A man with local ties was among those who were remembered Saturday, with the proclamation of Medal of Honor Day in Michigan.
Back in 1990 Congress designated March 25 as Medal of Honor Day. Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a proclamation recognizing Michigan Recipients.
U.S. Army Major General Paul D. Rogers is the director of the Michigan Department of Veterans Affairs; he said the day was an opportunity to remember the 111 Michigan residents who have earned the country’s highest military award for service.
Among them is Staff Sergeant James Bondsteel, a Jonesville High School graduate who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in An Loc Province Vietnam in 1969. He was wounded while spearheading the attack on several enemy bunkers. A narrative of his actions during the battle can be found on the Medal of Honor Day media page at https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/james-l-bondsteel.
Bondsteel died in a traffic accident near Anchorage Alaska in 1987.
A section of U.S.12 in Jonesville is named in his honor.
S/Sgt James Bondsteel-Photo courtesy Congressional Medal of Honor Society.