Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Vietnam War Veteran awarded Purple Heart 53 years after being wounded in action
By Kirsten Clark
CORYDON, Ind. – After being wounded in action 53 years ago in the Vietnam War, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Frank Bill was awarded a Purple Heart during a ceremony this month. It was an honor the Bill family had been pursuing for more than 16 years when they first submitted his application.
“We are just absolutely thrilled this day has finally arrived,” said Julie Bill, Frank’s wife. “Frank is finally getting what he deserves for his service in Vietnam, and the day has come when we can honor him properly. It took 53 years to get here, but who’s counting?”
A ceremony was held Dec. 16 at the Harrison County Government Center in Corydon, Ind., with Bill’s family and friends to honor his bravery in combat. The citation was read by U.S. Marines Gunny Sgt. Laronald McKinney and Maj. Charles Clark. Harrison County Veteran Service Officer, Tara D. Avis, also attended and was a key figure in Bill’s final approval for the Purple Heart.
“We are so thankful for Frank’s service; he is so brave to stand where so many would not dare to kneel,” said Avis. “I hope this was everything he hoped it would be 51 years after his service and 16 years after starting this process.”
Bill served in his beloved Marine Corps until 1970. As a lance corporal, he was wounded during a routine road clearing operation. Bill’s platoon entered an area where mines had been planted in the road. As he swept the area, a 40-pound anti-tank mine was manually detonated by the enemy, causing blast injuries to Bill’s face and much of his body.
“Frank weighed a buck-20 and wore birth control glasses, but he was a born Marine. He didn’t know it until he went to boot camp and that brought it out,” said Vaughn Seruby, a fellow Marine who served with Bill in the 1st Engineer Battalion, C Company, 3rd Platoon. “We went out on the roads, clearing land mines and we knew we could be ambushed at any time, and we still went out. We crawled around on the road looking for them [land mines], knowing we could be vaporized in an instant, so it took great courage. I admire him and guys like him.”
Frank Bill didn’t want to pursue a Purple Heart initially but credits his wife’s persistence for finally getting him to start the process of applying in 2005.
“I was just trying to let go of my experiences in the war, and I didn’t care to pursue the Purple Heart early on,” said Bill. “But my wife really wouldn’t let it go – she was concerned for my health mainly - it was her persistence that got me into VA healthcare and started the process of looking into how to receive a Purple Heart.”
The Bills began writing letters to the Department of the Navy about the Purple Heart medal, which responded in turn with a request for more information that was required to document the event that caused Bill’s injuries.
“We didn’t get a lot done at first because we really didn’t know how to go about it,” Julie said. “This was really something that developed over the years as we continued to add evidence to his application each time the Purple Heart was denied. It was a great struggle just to get the medical records from when he was in Vietnam because Soldiers and Marines were treated on the battlefield by corpsmen, not doctors.”
The search for answers was a learning process for the Bills, and with each denial they grew weary of pursuing the medal. Bill was forced to recall the events of his service and medical care in Vietnam many times, aggravating his PTSD, causing anxiety, and increasing the frequency of his nightmares.
The couple eventually connected with Avis and received the help and support they had so long needed. From her efforts to compile evidence to her encouraging attitude, the Bills pressed forward ever hopeful for a positive outcome.
“His injuries are well-documented, and he currently is under VA medical care for this service-connected disability,” said Avis. “He deserves every bit of this Purple Heart and more.”
“His application was just overlooked for so long; we were tired. I even wrote to President Trump in the hopes it would be approved quicker,” said Julie. “We at last met with Tara, and she submitted medical paperwork and justification and proof. Thanks to her and Frank noticing a discrepancy in the record that he was injured but never evacuated from theatre, we finally made it happen.”
Bill is a proud veteran and has used his time in Vietnam to help others. He is a member of American Legion Post 133 in Alton, Ind., and the VFW Old State Capitol Post 2950. Frank and Julie have lived in Corydon for many years, raising their blended family together since 2003.
Bill credits his Purple Heart award to Avis and his wife Julie, along with fellow veterans Tony DeBlasio and Seruby, who served as witnesses to the event in 1968 that changed Bill’s life forever.
“It gives me great pride and makes me feel better [knowing my injuries weren’t for nothing], especially after watching other Marines get killed, knowing they are your own and now they’re gone,” said Bill. “It is nice to be recognized, but I wish my fellow Marines were still alive. I’d have wanted to see them live their lives instead.”
