Marine Corps veteran Rex Comley acquired an honor that was lengthy overdue.
At 94 years outdated, Comley, of Johnson County, Kansas, was given the Purple Coronary heart he earned serving within the Korean Warfare however had by no means acquired till a particular ceremony at American Legion Publish 0370 in Overland Park, Kansas, on Sunday.
Comley, who served within the Marine Corps from 1951 to 1954 and have become a sergeant, was acknowledged as a Purple Coronary heart honoree on his navy information however he by no means acquired the medal for his service.
“It’s one thing I didn’t know I had coming,” Comley advised KSHB in Kansas Metropolis. “However I knew that I by no means obtained caught up with the Purple Coronary heart, regardless that I used to be entitled to at least one.”
Whereas reminiscences fade by means of seven a long time, Comley mentioned he nonetheless thinks in regards to the troops he served with.
“I keep in mind the nice occasions, I don’t keep in mind the dangerous occasions, however I keep in mind numerous the fellas I used to be with that didn’t make it again,” Comley mentioned.
Clerical Mishap Possible Led to Mistake
Humble like most veterans, Comley by no means made a fuss about not receiving his Purple Coronary heart. However when he talked about it in a dialog with Don Puchalla, chaplain of the Lenexa Marine Corps League and father of a Gold Star Marine, the drive to get Comley his medal started.
Comley seen the Marine Corps hat Puchalla was carrying and the 2 started speaking, which led to Puchalla mentioning his son was killed in motion. Like swinging open a door, Comley shared extra tales from his time within the Marines, telling Puchalla that he was a Purple Coronary heart recipient, however the medal was by no means despatched to him.
“When he advised me he obtained wounded and the way he obtained wounded, I mentioned, ‘Oh, you’re a Purple Coronary heart recipient,’” Puchalla mentioned. “And he mentioned, ‘Effectively, on my paperwork I’m, however I by no means acquired it.’”
It’s seemingly {that a} mistake in paperwork led to Comley not receiving his Purple Coronary heart following the tip of the warfare in 1953. Greater than 50,000 American troops had been wounded in battle, and with no computerized system to file meritorious honors again then, sadly, Comley’s award obtained misplaced within the shuffle.
“Take into consideration 1952-53, typewriters, papers, clerks, numerous Marines, Army, all branches in Korea,” Puchalla mentioned. “There have been like 50,000 wounded, and paper trails get misplaced. At the very least it did comply with him on his navy paperwork from exiting the Marine Corps, so it was official; he simply by no means obtained the award.”
A number of native veterans’ organizations in Kansas stepped up on Comley’s behalf and, on Sunday, he lastly obtained to carry the Purple Coronary heart he’s spent seven a long time ready for. Household and associates attended the ceremony, together with Ashley Steineger, Comley’s granddaughter.
“In case you’ve had the possibility to satisfy him, you received’t overlook him. He’s 94 and has the perfect tales!” Steineger mentioned in a Fb put up. “He’s so selfless and has by no means met a stranger, which makes right now much more wonderful. All of it got here to be after a dialog with somebody working in his neighborhood. That goes to indicate the impression he leaves on individuals.”
Steineger mentioned the ceremony was an ideal solution to honor her grandfather.
“The quantity of people that confirmed up for him was unimaginable and so humbling,” she mentioned. “Quite a few organizations joined in to current objects to him. One of many coolest being a service canine that will likely be named after him that may help a veteran.”
His grandson, Shaun Comley, was particularly touched by Sunday’s celebration, having spent 24 years within the Air Power.
“He’s a part of one of many final actually nice generations,” Shaun Comley mentioned. “And to see that recognition, the Purple Coronary heart … it’s not an award that any navy member units out to earn, however he did. It’s simply near my coronary heart. It’s him, it’s who he was.”
Excited about his personal navy profession, Comley was honored to be there to see his grandfather’s service be acknowledged.
“With me serving, it touches dwelling. It undoubtedly means lots. He didn’t ask for recognition. He’ll by no means elevate his hand and say, ‘Take a look at what I did,’” Shaun Comley mentioned. “For individuals to take outing of their day and for the nation to pin that medal on his chest, it’s wonderful.”
Not solely did Sunday’s ceremony proper a fallacious, but it surely additionally reminded Comley that his sacrifice mattered, even in Korea, typically labeled a “forgotten warfare” wedged between World Warfare II and Vietnam.
“For Rex, it wasn’t a lot getting the medal, it’s extra about recognizing your sacrifice. You probably did one thing that only a few individuals will do and perceive,” Puchalla mentioned. “He left highschool to do that. That takes love of nation, and I believe it’s vital they lastly notice, get that heat feeling that what they did was not in useless, not forgotten.”
A Marine Stays Humble
Whereas Comley loved sharing his particular second with family and friends, and being within the limelight for a day, the veteran was fast to say there are greater accolades than a Purple Coronary heart.
“To me, I take into consideration the fellows that went method above and past the obligation, that obtained medals just like the Bronze Star, Silver Stars, Medal of Honor,” Comley mentioned. “These are the precise heroes.”
So, after lastly receiving his medal, does he think about himself a hero?
“No, I don’t in any respect. It makes me suppose I used to be on the fallacious place on the fallacious time,” he mentioned.
Comley credit staying energetic for his longevity, and the love of his spouse of 65 years, who retains him grounded.
“I’ve numerous enjoyable. I’ve had a great life,” Comley mentioned.
Just like Comley, there are seemingly different Korean Warfare veterans nonetheless ready for his or her honors. Sunday’s occasion highlighted the work veteran organizations are doing to ensure all troopers from the warfare in Korea obtain what they’ve earned earlier than they die. Most are of their nineties.
“We don’t know what arduous occasions are; they know what arduous occasions are,” Puchalla mentioned. “They gave up all their careers, their faculty, to go care for the nation.”
