The color guard marched with precision. The audience rose to its feet. But for Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient John C. Humphrey, Thursday’s honor was a painful remembrance of the day he watched his comrade fall in Vietnam.

The award ceremony at the Veterans Home of California in Yountville honored Humphrey, 67, of Napa, for his heroic actions while trying to rescue a fellow soldier in Vietnam.

Humphrey, now a retired metallurgist, served as a medic in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968.

A recent visit to the Napa County Veterans Service Office on an unrelated matter revealed that Humphrey was entitled to the Purple Heart and Bronze Star honors for his actions nearly 30 years ago, on May 7, 1968.

That day, while serving with Company D, 26th Engineer Battalion, Humphrey’s platoon came under heavy rocket, mortar and small arms fire.

During the height of the attack, Humphrey, a medical aidman attached to the first platoon, heard someone calling for a medic. Without hesitation or regard for life own life, he ran from the relative safety of his own bunker. About 15 meters from his bunker a mortar round exploded near him, injuring his hand.

Disregarding his wound, Humphrey continued to an armored personnel carrier and found the troop commander severely wounded. He administered first aid and CPR, and managed to revive the wounded officer.

When the “Dust Off” chopper arrived, he helped carry his wounded comrade to the helicopter.

The soldier later died, said Humphrey during his speech Thursday.

Crying at the podium, Humphrey told the crowd that he would remember all of the soldiers who died during the war. “It’s a terrible job to do,” he said, calling war “a terrible thing.”

Humphrey said he would encourage countries to settle their differences with actions other than war, which, he said, “hurts forever.”

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, pinned the medals to Humphrey’s chest while the audience stood. A veteran in the audience saluted.