The Purple Heart is a medal awarded to those who were wounded or killed in service of the US military. The process of getting a Purple Heart for those on active duty are usually by recommendation from their chain of command. During the Vietnam War, Korean War, and World War II, the Purple Heart was often awarded on the spot. Requests for retroactive awards usually go through the National Personnel Records Center, where they refer to service records to confirm the claim.
For Earl Meyer, his claim to a Purple Heart has been rejected time and again, citing a lack of proper documentation. He suffered an injury to his leg when shrapnel struck him during a mortar attack. However, since he wasn't able to file the paperwork after he returned to the States, and nobody in his unit from that time had survived, there isn't enough conclusive proof that he can show to attest that his account of the injury was true.
Initially, he wasn't going to pursue the Purple Heart because he didn't consider the injury as serious as what his compatriots had experienced. But his daughters convinced to try and apply for it. In the end, the Army review board issued him a final rejection in April which led him to sue the Department of Defense and the Army in September. Read the full story on La Crosse Tribune.
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