Two veterans receive long-overdue Vietnam medals

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(BROOKVILLE, Ind.) – Two local Vietnam veterans have been awarded more than 50 years after their heroic actions. 

A ceremony was held at the Franklin County Government Center on Wednesday. The purpose behind the ceremony was to correct clerical errors that occurred decades ago that prevented John Dunn and Irvin Boggs from receiving the medals they earned while serving. 

Dunn is an Army veteran who was critically injured after his convoy was struck by a landmine in 1966. 

He was awarded The Purple Heart on Wednesday. 

Navy veteran Irvin Boggs played a critical role during Operation Frequent Wind in 1975. It was a heroic evacuation effort to rescue Vietnamese citizens and American personnel during the fall of Saigon. 

Boggs was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal on Wednesday. 

The awards ceremony was made possible by Franklin County Veterans Service Officer Shirley May who worked with the military to correct the clerical errors. 

U.S. Congresswoman Erin Houchin presented the medals and State Representative Lindsay Patterson was also in attendance.