Sheffield Village veteran receives medals 40 years later
The Morning Journal – It’s been a long time coming but well worth the wait.
More than 40 years after serving in the Vietnam War, retired U.S. Army Master Sgt. Raymond Hatch will be presented with 11 medals earned for exemplary service in the war, including a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
Today, in a special ceremony in Cleveland, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown will present Hatch, a Sheffield Village resident, with various medals such as the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation, National Defense Service, Vietnam Campaign, Parachute Badge, Sharpshooter M-14, Army Good Conduct, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation and the Vietnam Service Medal with four Bronze Service Stars.
It all began four years ago, when Hatch went to the Celebreeze Federal Building in Cleveland to check on his VA benefits. Surreptitiously, Hatch discovered the slew of honors due him.
“I went up and told (Sheffield Village mayor) John Hunter about it and he said, “You want somebody to pin them on you?”
Hunter notified Brown’s office about the long-overdue medal presentation to Hatch.
“It took four years for this to happen,” Hatch said.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is fighting for Ohio’s veterans, like Raymond Hatch, by ensuring that they receive the benefits they so richly deserve,” Brown said.
