Laconia veteran receives medals for Vietnam service

COURTESY U.S. NAVY VETERAN Ray Vercoe of Laconia joins members of his family after he was presented medals for his service in Vietnam by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen in Manchester on Monday,

MANCHESTER — Three New Hampshire veterans, including one from Laconia, were honored  by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen in Manchester on Monday.

With family and friends attending the event, Shaheen presented military awards to Ray Vercoe of Laconia, a posthumous award to Norman Morin of Manchester and Mark McLynch of Deerfield.

Vercoe served with the U.S. Navy in Vietnam and he was presented by Shaheen with the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze clusters, the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, the Navy "E" Ribbon and the Combat Action Ribbon.

Morin fought in France in the Second World War and was seriously wounded during the battle of Metz.

Shaheen presented his family with the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service cluster, the World War II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button for WWII.

McLynch served in the Army National Guard in Afghanistan.

He sustained a traumatic brain injury from an improvised explosive device blast in 2010.

Following the blast, McLynch refused to be airlifted out for treatment , so his name did not appear on any casualty list and he did not immediately receive formal recognition of his injuries.

On Monday, he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal by Shaheen.

"These Granite State veterans bravely defended their country in three different wars," said Shaheen. "Their service is a reminder of the generations of Americans who answered the call of duty and selflessly served. I was honored to present these medals, which were long overdue, to Ray Vercoe, Mark McLynch and the family of Norman Morin."