Purple Heart plaques awarded to two Vietnam heroes in Lawrenceburg

(LAWRENCEBURG, Ind.) – Two local men who each served in the Vietnam War were recognized during the Lawrenceburg Fall Music Fest this weekend. 

76-year-old Gene Scholl graduated from Brookville High School in 1968 and enlisted in the military just one month later. 

He deployed to Vietnam in 1969 and was stationed at Chu Lai when a booby-trap grenade exploded and he was seriously wounded. 

Scholl received the Purple Heart and several other awards. 

After the service, Scholl worked for U.S. Postal Service for many years including being an interim postmaster at Milan, Dillsboro and Moores Hill. 

He and his wife, Virginia, still reside in Brookville and they have three daughters and three grandchildren. 

On Saturday, Scholl was brought on stage in Lawrenceburg and presented with a Purple Heart Plaque from the City of Lawrenceburg as well as the Southeast Indiana Vietnam Veterans of America Lary D. Fogle Chapter 71.

Don Henry

Dillsboro native Donald Henry was a standout athlete and had many friends while growing up. He was even named Dillsboro High School Class of 1966 president. 

Following graduation, Henry joined the United States Marine Corps and went through intense training before being deployed to Vietnam. 

The 19-year-old was only in Vietnam for about a month when he and fellow soldiers became engaged in a fierce firefight against the enemy near the DMZ. 

L/Cpl. Henry made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation on September 6, 1967. 

“This young Marine truly understood and lived by the words duty, honor, country and Semper Fi. Thank you for your valiant service and we will never forget Donald Ray Henry,” Vitnam veteran PG Gentrup said on Saturday. 

Henry’s surviving family members were brought onto stage where they were presented with the Purple Heart Plaque as well.