World War II Veteran honored with medals

Eleanor Bland
·2 min read
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EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – Congressman Derrick Van Orden today honoring a 102-year-old Chippewa Falls veteran 81 years after his service ended. First News at Nine’s Eleanor Bland attended the event and shares just how deserving this veteran is of this honor.

A day to honor.

Veteran Neil Korn says, “I like it. I appreciate it.” Korn served in World War II. He was deployed in East Africa, England and through the invasion of France where he served as a Private First Class in the 405th Artillery Battalion at just 19 years old. Relative, Rodger Kabera, says, “Neil never wanted to talk about the service for many, many years. He wanted to put it all behind him like all World War II’s.”

Now that the 102-year-old is able to speak about his time in the war, he is being honored in Eau Claire with 5 military medals including a Good Conduct Medal and World War II Victory Medal after his family reached out to Congressman Derrick Van Orden. Van Orden explains, “Pride comes before the fall, but sometimes there are some things that you have done that you should take pride in. And this is one of them.”

He (Van Orden) says it’s important to honor World War II veterans as the years go on, “As we lose our greatest generation, I think it’s critically important not just for them as individuals to understand that we appreciate it.

“But for their families to know, “They gave us our reputation. They stood up and said enough is enough and they joined from farming communities to inner cities. They answered the call with their nation and they went and fought against the true evil. And if that doesn’t inspire you, I don’t know what possibly can.”

Kabera adds, “We need to recognize the older veterans for what they really are. They served in our freedom, is very free because of our veterans, and I am a veteran and I’m very proud of being a veteran of men.”

Other medals that Korn was honored with were the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button.

He also received an eagle feather from the Ojibwe Tribe which they say is the highest honor. In Eau Claire, Eleanor Bland, First News at Nine.

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