Deserving medal

Mortar fire rang through the jungles of the Republic of Vietnam as U.S. Army Spc. IV Willie Migues was taking off his boots after a long night on duty.

Shrapnel sprayed him in the lower back. He was tended by a medic and reported back for duty until the second time when the Vietcong fired a personnel mine into camp and Migues was hit again, this time in the shoulder. Again, Migues was treated by a medic and returned to duty until his tour ended in 1967 when he returned home to New Iberia.

Soldiers wounded in battle receive a Purple Heart medal that entitles them to Veteran’s benefits for life.

It took 41 years for Migues, now 63, to finally get his Purple Heart, which he accepted Thursday with sons Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Migues of New Iberia and Sgt. Maj. William Migues of Lafayette by his side.

Brandon Migues said the battle for this recognition started two years ago when, after retirement, his father learned he was ineligible for the V.A. medical benefits that he was counting on to cover him at least until he would be eligible for Medicare.

William Migues said the Army had no record of Willie Migues being wounded in battle and therefore denied his enrollment attempt for benefits.

“The V.A. was pretty difficult to deal with,” William Migues said. “We contacted Maj. Gen. Hunt Downer, former Louisiana Speaker of the House who was head of the V.A. in Louisiana at the time.”

Brandon Migues said Downer got the V.A. to put a priority on his father’s case and he was given a full medical screening, the results of which supported his claims of being wounded in battle.

“All of this prompted the case to be forwarded to the Department of the Army,” William Migues said. “A committee validated his claim and awarded him the Purple Heart, which comes with full medical benefits for life.”

Maj. Gen. John Basilica, a two-star general with the U.S. Army, visited the National Guard Armory Building in New Iberia to award Migues his long overdue medals.

“I am honored and pleased to be here,” he said. “It’s never too late to do the right thing and this is absolutely the right thing.”

In addition to the Purple Heart, Migues also was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, a Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation Badge and the Vietnam Service Medal W/2 Bronze Service Stars.

The ceremony was a surprise to Willie Migues and with tears in his eyes, he could only muster “I just can’t believe all of this.”