Better late than never

Stephen E. Lawrence will be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for valor this Friday, 33 years after he rescued the crew of a downed helicopter in Vietnam.

Now living in Clearwater, Fla., Lawrence, 56, sounds more annoyed than bitter about the long delay.

“It would have been nice 33 years ago,” he said with a chuckle. “But it’s real nice today,” with the added benefit of having his family, including two children, present for the ceremony.