News

Purple Heart Awarded to St. Cloud Man 70 Years Later

Photo: Robert Ranson, Photos.com

Jan 14, 2013 at 1:00 pm

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) A World War II gunner who survived when his B-17 bomber
was shot down over Germany in 1943 has been officially awarded a Purple Heart
medal in St. Cloud.

Ninety-two-year-old Lawrence Huschle was held as a prisoner of war for nearly
two years after the plane crash. Initially, the government couldn't verify that
Huschle's plane was shot down or that he was treated for injuries suffered in
battle.

Huschle's brother, Ray, began working to make the verification 20 years ago. He says that when Ray died,
Huschle's grandson, Troy Huschle, stepped in and with testimony from another survivor of the 1943 crash successfully filed paperwork for the award.

About 200 soldiers joined Huschle's family and friends for the award ceremony Sunday at the armory.