In the News

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - An Arkansan who served with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Korean War has received a Purple Heart 65 years later.

Before the ceremony inside the State Capitol began Tuesday, tears were already streaming from Edsel Smith's face.

The 91-year-old veteran shared photos of his graduation and the planes that he worked on, but says it's a time that is difficult to talk about.

"Very emotional, very emotional. I can't, and you can ask Wanda. I start telling about it and I have to quit, I just choke up," he says.

In 1949, Smith was called to serve his country and it forever changed his life.

"It was a sad time looking back on it, seeing these people killed and the ones frozen," he recalls.

Seeing more than he could have dreamed, the memories never left.

"They send a truck up to where the real fighting was and you'd see the truck leave piled with the dead," Smith continues.

When machine gun fire hit his leg in the middle of a battle in Northern Korea, he didn't even realize it.

"When I got shot, I bled about that much," he explains.

But on Tuesday, memories from that moment, getting hurt in battle, were recalled.

"This is beyond, beyond anything," he said of his Purple Heart.

In a ceremony at the capitol, Smith was honored by 2nd District Congressman French Hill.

"All of a sudden it's happened but I can't believe it. I can't believe it," he says.

With his family and friends all gathered around him, as well as his brothers in the Marines, Smith says the ceremony is an unforgetable moment.

Smith is one of the founding fathers of KARK, having built one of the station's first transmitters.