Recognizing sacrifice — Vietnam vet at Manor to have Purple Heart restored

It is not the sort of thing that shows up in a medical file or on a balance sheet, but a number of Weston County Health Services staff members worked together recently to make a difference in the life of a resident at the Manor. Now the public is invited to join in this special mission by attending a celebration honoring the heroic exploits of that resident at 3 p.m. on July 7.

Arthur Peabody, who was a chief warrant officer 2 in the U.S. Navy, received the Purple Heart for his service in the Vietnam War, according to his wife, Sally Peabody. According to a Congressional Research Service article, the Purple Heart is awarded to military service members wounded or killed by enemy action.

Unfortunately Peabody’s mother had thrown his medal out, and Arthur shared that fact with Cheyenne Hayman, the activities director at WCHS, in 2024. At the time, Hayman was unveiling a veterans wall to show appreciation to veterans who live at the Manor, Hayman told the News Letter Journal. Peabody had recently begun living at the facility, and he was wearing a hat reflecting his service in Vietnam, and Hayman asked to take his picture, which would go on the wall. The two began talking, and that’s when Peabody told her that his mother had thrown out his Purple Heart and his military uniform.

“That stuck with me and I brought up to our team in a meeting that we needed to get Art his Purple Heart,” Hayman said. “The wheel turned from there.”

Melissa Hammond, WCHS’ dietary manager, told the NLJ that she found the story heartbreaking. With three family members who served in the military during the Vietnam War era, she said, she was raised “very patriotically” and she is passionate about the military and taking care of veterans. Her enthusiasm for restoring the honor to Peabody was matched by her son, Cpl. Harry Lictenberger, a U.S. Marine, who “jumped” at the opportunity to help him while he was on leave. Hammond and Lictenberger had to overcome a lot of “red tape” before they could purchase a replacement medal to give to Peabody.

“You’re not going to be able to just walk into the military clothing store and say, ‘Hi, I’m going to buy a Purple Heart medal,” Hammond said.

She said her son told her that he wanted to present Peabody with the award in a ceremony, not just hand it to him. He said that he would be honored to present it to him, so Hayman called Peabody’s family and told them the plans. One of Peabody’s family members told her that the family had been unsuccessfully trying for years to arrange for Peabody to receive a replacement Purple Heart.

“We are very fortunate to have been able to make this happen,” Hayman told the NLJ. “Our residents deserve the respect and recognition!”

Sally Peabody told the NLJ that she was surprised and thrilled to learn that her husband, who doesn’t even have a picture of himself in his military uniform, would be able to receive a new Purple Heart. She said she started crying.

“I think it really hurt him that his mother had thrown his Navy stuff away! His uniforms, etc. He was very proud to have served, especially in Vietnam,” she said. “I’ve learned more from him about the Vietnam War than when I was living it, so to speak – I was young, out of high school, and for me it was like it didn’t exist.”

She said that she believes he was shot at and wounded while he was in a military plane, and another crew member was killed, but she is not sure where or when the incident occurred.

Dan Fouch, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2516 in Newcastle, will give some remarks at the ceremony, Post Quartermaster Stan Dixon told the NLJ.

Fouch told the NLJ that he is proud of his time in the military and proud of those who served before him, with him, and after him.

“On one of my trips across the Pacific to the (United) States, I rode in a planeload of guys who would never see their families and friends again, and they died, so a lot of us could go back to see ours,” he said. “It affected me deeply and I have tried to honor them and thousands of others that have given the ultimate sacrifice.”

Being present when Peabody receives his Purple Heart will also be an honor, Fouch said.