A Marine Corps veteran received his Purple Heart more than five decades after his service in Vietnam.
It was 55 years ago in March 1968 when 19-year-old Lance Cpl. Stephen Peagler found himself under enemy fire line near Quang Tri in Vietnam.
“It was one of the worst attacks I had been in,” he said in a VA release. “I distinctly remember hearing my friend calling out my name from behind me. He was injured but I couldn’t get to him.”
Peagler was struck in his left leg and, after a second hit to his left arm, another round pierced his chest. He described a feeling of numbness until a helicopter came to rescue his unit.
“The pain didn’t hit me until I was treated for my injuries,” he said. “I was told my flak jacket saved me. That vest and my rifle were both torn to pieces.”
After being stabilized, he was transported to a hospital in Japan for intensive treatment of his wounds.
When Peagler was transferred back to the United States, he was evaluated at a naval hospital. From there, he was honorably discharged from the military and finally able to return home to Alabama. Once he arrived in Birmingham, he was gratefully reunited with his mother.
“I didn’t care much about any awards when I got home. I was just happy to be alive,” he explained.
Over the next several weeks, Peagler underwent extensive physical therapy at Birmingham VA to strengthen his injured arm and leg.
Following his recovery, he earned a degree in Business Administration from Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He then served in the U.S. Postal Service for 33 years, retiring in 2017.
“One day, my mother told me I should have received the Purple Heart. I began to pursue the award for my mother while she is still here. She is 91,” Peagler said.
After retiring from the Postal Service, Peagler joined the American Legion in 2018. There, he met Angela Hunter, a Marine veteran and Jefferson County Veterans Service Officer, who helped him file paperwork to receive the decoration.
“Not only did Peagler receive the Purple Heart, but he also received eight other awards and decorations,” said Hunter. “It was an honor to help him receive this well-deserved recognition.”
At the age of 75, Peagler was recently notified in a letter from Headquarters Marine Corps that he earned the following awards and decorations for his combat service in Vietnam: Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Rifle Marksman Badge.
“It feels good to be recognized for what I endured over there,” he said. “I’m a proud Marine and a proud American. They didn’t always treat us the best but I still had that sense of pride that I stood for something. Even if it doesn’t mean something to anybody else, it still means something to me.”
Peagler received his Purple Heart and other awards on April 7 at Birmingham VA in front of his family.
“I’m happy my mother is still here to see me receive these awards after all these years. I have four children, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren I’m happy to share this with too,” he added.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com .
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