Vallejo Times-Herald - Benicia veteran receives long-overdue medals

A Benicia man on Friday received medals for his service in the United States Air Force, including during the Vietnam War, almost four decades later.

Jim Hilderbrand, however, said he's undeserving of the attention.

"I'm overwhelmed," Hilderbrand, 64, said. "I would rather have gotten it in the mail, it'd be a lot easier than this. The people who deserve the attention more are those who are unaccounted for."

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, assisted with the process and presented the medals to the veteran in front of the Benicia Veterans Hall on First Street.

"It's an exciting time to say thank you," Thompson said.

Hilderbrand received the following medals:

• Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster device

• National Defense Service Medal

• Armed Forced Expeditionary Medal

• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with V and 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster devices

• Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon

• Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon

The Benicia man moved to the city in 1989 from Tucson, Ariz. He enlisted in the Air Force at 19 and served for 6.5 years, he said.

He was stationed in Michigan; Okinawa, Japan; and later U-Tapao Air Base, Thailand, to support combat missions flown into Vietnam from 1971 to 1973.

Two of his sons, who were present Friday with other family members, also served in the military.

"We are happy for him," Travis Hilderbrand said. "I feel that it's long overdue. It's something that he'd be fine without, but also meant the world to him."

Travis Hilderbrand said his father, who's very reserved and quiet, never talked much about his time in the Vietnam War.

Jim Hilderbrand also just returned earlier this month from Run for The Wall, which is an annual motorcycle event that has thousands of veterans riding from Anaheim to Washington, D.C., to honor those who are unaccounted for from all wars.

"It was just him and his Harley," Travis Hilderbrand said.

With Father's Day just around the corner, Jim Hilderbrand's sons said the medals are "tough to beat."

"We'll do whatever he wants to do," Travis Hilderbrand said.