BRYAN, Texas — After 56 years, Saturnino Carpio, an army medic deployed in South Vietnam, was finally awarded his Purple Heart.
Along with his fellow veteran family, a special ceremony was held in his honor Thursday.
The award stems from an encounter back in October 22 1967, when his unit was ambushed, leaving the medic with injuries to his chest, left eye and both legs.
His injuries were not recognized by the Army until more than 50 years after his near-death experience — even his Army record didn't have it documented.
But finally, with the help of his veteran neighbors, and support from his large family, he received this honor.
“There’s a casualty list and my name weren’t on there, so they had to correct that, eventually about a week ago, I got a letter telling me the whole story and then a few days later, the purple heart came in and so I brought it to the guys, and they said oh no we’ve go to do something and so here we are,” Carpio told 6 News.
After his military career, Carpio gained another identity, one of a father who never let his injuries get in the way of his children’s lives, now they could not be prouder of their father.
Carpio’s son, Steve, described their emotions, “I was excited and proud of him of course we’ve been proud of him we already knew what he’s gone through, but he’s just been our dad, just doing things that dads do. Sometimes we forget that he’s a Vietnam veteran.”
Now, Carpio just wants to show off his well-earned recognition.
“So, my next step now is just to go to the tax office and I think its about $30 bucks, and I can get my license plate with this picture on it that’s what I want and it makes me feel good,” Carpio said.