WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen’s (D-NV) office presented former Army Staff Sergeant Thomas Martin with the Purple Heart during a ceremony at the Nevada Veterans Memorial Plaza. Senator Rosen secured the award for SSG Martin after he had not received it for nearly sixty years due to administrative oversights. SSG Martin was injured by a punji stake in September 1967 while conducting a helicopter assault during combat operations in Vietnam.
KOLO Reno: Sparks Vietnam Veteran Gets Purple Heart After Nearly 60 Years
- A Vietnam veteran in Sparks has been awarded the Purple Heart after nearly 60 years. Former Army Staff Sergeant Thomas Martin was given the Purple Heart during a ceremony at the Nevada Veterans Memorial Plaza on Friday.
- Martin was injured by a punji stake in September 1967 while conducting a helicopter assault during combat operations in Vietnam.
- Martin waited nearly six decades to get his award due to administrative problems. Martin contacted the office of Senator Jacky Rosen for assistance getting the award, who pushed for the U.S. Army to give the award to Martin.
- “Staff Sergeant Thomas Martin bravely and courageously served our nation during the Vietnam War, and he was injured while fighting to protect our freedoms. Unfortunately, decades of delays prevented Staff Sergeant Martin from receiving the Purple Heart and properly recognizing his bravery and sacrifice during his time in uniform,” Senator Rosen.
KTVN Reno: Purple Heart Presented To U.S. Army Veteran Nearly 60 Years After He Was Wounded
- Staff Sergeant Thomas Martin finally received the Purple Heart he earned for wounds he sustained on September 16th, 1967, while serving with the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.
- SSG Martin: “I’m certainly honored to receive the Purple Heart and honored to have all these people come and attend and show their support and their honoring of veterans. Spectacular, spectacular, and it’s very humbling.”
- Senator Jacky Rosen’s office presented the former Army Staff Sergeant with the Purple Heart during the ceremony on Friday at the Nevada Veterans Memorial Plaza.
KRNV Reno: Former Army Staff Sergeant receives Purple Heart almost 60 years after Vietnam injury
- Representatives of Senator Rosen’s office say she secured the award for SSG Martin – who was injured by a punji stake in September 1967 while conducting a helicopter assault during combat operations in Vietnam – after not receiving it for nearly sixty years due to administrative oversights.
- SSG Martin contacted Senator Rosen’s office for assistance, and officials say the senator and her team pushed the U.S. Army to evaluate the matter and retroactively award SSG Martin with a long-overdue Purple Heart.
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