Today we honor Vietnam Veteran Keith Ormsby. Keith’s 4th of July was a little different than many because last night, as you and I were watching fireworks near and far, Keith was being recognized for his service to his country during the Vietnam War. At about 7:30p last night, Keith was awarded multiple medals and badges, including a Purple Heart, for the injuries he sustained in battle 54 years ago.
From October 1969 to February 1970, Ormsby was assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division as an 11B Light Weapons Infantryman. On January 31st, 1970, Ormsby’s unit was ambushed and he was shot and wounded. Ormsby was medically evacuated first to Japan and then back to the U.S. following medical complications. Due to the chaotic nature of the battlefield and the subsequent medical evacuations, the proper paperwork for the Purple Heart was never processed at that time.
At the 4th of July ceremony in Muscatine, Ormsby will be awarded:
- Purple Heart
- Air Medal
- Combat Infantryman Badge
- National Defense Service Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal
- Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar (M-14)
- Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16)
- 1st Class Gunner (M-60 Machine Gun)
Medal and badges long overdue. Keith, congratulations and THANK YOU for your service.
