ABC15 is following up with a 99-year-old WWII veteran who we interviewed on the 4th of July.
James Peyton served in the U.S. Marines during World War II and was even in several combat missions in Asia.
In June, we helped him celebrate his 99th birthday, and on July 4th, we followed up with James after a group of Marines gave him a new American flag to hang outside his home, just in time for Independence Day.
But now, there is something else James wants, but is having a hard time getting – a Purple Heart he says he earned. James told ABC15 he was injured multiple times in combat – in one incident, he explained he had to remove shrapnel from his own chest and had no other choice.
So ABC15 got to work, advocating for James to see if there was any way he could still receive that Purple Heart. First, we started by reaching out to Senator Mark Kelly’s office which appointed a case worker to look into James’ claims.
After assisting James with the necessary forms, the case worker submitted the paperwork to the U.S. Navy for approval, but it was more disappointing news for James.