Better late than never, World War II vet receives honors with family at side

After 64 years, 12 U.S. presidents and two new states admitted to the union, 87-year-old Cpl. Bill Morstad accepted medals earned during his four years of service in the second Great War. A father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Bill was joined by three generations of family members for a Nov. 1 ceremony in Fond du Lac, where he was presented a shadow box containing five medals and a service pin. It took over a year and a half to research, gather and submit all the documents to put together this presentation, a job that was well worth the wait. "All I can add is that my dad has always been a hero to his children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren, but presenting these medals is something truly special," said Dave Morstad, Bill's son. The medals presented included the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button and the Good Conduct Medal. Bill joined the Army Air Corps in June of 1941 as a radio operator and air traffic controller. After the attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941, he sailed to North Africa and served in Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and South America until the end of the war, four years later.

Click To View High-Resolution Photo Sixty-four years after he left the service, Bill Morstad and his wife hold a shadow box filled with medals he earned during four years of service during World War II at a small ceremony in Fond du Lac Nov 1. Morstad enlisted in the Army Air Corps in June of 1941 and served overseas as a radio operator and air traffic controller until the end of the war in 1945. Morstad and his wife stand with Col. Gunther Neumann, director of operations for the Wisconsin Air National Guard, and Dave Anderson, district director for Wisconsin Congressmen Tom Petri. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dan Richardson)

"It was a good tour, a lot of it; you don't remember the bad parts," Morstad said.

Col. Gunther Neumann, director of operations, Wisconsin Air National Guard, presented Cpl. Morstad with the shadow box and explained a little about what each of the medals contained was awarded for.

"It is very important to recognize individuals for their great contributions and service during that war effort," Neumann said.

Dave Anderson, district director for Wisconsin Congressmen Tom Petri, presented a flag that was flown over the United States Capitol, along with a certificate recognizing Bill's contributions and patriotism. "Events like this are among the most treasured opportunities I've had, because I think it is important that we to recognize the contributions of these great individuals, and it is appropriate to set the record straight," Anderson said.

"It was kind of emotional, it really was, to think that my sons went through all of this, and after all these years, this came out of it," Morstad said.

Sixty-four years later is better than never for a surviving member of our nation's Greatest Generation.