Across the nation, Americans are taking a second to pause and remember those who have gone before us, as well as those who currently lay their lives on the line to serve our country. From Washington D.C. to California and even here in the great state of Texas, we honor those whose daily sacrifice keeps us safe and brings us a great sense of pride in our nation.
One of those Veterans, Retired Private Allen Wilson, stopped by the KTAB studios this afternoon, to reach out to Veterans that served with him.
Private Wilson’s daughter, Carol Huffstetler, appeared with her father to help him tell his amazing story.
Wilson joined the army in 1945 and was medically discharged in 1946 after suffering substantial injuries to both his legs and left arm when a grenade blew up around him.
Private Allen Wilson, originally from Clarksville, Texas, served in WWII and was injured in the Philippines.
When asked how old he is now, the cheerful vet simply laughed and said “78.” His daughter Carol however called his bluff, revealing his true age to be 89 years old.
“The reason we’re here today is kind of special,” she explains, “he did this because he wants to reconnect with other people he may have served with, which is really important to my dad.”
Huffstetler points out the numerous medals her dad is wearing for the first time since being discharged from the army. Among them just one of three purple hearts, his bronze stars, and his American campaign medal.
Retired Veteran Allen Wilson is seeking out any other Veterans who served in the Pacific Campaign from 1945 to 1946.
The family was recently contacted by a medic who, Private Wilson says, is the man responsible for saving his life.
“It brought us to tears,” says Huffstetler, “he held the blood transfusion bag for 12 hours.”
While his daughter spoke about the man who saved him, Private Wilson clutches his purple heart pinned on his chest. Before the show, he told us, he counted the medic who helped him as the best friend he’s ever had.
Above all, Private Wilson holds to one sentiment. As he says, the real heroes are left on the battlefield.
“There are a lot of heroes,” he says, “you’re there because you’ve done what you’re supposed to do and that’s the way I look at it.”
“He doesn’t feel like he’s a hero,” explains Huffstetler, “that is the reason he doesn’t wear his medals. Not that their not important, but because his friends that were left behind were so much more important to him.”
To watch the full interview, Follow this Link
