Veterans awarded Silver Star banners

November 8, 2011 at 4:00 a.m. | Updated November 8, 2011 at 4:00 a.m.

Gov. Jay Nixon, center, presents Wilburn Rowden with a Silver Star Banner on Monday. Rowden, a radio operator during World War II, was injured on his sixth mission and was held as a prisoner-of-war for more than a year.
Gov. Jay Nixon, center, presents Wilburn Rowden with a Silver Star Banner on Monday. Rowden, a radio operator during World War II, was injured on his sixth mission and was held as a prisoner-of-war for more than a year.

For more than 65 years, Wilburn Rowden has been a veteran, a veteran who was injured defending his country.

Nearly 35 years ago, David Maudlin, Roger Stottlemyre and Don Hentges returned home from Vietnam, with injuries, to a country that was less than welcoming.

The four were honored with Silver Star banners Monday morning in the governor's office at the Capitol.

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