Still fighting for his Purple Heart

Meyer with his war memorabilia at his home in St Peter, Minnesota. — AP

EARL Meyer remembers in vivid detail when his platoon came under heavy fire during the Korean War – he still has shrapnel embedded in his thigh.

But over 70 years later, the 96-year-old is still waiting for the US Army to recognise his injury and to award him a Purple Heart medal, which honours service members wounded or killed in combat.