Senator Tom Harkin today gave three Iowa widows the military medals theirhusbands earned for service in World War Two. Frances Hansen of Exira received her husband’s “Prisoner of War” medal. Herlate husband, Earl, spent 26 months as a P-O-W in Africa. Mr. Hansen diedin 1980, but his wife decided to try to get her husband’s medals for thefamily.Harkin helped speed up the process. Diane O’Brien of Des Moines receivedsix medals on behalf of her late husband, Norman. Mr. O’Brien was part ofthe Phillippine invasion force and has posthumously received the PhilippineLiberation Ribbon and the World War Two Victory Medal. It took his wife 10years to get the medals her husband deserved.Alma Bice of Perry received four medals on behalf of her late husband,Robert. Mr. Bice earned a medal with three bronze stars, which waspresented to his wife today.The ceremony took place in downtown Des Moines.
