Ten years ago, the last U.S. veteran of “the Great War” passed on and the surviving ranks of the veterans of World War II are rapidly thinning.

The VA says that about 250 WWII veterans now are dying every day. At the end of that war, the War Department ordered that every U.S. Army infantryman in WWII who was awarded the “Combat Infantry Badge” would be awarded a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service -- not to be confused with the Army's Bronze Star with "V" device which is awarded for heroism.

More than 16 million men out of a United States male population of about 60 million served in uniform, which was about one out of four. During the Vietnam War, less than one out of 100 served.

Since their ranks are rapidly thinning, I ask that the relatives of those surviving WWII veterans who qualify make sure that the Bronze Star was received.

This special award of the Bronze Star does not apply to Infantrymen of Korea, Vietnam, or later wars. Your congressman can help. Time is running out.

Gerald Wetzel,

U.S. Army (retired) Butler Township