HERO OF THE YEAR
Local Vietnam veteran honored
TROY, N.Y. » More than 150 people were on hand recently when Vietnam veteran Dave Wallingford was recognized as American Red Cross of Northeastern New York’s “Military Hero of the Year.”
The Malta resident was honored for outstanding military service and continued commitment to supporting others who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
A U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Wallingford is president of Friends of the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs, directs the Malta Veterans Appreciation Program, and is on the town of Malta Veterans Committee. In 2014 he was inducted to the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame, and in 2015 he was honorary grand marshal in Saratoga Springs’ annual Flag Day parade.
“When I got the phone call I was very surprised and pleased that the Red Cross thought I deserved this award,” Wallingford said.
He was nominated for the recognition by Paul Mousseau, veterans service officer with the Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency.
Red Cross officials presented Wallingford with the award at their annual breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Troy.
For his military service, in addition to the Purple Heart, Wallingford was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V,” Navy Marine Corps Com-
"When I got the phone call I was very surprised and pleased that the Red Cross thought I deserved this award."
— Dave Wallingford, a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient
mendation Medal with Combat “V,” Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal with Four Stars, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Armed Forces Meritorious Unit Commendation Cross Gallantry Medal with Palm, New York State Conspicuous Service Cross with One Device and New York State Conspicuous Service Star
He left medical school to enlist in the Marines, and was seriously wounded in March 1969 during a daylong fire fight in the northeast part of South Vietnam, where he was a forward observer for an artillery battery assigned to a rifle company.
Flown out by helicopter, Wallingford was taken to Da Nang and rehabbed at a naval hospital in Yokosuka, Japan, where he met his wife, Helene.
Throughout his adult life, he’s done a great deal of work on behalf of many other organizations such as Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Stratton VA Medical Center.
He’s also served as executive director of the Marine Corps Coordinating Council, which strives to improve the Corps’ image in the Capital Region, while helping Marines financially when needed. The council also provides Marine scholarships at SUNY Albany and four area community colleges.
The Captain David Wallingford Marine Scholarship was set up in his honor at SUNY Adirondack.