Newton resident to be awarded Purple Heart on Friday

When Robert Ray Swan returned home from Vietnam, it was a surprise to his family.

When Swan receives the oldest military honor on Friday, it is something that was a surprise to him, once it was announced.

Swan is scheduled to receive a Purple Heart at noon Friday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on North 11th Avenue East from U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack. It’s an honor that comes about 45 years after his service in Vietnam with the Army.

“I was shocked and excited when I found out I would be getting the honor,” Swan said. “It shows that if you contact your senator or representative, and stick with it, you can get recognized for the sacrifice you’ve made.”

Swan, 68, said it became apparent, at some point, that there were honors on his printed military records regard a Purple Heart and other honors, but for whatever reason, he had never had his awards given to him. After writing some letters and after some dialogue with Loebsack, who serves on the House Committee on Armed Services’ Subcommittee on Military Personnel, the Congressman was able to help Swan receive his honors.

“I look forward to presenting Mr. Swan with the Purple Heart he earned while defending our nation,” Loebsack said. “I strongly believe we have no greater responsibility as a nation than to ensure that we care for our veterans with the same dignity and honor with which they served.

“Whether it is helping an Iowan secure the service medals they were awarded but never received, or aiding a veteran who is having difficulty working through the VA, I am proud to assist in whatever way possible.”

The Purple Heart ranks among top U.S. military honors, in the minds of many. It was awarded to director Oliver Stone, former U.S. Joint Forces Commander-in-Chief Norman Schwarzkopf and former senator and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel for their service in Vietnam, but Swan’s story is quite unique; he was reported to his mother and stepfather as killed in action, or KIA.

The mine

After starting his tour in Vietnam in 1968 with an engineering division, Swan later served with an infantry division. He said the incident that led to his medical discharge caused most of the soldiers in his unit to believe he had been killed by a mine explosion.

On a minesweeping mission in 1970, Swan’s vehicle hit a mine, and launched him “off the side of a mountain.” While Swan survived the blast and the fall, he was badly injured, and guesses he woke up several days later. He had the “A-bag” with him, and he was able to use IV fluid for hydration.

Hiding during the day and stealing food from villages at night, it was nearly a month after the mine explosion when Swan was discovered by ARVN (South Vietnamese) troops.

“It took them a while before they could find an English-language interpreter,” Swan said.

A lucky break

The ARVN unit turned Swan over to American personnel, who grilled him heavily on his stated identity, as a soldier by his name had been reported as KIA by the Army.

“A guy who was leaving that day happened to see me, and recognized me,” Swan said. “He told a CO that he thought I was in his unit, and he knew my name. The CO said ‘I thought that man was killed.’ The guy leaving said ‘So did we.’”

Swan took a lot of shrapnel from the mine, and his wounds led to a medical discharge in late 1970. However, no one had contacted anyone with his family in Iowa to let them know he had been found alive.

When he got home to Burlington, walking up to the family home, his mother fainted, thinking she was seeing his ghost.

“My stepfather came over, and he passed out, too,” Swan said.

Swan received full disability status. He was also exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, and between that and combat wounds, he has had health difficulties throughout his adult life.

Spinal and equilibrium issues are just two of his categories of health struggles. A foreign fragment was removed from his leg as late as early 2015.

Honors

Swan said he will also receive the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross and a Bronze Star. He is hoping that a local Boy Scout troop will get to participate in Friday’s ceremony; like many veterans, Swan hopes to have young people see how vets are supposed to be honored.

Having been divorced during his time in the Army in 1969, Swan met his present wife, Mary, in 2001. He credits her for supporting him as he battled his health issues into his 60s and wrote letters in an attempt to get his honors delivered to him, and for helping him with life’s daily challenges.

“She’s the reason I’m still around,” he said.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com