A belated 'thank you': World War II veteran decorated 67 years later

(Editor's Note: The following article originally appeared in the December 23, 2011 issue of The Dubuque Telegraph Herald and is being reprinted here with permission from Telegraph Herald staff.)

by Craig Reber
Telegraph Herald staff writer

A World War II U.S. Army veteran got an overdue Christmas present 67 years late on Thursday (December 22).
Zane Thorpe, 89, received seven military service medals - including the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart - from Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, in an awards ceremony at Oak Park Place in Dubuque.
“It’s nice, really nice,” said Thorpe, who was joined by family members, friends and others.
A native of the Lansing, Iowa area, Thorpe was drafted and began his military service in April 1943. Trained as a rifleman, he was assigned to the 157th Combat Regiment of the 45th (Thunderbird) Infantry Division. Making amphibious landings at Sicily, Salerno and Anzio, the 45th played a key role in the liberation of Italy before making a fourth amphibious landing in southern France. After moving north, the division advanced into Germany. Thorpe was wounded - taking shrapnel to the chest - on Dec. 18, 1944, on the third day of the fabled Battle of the Bulge.
Thorpe, who thanked those in attendance, described beach landings and braving enemy machine gun fire. The day he was wounded, Thorpe said the “sky was dark with smoke and shrapnel.”
The wounds forced Thorpe’s evacuation to a hospital in England. After a time he was transferred to a hospital in Texas. He was discharged on July 11, 1945.
According to Braley’s office, thousands of World War II veterans have never received the medals they earned due to shortages in materials after the war.
Thorpe’s son Monte, of Dubuque, led the effort for his father’s medals, including the Purple Heart. He recalled a conversation with his friend Dick Bridges, who is active in veterans’ issues. Bridges reported the key was locating Zane’s discharge papers.
It wasn’t easy. His house was destroyed by the July floods. Sorting through numerous papers, Monte found a muddied DD214, which represents the complete, verified record of a service member’s time in the military, awards and medals.
“I guess it was pretty common back then,” Monte said. “They apparently didn’t have enough medals to go around.”
Monte showed the document to Bridges, who contacted Braley’s office.
Staffers submitted the necessary paperwork to the National Personnel Records Center and got the replacement medals.
“I can’t think of a better holiday story, then finally after 67 years, finally presenting a deserving World War II veteran with the appreciation of a grateful country,” Braley said.
“One of the great privileges of my job is getting an opportunity to do something meaningful like this. I was very humbled to be here with Zane and learn a little bit about his story. It is a real honor to be with a distinguished hero.”
Zane, one of 15 siblings and a retired Dubuque city forester, received spirited applause at the ceremony’s conclusion.
“I am very excited and proud of my dad,” said Monte with a broad smile.
(Those wishing to contact Zane Thorpe may do so at Oak Park Crest Place, Room 200, Dubuque, IA 52002.)