I've got a salute for this old timer! S!

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/11/13/army-captain-receives-war-medals-66-years-late/

I received a medal last year, 19 years after retiring, and like this guy, it showed up in the mail. I thought that was astonishing, but this guy has me beat by a country mile for longest wait for an award!

What a life. He really lived through some tough stuff in history! And at 93, he sure sounds like he's probably as tough and no bullsh*t as ever! I hope I'm still that squared away if I live to be that old.

Cheers!

Rick...

I remember reading somewhere, probably a history book in High School, that the men who survived the Bataan Death March and subsequent detainment in the Japanese POW camps weren't expected to live past 45.


S! Captain.


Wheels

If I understand correctly, he'd been awarded just after WW2 but just received the actual medals recently ?

That is correct. Like the article mentions they used ribbons during the war instead of metal since the metal had more important uses for the war effort. After the war unless the service member requested his medals they were not issued to him.


Wheels

My father never received his medals/ribbons for his service in the US Navy during WWII until I requested them for him in the early 80's.