In the wake of the Valley Fire, two Hidden Valley Lake residents ran into each other at the local grocery store. Rachel Tallman mentioned to her friend Todd Williams that her father’s house had been lost in the blaze. When she said that her father was a decorated Vietnam Veteran who was most upset over the loss of his numerous war medals, rifle badges, and service sword, Williams, a fellow military veteran was determined to help.
Robert Hansen, now 73 years old, served 25 years (both active and reserve) in the Navy and had earned the rank of Captain. He served in the Vietnam War and then went into the Navy Reserves. He was called back to active duty for the war in Somalia, and also worked on projects in the Aleutian Islands and at the Pentagon.
Williams coordinated the help of the local community, fellow small business owners, other veterans, law enforcement and firemen. They all came together Saturday morning on the property to search through the rubble.
Amazingly, within a couple of hours the group pulled a small metal box from the ashes and opened it to discover Robert Hansen’s various military medals, badges, and ribbons, including his Bronze Star. They also found his service sword — covered in ash, but intact and just as meaningful, if not more.
“I know there are ways to get replacement medals,” explains Todd Williams. “But as a fellow veteran, I know that it is the original medals that you earn that really mean the most.”
Grasping the box, Rachel was overcome with emotion, her eyes welling with tears. “To go out of your way to find these medals is beyond words,” she said. “Thank you to the volunteers who came together to find these for my dad!”
