In the movie they show the sheriff's war medals he keeps on his desk and there is a silver star and purple heart or two plus Korean War medals.There was also a subplot where the sheriff was a Korean War vet (the forgotten war) and he feels enmity towards Rambo because of it. At the same time he’s much more humanized almost by the way he succumbs to Rambo’s wounds. One of the saddest books I’ve ever read.