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Military Matters: A long awaited honor

After 40 years, a Corpus Christi Vietnam veteran is recognized for his sacrifice after being wounded.

CORPUS CHRISTI (Kiii News) — After 40 years, a Corpus Christi Vietnam veteran is recognized for his sacrifice after being wounded.

"The four of us and then we were sent to hospital, the other guys took off," Ricardo Gonzalez said. "And I miss them so much because I found out they didn't make it, the guys that were with us in the squad."

Ricardo Gonzalez was a marine corporal during the Vietnam War.

He started out as an aircraft fire fighter and then was transferred to a recon outfit to do behind enemy lines intelligence gathering.

"I was injured four times," Gonzalez said. "Three times as an aircraft firefighter and then in the recon."

But after Ricardo's discharge in the early 70's, he didn't receive recognition of his injuries.

"I was appalled," Gonzalez said. "I was bewildered about why. And I would ask many people and many veterans help me. Something went wrong."

That's when he went to the office of the Congressman for the 27th Congressional District.

After several years of hard work, in a ceremony at Sherill Park, Congressman Michael Cloud was able to present the long overdue recognition.

"This community loves our veterans," Cloud said. "There's no doubt about it. And it's an honor to represent them and be able to look them in the eye and present the love and respect that we have to people, to Ricardo."

After four decades and a lot of wondering if he had done something wrong, it meant the world to Ricardo.

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