A Benicia Vietnam war veteran is getting long-overdue service medals Friday, presented to him by U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson.
James Hilderbrand, who has lived in Benicia since 1989 when he moved here from Arizona, served in the Air Force, Thompson said.

Hilderbrand worked for one year after his graduation from high school, then enlisted in the Air Force, Thompson said. After completing basic training, he first was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Michigan for a year, then he was transferred to Okinawa, Japan, for 18 months.

Hilderbrand returned to Wurtsmith Air Force Base, then he and the rest of the 307 Organized Maintenance Squadron were assigned to U-Tapao Air Base in Thailand, where they supported combat missions flown into Vietnam from 1971-73.

After completing his service, he returned to the United States and started his family.

But Hilderbrand never received his medals — in fact, he wasn’t sure for which medals he might have qualified.

“Mr. Hilderbrand contacted our office recently to inquire about his medals,” Austin Vevurka, Thompson’s communications director, said. “Our office worked with the Air Force to see what he had earned through his service.”

Decades after Hilderbrand earned them, Thompson will present the veteran with the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster device, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with V and 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster devices, the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon and the Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon.

Thompson himself is a Vietnam veteran, having served in combat with the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant and platoon leader with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, where he was wounded and received a Purple Heart. He was also an instructor at the Army’s Airborne School.

The awards presentation will start at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the Benicia Veterans Memorial Building, 1150 First St.

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