what they meant but anyone who had seen my DD214 questioned it a couple of times.
The man served his country honorably in Vietnam in spite of this confusion. He will and should be buried with full military honors.
The man served his country honorably in Vietnam in spite of this confusion. He will and should be buried with full military honors.
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SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
Mine says "Bronze Service Stars" .. but that's a DoA 215. My 214 has no mention of stars at all.
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SFC William Farrell
Actually I'm not sure what the DD215 says, Ill have to take a look at that. Will let you know later.
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As we move further and further from a society where so many have/had served I feel that there will be more of these simple errors made, through no fault of the families, we will have a significant number of individuals that have no idea of what a DD-214 "says" nor what the difference is between a Bronze Star and Bronze Service Star.
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The service star confusion is not a new phenomenon. When I was in IOAC (back when fragmentation grenades had pebbles in them) a fellow captain's wife asked him why I had a silver star and bronze stars while he only had bronze stars. Since we both had a Silver Star and Bronze Stars there was a little confusion until we realized she was talking about the stars on our VNSM's. Sometimes you just can't see those capitals.
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I think most vets don't brag about the accomplishments and further believe no one cares anyway. My father was a wounder World War 2 vet, when he died I tried everywhere just to get an honor guard or any military representation, didn't happen.
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All this pain and confusion because of a stupid lack of READING comprehension. The first of the VA uninitiated started this dirty snowball rolling. Sad.
That said, awards for Vietnam veterans are a real mess partly due to the fact that many awards and devices did not make it into records or onto a DD214 until years after the veteran was separated. I am still confused as to mine which now includes (allegedly) multiple PUCs, a NUC and MUC as well as two Korean awards, and two (or three) Viet awards. I suppose I should attempt an update of my DD214 but at this point in my life it seems difficult and pointless.
That said, awards for Vietnam veterans are a real mess partly due to the fact that many awards and devices did not make it into records or onto a DD214 until years after the veteran was separated. I am still confused as to mine which now includes (allegedly) multiple PUCs, a NUC and MUC as well as two Korean awards, and two (or three) Viet awards. I suppose I should attempt an update of my DD214 but at this point in my life it seems difficult and pointless.
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SFC William Farrell
Cpl French, you are correct about many awards from Vietnam. If you served in Korea as I did in 1970, you may have the Armed Forced Expeditionary Medal which I received. When they came out with the Korean Defense Service Medal to current service people serving in Kore they made a one time exception to allow you to have both the AFEM and the KDSM.
I'd still want my DD214's or DD215's to be correct.
I'd still want my DD214's or DD215's to be correct.
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Cpl Dennis F.
SFC Ferret, I did NOT serve in Korea, but WITH the ROKs in Vietnam. Hence my point over awards confusions. On another note, why do you continually seem to believe that I am part of the French's mustard dynasty? This is the 3rd comment that you have incorrectly spelled my name as well as ignored my obvious miss-spelling of yours to jog your sensibilities.
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We face many of the same inaccuracies today as we have replaced trained service members with civilians at demobilization sites. Both times when I returned from Afghanistan, all of the personnel records review specialists were civilians. I overheard them giving awards on DD214s that first time Soldiers would not have and leaving off awards that more experienced Soldiers should have. It's a lack of knowledge and lack of training in a high optempo environment that would be less likely to happen if the Soldiers that are trained in that area and work it every day were working those positions.
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This is why attention to detail is so very important. I learned the difference between a Bronze Star and bronze service star in Boot Camp.
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