Korean War vet gets Purple Heart

Wednesday, July 5, 2000 | 9:41 a.m.

Forty-eight years after being wounded in Korea, Joaquin Johnson, 71, was awarded the Purple Heart on Monday by Sen. Richard Bryan.

"Joaquin Johnson is a person I've known a long time," Bryan said. "He was superintendent of schools of Nye County for 17 years. When we found out that he was eligible for a Purple Heart but had not received it, we determined to get it for him."

Johnson served in the Korean War as an Army sergeant first class in the 5th Regimental Combat team. He was wounded in the hip by enemy shell fragments on Aug. 2, 1952.

Johnson was discharged because of his injuries and received disability. He had written to the Army numerous times for the Purple Heart, which is awarded to wounded servicemen, but he received no response.

"Maybe we're late," Bryan said, "but America never forgets.'

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