World War II Honoree

John Albert Powell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

New Martinsville, West Virginia

Honored By

John R. Wardle

Relationship

Nephew

My uncle was in the Army during WW II and is my HERO. You will see why he is my hero as I tell you, his story. He was in France during WW II. Johnny and two other soldiers were sent on patrol ahead of his unit. As they approached a farmhouse or some type of building, a machine gun fired at them. Two of the three were hit and killed. My uncle was severely wounded and fell to the ground being hit three or more times. His unit saw that he was still alive, and two volunteers crawled out and pulled him to safety. He was sent to a miliary hospital and then to the U.S. He had to learn how to walk again with braces on both lags from the knees to his ankles. My uncle was a house painter before the war. His family and others thought he would not ever be a house painter again. He surprised everyone. He started painting all sizes of houses. He was in terrible pain every time he pushed the heavy wooden ladders up the side of all the houses he painted, but he did it. The VA offered him drugs to help with the pain, but he refused them, because he didn't want to become a drug addict. He supported his wife and children every day for the rest of his life. The war took its toll on him both physically and mentally, but he never gave up. This is why my uncle will always be my HERO.