Service and sacrifice: NIC designated 'Purple Heart College'

COEUR d’ALENE — Between them, Dale Wilson, Rick Kama and Len Crosby have six Purple Heart medals

It was fitting, then, that they were part of the ceremony Wednesday as North Idaho College was designated a Purple Heart College, and became a “critical part of promoting the importance of the Purple Heart award and all that it means.”

“There was an amazing amount of heroism, valor and courage with us today,” said Greg Eaton, NIC Veteran and Military Family Services adviser.

The 20-minute gathering at NIC’s Veterans Memorial was attended by about 20 people.

At first glance, it means NIC will receive Purple Heart designation signs on campus.

But for Wilson, who enlisted in the Army in 1969 and served 22 years, it means more.

“We are trying to remind people that we have a lot of folks who have served and sacrificed,” the Sagle man said.

Wilson was wounded in 1970 in Vietnam and spent three weeks in the hospital before returning to his unit.

A military historian who taught at West Point, Wilson said the country is doing a “terrible job of educating our young people of our history."

“It astounds me how historically illiterate most young people today are,” he said.

But that is changing, fueled by NIC’s Purple Heart College designation by the Department of Idaho, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and similar efforts.

In June 2015, Boise was designated as the first Purple Heart City in Idaho. Now, 27 more cities, two universities, two Indian reservations, one county and one baseball team, as well as several other entities, have also become Purple Heart designees.

“We’re getting the word out here in Idaho,” Wilson said.

One goal of the honor is to remind people “that precious blood was spilled in order to endure our freedoms, and how those freedoms must never be taken for granted or forgotten,” wrote Ned Barker, commander.

He said with less than 1% of the country’s population now serving in the military, “we strongly believe that it is vital to keep this important and meaningful symbol at the forefront of our minds, as well as a reminder to all, that countless veterans have given their lives for this country.”

Len Crosby, chief of staff, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Department of Idaho, said the Purple Heart medal is America’s oldest military decoration. It was initially known as The Badge of Military Merit and was awarded for Outstanding Valor and Unusual Gallantry in Battle.

In 1932, following World War I, Gen. Douglas MacArthur redesignated the Purple Heart as a medal to be awarded to members of the military who were wounded or killed in combat.

Since then, more than 1.8 million Purple Heart medals have been awarded to men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Crosby, who served six years as an Army Ranger and received two Purple Hearts, said more than 3,800 Idahoans who served or are serving in the military have been awarded the Purple Heart.

Rick Kama of Hayden served in the Marines from 1952 to 1976, in Korea and Vietnam, and received three Purple Hearts.

He is a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and charter member of the Panhandle Chapter.

“The Purple Heart medal is the combat decoration that no one seeks to receive,” Crosby said. “The recipients of the Purple Heart shed their blood or gave their life for our country."

He said veterans appreciate the action taken by NIC “to keep this symbol of those sacrifices visible in their city.”

“This is just another action in a long and consistent record of NIC’s support for our veterans and their families,” Crosby said.