Honor A Veteran

Albany County Honors Vietnam Veteran Paul E. Albano

Albany County Executive Mike Breslin and the Honor-A-Veteran Committee honored Vietnam veteran Paul E. Albano. A ceremony was helded on Monday, November 4, 2002, in the Cahill Room of the Albany County Office Building.

Albano graduated from Greenville Central School in 1963 and enlisted in the Marine Corps. After basic and avionics training, he was assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 in North Carolina. Paul was ordered to Vietnam in 1965 where he was assigned to Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 11 of Marine Air Group 11 at Danang and subsequently to Aerial Observation Squadron 2 of Marine Air Group 16 in November 1966 as a gunner on Huey Helicopters. He was deployed to the forward base at Dong Ha near the DMZ in support of Operation Prairie, Prairie II and Prairie III.

While on a tactical reconnaissance mission on March 28, 1967, Paul’s helicopter was shot down near Quang Tri causing his fatal injuries. Paul was awarded the Combat Air Crew Insignia with three stars, the Air Medal, Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal along with numerous Vietnam service medals. 

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