At a meeting Tuesday night of the American Legion Post 196, local resident George Canales was presented with the Purple Heart Award for his service in Vietnam.

Post Commander Bill Yeager explained that Canales grew up in south Texas, near Corpus Christi.  When he turned 18 years of age, he was drafted into the U.S. Army.  Canales went through Basic Training and Artillery School, then sent to Vietnam, where he operated a .155 mm Howitzer cannon.  One day in combat his Howitzer was hit by a rocket fired by the North Vietnamese army, severely injuring Canales.

Canales was returned to the United States and spent a long time in the hospital at Fort Hood.  While there, he received the Purple Heart award, personally presented to him by then President Lyndon Johnson.

But in the years since, his Purple Heart Award has gone missing.  When Post Commander Yeager heard about that, he was determined to get a replacement Purple Heart Award for Canales.  It took many months of effort, plus great help from U.S. Congressman August Pfluger, but Yeager was eventually successful.  The replacement medal was presented to Canales and pinned on his shirt by Tracey Brown, National Senior Vice-Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Past Commander of Post 196 Paul Wade, himself a recipient of two Purple Hearts, explained the history and importance of the Purple Heart Award.  “The Purple Heart began as a badge of military merit, and was created by General George Washington in 1782 to recognize bravery in battle.  Only three were ever awarded.  One-hundred fifty years later in 1932 General Douglas McArthur worked to bring the Purple Heart back into being.  It was originally known as the nation’s oldest military award, and still is.  Since 1944 the Purple Heart medal is presented to service members who have been wounded or killed by enemy action while serving in the U.S. military.  The men and women who have received this honor all served in combat and devoted themselves and their lives for the safety and preservation of our country.  Having earned this medal while in combat in Vietnam, George Canales deserves recognition for his actions and bravery.  He is a member of a very distinguished group of people who include U.S. Presidents, politicians, actors, writers, athletes, and brave men and women of all walks of life who put their lives on the line for this country.”