Overdue Bronze Star Brought to Vet

[darrels joy]

Overdue Bronze Star Brough to Vet

A World War II veteran received a Bronze Star ? nearly 60 years after he came home from the war ? in a surprise ceremony Wednesday night at Yakima's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 379.

Harold R. Williams, 83, of Yakima served in the European Theater from September 1944 to October 1945.

"It was absolutely great; it was totally unreal," said his son, Gordon L. Hartley, 65, who was visiting from Jacksonville, Ark. He'd been researching and doing paperwork since June to get his father the medal and came west this week to be here when his dad received the award. "He was mouth-open surprised."

Williams served in Holland, Germany and France as a cook with the Army's 12th Armory Division. Originally from Georgia, he came to the Yakima area with the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1940 and later worked for the Western Farmers Association for 29 years.

Receiving the Bronze Star, Williams said, was an honor.

"It was good," he said. "It made me feel really good.

"(My son) got on the computer and found out I had one coming and got it for me ? quite a boy."

"I always kind of, in the back of my mind, felt like I'd earned it and never got it. When I got it at last, I didn't know what to say."

[Jerry D]

Congrats to Harold R. Williams and his service to our country

[Walts Daughter]

Bravo. I just love hearing stories like these. Really heartwarming!

[Robert Ryan]

I'm gald they finally honored this veteran.