LIVERMORE FALLS – Emile Henry said something fishy was going on Saturday as peopled gathered for a World War II Remembrance Program. His name was on the program.

As he talked about his mission in the Southwest Pacific he spotted more family arriving.

Henry saw his share of blood when he entered the war in 1943 as the U.S. Army fought its way through the Philippine Islands’ jungles toward Japan in World War II. The 83-year-old Jay man treated hundreds of injured soldiers as a medical technician-nurse

It didn’t bother him, he said softly. He was one of the third of the class that didn’t leave or pass out when they saw their first operation. He underwent medical training was 16 hours a day for three months.

His unit set up hospitals on battlegrounds and in churches and schools as the military advanced from Leyte through Luzon toward Japan.

Outside the converted hospitals, soldiers lay on the ground in order of seriousness waiting for care, the worst injuries brought inside for treatment first, Henry said.

He and fellow soldiers were on a Dutch passenger ship bound to invade Japan when the U.S. dropped two bombs. A typhoon struck and Henry and his unit waited it out on the ocean.

They were off the coast of Japan when peace reached.

“I was glad it was over,” Henry said.

Henry was one of several World II veterans joined by family at the service at the Livermore Falls High School.

Though he earned them, he said he never received his Victory Medal and his Honorable Service lapel button. He never pursued them after he was told at the end of the war there were no medals left.

But family and area veterans did.

“They’re still pursuing them,” he said.

As Henry looked around he became more suspicious. His six children and their families, his brother and other family members arrived.

His wife, Jeannette of 57 years, and a daughter pushed him to get ready for the ceremony he planned to attend with son-in-law John Davis, he said. He was sent back to change when he appeared in sneakers. He was told his attire was not good enough.

When his wife took a seat beside him at the ceremony, he wondered.

The program began, and state legislators were introduced. U.S. Brigadier General John Libby, wearing his father’s World War II Victory Medal, spoke to the veterans hailing them as “the Greatest Generation.”

Congressman Michael Michaud addressed veterans and families.

Then, after his speech was over, Michaud picked up some framed medals and told those gathered that unfortunately, some veterans never received their medals and were long overdue.

That signaled Henry’s time.

Michaud presented him with his medals.

His family snapped photos of the special moment, tears welling in many eyes.

“It’s pretty nice,” Henry’s son, Randy, 40, of Leeds said. “He’s talked about it for years.”

The family was shocked to get the call last week that he would finally get what he earned.

“I’m proud of him,” said his oldest son, Roger Henry, 54, of Jay. “The family’s proud of him.”

“It’s been a long time coming,” said daughter, Pam Davis of Livermore Falls. “I don’t know how to explain how we feel. We heard he was going to get his medals and it was the happiest feeling. You just feel all warm. I’m so happy I could cry. “

As Emile Henry looked over his medals, he said, “I didn’t think I’d get them.”

dperry@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link