Man receives Bronze Star
By Heather Mangold
City
Editor
A 75-year-old Lafayette man was promised a Bronze
Star for bravery during World War II and he received it on Sunday.
It has been 55 years since James Payne was promised
a Bronze Star from the United States military, according to Sen. Ron
Alting, D-22nd.
Bronze Star medals are awarded to military personnel
for acts of bravery in combat.
Payne served as a corporal and as a military policeman,
after being wounded, in World War II. He served until the mid-1940s,
according to his son.
Charles Payne, son of James Payne, will present
the award to his father along with 30 other family members, area veteran
personnel, Sen. Ron Alting, R-22nd, and two-star general for the state
of Indiana National Guard, Robert Mitchell.
"I'm very proud of my dad," said Payne.
According to a press release, earlier this year
Payne's son Charles, who asked if the senator could help the veteran
receive the Bronze Star, contacted Alting.
His father was supposed to receive his honor during
the war, but it never happened.
"Now, 55 years later, he can get his medal," said
Alting.
The two-star general presenting the award is making
an exception to the rule by traveling to Lafayette to present Payne
with his award.
"It is unheard of that he came to do this," said
Alting.
Alting said, "It is a special event. He is the
highest ranking general in Indiana."
Alting has been working on the event for four months.
"I cannot help but think that while the general
pins the medal on 75-year-old Corporal James Payne, in essence, the
two of them are pinning medals on every American. These medals will
be worn in our hearts and in our minds. The medals represent freedom,
family, liberty and democracy," said Alting.
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