CHERRYFIELD, Maine — It’s 43 years late, but Earl Caler, 74, finally received a medal for heroism during the Vietnam conflict.
During a ceremony Saturday at the American Legion Post 8 in Cherryfield, retired Air Force Col. John Thomas pinned the Distinguished Flying Cross to Caler’s National Guard flying suit, to which Caler had attached an Army patch.
Caler said he was asked to come to the Legion Saturday in uniform.
“This is the only uniform I have,” quipped the man whose nearly 30-year military career had taken him not only to the Air Force but also the Army and National Guard.
At the ceremony, Max Merrill, commander of Post 8, read the citation to accompany the award.
“Sergeant Earl D. Caler distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight as a UH-1N Helicopter Aerial Gunner near Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, on 24 Sept. 1971,” Merrill read. “On that date Sergeant Caler was instrumental in the recovery of a long-range reconnaissance team surrounded deep in hostile territory. In the face of heavy small arms and automatic weapons fire, Sergeant Caler continually exposed himself to give the team better cover and to allow their rescue. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Caler reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.”
After the applause, Caler was asked if he wanted to say anything.
“No,” he said, adding, “Let’s eat,” referring to the dinner which was set to take place after the ceremony.
Interviewed at his home Tuesday, Caler said his job was to hang out the door of a helicopter with a machine gun to provide cover above the treetops for those who actually went in and rescued the reconnaissance team.
“We were getting shot at and … lost one chopper,” he said.
Was he scared?
“No,” he said, shaking his head.
In fact, Caler said, the mission he flew was fairly routine. He was used to the job so he didn’t feel afraid, despite the danger.
“The mortality rate of those door gunners was huge,” said Peter Duston, Post 8 adjutant and Caler’s friend. “[Caler] was a genuinely brave guy doing his job.”
Caler, who was discharged from the Air Force Feb. 8, 1972, said he received the citation in the mail in September 1972. However, he didn’t know what it was.
Duston found it while helping Caler at his home over the summer and knew exactly what it was.
“I said, ‘The Air Force owes you a ceremony to present this medal to you,’” Duston recalled.
Getting the medal in hand required several months of working to correct military records.
“[The medal] wasn’t awarded until after his discharge,” said Duston, adding the award did not go on Caler’s discharge record. “They just ignored it.”
In 1973, Caler enlisted in the National Guard and served 17 years until his retirement in September 1990, Caler said.
“When he was back into the National Guard, somebody should have corrected the record,” Duston said. “[Caler] had a serious military career and served faithfully … and was never fully recognized for that.”
Describing Caler as “a shy guy,” Duston said he believes Caler is happy to finally receive his medal.
Caler confirmed this.
“I’m pretty excited,” he said.
Duston said Caler deserves this recognition.
“We are reminded that our veterans represent service to country that’s often put them in very dangerous situations,” Duston said.