releases: https://hill.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/arkansas-vietnam-veteran-surprised-purple-heart-bronze-medal-decades-later
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://hill.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/arkansas-vietnam-veteran-surprised-purple-heart-bronze-medal-decades-later | Arkansas Vietnam veteran surprised with Purple Heart, Bronze Medal decades later | 2016-12-16 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | AR | French Hill | H001072 | hill.house.gov | legacy | LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Almost fifty years after joining the army, a Vietnam veteran finally receives his purple heart. Bob Sangalli never thought he would receive awards for his service in Vietnam. But his family had other plans in store. "They pulled a surprise on me," explains Sangalli. When the war came to an end, Bob chose to return to the US--instead of waiting for his medals to be prepared in Vietnam: "[I've] been waiting on the medals since then." He figured they were lost in the mail: "I thought it was the post office." Almost fifty years later, Bob's family drove him to Congressman French Hill's office. Bob's wife Ramona, and his son-in-law Aaron say, "We told him his son-in-law was getting an award for a project ." Instead Bob was surprised with nine awards for his service--among them a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Earned, "just by being in Vietnam, receiving a wound, and carrying on with my duties, and surviving.'" With his whole family at the ceremony, Bob's wife Ramona says the medals represent their family's appreciation: "We certainly feel like what he did made a difference, even at the time he was in service, it wasn't a popular thing to do, but we all appreciate everything he went through." Now those medals will hang in their home to commemorate that sacrifice. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |