The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System will honor Girard native and Medal of Honor recipient Pfc. Kenneth J. David during its National Vietnam War Veterans Day commemoration ceremony on Friday.
The event occurs 9 a.m., Friday, March 28 at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, 10701 East Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
David, a U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran, distinguished himself for the Medal of Honor award by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on May 7, 1970, while serving as a radio-telephone operator with Company D, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, near Fire Support Base Maureen, Thua Thein Province, Republic of Vietnam.
Vietnam veterans, their family members, and caregivers are invited to attend. The event is also open to the public.
Garett Schreier, associate director of patient care services, will make remarks during the ceremony. A commemorative plaque will be unveiled, and a special Vietnam War veteran commemoration wreath will be placed in remembrance.
“The National Vietnam War Veterans Day Ceremony is an opportunity for our community to come together and pay tribute to the heroes who served during the Vietnam War,” said Jill Dietrich Mellon, VANEOHS executive director.
“As we commemorate this 50th anniversary, let us not only express our deepest gratitude but also reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that all veterans receive the recognition, care and support they deserve.”
Parking for the event will be available in the primary patient parking garage. Attendees are asked to refrain from parking in the employee and domiciliary parking garage areas.
For more information about programs and services offered by VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, visit www.cleveland.va.gov… or follow the VA on Facebook @ClevelandVAMC.
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Kenneth J. David biography
Kenneth J. David was born on Jan. 21, 1950 and grew up in Girard. Active in the Boy Scouts, he earned the prestigious achievement of Eagle Scout.
David was drafted and entered the Army in August of 1969 and received basic training at Fort Campbell, Ky., then advanced training at Fort Polk, La.
He was sent to the Republic of South Vietnam in January 1970, and on May 7, 1970, after being wounded, he was moved to Valley Forge General Hospital in Pennsylvania. For his actions during a military operation from “Abandoned Fire Support Base Maureen” in the northern part of the Republic of South Vietnam, David was presented with the nation’s second highest award for extraordinary heroism, the Distinguished Service Cross, while serving as a radio-telephone operator with the 101st Airborne Division.
He retired from York Mahoning Mechanical in Youngstown and was inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor and Military Bravery on May 7, 2010 – 40 years after he was wounded in Vietnam. He was also inducted as a Distinguished Member of the Regiment of the 1-506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), at Fort Campbell.
He has two sons, Kevin and Brian.
He is a member of the Disabled American Veterans, VFW Post 3767, the 101st Airborne Division Association, the 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association Legion of Valor, Army-Navy Garrison #252, the Ripcord Association, Vietnam Veterans of America and Masonic Lodge #529 as a master mason.
His awards include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Purple Heart with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, the First Class Unit Citation Badge, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation Badge, Expert Marksmanship Badge.
– biography courtesy of the U.S. Army website.
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