Hamburg hero receives Medal of Honor from President Obama

CMHs are rare enough. To have one awarded to someone from my own county merits attention here. It should never have taken 42 years.


More on Etchberger here and here

Reading Eagle:

Hamburg hero receives Medal of Honor from President Obama

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Barack Obama has presented the Medal of Honor to the sons and family of Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. Etchberger.

Etchberger was the Hamburg hero killed in action while rescuing three comrades during the Vietnam War.

Obama said it was clear that Etchberger deserved the nation's highest military honor for valor because of his conspicuous gallantry and heroic actions in combat.

Obama presented the Medal of Honor during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.

The Etchbergers, who have been treated to police escorts, tours and other honors, met with the president and first lady Michelle Obama before the ceremony and will be honored at a White House reception afterward.

On Wednesday, the Air Force will honor Etchberger and his family with a special induction ceremony into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes.

The Air Force invited the entire Etchberger family, supporters from Hamburg and former comrades who were present on the fateful day.

Etchberger was among an elite group of airmen, CIA agents and Air America pilots and crew who operated a top secret radar station on a mile-high Laotion mountaintop that briefly turned the tide of the Vietnam War.

Etchberger rescued three radar men while holding off hundreds of North Vietnamese soldiers and guerrillas before being fatally wounded as the Air America helicopter that picked them up flew away from the mountain