Lawrence WWII Veteran Receives Long-Overdue Medal for Service

On Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11, U.S. Rep. Rush Holt presented long-overdue medals to two local veterans, including William Boyle of Lawrence. 

Boyle served in World War II in the 628th Engineer Light Equipment Company in Ardennes, Central Europe, Normandy, and the Rhineland/Northern France.  He earned several medals, including the Army of Occupation World War II Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal, that he never received during his service.

Holt helped obtain that medal for Boyle and presented it during the annual Ewing Township Veterans Day ceremony at Major General George Betor Veterans Memorial Park on Monday. 

The other medal recipient was George Scherer of Ewing. Scherer graduated from Trenton State College in 1965 and was immediately drafted into the Army.  He served in Vietnam as a Crew Chief and Door Gunner on a UH-1C Helicopter Gunship.  He earned seven medals, including a Purple Heart, that he never received during his service.

Both veterans contacted Holt to ask for help earlier this year, and Holt intervened with the Army to verify their service and obtain the long-overdue medals.