Congresswoman Kat Cammack presented James Lewis Wilkerson of Lawtey with recovered medals earned during his service in the Korean War.
Wilkerson received the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with four bronze stars, the combat infantryman badge, and the United Nations Service Medal. He also received a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in honor of his service and sacrifice while surrounded by his friends and family in a formal ceremony.
Wilkerson, now 93 years old, enlisted in the U.S. Army on January 11, 1951. After basic training, he deployed to Korea where he was wounded in action on August 6, 1951. He was released from active duty in 1953 after recovering from injuries he sustained in Korea.
The Purple Heart is a distinct honor presented to U.S. service members who have been wounded or killed as a result of enemy action while serving in the U.S. Military.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to present Mr. Wilkerson with the medals he earned during his distinguished service in the Forgotten War in Korea,” said Rep. Cammack. “He earned each and every one of his distinctions and I’m so proud that our office could help him and his family recover his service medals after all these years. Our team works hard on behalf of our heroes and I’m grateful for their work to make this long overdue ceremony possible.”
Wilkerson shared a few words with the attendees of the ceremony, noting how special the day was to him as he reflected on his lifetime of service following his time in Korea. The full ceremony can be viewed on Cammack’s Facebook page.
The office assists veterans with claims of all kinds, including recovering service records and decorations, filing claims with the VA, VA disability evaluations, and more. Contact the Gainesville office at 352-505-0838 or visit cammack.house.gov.
