DERRY — A local World War II veteran received a long overdue honor on Monday.
Milton Christian, 84, sported his original uniform and received the Bronze Star Medal in a special ceremony at the Derry Municipal Center. He was surrounded by his wife, seven children, grandchildren and friends as U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen presented the award.
"He's a little nervous," Charlotte Christian said as her husband waited to be introduced.
Shaheen then approached the Derry veteran and pinned on his newest medal.
"After 64 years, today Milton Christian will finally receive the full honor and recognition he has earned and deserved," Shaheen said.
While majoring in chemistry at the University of New Hampshire, Christian enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served from 1943 to 1946 as a member of the 29th Infantry Division, seeing action in the Netherlands, France and Germany as a member of the Heavy Machine Guard.
Wounded in an explosion in the Battle of Brest in France, Christian was previously awarded the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze stars, and numerous other honors and medals.
He was eligible for the Bronze Star Medal, but never received the award.
"In my mind, this is a medal I earned for my service with the help of my squad," Christian said. "We were the ones in the mud, doing the work with no recognition, and many that I served with did not make it home."
Daughter Nancy Albert said her dad didn't talk much about his wartime experiences when she was growing up. But, in recent years, he has opened up more about his years in the military, she said.
"My dad has so many stories from his time in the service, and the medal he received today is one more thing that he'll be able to pass along to his children and grandchildren," daughter Pat Christian said. "We're all so proud of him. He deserves this recognition."
After the war, Christian returned home, got married, raised a family and worked hard to make a living. His children all graduated from Pinkerton Academy and went on to start their own families.
Steve Christian said his father is the greatest man he's ever known.
"He is a great inspiration to me," he said. "I feel very fortunate to be his son."
In addition to the Bronze Star, Christian also received replicas of past awards he already received including infantry badges, WW II Victory Medal and Honorable Service Lapel Button.
"We were just a bunch of guys doing a job for our squad," Christian said the ceremony. "We stuck together. This is for me and for all the people who served with me."
