Urbandale Veteran To Be Awarded Purple Heart

Iowa Congressman Leonard Boswell will award a Purple Heart to Urbandale Vietnam veteran John Orthaus Friday at 9 a.m. at the Urbandale Library.

Orthaus is an Army veteran who was wounded when his barracks was bombed in Vietnam. Although he received a Purple Heart medal while he was recovering in an Army hospital, the honor was never entered in his service record, said Jarrett Schneider, communications director for the congressman, who also is a Vietnam veteran.

Schneider said Orthaus will receive a Purple Heart Medal with his name engraved on it and a Purple Heart certificate, as well as the Good Conduct Medal.

Purple Heart Medals are awarded in the name of the President of the United States to military members who are wounded or killed in action.

The Good Conduct medal recognizes exemplary service as a soldier, said Schneider.

Schneider said Orthaus' wife, Eileen, had asked the congressman to help get  Orthaus' service record corrected to include recognition of his medals.

"It's not a real common occurrence that we award the Purple Heart medal," said Schneider. 

The ceremony will take place in Meeting Room B.