Nearly 50 years later, Ely veteran gets corrected certificates for combat awards

CEDAR RAPIDS - Nearly 50 years after the actions that earned him a Silver Star and other recognitions, Chester Hendrickson finally has the correct certificates that recognize his heroic deeds.

'It feels good,” Hendrickson said Thursday.

According to his award certificates, Hendrickson, 68, of Ely, was a Specialist Fifth Class in the United States Army assigned as a Medical Aidman with Company D, Second Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division during the Vietnam War. On Sept. 17, 1969, during a ground reconnaissance mission, Hendrickson and his fellow soldiers made contact with a platoon of enemy soldiers. Several U.S. soldiers were seriously wounded and in need of immediate medical condition.

Hendrickson - under enemy fire - provided medical care to the wounded men and provided them encouragement. He then led the company commander into the contact area and pointed out enemy positions. His actions allowed troops to return fire on the enemies.

For his deeds, Hendrickson was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Air Medal and Combat Medical Badge. But there were issues with the certificates that accompanied the medals, said Hendrickson, who went on to serve in the U.S. Park Police in Washington, D.C., before coming to Iowa.

'The name on the certificates was misspelled,” he said, adding there were other errors.

Hendrickson said he tried for two years to get the certificates corrected. When that didn't work, he contacted the office of U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. Ernst's office had the corrections made within two months. On Thursday, Ernst - who is doing medal presentations around the state this week - presented Hendrickson with the corrected certificates during a small ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Building.

'This is a great Iowan who did a lot of great things for his fellow soldiers,” said Ernst, who was caught up with emotion during the ceremony. 'Folks like you are few and far between. We're so glad you're on our side.”

Hendrickson, who was joined at the ceremony by his wife, Rachel, and oldest son, Nathan, said he wanted to get the certificates corrected so he could pass them along to his children and grandchildren one day. Both Rachel and Nathan said they were proud to see Hendrickson's accomplishments properly recognized.

'It's really lovely,” Rachel Hendrickson said. 'This was a pretty big deal.”