September 22nd Chicago Tribune "After years of secrecy, heroism is recognized" by Jordan Steffen.
Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Richard Etchberger was on a secret mission 42 years ago in Laos when his radar station was surrounded and ambushed by North Vietnamese troops. He fought back and helped three wounded airmen into a helicopter for evacuation. He was the last to climb in and killed by enemy fire as it took off. His actions were classified for years.
On September 21st, President Obama awarded Etchberger the Congressional Medal of Honor. His three sons, Steve, Richard and Cory accepted it. Back then, they were told that their father had died in a helicopter crash in Vietnam.
Etchberger was a radio technician from Hamburg, Pennsylvania, and was working at a secret station in the mountains of Laos. It was secret because Laos was neutral and as such, US forces were not supposed to be there. The station directed US pilots in an air campaign against North Vietnam.
Nineteen men were at the station when the attack occurred, seven survived, three directly because of Etchberger's actions.
He was a technician with no formal combat training, but he took charge during the attack, defending the station while coordinating US air strikes and rescue efforts.
A True Hero.
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