In 1945, then 22-year old Harvey Drahos was wounded at the Battle of Okinawa, and he was convinced he wouldn’t make it out alive.
“I told the good Lord, ‘If I can survive this, I’ll dedicate my life to helping people,'” he said. “And that’s what I’ve done.”
After he was honorably discharged from the military, Drahos went on to honor that promise. He has managed emergency services, legally represented patients and helped assist other veterans. In his 25 years in Thurston County, he worked with a congressman to activate a military service center, and has remained active in local organizations such as the North Thurston Kiwanis.
But during his long and fulfilling life, there is still one thing Drahos hasn’t received: his Purple Heart award. His World War II service left him with shrapnel wounds to his right wrist, brain damage from a major concussion and PTSD. But a series of clerical and bureaucratic mishaps mean the Department of Defense will not award Drahos the medal given to those wounded or killed while serving in the U.S. military.
“A Purple Heart is your recognition that you served, and you were recognized for sharing your blood for the defense of your country,” he said. “It’s taken me almost 80 years and we’ve tried every means to get it.”
His original discharge papers listed him as part of the 90th regiment, not the 96th infantry, and he has attempted to correct this mistake and receive his award at least eight times, with no success.
When a fire broke out in 1973 at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Drahos’ records were destroyed. In his most recent attempt to gain recognition, an employee at the Department of the Army told Drahos the board could not make a fair determination on his Purple Heart application, and told him he had to prove otherwise.
Drahos has tried to get justice through three representatives and two senators, as well as multiple veteran’s organizations. All have failed.
“It took me 68 years to get my health benefits,” Drahos said. “I qualify for at least one or two Purple Hearts. And nothing. They just say, ‘No, no, no, no.’ I just practically gave it up already.”
Drahos turned 100 in January, and underwent aortic valve replacement surgery on June 5. He’s still recovering, and told The Olympian he’s ready to move on, stay alive and start a new life.
But several in the community are still hopeful that the veteran will get his recognition. Karen Schoessel met Drahos at a Kiwanis Club event on Valentine’s Day in 2015. He was passing out candy to all of the “ladies,” she said, and gave her a double batch. It was the start of a strong friendship.
“Harvey is one of the most generous people I think I’ve ever met,” Schoessel said. “He has a total and continual commitment to community service. He’s affable, friendly, outgoing. … He’s got a great sense of humor. He’s just a wonderful human being.”
In one of her early days as a member of Kiwanis, Schoessel said Drahos was in charge of inviting a guest speaker to a meeting, but his chosen speaker did not show. When members asked Drahos to share his life story instead, she said she was amazed by his deeds and accomplishments.
When Drahos told Schoessel about his decades long struggle to get the Purple Heart, she knew she wanted to help. She’s sorted through binders full of documentation and correspondence, and most recently coordinated with U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland for another unsuccessful attempt this year.
“He just wants to have a complete set of his medals before he passes away,” she said. “I was hoping to have that to give to him on his 100th birthday back in early January, and we realized that was not going to happen.”
In her efforts to find any way to get Drahos his Purple Heart, Schoessel also has become a primary communication line between Drahos and Rishi Sharma, the creator of Remember WWII, a YouTube channel dedicated to preserving the stories of thousands of combat veterans in the allied powers.
Sharma has been working on the project since he was 16, and said even with limited resources, he said he persists because these veterans are his heroes. In his years on the road, this is the first time he will come through Olympia.
“Hopefully with his interview with our audience, maybe something can happen,” Sharma said.
If not, Drahos still hopes that his story alone will continue to educate and inspire others.
“I feel my story could tell the younger people that if they have a goal in mind and dedicate themselves, they can do those things,” Drahos said. “You’ve got to enjoy each day, what you’re doing. Keep your mind positive, and absolutely make your own decision relative to you and your future.”
Sharma is interested in finding and interviewing local WWII combat veterans. Veterans, or those who know them, interested in sharing their stories can call 202-315-8743 or visit the Remember WWII website.
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