The office of the Clinton County Veterans’ Services Commission announces the notification of the acceptance of a Clinton County resident, Lieutenant Colonel Paul A. Kari, USAF, (retired) into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor.

The Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor was created by the State of Ohio to officially recognize past or present military veterans who have honored and distinguished themselves in military service.

Colonel Kari distinguished himself during the Vietnam War while he was an Air Force fighter pilot. While on the last of his 68 missions over North Vietnam, on June 20, 1965, a F-4 Phantom he commanded was shot down. He spent the next several years and eight months at the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison, only being release on Feb. 12, 1973.

During his military career he was decorated with three Silver Stars, Legion of Merit, two distinguished Flying Crosses for heroism, two Bronze Star medals with “V” device for Valor, Air Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (denoting second award), Purple Heart Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, and two Commendation Medals with “V” devices.

Col. Kari was born in Spencer, near Akron, Ohio and has lived in Clinton County, farming for the past 14 years. The award ceremony into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor will take place on May 7, at 11:30 a.m. at the Ohio Statehouse (3rd Street Side) in downtown Columbus and the public is invited.