After 58 years, Cullman veteran formally presented Purple Heart
CULLMAN, Ala. – After almost six many years, Richard “Rick” L. Leigeber has acquired formal recognition of a Purple Heart earned after he was injured whereas serving in Vietnam.
Leigeber, a Vietnam veteran and 2024 Cullman Veterans Hall of Fame inductee, was presented the medal by Congressman Robert Aderholt, R-Alabama, who mentioned the popularity was lengthy overdue.
“It was my honor to present Richard Leigeber of Cullman with the Purple Heart he had earned after being injured while serving in Vietnam,” Aderholt wrote in an April 14 Facebook publish. “He had never gotten this token of our nation’s appreciation and I was glad to finally right that wrong. Thank you Richard for your service to our country.”
On May 4, a particular ceremony was held for Leigeber at Cullman VFW Post 2214.
In a short interview on the VFW, Leigeber mentioned, “It’s been a long time coming. I never thought I would be able to get it.”
Leigeber mentioned he first utilized for the Purple Heart about 25 years in the past however was unable to safe the award on his personal. He mentioned the trouble later went by way of Aderholt’s workplace.
“I applied to try to get it 25 years ago and was unable to on my own, so I did go through Congressman Aderholt,” Leigeber mentioned. “He came through for me and got the Purple Heart presented in honor from the United States.”
The Purple Heart is awarded to service members wounded or killed in motion in opposition to an enemy of the United States or on account of an act by an enemy or opposing armed pressure, in keeping with the US Army.
For Leigeber, the which means of receiving the medal after 58 years was easy.
“I was grateful,” he mentioned. “I was just grateful for him to be able to get it while I was still alive and be on my record.”
Leigeber’s navy service has been acknowledged beforehand in Cullman County. In 2024, he was inducted into the Cullman Veterans Hall of Fame.
According to Tribune protection of that ceremony, Leigeber served within the US Army from 1967 to 1969 with Company A, 4th Battalion, twenty third Mechanized Infantry Brigade within the twenty fifth Infantry Division, often known as Tropic Lightning.
His service included Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 within the Cu Chi Valley in the course of the Tet Offensive.
The 2024 Hall of Fame article listed Leigeber’s awards and recognitions because the Combat (*58*) Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device, Vietnam Service Medal, 1st Class Gunner for the M60 machine gun and Sharpshooter for the M16 rifle.
The identical article famous his continued service after Vietnam, together with his life membership within the VFW and American Legion, and his membership within the American Flag Detail for Highway 31.
He additionally cited his work main the White Crosses Memorial honoring Cullman’s fallen heroes, fundraising by way of his love of fishing and supporting the Veteran Memorial Burial Team with the “Slow Salute” for fallen heroes.
Leigeber was additionally among the many veterans acknowledged throughout VFW Post 2214’s fourth annual Heroes Dinner in 2017when greater than 40 space veterans have been honored in Cullman.
That earlier Tribune report listed him among the many night’s honored heroes.
Asked whether or not the occasion that led to the Purple Heart was one thing he thought of day-after-day, Leigeber mentioned not likely.
For a lot of his life, he mentioned, staying busy saved the reminiscences from being fixed.
“The older I get, the more I thought about it, I guess,” Leigeber mentioned. “I kept my life busy all through these 58 years to where I didn’t think about it as much, but as you get older and got more free time, I guess, and you think about it a little more.”
For Leigeber, the formal presentation closes a chapter that had remained unfinished for many years.
After the interview, Leigeber responded quietly to a thank-you for his service.
“Well, I appreciate it,” he mentioned. “Appreciate it and thank you.”
