News Story about my Uncle wish I had pics
SHELBY, NC (WBTV) - He hasn't been formally introduced as Specialist Four Richard Wayne Roberts in 40 years. Tuesday morning the formal title bounced around the courtyard at Wendover Hospice of Cleveland County.
"Wayne" Roberts sat in a wheelchair just in front of his wife of 39 years. The pageantry played out as military ceremonies often do. Then, the moment came where an Army Major approached Wayne and pinned a bronze star on his starched white dress shirt.
The star is from his injuries sustained during combat in Vietnam. The tears came from the fact that Wayne is in Hospice care for stage four kidney cancer.
For 40 years, the paperwork was shuffled around, things were lost, and Wayne didn't event know he was due a Bronze Star. His family did the legwork and research and got Tuesday's ceremonies lined up.
Wayne thanked the crowd, he thanked the military officers, and he thanked his best friend who wasn't here to see the ceremony. Wayne's best friend was killed right along beside him in Vietnam. He took the microphone and told his friend, "I'll see you again one day."
