Minnesota Veteran to Receive Purple Heart 73 Years After Being Wounded in Korean War by Army

Army Veteran, Earl Meyer, 96, of St. Peter, was finally granted the Purple Heart he deserved after 73 years of waiting. The Purple Heart is awarded to service members wounded or killed in combat, and Meyer still carries shrapnel in his thigh from his time in the Army.

Meyer’s application for the Purple Heart had been rejected multiple times due to a lack of paperwork, but his three daughters and attorney, along with the intervention of U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and the sergeant major of the Army, pushed for a review. A federal judge eventually ordered the review board to take another look at Meyer’s case.

The ceremony to honor Meyer was scheduled to take place at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, where dignitaries like Sen. Klobuchar were expected to attend. Meyer’s daughter, Sandy Baker, shared that a former aide of Klobuchar’s who worked on the case would sing the national anthem at the event.

Meyer’s unit suffered heavy casualties during a mortar attack in 1951, and only a few members survived. He didn’t even realize he had been wounded at first, and the medic who treated him was killed before filing the necessary paperwork. Despite the challenges, additional documents and evidence eventually proved Meyer’s eligibility for the Purple Heart.

The long-overdue recognition of Earl Meyer’s sacrifice and service is a reminder of the challenges faced by many veterans in obtaining the medals they rightfully deserve.