By JARED ORZOLEK
orzolek@crescent-news.com
FLORIDA -- One of the most decorated World War II veterans in northwest Ohio has received yet another award.
Arthur Long, 90, from the Henry County village of Florida, has been named the 2008 Ohio Disabled Veteran of the Year by the Disabled American Veterans organization in a ceremony held in Columbus earlier this summer.
Few veterans have a combat service record as decorated as Long, who served from Oct. 2, 1944 to June 24, 1945.
"I have a whole wall (of awards) in there," he said, pointing to the living room of his home.
"There were probably 500 people at the reception they had in Columbus."
Long served in the European Theater during World War II as an antitank gunner on a halftrack in the 56th Armored Infantry Battalion, 12th Armored Division.
He was wounded eight different times in combat and has six Purple Heart awards.
"It was pretty rough, but everybody had to do it," Long said of his wartime experience.
Long and his wife, Helen, have been married since 1946, and had five children, Larry, who died in infancy, Leonard, Linda Lulfs, Judy Rose and Lloyd.
There are also 11 grandchildren and 14-great grandchildren and one grandchild and one great-grandchild who have passed away.
Long credits the help of an Army nurse, Helene (McCann) Clemens of Defiance along with his wife in helping bring back his health following his combat wounds. Long's injuries included a round he took in the jaw, which still impacts his speech today.
However, Long never let his injuries slow him down as he started working in a construction business within a few years of returning home from World War II. He also worked at the Campbell Soup Supply Co., for 22 years, retiring in 1980.
Long has spent much of his retirement completing various woodworking projects at his home in the village of Florida and he also enjoys gardening and spending time with his family.
Long attended the 2007 Honor Flight, which was organized in Defiance to transport World War II Veterans from northwest Ohio to Washington, D.C., to view the World War II Memorial and other monuments.
"It was a nice trip, but it was a long day," he said.
Long was nominated for the Ohio Disabled Veteran of the Year award by his local chapter.
The Disabled American Veterans organization has its roots back in the 1920s when the group began to form in Ohio following World War I.
Close to 250 disabled veterans attended an early meeting, which was held on Sept. 25, 1920.
The first national convention for the organization occurred on June 27, 1921, in Detroit.
The organization received its federal charter on June 17, 1932, as membership rose to more than 41,000 that year.
In 1946, following World War II, membership eclipsed 100,000 and the organization has continued its mission to help disabled veterans through the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.