SPENCERVILLE — Good things come to those who wait.
Nate Shaffer served his country admirably in Vietnam for 18 months of his three-year stint from 1967 to 1969. Shaffer saw many things that many people hope to never see as a door gunner. He will now soon be honored for doing so.
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan caught wind of Shaffer’s story from an aide of a fellow congressman. Jordan’s office immediately set in motion a plan for Shaffer to get military medals that he never received.
Shaffer made national headlines in 2012 when he went on an extensive search to locate the helicopter he flew in during his time in Vietnam. he completed his long journey of recovering the original helicopter, an OH-6A “Loach” with tail number 15990, in an airport graveyard.
Shaffer restored the helicopter to its original form and it now sits in the Motts Military Museum in Groveport. Shaffer made the 4,000 mile trip to Utah himself to get the helicopter, where he received help from many friends rebuilding it.
That act only added to his already exemplary record during the war. Jordan’s office is now working on securing earned air medals for Shaffer. Soldiers are awarded medals for every 25 hours of flight service. On his way to a speaking engagement in Lima on Tuesday, Jordan stopped at Denny’s in Beaverdam and sprung for lunch for someone he defined as a “hero.”
“I thought this was a great chance to meet with someone who is a great veteran and a hero,” Jordan said.
Barbara Taylor, the aide who notified Jordan of Shaffer, said it has been a difficult path getting the medals for Shaffer because of military records that were lost in a fire in St. Louis. However, they are tracing pilot log books to get Shaffer the medals he deserved. Shaffer said you don’t really think about getting medals during wartime, but admitted it would be nice.
“You don’t think about it,” Shaffer said, “but then you talk to other people you flew with. I would just like to have one.”
Jordan’s office already managed to get a good conduct medal for Shaffer that he had not received yet. They are unsure as of yet how many air medals he will qualify for.
Shaffer was thankful for Jordan’s visit.
“It is great that he stopped to have dinner and express his feelings,” Shaffer said.
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