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The Clemmons Courier
By Dwight Sparks

A father and son received their combat medals on Veterans Day from Congressman Virginia Foxx at her Clemmons office.

They were some time in coming — 35 years after Stephen F. Baldwin came home from Vietnam, and 60 years after Robert Baldwin returned from World War II.

Stephen Baldwin, 57, lives in Clemmons. His father, 85, lives in Winston-Salem.

The younger Baldwin graduated from West Forsyth High in 1965 and was later drafted into the Army.

Stephen Baldwin recalled coming home from the war and not worrying about medals or recognition.

“Back then, there was so much protesting going on you didn’t tell anybody where you had been,” he said. “I’ve noticed in the last few years more people are acknowledging the fact that we fought a war in Vietnam.”

When he started the application process for the medals, he decided to do the same for his father.

His father, likewise, had come back from war and said little about his service.

For the younger veteran, Friday’s ceremony meant all the more because his father was there, too.

“It was nice for both of us. At this point in our lives, it’s nice to do something together like that,” he said.

Stephen Baldwin is a retired district fire chief with the Winston-Salem Fire Department. He served as a sergeant and squad leader for the Tiger Force Battalion Reconisance, Company E, of the 1st 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam from Jan. 14, 1969 to Nov. 26, 1970. He spent much of his time in the Ashshaw Valley of Vietnam. His wife gave birth to their daughter while he was away.

On Friday, Foxx presented him with medals including a Bronze Star, Air Medal, Army Commendation, National Defense Service, Good Conduct, Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class Unit Citation Badge, Combat Infantry Badge and Jump Wings, Paratrooper.

His father served as a coxswain on Landing Ship Tanks in the Pacific. He served Dec. 16, 1943 to Dec. 26, 1945, spending most of his time in the Pacific.

He was awarded medals for Victory World War II, Asiatic-Pacific and American Campaign.
The senior Baldwin worked as a diesel mechanic for more than 30 years.