South Florida World War II Veteran Still Waiting on Purple Heart

A South Florida veteran wants a Purple Heart for his World War II injuries, but the government says no.

Bob Bohm's family has joined him in his fight to get the prestigious recognition. It's a battle that has gone on for decades. They've sent countless letters to the government but the struggle from Veterans Affairs has shattered their hopes.

The 93-year-old veteran hangs the flag outside his home with pride. He fought for our country and was injured in World War Two and is worthy of the Purple Heart but for whatever reason more than 50 years later he still doesn't have it.


"Makes me feel lousy. Here I fought for my country.  Now my country is fighting me and I'm fighting my country," Bohm said.

Bohm is a proud US Veteran and has the medals to prove it. He's got a Bronze star and Presidential Citations, just to name a few. But there's an empty spot that is supposed to be for the Purple Heart, an award he says is long overdue.

"My major injury was being knocked out by a mortar shell and I came to 14 days later," Bohm said.

The Purple Heart is awarded to men and women wounded in combat. Bohm remembers the day he was hit in the head by enemy fire in World War Two at the Battle of Monte Casino.  When he came out of his coma he was unfit for duty and returned home.

Five decades later, Bohm still didn't get his medal, even though he's got the paperwork, the medical charts, and the records to prove he was not only injured but entitled to the Purple Heart in 1944.

"I could have sent my daughter to college, all expenses paid. My property taxes paid, I could have had all my medicines paid for," Bohm said.

On Memorial Day, Bohm paid tribute to those who have fallen in battle but he said it's difficult to participate knowing his fight to get what he earned isn't over.

"I don't want to go marching down the street anymore, things like that," Bohm said.

The government is actually paying Bohm for the injuries he suffered in war. His family is taking this fight to the top, they've sent letters to President Obama, the First Lady, and Jill Biden.  Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's offices confirmed they are looking into this but it's been quite a few months.

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