Oct. 10—PINE GROVE — Rafael "Ray" Madrigal snapped to attention, removed his hat and bowed his head as his great-grandson, Matthew Madrigal, slipped a red, white and blue ribbon around his neck Saturday in the Oak Grove Sportsmen's Club.

A medallion on the ribbon read "Honored Vietnam Veteran: Schuylkill County," but retired Sgt. 1st Class Madrigal couldn't have been prouder had it been a Silver Star.

In a precious sight, a 9-year-old boy and a 95-year-old Army veteran saluted each other in the presence of family members and veterans from American Legion Post 374 in Pine Grove.

It was the crowning moment of a special day to honor Madrigal, whose military career spanned the World War II, Korean and Vietnam eras.

Ted Brown, president of Just 4 Vets, presented Madrigal with a triangular box containing an American flag, a photo of him in uniform and a series of medals he earned, including a Bronze Star.

Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary J. Hess read a proclamation on the county's behalf.

Addressing Madrigal and the Post 374 veterans, several in their 80s and 90s, Hess credited their sacrifices with bringing about the freedom the nation enjoys today.

"We thank you for your outstanding service," Hess said. "Your heart is with your country, and we salute you."

About 100 people attended the service, including a delegation of Madrigal's family.

William Madrigal, of Pottsville, and Robert Madrigal, of Schuylkill Haven, Ray's sons, honored their father.

Robert, 73, who served in the Marine Corps and the Army, suffered a broken leg and broken back in a helicopter crash in Alaska in 1974.

"What my father did for his country is amazing," Robert said.

Nineteen-year-old Rafael Madrigal left his home in Blue Island, Illinois, for the Army in December 1946.

He would eventually be assigned to a unit in occupied Japan, where Gen. Douglas MacArthur commanded Allied forces.

MacArthur was a flamboyant officer who wore aviator sunglasses and smoked a corn cob pipe.

"You'd see Gen. MacArthur every now and then in Tokyo," Madrigal recalled. "People would gather around to see him."

Participating in the Korean War, Madrigal said, was the most difficult assignment of his career.

In 1950, the year the war started, Madrigal found himself with the 7th Infantry Division in Korea.

The unit participated in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in November 1950, where American forces were surrounded by 120,000 Chinese troops.

"It was freezing weather, and we didn't have winter uniforms," he said. "We arrived in September, and we still had summer uniforms."

Madrigal did three tours in Korea: before, during and after the war.

In 1965, when he was 39, then-Staff Sgt. Madrigal was assigned to Cu Chi Base Camp, northwest of Saigon in Vietnam.

He supervised a crew of mechanics, repairing Huey helicopters damaged during combat.

"When you choose to make the service a career," he said, "you have to take the bad with the good."

After retiring in 1967, Madrigal settled his family in Pottsville.

He worked at the Exxon plastics plant near Minersville.

Madrigal currently lives in Tremont, where he maintains an active lifestyle.

Despite his age, he still cuts his grass, chops wood and works around the house. He's a regular at the senior citizens center in Tremont and is a proud member of Post 374.

William Madrigal Jr. marveled at his grandfather's military record.

"You don't realize until you're older what he did, the sacrifices he made," said Madrigal, 39, who works at D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. brewery.

As is common with his generation, Ray Madrigal downplayed his dedication to serving his country.

In brief remarks after being presented with the tricorner box contain an American flag, Madrigal said: "It was an honor and a privilege to have served my country."

Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007

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