Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery is remembering a Medal of Honor recipient on the 50th anniversary of his death during the Vietnam War.
A ceremony will be held today honoring Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. Etchberger of Hamburg, Pennsylvania.
Etchberger died during fighting in Laos on March 11, 1968. He is the only person of his rank to receieve the nation’s highest military honor.
A statue and memorial bench are being unveiled at Maxwell’s Non-Commissioned Officer School.
Etchberger was a radar technician manning a secret position that came under enemy attack. He earned the medal for repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire to save fellow troops.
Etchberger was fatally wounded after getting his remaining crew members aboard an evacuation helicopter. He was 35.
(Image: President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Honor posthumously to the sons of Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. Etchberger, from left, Steve Wilson, Corey Etchberger, and Richard Etchberger, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Sept. 21, 2010 – Pete Souza/ White House)
(Associated Press, copyright 2018)
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.