"Purple Heart Medal."
Grand Rapids native Lloyd Slack was 23-years old when he lost his life.
"The United States of America for wounds received in combat action against a hostile enemy force during combat operations on 14 December 1967 in the Republic of Vietnam."
“Loved his mom. Loved his fiancé. Was a really good friend.”
Tim “Naneek” Keenan shipped out with Lloyd. Keenan assigned to A Company. Slack to C Company.
“Then I heard someone from C Company got hit and I went over to my company commander…he told me that it was Lloyd. And, uh…”
A dear friend lost, but never forgotten. Nor a dear friend’s grieving mother, Lola Mondy.
“She had moved, and I didn’t know where she was. I looked for her for 55-years and just found her in December. And so, then I found out she didn’t have any of his medals. No flag no nothing. They just sent his body.”
Keenan turned to Grand Rapids U.S. Representative Hilary Scholten.
“We had to act quickly to right this wrong and make sure that she could hold those medals. To see them.”
Time was of the essence. Lola is now 96 years old.
“He is truly loved because if he hadn’t been all of these people wouldn’t have been here.”
Lloyd Slack’s life and service to his country honored.