The United Presbyterian Home welcomed a special guest

The United Presbyterian Home welcomed a special guest and awarded a hero on Tuesday.

Marion Turnipseed left the Air Force over 70 years ago and earned medals he never received. On Tuesday, Oct. 9, with family and Washington VFW members proudly taking up the entire first row, Turnipseed explained that when he put in a call to Congressman Dave Loebsack some months ago, he never expected a full ceremony to come of it.

He told the crowd of around 50 that gathered, that he was watching television one night and saw a news special on a veteran who was being awarded medals from the war. He thought he might have a couple himself and put in a call to the congressman. 'I never dreamed it would be a whole basketful,” he told the audience.

Loebsack presented Turnipseed with eight medals including the World War II Victory Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel button.

Turnipseed stood tall as his eyes glassed over as every VFW member in attendance proudly clapped for their fellow soldier. He took the stand to address the audience, his voice thick with emotion and pride as he slowly introduced each member of his family from his son to his 99-year-old sister. 'There's plenty of you out there that are a part of my family,” he noted. 'This is the type of place that we learn to feel that way, I think.”

He began telling the audience that he enlisted in the Air Force just ahead of the 1940 draft, because he wanted to ensure he got a spot working with planes. He became an engineer and flew in various missions including three near-death experiences, which he told in detail to the audience.

He said that during one mission in particular, a piece of the plane in front of them came off and was hurling at them. He screamed and the pilot saw it just in time to steer their plane out of its path. He said he watched it fly past his head from where he was; safe in his own plane. 'That was my first mission,” he said with a chuckle.

After the presentation, Turnipseed shook hands and accepted hugs from friends and salutes of honor from fellow VFW members. He clung tightly to his basket of medals, which came over 70 years later than expected, but he was glad to have them nonetheless.

Loebsack said veterans not receiving their medals is not uncommon. Often there was a rush to get the soldier home, paperwork was destroyed or lost and there was no way to contact the veteran. He said his office has taken on many cases like Turnipseed's and continues to do so.

'To be able to do something like this, it's pretty amazing,” he said. 'It's an honor.”

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