Press Release

Last Friday, Congressman Ami Bera, M.D., presented Mr. Paul Williams with three service medals earned during the Vietnam War. Williams, a longtime Fair Oaks resident, had never received nor pursued his medals after separating from the Air Force due to the public sentiment about the Vietnam War at the time.

"It was an honor to help recognize Mr. Williams' service to our country. Too many of our veterans go without thanks, especially our Vietnam War veterans who faced a difficult homecoming," said Bera.

Williams served in the Air Force from April 1969-February 1973. He was previously awarded the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal by the South Korean government. Born in February 1950 in War, WV, Williams enlisted in the Air Force after graduation from high school and an attempt at college. He spent 13 months in Vietnam and a total of 15 months overseas as a C-130 Hercules crewman. Williams flew throughout Vietnam with the aircraft for transport and other military missions. He was separated from the service in 1973.

Bera presented Mr. Williams with the following medals on Friday March 20, 2015:

Vietnam Service Medal:

The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) is awarded to any service member who served on temporary duty for more than 30 consecutive days, or 60 non-consecutive days, attached to or regularly serving for one, or more, days with an organization participating in or directly supporting ground (military) operations or attached to or regularly serving for one, or more, days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations in the Republic of Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos within the defined combat zone between the dates of 15 November 1961 and 28 March 1973, and from 29 April 1975 to 30 April 1975.

National Defense Service Medal:

A service medal is an award to individuals who participated in designated wars, campaigns, or expeditions, or who waive fulfilled specific service requirements in a creditable manner; awarded to service members who served honorably during a designated time period of which a "national emergency" had been declared during a time of war or conflict.

Air Force Good Conduct Medal:

The criteria for award of the Air Force Good Conduct medal are as follows: It is awarded to Air Force enlisted personnel during a three-year period of active military service or for a one-year period of service during a time of war. Airmen awarded this medal must have had character and efficiency ratings of excellent or higher throughout the qualifying period including time spent in attendance at service schools, and there must have been no convictions of court martial or non-judicial punishment during this period.

Bera has represented Sacramento County in Congress since 2013. Born and raised in California, he is a physician and the only Indian American currently serving in Congress. He's fighting to rebuild an economy that works for middle class families and to reduce our country's debt in a responsible way. One of Bera's first acts in Congress was to help lead the effort to pass the No Budget No Pay Act, which says if members of Congress don't pass a budget, they don't get paid. As a leader of the No Labels' Problem Solvers, he's working with people from both parties to find bipartisan solutions to our nation's challenges. He and his wife Janine live in Elk Grove with their daughter Sydra. For more updates on Rep. Bera follow @RepBera on Twitter, like Congressman Bera on Facebook, or visit https://www.bera.house.gov.

###