(Tribune News Service) — In 1968, while serving on tour in Vietnam, a bullet struck U.S. Marine Private First Class James Ohlheiser and left him partially paralyzed.

On Monday, 56 years later, Ohlheiser finally received his Purple Heart Medal.

Ohlheiser was just 19 years old when gunfire injured him on Sept. 29, 1968 in Da Nang, Vietnam during his service with the United States Marine Corps. He spent the following 13 months recovering at hospitals, on convalescent leave, being relocated and more. Then, the military retired Ohlhesier.

“But the problem was that on his DD 214 — his discharge paperwork — they did not recognize him with his National Defense Service Medal, his Vietnam Service Medal, or with his Purple Heart,” said Michael Russell, administrator for Norman Veterans Home.

He was on the list of veterans eligible to receive a Purple Heart but it was not on DD 214, a document summarizing a service member’s military service issued by the United States Department of Defense when service members retire, separate or are discharged from active duty. Candice McIntire, State Homes marketing and outreach coordinator, said it was a process to get his records rectified.

Victor Duffy, veterans service officer for Norman Veterans Home, worked with Senator James Lankford’s office to correct the oversight. McIntire said Lankford’s office was positive it would be corrected but the process took several months.

About two weeks ago, Ohlheiser and the Norman Veterans Home learned the records were updated and the Purple Heart had been ordered.

On Veterans Day, Jay Bynum, executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, presented the medal to Ohlheiser, pinning it to his shirt in front of a room filled with veterans at the Norman Veterans Home.

“You have honorably served wherever and however your country needed you, even if that meant on the ground in Vietnam in harm’s way,” Lankford said in a statement read at the ceremony. “Our nation cannot thank you enough for devoting yourself to protect us. Our country is a better place because of your service, and I am grateful Oklahomans can call you one of our own.”

Ohlheiser’s brother, John, was by his side throughout the entire ceremony, which McIntire said was amazing.

“They were elated that the oversight had been corrected, finally,” McIntire said.

Ohlheiser said the presentation “snuck up” on him because he did not plan the event but would not change anything about it.

When asked what his country meant to him, Ohlhesier’s response was short but powerful.

“(It means) damn near everything,” he said.

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