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View Full Version : Former police chief earns star for heroism in Vietnam



thedrifter
03-25-09, 07:39 AM
Published on Wednesday, March 25, 2009. <br />
Last modified on 3/25/2009 at 1:55 am <br />
Former police chief earns star for heroism in Vietnam <br />
<br />
By LAURA TODE <br />
Of The Gazette Staff <br />
Donald Hossack of...

thedrifter
03-25-09, 07:40 AM
http://www.billingsgazette.net/content/articles/2009/03/25/news/local/26-silverstar.jpg

JAMES WOODCOCK/Gazette Staff
Donald Hossack, right, is awarded the Silver Star from Marine 1st Lt. Seth Nicholson at the Armed Forces Reserve Center on Tuesday morning.

thedrifter
03-25-09, 08:27 AM
MT Marine honored 42 years later

Posted: March 24, 2009 08:00 PM

Updated: March 24, 2009 08:00 PM
Reporting from KTVQ in Billings

A Montana Marine has received a Silver Star for his courage in the battle of Khe Sanh in Vietnam some 42 years later.

Donald Hossack was just 18 years old when he led his platoon to safety after his commander was killed.

During the battle, Hossack suffered severe wounds, and was medevaced to a bomb crater. When an enemy grenade landed in the crater, he used his body to shield fellow marines from the blast.

In the end, 38 men died there that day and Donald was wounded three times different times during this battle. Sergeant Hossack said: "It a situation like that you have no regard for your personal safety you just do what ever it takes to get your fellow soldiers home alive because we are all brothers".

Despite intense pain, Hossack assumed command of the company and called for artillery strikes when he realized an enemy attack was imminent.

The timing and accuracy of the strikes forced the enemy to retreat and saved the company from certain defeat.

Ellie