‘It’s About Time’: WWII Veteran Receives Purple Heart Award At 99
A 99-year-old Army veteran who served in the Battle of Normandy received a Purple Heart last week, 77 years after he was wounded.
Osceola “Ozzie” Fletcher was injured when a German missile hit the supply truck in which he was riding during the Battle of Normandy in 1944, Fox News reported. The vehicle overturned, and while the driver of the truck was killed, Fletcher sustained a wound on his forehead.
Fletcher, a New York native who served with the 254th Port Battalion, was eligible to receive the Purple Heart under criteria which included “injury caused by vehicle or aircraft accident resulting from enemy fire.” However Fletcher, a black man, was overlooked for the award due to his race, according to the New York Daily News.
“The guys of other complexions did get medals,” Fletcher told Marsha MacCallum Thursday on Fox’s The Story.
“It seems that maybe many officers got Purple Hearts because they were white. But I don’t know about any other unwhite soldiers, you might say, getting honored in any way,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher’s daughter Jacqueline Streets first alerted Army officials to his heroism seven years ago, the Daily News reported, with much of the delay due to Fletcher’s service records being destroyed in a fire. Fletcher, a retired NYPD sergeant, finally received the award in a ceremony on June 18.
“It’s about time,” said Fletcher at his ceremony, according to the Daily News. “You will remember the Fletcher name now.”
“I’m going to take this Purple Heart and give it to one of my daughters to frame and put it in the house,” he told the Daily News.
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Better late than never. Good for him! Thank you for serving Mr. Fletcher.
Actually NOT better late than never. A Purple Heart serves as a de facto “key” to getting VA Disability Benefits. No official policy but having served as a 1st Cav door gunner 50 years ago I get some disability benefits. Friends I served with with who were shot and have a Purple Heart get 100% disability rating for the same condition I have but I get 50% disability rating. I hear this same story over and over in my VA Group meetings. I approve of their 100% rating and encourage all vets to apply for benefits. Just saying this 99 year old vets benefits were obstructed without his Purple Heart. As the saying goes, “The VA is NOT your friend”.