Rich was a Marine Sargent in Unit C/1/9. He had enlisted in the Corps 3 days after Christmas, 1964. On June 29, 1967 in Vietnam, he was hit, and after being stabilized, was sent to USNH #5 (Philadelphia Naval Hospital) where he was cared for until discharge. Rich became a paraplegic, paralyzed from the waist down. His wounds were also considered "dirty," as they were infected, so he was on the "dirty surgery" isolation ward.
My roommate Brenda at the time, also a Navy Nurse, cared for him, since she was most often assigned to that ward. She became close to him and they wrote after his discharge.
Rich's wife also wrote to her, and Brenda received a copy of Rich's obituary in 1989, shortly after he died. Brenda and the neurologist she was working for at the time attempted to have his name added to the Vietnam Memorial Wall, but they were turned down. His death was listed as "of natural causes." He was only 43.
Rich received the Silver Star:
"The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Richard A. Palembas (2121528), Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company D, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 29 June 1967.
Home Town: Butler, Pennsylvania"
The Vietnam War killed him, and there was nothing natural about that.
Rest in peace, Rich.
My roommate Brenda at the time, also a Navy Nurse, cared for him, since she was most often assigned to that ward. She became close to him and they wrote after his discharge.
Rich's wife also wrote to her, and Brenda received a copy of Rich's obituary in 1989, shortly after he died. Brenda and the neurologist she was working for at the time attempted to have his name added to the Vietnam Memorial Wall, but they were turned down. His death was listed as "of natural causes." He was only 43.
Rich received the Silver Star:
"The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Richard A. Palembas (2121528), Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company D, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 29 June 1967.
Home Town: Butler, Pennsylvania"
The Vietnam War killed him, and there was nothing natural about that.
Rest in peace, Rich.
Rich was a Marine Sargent in Unit C/1/9. He had enlisted in the Corps 3 days after Christmas, 1964. On June 29, 1967 in Vietnam, he was hit, and after being stabilized, was sent to USNH #5 (Philadelphia Naval Hospital) where he was cared for until discharge. Rich became a paraplegic, paralyzed from the waist down. His wounds were also considered "dirty," as they were infected, so he was on the "dirty surgery" isolation ward.
My roommate Brenda at the time, also a Navy Nurse, cared for him, since she was most often assigned to that ward. She became close to him and they wrote after his discharge.
Rich's wife also wrote to her, and Brenda received a copy of Rich's obituary in 1989, shortly after he died. Brenda and the neurologist she was working for at the time attempted to have his name added to the Vietnam Memorial Wall, but they were turned down. His death was listed as "of natural causes." He was only 43.
Rich received the Silver Star:
"The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Richard A. Palembas (2121528), Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company D, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 29 June 1967.
Home Town: Butler, Pennsylvania"
The Vietnam War killed him, and there was nothing natural about that.
Rest in peace, Rich.
My roommate Brenda at the time, also a Navy Nurse, cared for him, since she was most often assigned to that ward. She became close to him and they wrote after his discharge.
Rich's wife also wrote to her, and Brenda received a copy of Rich's obituary in 1989, shortly after he died. Brenda and the neurologist she was working for at the time attempted to have his name added to the Vietnam Memorial Wall, but they were turned down. His death was listed as "of natural causes." He was only 43.
Rich received the Silver Star:
"The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Richard A. Palembas (2121528), Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company D, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 29 June 1967.
Home Town: Butler, Pennsylvania"
The Vietnam War killed him, and there was nothing natural about that.
Rest in peace, Rich.
