After 65 Years WWII Vet Receives His Medals - With Video
What’s really cool is that he only thought that they had found his record of the Purple Heart. He didn’t know they had found all the other records also, nine in all. They surprised him.
CAMP WILLIAMS, Utah- A World War II veteran from Kearns received the awards he earned 65 years after the fact. Retired Army Sergeant Kenneth Berry had no idea he was going to be honored until the event actually happened. Berry thought he was at Camp Williams to recognize one of his sons.
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In front of almost 100 friends, relatives and supporters Berry received nine medals and decorations he earned during service in World War II. Among those medals were the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Berry said the event was unexpected. Berry says, “It surprised me, it had been a long time. “
In fact, it has been more than 60 years since Berry earned those medals. But, due to paperwork errors, a unit transfer and a fire at the National Personnel Records building in St. Louis he never received them. That’s why his son worked so hard to track down his father’s military records. Retired Sergeant Richard Berry says, “I did it for several reasons. For one he needed the medical treatment he wasn’t entitled to as a Purple Heart winner.”
Richard never told his father what he was up to Saturday night. He told him the ceremony was for Richard’s brother Sgt. Tom Berry who’s heading to Kuwait soon. Sgt. Tom Berry says, “He’s always been a hero to us growing up. That’s why we had such a legacy in our family of military service. “
It’s a legacy that lives on thanks to the hard work of a son who wouldn’t let his father’s achievement go up in smoke.
(ABC)
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How about that?
I still hope Cpt. Richard “Dick” Winters (made famous by “Band of Brothers) gets the MoH for his actions on D-day.
May 4th, 2008 at 1:32 pmThat was the 1973 fire that wiped out alot of discharged military personnel docs, including a two very loved grampa’s.
May 4th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
AMEN!!! 
May 4th, 2008 at 1:45 pmRecognition for a job well done. That’s fantastic. It’s a bitch to try and find records so old in the system. His son has shown that it can be done.
Hoo-ah. The dad and all his sons are an inspiration to the nation.
May 4th, 2008 at 2:30 pmCogratulations Sgt. Berry.
May 4th, 2008 at 4:56 pmThank you for your service, sir.
I’ve lived a great life because of men like you.
Hoorah!
I offer my thanks and congrats
May 4th, 2008 at 5:00 pm