PATTON MAN WILL GET PURPLE HEART TODAY -- AFTER 55 YEARS

MARBLE HILL -- VFW Post 5900 member Marvin Hill will be receiving his Purple Heart for wounds received during action in the South Pacific in World War II.

Hill was never awarded his Purple Heart.

"The captain gave me my ribbon, but said he was out of medals and I would get it when I returned to the states," Hill said. "I checked with the Veteran Affairs Officer twice over the years, but never heard anything."

Junior Vice Commander Rod Jetton, who had worked for the late Congressman Bill Emerson, suggested Jo Ann Emerson be contacted.

"I told Mr. Hill to come over to the office with his service papers and we would send them to Jo Ann," Jetton said. "About three weeks later Congresswoman Emerson called to let us know that Marvin's Purple Heart was in."

"After all these years I honestly didn't think I would get the medal," Hill said. "But Rod wanted to try and Mrs. Emerson must have worked really hard. I should have contacted her a long time ago."

Hill was a sergeant on the island of New Guinea with the 20th Infantry Division in 1944, when a mortar shell hit his unit. A piece of shrapnel went through his shoulder and came out his neck. The wound was severe enough to keep Hill out of the remainder of the war and did not heal completely for some time.

VFW Post 5900 and Liley's Funeral Home in marble Hill will conduct a special ceremony today at 2 p.m., at Bollinger County Memorial Cemetery. Hill wall be presented his Purple Heart at that time.

"We wanted to do something special for Mr. Hill -- not only because he deserves the long-overdue recognition, but because it is good for the children to see and learn about the sacrifices our veterans made," Jetton said. "Mr. Hill didn't want to make a big fuss about the medal but we talked him into allowing us to present him the medal during our Memorial day ceremony."