Local WWII Vet Receives Long-Overdue Medals on Veteran’s Day

George Boesen served in the U.S. Navy for two years nearly 70 years ago. He was entitled to four service medals, which he never received. Until Monday.

Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) awarded Boesen the medals in a Veteran’s Day ceremony at Buffalo Grove High School. Rep Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) also spoke at the event.

Boesen received the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and the China Service Medal, according to Kirk's office.

Below is information from Kirk’s office about Boesen, who is now 87.

U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) will attend the Buffalo Grove Park District Veterans Day Ceremony and honor an Arlington Heights World War II veteran with medals he earned for his service but never received.

Radio Technician Second Class George Boesen served in the U.S. Navy from June 1944 to June 1946.  Mr. Boesen enlisted in the Navy at 17, and as part of a Navy Tech Group (Cub 19) he was attached to the Sixth Marine Division which was scheduled to invade Japan.  Following Japan?s surrender, his unit was sent to Tsingtao, China in October of 1945.  While stationed in Tsingtao, the U.S. Navy assisted in a Dunkirk-like evacuation of Chinese Nationalists to Taiwan as communist Chinese forces advanced.  He was later assigned to APc 25, a coastal transport ship, before returning to the United States.

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