MISSOURI TO HONOR WWII VETERANS

Clem Crain spent 144 days behind enemy lines during campaigns throughout Europe during World War II.

"I was one of the lucky ones. I'm still around," said Crain, a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division from 1942-46.

To honor Crain and other World War II veterans living in Missouri, the state will begin issuing special medallions, medals and certificates of service in January to qualifying veterans who apply for them.

Crain, of Cape Girardeau, is one of more than 2,000 veterans who applied for the honors. Crain said Missouri is making an appropriate gesture with the program, "but a little late, as usual."

"Anything is a plus," Crain said. "The state really hasn't done anything before."

Then-Gov. Mel Carnahan signed the legislation authorizing the program into law last summer. However, the General Assembly included no funding. Lawmakers rectified that this year, appropriating $3 million for the effort.

Though funding wasn't yet in hand, the Missouri National Guard, which is administering the program, started accepting applications Jan. 1.

"Since we didn't have the money, we had kind of been flying by the seat our pants," said Lt. Tamara Spicer, a Guard spokesperson. "But we felt it appropriate to start accepting applications because many of our veterans are dying."

As the World War II generation ages, even the youngest veterans of the war are in their 70s.

Free for qualifiers

The medal and medallion are being designed by the Missouri Veterans Commission. Spicer said the honors will cost approximately $50 per veteran. There is no cost to the veteran to apply or to receive the honors.

Now that funding is available, Spicer said the Guard will begin distribution in January. The Guard is checking applications against military records to ensure eligibility.

Veterans have until Jan. 1 to submit an application, which is available through the Guard. Spicer said the Guard has no estimates how many veterans will apply since the law limits eligibility to those World War II veterans who resided in Missouri as of Aug. 28, 2000, not those who lived in Missouri at the time they served.

Participants in the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1996, will receive an additional medal -- a replica of the 50th anniversary "Jubilee of Liberty" medal issued by France in 1994. D-Day veterans need not complete any additional paperwork to get that medal.

Crain, whose military unit was dropped approximately 15 miles inland from the Normandy beaches, is among those who will qualify for the additional honor.

"Our mission was to cut off all reinforcements going to the beach areas," Crain said. "That's what we did."

Some prefer cash

In the aftermath of successful landing of Allied troops at Normandy, Crain participated in a number of actions, including the Battle of the Bulge, the last major German offensive of the war. He also took part on the taking of Berlin, which signaled the end of the war in Europe.

While medals and certificates of appreciation are nice, Crain said Missouri is still remiss for not providing World War II veterans with cash bonuses, which many states did in the years following the war.

The issue has resurfaced periodically in Missouri. The bill authorizing the state medals included a provision authorizing a $400 bonus, which would have cost the state in excess of $50 million. However, the provision was stripped from the bill just before final passage.

Bonus legislation was filed in the General Assembly this year, but made little progress.

"I think it's become kind of a political joke, something that politicians just kick around every once in a while," Crain said.

To qualify for medallions Starting in January, the Missouri will begin issuing eligible World War II veterans medallions, medals and certificates of appreciation. Eligibility requirements and the application process are as follows:

* To qualify, a veteran must have been honorably discharged from the armed forces after serving between Dec. 7, 1941, and Sept. 30, 1945. The veteran need not have served in combat or overseas. The veteran must have been a Missouri resident as of Aug. 28, 2000, but didn't have to be a resident of the state while in the military.

* An additional medal will be issued to veterans who participated in the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. That medal is limited solely to those who saw combat in the invasion on that day.

* Certificates and medallions will not be issued posthumously, unless the veteran was alive at the time he or she applied for the honors but died before receiving them.

* Applications are available through the Missouri National Guard by calling (573) 638-9983, requesting one online at www.moguard.com or by writing the Office of the Adjutant General, ATTN: Director, WW II Recognition Program, PO Box 1808, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102.

* Information needed to complete the application includes: current address, military serial number, branch of service, rank, unit, dates of World War II service, a copy of discharge papers and date landed in Normandy, if applicable.

* D-Day veterans need to complete just one application to receive both the general honors plus the D-Day medal.

* Applications must be mailed by Jan. 1.