VIETNAM VET REGAINS MEDALS

A LOCAL VIETNAM WAR VETERAN WHOSE MEDALS WERE STOLEN HAS RECEIVED REPLACEMENTS WITH THE HELP OF CONGRESSMAN STEVE KING'S OFFICE.

DENNIS ROBERTS OF SIOUX CITY LOST THE USE OF HIS RIGHT THUMB IN VIETNAM FROM A BOOBY TRAP ON CHRISTMAS DAY OF 1969 WHILE SERVING WITH THE ARMY'S  101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION.   HIS FIVE MAN UNIT DROPPED INTO A LANDING ZONE THAT WAS BOOBY TRAPPED, ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE GROUP TRIPPED ONE OF THE DEVICES:



HIS NINE MEDALS, INCLUDING A PURPLE HEART AND BRONZE STAR WERE STOLEN FROM HIS HOME TWENTY YEARS AGO. CONGRESSMAN STEVE KING'S OFFICE WAS MADE AWARE OF ROBERTS' SITUATION  AND BEGAN AN EFFORT TO REPLACE THE STOLEN MEDALS.

KING PRESENTED HIM WITH THE MEDALS TUESDAY:



YOU CAN CALL ROBERTS A TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOT. THE DAY AFTER THE 9-11 BOMBINGS HE TRIED TO RE-ENLIST IN THE MILITARY, BUT WAS TURNED DOWN BECAUSE OF HIS AGE.