63 years after he was wounded Billings man receives Purple Heart

[thedrifter]

Tuesday, September 11, 2007.
Last modified on 9/11/2007 at 12:36 am
63 years after he was wounded Billings man receives Purple Heart

By CYNTHIA REYNAUD
Of The Gazette Staff
For 63 years, a small white scar on the middle knuckle of Sidney Kurth's left hand was the only reminder the World War II veteran had of the day he was injured during battle.

Now, a small medal over his heart will remind others of what Kurth gave for his country.

Monday, Kurth was awarded the Purple Heart for an injury he received while serving in the U.S. Marines during World War II.

"It's been a long time coming - too long. This should have been taken care of years ago, but it's taken care of now," said Wilber Jensen, commandant of the local Marine Corps League.

Kurth, a Billings lawyer, served in the Marines from Jan. 6, 1942, to Jan. 4, 1946. He was a second lieutenant in the 3rd 155mm Howitzer Battalion based at Guadalcanal, part of the Solomon Islands, during World War II.

It was Oct. 6, 1944, when Kurth's left hand was struck by shrapnel. Kurth sat in a foxhole made of coral on Peleliu Island in the South Pacific as the Japanese crossed the perimeter defense.

When the first hand grenade flew over their makeshift fort, Kurth quickly threw it out. But just as it seemed they were out of harm's way, another grenade landed in the foxhole and exploded.

Kurth retreated from the battle just long enough to bandage up his hand. Then he returned.

"When you're wounded, you either go back to your outfit, or go to a hospital ship. I wasn't bad enough to go to a hospital ship," Kurth said.

The battalion's operations around the island were supposed to last only 48 hours but ended up taking 43 days, Kurth said. On Aug. 8, 1945, the battalion disbanded.

Somewhere along the way, the battalion's records were lost. Although Kurth knew he was eligible for a Purple Heart, neither he nor anyone else brought it up.

About two years ago, he got a copy of the battalion's records in the mail.

"I had known all along I was entitled to a Purple Heart, but I kind of forgot about it until the records came," he said.

Apparently, somebody's grandson had decided he wanted to know what his grandfather had done in the military, so he traveled to Washington, D.C., where he searched the Naval Archives for records of the 3rd 155mm Howitzer Battalion, Kurth said.

What he came up with was the battalion's log book, which cited each day's activity, who was injured and who died.

It was from these photocopied papers that 1st Sgt. George Rabidou compiled a history of Kurth's battalion, which he read as part of Monday's ceremony.

Rabidou first met Kurth a year and a half ago when he brought him the papers. Kurth tabbed a paper in the middle of the pile to mark the entry that spoke of his injury.

According to military regulations, the Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the president to any member of the Armed Forces or any civilian national of the United States who, while serving in the U.S. Armed Services after April 5, 1917, has been wounded or killed in action against an enemy or opposing armed force of the United States.

Rabidou mailed the paperwork on Feb. 27, 2006. It was 62 years late, but better late than never, he said.

Monday, Rabidou handed over the medal, embossed with George Washington's face on the front and the phrase "For Military Merit" on the back. Kurth accepted the honor with a smile on his face and his wife, Sue Fraser-Kurth, at his side.

Kurth's sons, Kevin and Brian, and his grandchildren, Pearce and Cydney, were also in attendance, along with 20-plus members of the Marine Corps League.

"It's been a long time coming," Kevin Kurth said. "But the best part about it being late is that we get to share it with him."

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Former Marine gets medal for 1944 injury
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Sep 11, 2007 17:59:58 EDT

BILLINGS, Mont. — A Billings man who was injured by a hand grenade during World War II and returned to battle after bandaging the injury has been awarded the Purple Heart.

Sidney Kurth received his medal Monday, nearly 63 years after he was injured.

“It’s been a long time coming — too long. This should have been taken care of years ago, but it’s taken care of now,” said Wilber Jensen, commandant of the local Marine Corps League.

Kurth, who is a lawyer, served in the Marines from Jan. 6, 1942, to Jan. 4, 1946. He was a second lieutenant in the 3rd 155mm Howitzer Battalion based at Guadalcanal, part of the Solomon Islands, during World War II.

On Oct. 6, 1944, Kurth sat in a fighting hole made of coral on Peleliu Island in the South Pacific as the Japanese crossed the perimeter defense.

When the first hand grenade flew over their makeshift fort, Kurth quickly threw it out. But just as quickly another grenade exploded in the fighting hole.

Kurth retreated long enough to bandage his hand, then returned to battle.

“When you’re wounded, you either go back to your outfit, or go to a hospital ship. I wasn’t bad enough to go to a hospital ship,” Kurth said.

The battalion’s operations around the island were only supposed to last 48 hours, but ended up lasting 43 days, Kurth said. On Aug. 8, 1945, the battalion disbanded.

Somewhere along the way, the battalion’s records were lost. Although Kurth knew he was eligible for a Purple Heart, he didn’t raise the issue.

About two years ago, he got a copy of the battalion’s records in the mail.

Apparently the grandson of a fellow Marine searched the Naval Archives for records of Kurth’s battalion and found its log book, which cited each day’s activity, who was injured and who died.

1st Sgt. George Rabidou mailed the paperwork to apply for Kurth’s Purple Heart in February 2006.

Monday, Rabidou handed over the medal, embossed with George Washington’s face on the front and the phrase “For Military Merit” on the back.

Ellie