Harkin presents medals to veterans' families in Iowa City

It took nine decades, but Clarence Davis got his Purple Heart on Monday.

“Better late than never,” Sen. Tom Harkin quipped before presenting Davis' family with the medal he earned when he was shot in the spine during a World War I battle in France. “My only regret is that it's taken so long.”

After so many years, Harkin, a Navy veteran, said during the ceremony at American Legion Post No. 17 in Iowa City, some people may wonder, why bother?

Randy Busch of Marion, Davis' grandson, doesn't.

“He had an award from the French government for his service. He had a citation signed by General John Pershing,” commander of the U.S. Army in Europe during World War I, Busch said after the ceremony where Harkin presented overdue medals to the families of four deceased veterans. “But the Purple Heart was the only one he didn't have.”

Busch said his mother, Jean Bush of Clarence, his aunt, Joan Goodin of Davenport and an uncle tried for years to get the medal for Davis, who grew up in Cedar Rapids. They had no luck until Harkin's office became involved. The recent discovery of more records of Davis' service and hospitalization, including his notes about his injury, helped, Busch said.

For Roger Donegan of Cedar Rapids, accepting medals for his brother, Richard, was a triumph over bureaucracy.

“I never cared much for my medals,” said Donegan, a Navy veteran, but his sister and grandson pushed him to keep trying to get Richard's. When the Army told him he didn't have a brother, Donegan turned to Harkin's office for help.

“I told him I knew I had a brother because I was there when they buried him,” Donegan said.

Harkin also presented medals to the families of Kenneth Hein, who served in the Amy in Korea, and Harlan Henely, who served in the Navy in Vietnam.

Harkin's office has been involved in the presentation of medals to about 200 veterans over the past 15 years. The ceremonies are meaningful to veterans, he said, “but some people might say, ‘What's the big deal?'”

“Well, the big deal is that we should never forget,” he said.

Medal recipients

Medal recipients

Kenneth Hein: Korea, Army; Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with two bronze Service Stars, Combat Infantryman Badge 1st award, United Nations Service Medal.

Harlan Henely: Vietnam, Navy; Purple Heart Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal with three bronze stars, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, Combat Action Ribbon

Richard Donegan: World War II, Army; Purple Heart Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with a Bronze Service Star, World War II Victory Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button (World War II Victory Medal)

Clarence Davis: World War I, Army; Purple Heart