Elderly WWII vet gets medal after 20th try

[The Straight Story]

Elderly WWII vet gets medal after 20th try


FREMONT, Calif., Feb. 2 (UPI) -- A California man said he spent 20 years trying to secure a Bronze Star for his grandfather for the 90-year-old man's daring feats during World War II.

Ron Cortez, 40, of San Jose, said his grandfather, Ralph Gonzales, of Fremont, has always been his hero, the Oakland Tribune reported Tuesday.

On Sept. 26, 1944, Gonzales, an Army private at the time, ran through jungle "as thick as a wall" for more than 100 yards so the Japanese would fire at him and thus give his platoon a better idea where the enemy was hiding.

"I don't know how I got out of there. They retreated, and so did we," Gonzales said.

A colonel, the top commander on the Solomon Islands at the time, awarded Gonzales a Letter of Commendation. But a general's signature was needed to get a medal, and none were stationed on the islands, the Tribune reported.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/02/02/Elderly-WWII-vet-gets-medal-after-20th-try/UPI-50951265167083/

[Libertas1776]

1. Long overdue

:patriot:

[stevedeshazer]

2. I love stories like this. Our WW2 vets are not getting younger.

My dad was one, rest his soul.

Thanks for posting this.