Dan Walsh receives his Bronze Star— belatedly

It took exactly 32 years, but Dan Walsh, the commander of 2nd Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines finally received the Bronze Star Medal, with a “V” for Valor, that he earned on Hill 50 during Operation Utah, one of the bloodiest battles of the battalion’s 1966 tour of duty in Vietnam.

For details about Dan’s actions on that day of battle, March 5, 1966, and about the award ceremony, which took place March 5, 1998, click on the following links:

• Simon Gregory’s recommendation for Dan Walsh’s Bronze Star Medal

• Notification of approval of Dan Walsh’s Bronze Star Medal award

• Award ceremony program

• Simon Gregory’s keynote speech

• Dan Walsh’s Bronze Star Medal certificate

• The Springfield Republican reports the story of the ceremony: Part 1 | Part 2