Honored for Their Service

In the photo at right, Clay Nichols, center, holds a display of his WWII medals soon after they were presented by U.S. Congressman Richard Burr (right). Nichols, who had lost his medals over the years, served with the 517th Airborne Combat Team with the 101st Airborne Division and earned such prestigious awards as a silver star, bronze star and purple heart. With him are VFW Post Commander Eldon Edwards and fellow WWII veteran Vernon Stolt (far left). Stolt received the "Thank You America" certificate from the French government for his participation in the Normandy landing on June 6, 1944.

In the photo at left, Morgan Ray Tompkins receives the second award of a purple heart medal from Burr. Tompkins already had received one purple heart for wounds in combat during WWII, this was his second medal that he earned but was never presented. Burr read an account from the U.S. Department of Defense concerning the reason for the presentation. Tompkins was wounded as he led a group of troops and took out a machine gun nest, snipers and other enemy troops during a fierce battle.

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