World Struggle II veteran Glenn Fisher has lived an extended, rewarding life. He’s set to show 100 later this 12 months. Nevertheless, one thing essential is lacking – the Purple Coronary heart Fisher stated he earned 80 years in the past.
Preventing with the Army alongside Europe’s Rhine River in 1945, Fisher was struck by shrapnel, with a chunk breaking off and staying in his physique for many years. Wounded in fight, Fisher figured he would obtain his Purple Coronary heart someday after World Struggle II. It by no means arrived.
Fisher utilized for the medal about 45 years in the past however by no means obtained a response from authorities officers. He made one other try in 2010, however nonetheless no medal. Knocking on the door to 100, and understanding his time is proscribed, Fisher hopes his story will generate public curiosity and he’ll lastly obtain his Purple Coronary heart.
“It’s one thing that I laid down my life for, it’s one thing that I’ve earned, and it’s one thing I ought to be introduced,” Fisher informed WLKY in Louisville.
Fisher joined the conflict effort in 1943, signing up for the Army at simply 16 years previous. In September 1944, Fisher was despatched to England, earlier than shifting on to Utah Seashore, France and the Netherlands, the place he was wounded by German troopers in the course of the Rhine River Crossing in March 1945.
“They had been capturing so many rounds, and it was an airburst and the factor goes off about 20 toes off the bottom and slings 100 or some items of shrapnel,” Fisher recollects. “Nicely, considered one of them hit me.”
Two troopers in his unit died. Fisher was among the many 14 injured. His harm was documented, however the official date was listed incorrectly.
“They put that I used to be there in June or one thing,” he stated. “And that may’t be doable.”
Securing Proof, Paperwork
Fisher had surgical procedure three years in the past when docs noticed the eight-decade-old shrapnel nonetheless lodged in his physique.
“It was onerous to inform them what precisely occurred to me, nevertheless it was form of fascinating that I carried that,” Fisher stated.
His medical workforce eliminated the shrapnel and gave it to him, however the veteran has since misplaced the piece.
Shut good friend Jeff Thoke, who’s labored with Fisher to attempt to acquire his Purple Coronary heart, stated dropping the shrapnel was a troublesome blow as a result of any piece of proof they will present to the federal authorities helps his possibilities of receiving his long-awaited medal.
Thoke does have official Army documentation of Fisher getting hospitalized in 1945, being discharged, and re-hospitalized just a few months later, struggling problems from a re-infected wound.
Nevertheless, they haven’t any documentation from the day he was wounded.
“We have now lots of circumstantial proof, however we don’t have something saying Glenn was wounded; that’s the difficulty,” Thoke stated.
However Thoke and Fisher are holding their fingers crossed that they’ve sufficient materials displaying the veteran deserves a Purple Coronary heart. Thoke has requested the Army interview Fisher in particular person so he can substantiate his story.
Together with his a centesimal birthday looming, it might be the coveted birthday present he’s longed for for 80 years.
