Fifteen Iowans who were held as prisoners of war will be honored with P-O-W medals in a ceremony this morning in northeast Iowa. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley will present the medals to the veterans or surviving family members in the 9-45 service at Rose Hill Cemetery in Fredericksburg. Grassley says this is an important day. Today’s service in Fredericksburg will include a fly-over by Iowa Air National Guard F-16s in an aerial salute. Earlier this decade, Grassley served on the Senate Select Committee that investigated the P-O-W issue. More than a million Americans have died in the line of duty, serving this country. Grassley says Iowans should show respect on this holiday.The following is a list of the fifteen P-O-W’s being honored today, the wars they served in and their hometowns: Marvin Balhorn, WW2, Marion; Donald Brehmer, WW2, Waterloo; Donald Busta, Korea, Lawler; Mearl Cline, WW2, Waterloo; John Gutierrez, WW2, Cedar Rapids; Arthur Haan, WW2, Allison; Merle Hobbs, WW2, St. Ansgar; Dale Jensen, WW2, Elk Run Heights; Victor Johnson, WW2, Nashua; Lawrence Klenske, WW2, New Hampton; Carroll McCampbell, WW2, Waterloo; Edward Merfeld, WW2, Marble Rock; Paul Moore, WW2, Marshalltown; Howard Parker, WW2, Cedar Rapids; Carl Selvig, WW2, Charles City; Randall Thompson, WW2, Marshalltown; Duane Vavroch, Vietnam, West Des Moines. A 16th Iowan will be presented with the Purple Heart — Milford Bergeson of Fredericksburg, who served in World War Two.
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