KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It was a special Easter for a metro veteran, as after nearly 70 years, the World War II soldier finally received a Purple Heart award for his battle injuries.
There’s a military saying, ‘We will never forget’ for soldiers who sacrificed for our country.” That’s exactly the mindset here for a veteran, finally getting a big honor for his actions more than half a century ago.
Allen Stevens, 87, clearly remembers his Army orders on a spring day 1945. In Germany, near the end of World War II, on a recon mission, he and a fellow soldier trudged through a mine field when something happened suddenly.
“I had a sensation of being blown into the air,” said Allen Stevens.
A mine took his friends leg and fracture vertebrae in Stevens back. While recovering, the now wheel chair bound Stevens remembers his superior saying…
“I want you to know I’ll send the info to Washington D.C. and when you get home, you’ve got your Purple Heart,” Stevens said.
Now, 67 years and couple weeks passed before the day finally arrived. Former U.S. Congressman Ike Skelton joined around 100 others from the Lawson Community to honor Stevens on Saturday. Also, local VFW members who pledge their loyalty to everyone who sacrificed for our country and wouldn’t accept a clerical error preventing Stevens’ Purple Heart.
FOX 4 asked Stevens if he’s bitter or upset that it took nearly 70 years to receive his Purple Heart. He says simply, ‘better late than never.’
