MUNCIE, Ind. -- It was a celebration more than 70 years in the making on Tuesday.
WWII veteran Eugene Howell received his Purple Heart medal during a ceremony in Muncie.
Howell, 91, was wounded on September 21, 1944 during a battle in the Pacific when his unit came under fire.
Thirteen years ago, a veterans affairs service officer tried to help Howell obtain the medal, but the Marine Corps said then it could not find any evidence he was wounded in action.
Current Delaware County Veterans Affairs Officer Nate Jones renewed efforts for Howell and succeeded with the help of U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly.
Howell says he was happy to have served in the Marines.
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