Boyd honored after long wait

A decade past a half-century is a long time to wait to receive a medal, but that?s what happened to local W.W.II veteran Hubert P. Boyd. Boyd had actually received one Purple Heart, but was due another for a separate incident, which he had never been awarded due to some bureaucratic oversight. He received the second wound when he was serving near the Rhine River. During a visit to the Veterans Hospital Boyd was encouraged to contact Rep. Lincoln Davis? office about getting the medal. Davis has helped a number of local veterans receive medals that had not been awarded while in service.

?This was from an incident on Jan. 10, 1945,? Boyd recalled. ?It?s for a Purple Heart I never received. I spent 10 months in the hospital for it, but they failed to put it on my record. It doesn?t have it on my discharge.?

Boyd was at the Veterans Hospital in Murfreesboro when one of the representatives told him to check with the Disabled Veterans office after Boyd informed him he has never gotten his other Purple Heart. An official there told Boyd his congressman might be able to expedite getting the medal.

?He said it might take them a year to do it, but he might get it in three to six months,? Boyd said.

Boyd then contacted Rep. Davis, who went to work on cutting some of the red tape.

?That was in August and just before the election, Lincoln got it,? Boyd said.

Once the medal was obtained, the decision was made to present it at the VFW Post 5064 Christmas Party on Dec. 23. Lincoln Davis field representative Justin Walling presented the medal to Boyd in a special ceremony.

Boyd said he was pleased to finally receive his medal, and with the help from Davis? office.

?It?s great,? Boyd said. ?Just great. I really appreciate it.?

Boyd feels it?s important to honor veterans of every era and their service to the country.

?We owe everything to the veterans,? Boyd said. ?And to the men fighting over there today.?