Elliot Storm has become known nationwide, but his heart remains at home

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — Typically, when someone receives an award, the recipient says he or she doesn’t deserve it.
Whether those expressions of humility are genuine or not, usually the person does not do what Elliot Storm did.
Storm, 61, recently received the "Warriors Medal of Valor," becoming the first person in the Northeast to receive such recognition. And now he’s turning it over to the mayor on behalf of all Milford residents as an appreciation for the support he’s received from his hometown.
The medal, which features a bald eagle, is for his military service in Vietnam. Storm, who earned a combat action medal and two Purple Hearts, says matter-of-factly there is nothing about his service alone that would lead him to receive such a prestigious honor.
"I sat there and looked at the medal and felt I didn’t deserve it," Storm said, as he recalled receiving the award at a July ceremony that brought him to tears. "There are a lot more people deserving it over me."
The veteran-turned-author says the award is due to the effect his book, "These Scars Are Sacred," has had on veterans. The book details post traumatic stress disorder in relation to Vietnam veterans, while a second book Storm is currently writing will talk about triggers that "set off Vietnam veterans."
After he received the award, Storm said he soon thought of Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr., whom he said stood by him at his first in-store book signing where just two people purchased books. Storm said he was touched that Richetelli would stay with him through the entire book signing.
Richetelli said he was deeply touched by Storm’s gesture, and to show his appreciation there will be a public ceremony at 1 p.m. SundaySept. 14 at City Hall. Numerous veterans and local and state dignitaries’ will be on hand.
"It was very humbling," Richetelli said. "Elliot has written a book that has become extremely popular not just with Vietnam veterans but can be applied with Gulf veterans."
Richetelli said Storm has become a "national figure" based on the success of his book and his travels, adding it’s great that Storm is keeping to his Milford roots.
"The city has supported him from day one and Elliot’s successes make me proud," Richetelli said. Storm said he was in the dark that he was receiving the medal, which was awarded July 22 at a small ceremony in California. He and his wife, Debbie Trumpower, were in California on a tour of numerous VFW groups to speak and sign books.
The trip out West began with an appearance on a radio station in Fresno with UCLA professor Skip Rizzo talking about PTSD. Storm said he reiterated his point that Vietnam veterans developed PTSD because of the way they were treated when they returned home after the war.
"We got home and we were called baby killers and people were degrading us," Storm said.
He said even today he is hurt by words as some people have called him a "fraud."
After the radio show, William Dietzel, publisher and editor-in-chief of Veterans Magazine, invited Storm and his wife for breakfast at his home. But what they found instead was a group of 10 to 15 veterans gathered there as Dietzel presented him with the medal. Dietzel had previously arranged for about 350 vets to be on hand for a Storm book-signing in California.
"They had me crying," Storm said. "They surprised the heck out of me."
Dietzel said when Storm arrived he asked him to stand and come to attention and then he presented the medal, which was created by Marshal Tall Eagle, a three time Purple Heart recipient.
"Elliot was in awe. He deserved it," Dietzel said. "It’s not given to everybody. Distinguished veterans receive them."
Dietzel said Storm’s book played a role in him receiving the medal, adding he couldn’t "put it down" and that it’s a real emotional read for all veterans.
Jack Mordente, director of veterans’ affairs at Southern Connecticut State University, who will attend September’s medal ceremony, said he recently told Storm that a second read of his book produced even more revelations as to what the soldiers endured.
"It really helps the public understand what veterans went through," Mordente said. "It will help all veterans."
Mordente said Storm deserves the medal, which he said is a "tribute to his service to his country and the sacrifices he made and how he is giving back to veterans."