Nicoma Park Man Reflects on Purple Heart Award

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

CHOCTAW, Oklahoma -- For veterans of war Memorial Day is especially significant. They have first-hand stories of service and sacrifice.

The same is true with the Military Order of The Purple Heart, the men and women either injured or killed in the line of duty. Local members are taking time to reflect this Memorial Day.

Back in the late '60s, Carolyn, a young bride and Jim, a youthful groom, were married. Just a week and a half later, Jim was called to duty for the Vietnam War.

"Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know" is a quote Jim Pumphrey's group of Purple Heart veterans stands behind.

Pumphrey had five friends killed in the war. His Purple Heart is proof he could've been one of them.

"We were walking down a trail, we were ambushed," he said. "I don't know what hit me, something hit me in the side of my head and I went down."

It's been several decades since Pumphrey earned his Purple Heart, but its impact is still fresh.

"That Purple Heart, it just really got to me...even after 40 years it gets me," he said.

The realities of war are why flags wave and stand tall along the Choctaw Veterans cemetery the Pumphreys visit

"I will never forget that," Pumphrey said. "I'm sure many others today get that, that same feeling."

Remembrance is the reason why Purple Heart veterans like Pumphrey went to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial last week.

"We took pictures of all the guys from our platoon that were killed over there and placed them on the well," he said.

And they made sure no soldier's death goes unappreciated. That's Pumphrey's cause, the reason, to him, every day is Memorial Day.

"Be thankful that somebody did sacrifice for you, that you can live in a country where you can be virtually anything you want," he said.

Pumphrey is also working on making the Purple Heart Stamp available as a Forever Stamp.