Anchorage Daily News

FAIRBANKS -- Nearly 40 years after he earned it for his actions during the Vietnam War, Andrew Wescott was finally awarded the Silver Star, the military's fourth-highest decoration.

The former platoon sergeant was all smiles as Major Gen. Stephen Layfield, commanding general of U.S. Army Alaska, presented him with the award Wednesday.

"Just because we find something should be presented earlier doesn't mean it's forgotten," Layfield said.

Wescott was awarded the Silver Star for his actions on the afternoon of Oct. 23, 1968, when he and his unit were sent to Vietnam's demilitarized zone to assess the effects of recent bombings.

What they didn't know was that the Viet Cong were already there, waiting for them. The platoon leader was ahead of the rest of the unit and died within moments of setting off an ambush.

Wescott rushed into the fray to recover his body, taking several hits to his right side from small-arms fire in the process. He says the only thing that kept him going at that point was pure adrenaline.

As he searched for cover, Wescott was shot in the legs and left hand, losing two fingers. He finally propped himself up against a tree where a comrade he only remembers as "Lt. Brown" brought him blood thickener, likely saving his life.

Wescott received two standing ovations from the dozens of friends, family and active military members after the brief ceremony at Fort Wainwright.

"I want to say thanks to the U.S. Army," he told the crowd. "It may take them 39 years, but they get the job done."

It was only two months ago when he asked for a copy of his medical records from the Army that Wescott discovered the Silver Star citation.

It's unclear exactly how it went undiscovered for so long, but the most likely explanation is that the paperwork for the award went through after he was already discharged and it was just filed away with the rest of his records.

"I knew I got shot, but I thought that was about it," he said.

Wescott's oldest daughter, Monica, flew up from the Lower 48 to see her father receive the Silver Star. Though he occasionally told her stories of his time in Vietnam, she was just as surprised as he to learn about the honor.

"I'm just glad everyone else recognizes how great he is," she said. "But I already knew that."

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