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Man Receives Purple Heart After 58-Year Delay
By Peter Linscheid
IRON MOUNTAIN, MI (October 25, 2001) - Al Stenfors of First Covenant Church recently was awarded the Purple Heart he should have received 58 years ago.
Stenfors was drafted into the U.S. Army May 7, 1941. He went to North Carolina, where he was schooled in artillery. He later was sent on the Queen Mary luxury liner to Sydney, Australia. He arrived March 29, 1942, and served in the 65th AAA Battalion. He was stationed in Australia for nine months.
In April 1943, Stenfors was injured during a 27-month tour of duty in New Guinea. The Japanese launched a 100-plane attack on his station and Stenfors was struck in the knee by shrapnel. The lone injured soldier at his station, he was treated in a field hospital.
Before receiving his long overdue honor, Stenfors earned seven overseas stripes, one service stripe, a Good Conduct medal, a Distinguished Unit badge, an American Defense medal and an Asiatic Theatre medal with three bronze stars (indicating three major battles).
(Editor's note: Peter Linscheid wrote this article for one of First Covenant's recent newsletters. He is an eighth grade student and an avid snowboard enthusiast in Northern Michigan. His father, Bruce, is senior pastor at the church.
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