Bronze Star awarded to Missouri Citizen-Soldier after 40 years

More than 40 years after he earned a Bronze Star for his service in Khe Sanh in 1968, Brig. Gen. David Irwin pins the prestigious medal on Larry Payne, a retired warrant officer with the Missouri National Guard. Payne was recognized before Citizen-Soldiers of the 35th Infantry Division in St. Joseph and his wife, Audrey. (Photo by Jennifer Archdekin/Missouri National Guard)

By Jennifer Archdekin
ngmo.pao@us.army.mil

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - More than four decades after being deployed to Vietnam, Larry Payne, of St. Joseph, was recently presented with a Bronze Star for his meritorious service in connection with armed conflict operations during the siege of Khe Sanh in 1968.

The fourth-highest combat award of the U.S. Armed Forces, Payne received the medal while being a reconnaissance team leader with the U.S. Army Special Forces.

"Myself and one more American, we ran recon over the fence -- black ops," said Payne. "We were told there was nobody in Laos, or Cambodia or North Vietnam -- that's what they said, but we spent time in those three countries watching the Ho Chi Minh Trail."

Payne said his orders came straight from the Pentagon.

"They would look at recon pictures and say, 'What is this?'" said Payne. "Then they would send in my team to go check it out."

Though the honor was long overdue, Payne said receiving the medal gave him a sense of closure and accomplishment.

"It was an honor for everyone to go to the trouble to present this to me," said Payne.

Record keeping back then was not what it is today. Payne said that during his last 30-40 days in Khe Sanh and Mai Loc, his unit received a new commander and awards for Payne and several others in his unit were lost in the shuffle. Payne said that over time the paperwork has now finally caught up with the Soldiers and have since been awarded the decorations they deserve.

"It's a real honor for me to recognize someone with his length of service and the kinds of contributions he made both in Vietnam and 31 years in the same city, same armory," said Brig. Gen. David Irwin, assistant division commander for the 35th Infantry Division. "He's been assisting Soldiers in St. Joseph for 30 plus years. That's just amazing to me. It's not very often I get to award someone a Bronze Star."

Irwin added that he is grateful for the service of all who chose to wear the uniform and especially the rare few who have such a long career.

"More and more in our country these days, not very many people can wear the uniform, and of those that are eligible not very many do," said Irwin.
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Payne served 37 years in the military, including 31 years with the Missouri National Guard. He retired as a chief warrant officer in 2003 from the 135th Signal Company in St. Joseph.

Payne is supported by his wife, Audrey, of 47 years.

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