WWII Veteran Dwight Stevens Posthumously Awarded Medals in Willmar Ceremony
Family members of World War II veteran Dwight Stevens gathered in Willmar, Minnesota, to posthumously receive his military honors. U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach hosted the ceremony, which included Stevens' children, Debrah Pickering and Wes Stevens, at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1639. VFW member Brian Gislason and Kandiyohi County Veterans Service Officer Trisha Appeldorn assisted in presenting the awards and detailing Stevens' service. Stevens, who passed away in 2010 at 84, rarely spoke about his wartime experiences. His children noted that he was a changed man after the war, suppressing his emotions. The medals presented included the Bronze Star Medal with an Oakleaf Cluster, the Marksman Badge, the World War II Victory Medal, the Purple Heart, and three Bronze Service Stars. Stevens served as a rifleman, tank mechanic, and light truck driver in the U.S. Army 10th Armored Division from July 6, 1944, to March 17, 1946, participating in significant battles such as the Battle of the Bulge and the liberat...