ABC 9: Rhea County Vietnam veteran who survived being shot down gets national Purple Heart honors
A Spring City Air Force pilot who survived being shot down over Vietnam after flying hundreds of combat missions is now being honored on a national stage for a lifetime of service and sacrifice.
U.S. Air Force Col. Carl Pio Parlatore, a Purple Heart recipient from Rhea County, has been selected as Tennessee’s representative for the 2026 Purple Heart Patriot Project, a multi day national tribute recognizing combat wounded veterans from across generations.