Zinke presents posthumous Bronze Star to Veile family
Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, of Whitefish, presents a Bronze Star medal and a Combat Infantry Badge to Myrtle Veile and children on Friday afternoon, July 29 at the Whitefish VFW. Next to Myrtle is her daughter-in-law, Mindy.
U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke presented a posthumous Bronze Star medal to the family of World War II veteran and Whitefish native Don Veile during a gathering Friday at the Whitefish VFW.
Zinke said Veile, who passed away in April 2015, never talked about his service, so when his family began filling out paperwork for his headstone they were surprised to find he had been awarded three Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. Veile was also awarded a Combat Infantry Badge.
“He chased the Nazis all the way across Europe, and in the process, no doubt, he was in multiple battles,” Zinke said.
Veile served in the 1st Battalion of the 29th Infantry Division, Baker company, during the second wave of the Omaha Beach landing at Normandy, France, on D-Day in 1944.
Zinke related Veile with other notable veterans from Whitefish, like Ed Schenck, Karl Hinderman and Roy Duff.
The Bronze Star is awarded to an armed services member for heroic or meritorious achievement or service that did not include participation in aerial flight. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President to those who were wounded or killed in combat.
Zinke said he remembered Veile working at his grandfather’s shop growing up, whom he described as a good father and a hard worker.
“He was kind to me when I’d come in with my bike,” Zinke said. “Don was one of the friendly guys who was always there to help.”