Help a Moon Veteran Receive the Purple Heart

Earlier this month, Moon Patch shared with you the story of a Moon Township veteran who is on a quest to receive the Purple Heart medal for an injury he received while serving in World War II. 

, 85, said he was injured by a piece of shrapnel while shooting at enemy aircraft during the Battle of Okinawa. A Navy veteran, Steri has been awarded other military honors for his service in World War II, including the Bronze Star, the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. 

The medal that still Steri is the Purple Heart. Candidates who receive the honor must suffer a wartime injury while in the line of fire and have two witnesses to their injury. 

Steri has just one living witness -- a friend named Jack Collins. Steri and Collins are the only surviving members of the LSM-32 amphibious ship on which they served during the war. He's seeking an exemption to that rule.

"It's been a long time coming," Steri said last week. "It's a personal thing. I have received all of these medals except the one I really want." 

Moon residents who wish to help Steri in his campaign to receive the award may write letters of support to Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey and Sen. Pat Toomey by clicking on the links. Readers may also leave messages of support for Steri below this Patch article.