Veteran awarded for heroics in Vietnam

Andover police Lieutenant Thomas Siopes waited nearly 40 years for the Silver Star medal that would recognize his heroism in Vietnam.

"I never forgot," said Siopes. "I thought the people forgot about me."

Last night, he finally received the award.

"The whole family is ecstatic," said Siopes's brother, Paul, a high school administrator from Lowell. "He really deserves it."

Siopes grew up in Dorchester, the second oldest in a family of eight children. His late father, Demetrios, was a decorated veteran of World War II and a longtime member of the Army.

In 1960, the family moved to Lowell, where Thomas Siopes attended high school and developed a reputation as a trustworthy leader, Paul Siopes said.

"Everybody looked up to him," he said.

Siopes was drafted at 21, and after a year of training, he arrived in Vietnam.

By April 1969, he was a 22-year-old Army sergeant assigned to the 173 d Airborne Brigade's Second Battalion, 503 d Infantry leading a combat patrol along the An Lao River in South Vietnam. He was told to cross the river and defend a ford so the rest of the platoon could cross the river.

According to the Army's citation, as Siopes and his men approached the far bank, the Viet Cong began firing on them.

Siopes pressed on, the Army said.

"With complete disregard for his own safety, he assaulted the enemy position after shouting encouragement to his men," the commendation said.

The enemy soldiers were shooting at him, but Siopes persisted. As he climbed the riverbank, a grenade exploded in front of him. Siopes, injured, still continued his mission. Eventually, the enemy dispersed.

"The gallantry displayed by Sergeant Siopes was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 503 d Infantry, and the United States Army," the Army said in its citation, which was read last night at a Veterans of Foreign War post in North Andover.

"I knew I was put in for it at the time it occurred," Siopes said in a phone interview yesterday from his Boxford home. "But I never got it, and I just figured it never happened."

About a year ago, he mentioned to his former company commander at party that he had never received the medal he was promised.

"He said, 'Are you kidding?' He thought I got it a long time ago," Siopes recalled.

The paperwork had gotten lost, so the commander reapplied for the medal. But because that battle had taken place so long ago, Representative John Tierney had to push for Congress to approve it.

Until a few weeks ago, Siopes was never certain he would ever get his medal.

Finally, just before Christmas, the congressman's office called to say the Silver Star was headed his way.

Paul Siopes said his brother, a humble man who has said little over the years about his wartime experiences, mentioned it to him at the end of a conversation.

"He said, 'Oh by the way, you are going to be getting an invitation,' " he said.

Siopes joined the Andover VFW in 1974. He was promoted to lieutenant about a decade ago.

Today, Siopes, 60, lives in Boxford with his wife Nancy, and daughters Allyson, Joan, and Jillian.

Siopes's mother, Bertelle, is in a nursing home. Siopes said he plans to hold a family-only ceremony there in the next few days.

McConville can be reached at cmcconville@globe.com.