102-Year-Old World War II Veteran honored with medals at ceremony

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) – Congressman Derrick Van Orden honored a 102-year-old Chippewa Falls Veteran today 81 years after his service ended.

Veteran Neil Korn served in World War II, he was deployed in East Africa, England and through the invasion of France, where he served as a Private First Class in the 405th Artillery Battalion at just 19 years old.

“Neil never wanted to talk about the service for many, many years. He wanted to put it all behind him,” said Neil’s relative, Rodger Kabera.

Now that the 102-year-old is able to speak about his time in the war, he is being honored in Eau Claire with five military medals including a good conduct medal and World War II victory medal after his family reached out to Congressman Derrick Van Orden.

“Pride comes before the fall, but sometimes there are some things you have done that you should take pride in. And this is one of them,” said Congressman Van Orden.

He said it’s important to honor World War II veterans as the years go on.

“As we lose our greatest generation, I think it’s critically important not just for them as individuals to understand that we appreciate it, but for their families to know. They gave us our reputation. They they stood up and said enough is enough and they joined from farming communities to inner cities. They answered the call with their nation and they went and fought against the true evil. And if that doesn’t inspire you, I don’t know what possibly can,” said Van Orden.

“We need to recognize the older veterans for what they really are. They served in our freedom, we are very free because of our veterans,” said Kabera.

Other medals that Korn was honored with were the European-African-Middle Eastern campaign medal, the army of occupation medal, and the honorable service lapel button.

He also received an eagle feather from the Ojibwe tribe, which they say is the highest honor.

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