Indiana Rangers say they’re seeking overdue recognition for service during Vietnam War

INDIANAPOLIS (CNN/CNN Newsource/WKRC) – The Indiana Rangers said they’re seeking overdue recognition for their service during the Vietnam War.

Surviving members of an Indiana National Guard unit that served in the Vietnam War are seeking long-awaited recognition for the group’s service.

(WISH/CNN/CNN Newsource)

Company D, 151st Infantry, was deployed to Vietnam in late 1968. The unit received airborne and ranger training and became known as the Indiana Rangers. The soldiers were the only National Guard combat unit deployed to Vietnam as one intact group.

During their year-long tour, members of the unit earned more than 500 medals, including 175 Bronze Stars and 110 Purple Hearts. Despite those honors, the Rangers say the unit has never received recognition as a collective group.

Now, that could change.

The office of U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz has notified the Rangers that paperwork for the Valorous Unit Award has been submitted. The award is one level below the Presidential Unit Citation.

“We lost six people during the conflict of ’69 and today I’ve been the treasurer for about 35-40 years I guess, and now we’ve lost 124 deceased,” one Ranger told WISH.

Spartz told the Rangers she is also working to secure a Presidential Unit Citation for the unit.