43
Ohio Military Hall of Fame inducts 2 Valley Vietnam vets
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
Two Mahoning County men who served in the Vietnam War have been inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor.
Warrant Officer Robert L. Baird and Lance Cpl. Anthony S. Tisler were among 17 honored during ceremonies at the Statehouse on Friday, spotlighting Ohio military veterans who put their lives on the line in combat and who received medals for bravery.
“[To] those people who stepped up and were willing to sacrifice themselves for others — without all of you and what you did, a lot more wouldn’t have made it home,” said Jason Dominguez, assistant director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services. He added later, “It is my hope that we will choose to live and be the life that is worthy of their sacrifice.”
Baird of Argyle, Texas, grew up in Campbell and Poland. He received a Distinguished Flying Cross for his U.S. Army service as commander of an ambulance helicopter during the Tet Offensive in January 1968, during which he braved “murderous fire” several times to save wounded soldiers, according to information read during Friday’s ceremonies.
Tisler of Youngstown received a Navy Commendation Medal with V Device for his service in the U.S. Marine Corps, including braving enemy fire to move injured colleagues and treat their wounds in the midst of a firefight in April 1968.