Combat medic, Medal of Honor recipient welcomes battle brothers home during pinning ceremony

Medic welcomes veterans home during pinning ceremony — 1 / 14 Show Caption + Hide Caption – James McCloughan (fifth from left), a medic who was with 2nd Platoon, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 196th Inf. Brigade, Americal Division, during actions in South Vietnam in 1969, stands with comrades he served with in Vietnam. Th... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WASHINGTON -- "Welcome home. Thank you for your service," James McCloughan said to 15 of his battle brothers from the Vietnam War, during a pinning ceremony, July 30.

For his valorous actions as an Army medic while serving in Vietnam, McCloughan will receive the Medal of Honor during a July 31 ceremony at the White House. But the day before, McCloughan and a handful of veterans from his unit were recognized for their service during a United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration pinning ceremony. As part of the event, each veteran received a lapel pin commemorating his service in Vietnam.

Most of the veterans who attended the ceremony had been wounded in Vietnam and said they owed their lives to McCloughan's skill, quick thinking and bravery, as he was their combat medic during heavy enemy action.

McCloughan, a medic who was with 2nd Platoon, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, reminded his battle brothers that their own fathers had been welcomed home as heroes following their service in World War II, but that the same had not happened for them when they returned from Vietnam.

"Our war was controversial and you bore that on your shoulders," he told them. "You are indeed as honorable as your fathers."

Retired Army Col. Larry Brom, who serves as the assistant director of plans and operations for the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, placed a commemorative pin on McCloughan's lapel, telling him and his comrades: "You were not welcomed home. Let us make sure this never happens again."

In turn, McCloughan personally presented each of his fellow Soldiers with a commemorative pin, and provided anecdotes about each of them as he did so.

He thanked Randall Clark, his former platoon leader, with helping to get the paperwork together to get the recognition for the men he served with in his unit.

McCloughan said fellow Soldier Jay Liss became a psychiatrist after the war and worked at making post-traumatic stress disorder recognized in the medical community. Through Liss's efforts, McCloughan said, many veterans received the care they needed.

Special thanks, he said, goes to Joseph Middendorf, his machine gunner, who was wounded like he was on the first day of intense battle in May 1969. McCloughan said both he and Middendorf had refused to be evacuated by medevac following their injuries.

"Joe stayed because he knew I needed him," McCloughan said. "I stayed because I knew my men needed me."

Middendorf, he explained, provided protective fire with his M-60 machine gun, as McCloughan dashed about the battlefield treating the wounded.

ABOUT THE PIN

The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration pin features an eagle and American flag on the front, with six stars that represent the United States and the five other nations that helped during the conflict, including Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Thailand. On the reverse side of the pin are the words "A grateful nation thanks and honors you -- USA Vietnam War Commemoration."

The pin is a small token, said Brom. It's presented on behalf of the government and on behalf of the country.

The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration was established Memorial Day 2012 and runs through Veterans Day 2025. It is meant to recognize, thank and honor U.S. military veterans who served during the Vietnam War. Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces at any time during the period between Nov. 1, 1955 and May 15, 1975 are eligible to receive the pin.

Retired Air Force Col. Yvonne Schilz, who serves as chief of the Commemorative Partner Program/POW/MIA Liaison, said over 1 million pins have been awarded thus far, but with about 7 million Vietnam veterans still living, there's much work ahead to ensure everybody is recognized.

The Commemorative Partner Program, she said, is responsible for doing that work. Some 10,800 organizations across the U.S. have been commissioned with getting the veterans recognized with the pins. They range from government agencies, to schools, churches and sports organizations.

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