Ark. veteran awarded Purple Heart 40 years after service - KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather & Sports

Ark. veteran awarded Purple Heart 40 years after service

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TEXARKANA, AR (KSLA) -

A Miller County man is finally awarded the Purple Heart -- 40 years after returning from the Vietnam War.

Balloons decorated South Mosely Road in Texarkana Monday afternoon in honor of Vietnam veteran James Howard, who nearly lost his life in a Vietnam jungle.

"It was his turn to leave and he refused to leave because his buddies Were hurt worse than he was, so he wanted them to take them and while they were taking them and he was waiting for the next ride out, he got wounded in the head," says Brenda Bates, Howard's sister.

With family and fellow veterans looking on, Howard was awarded the Purple Heart by a representative with the office of Arkansas Sen. John Boozman.

"I don't know what y'all know about the Purple Heart or not," says the representative, "but it is the most recognized metal in the whole world."

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