The Basin View resident's passion and drive see him getting an OAM for service to veterans and their families as part of the Australia Day honours list.

His work with Legacy, helping widows and their families, is deserving of an award.

He has been part of Legacy in the Nowra area and greater South Coast for 20 years.

"I still get a buzz when a widow calls me and says the Department of Veteran Affairs has granted her a pension," he said.

"I hope I don't ever lose that enthusiasm."

Respected Shoalhaven resident Rod Simpson encouraged Mr Pearson to get involved with the local community.

Mr Pearson was not always keen to link with groups like Legacy or the Returned Servicemen's League [RSL].

From 1971, when he came back from Vietnam, until 2001, Mr Pearson felt society had let him and many other veterans down.

He alienated himself from the ex-servicemen's community.

His attitude changed when he joined the Vietnam Veterans Association Jervis Bay Sub Branch and found them to "be a great bunch of blokes".

He was the association's president, from 2005-2007.

"All that somehow [his community involvement] helped heal the wounds," Mr Pearson said.

"I thought I could sit here at home or get out there and do something."

His current role with Legacy, meanwhile, sees him looking after the welfare of a group of young widows and their children.

Mr Perason gets "great joy" from helping them get school uniforms, laptops and pocket money.

He laughed when he first received a call about the award.

"The first time I started to hear about all this was roughly in October and I thought it was a crank call - I really did," he said.

"The lady on the line said 'I assure you this is not a crank call'.

"I am still at a loss regarding who nominated me."

He does suspect his wife Denise may have played a role in his nomination.

Mr Pearson is honoured and thankful to receive the award.

His list of achievements includes: