A 40 year mistake corrected

Jordan Williams had a question for his grandfather.

What medals, Williams wondered, had his grandfather received for his military service in Vietnam. Jordan’s father, Paul, is in Iraq and the boy was curious about his grandfather’s military service.

And as it happened, Jordan’s question came while his grandfather, Irey E. Weeks of Honeyville, a retired brick mason, was helping with some work on the Port St. Joe home of U.S. Army Gen. James Simmons (Ret.).

The answer to Jordan’s question came on Friday.

In a ceremony at Port St. Joe City Hall, Simmons formally presented Weeks with the Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars.

In addition, Weeks was also entitled to the Valorous Unit Award, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal.

“It’s been a long time,” Weeks said. “I hadn’t really thought about it over the years, but with my grandchildren I wanted them to know and have something.

“All I wanted was something for my grandchildren. I’m very proud. Give General Simmons all the credit.”

Rewind to May 4, 1970 and Vietnam.

Specialist Weeks’s unit, U.S. Army Company E, 5^th Battalion, 7^th U.S. Calvary, 1^st Calvary Division was involved in a firefight against North Vietnamese forces.

Weeks sustained a serious gunshot wound to the head and most of his unit believed him dead. The field surgeons saved his life but it was touch and go for months afterward.

Ultimately Weeks was evacuated stateside to Walter Reed Hospital, paralyzed and unable to speak. There were months of rehabilitation as Weeks learned again to walk and talk again but Weeks made a recovery that, Simmons said, amazed even the medical team.

Eventually Weeks was put in outpatient status and retired from the Army – but without the medals he had earned in service to his country.

“Those of us who have been involved in a large-scale conflict come to know that human mistakes happen,” Simmons said. “In this case it was understandable given Irey’s wounds. They did not think he would live. The men in his unit believed he was dead.

“But somewhere along the line they should have caught it .... It is very hard for many of us to understand why it has taken so long to honor Irey’s sacrifice. But any system that has human actions is prone to mistakes. Today we are correcting one that was made some 40 years ago.”

A mistake compounded, Simmons noted, by the reality that the Vietnam War was not popular at home and many soldiers did not receive the welcome home appropriate for those who have served and sacrificed by answering their country’s call.

Weeks ultimately returned to Gulf County, married, raised a family and became an accomplished brick mason. As Simmons noted, many in Gulf County appreciated Weeks’s skills as he was involved in the construction of their homes.

“He is what I would describe a quiet professional,” Simmons said, “and a family man whose handshake is much more dependable than a contract.”

Fast forward to Jordan’s question to his grandfather, Weeks’s query to Simmons and the general picked up the baton.

He got in touch with James Kennedy, the county’s Veterans Services Officer, who secured Weeks’s service records.

Simmons believed those records would show Weeks had been awarded the appropriate commendations and in the course of the evacuation of Vietnam by U.S. forces in the mid-1970’s the medals had simply been lost.

But the records showed Weeks had never even been awarded anything for his service.

And as it happened, Simmons served in Iraq with Gen. Peter Chiarelli, vice chief of staff of the U.S. Army and a former commander of the First Calvary Division based out of Fort Hood.

Two soldiers from that Division at Fort Hood traveled to serve on the color guard for Friday’s ceremony.

Simmons and Chiarelli were also neighbors at one time at Fort Hood before Simmons retired and relocated to Port St. Joe.

Working together, Kennedy, Simmons, Chiarelli and his staff worked through Weeks’s service records and determined the commendations he was entitled to for his service.

“As it turned out Mr. Weeks was entitled to more than the Purple Heart,” Simmons said, noting that the Purple Heart is the oldest military service medal in the country’s history, established by George Washington in 1782, and was the only military medal prior to the Civil War.

Army officials signed off on the awarding of the commendations to Weeks and Friday’s ceremony was the culmination.

“I wonder how many other guys are in the same situation,” Kennedy said. “This is a long time coming. I’m so thankful we could correct this mistake.

“I would encourage any veterans who believe they may be in the same situation to contact my office. We will help.”

As his family and friends snapped photos of Weeks with his medals, with the general and with Weeks’s children and grandchildren, his wife Faye proudly took in the entire scene.

“My grandson had asked my husband questions about his medals,” she said. “(Weeks) just asked the general how does he go about getting his medals.

“He didn’t want any attention. We didn’t expect all of this. We didn’t want the limelight. But we are so proud.”