Corporal James G. Oxendine receives purple heart after 62 years

Nearly 100 family and friends of Army Cpl (Temp) James G. Oxendine attended a ceremony and awards presentation for the 81-year old Korean War veteran of the 2nd Infantry Division 72nd Tank Battalion, on Memorial Day, 2012 at the Lumbee Warrior Association. The ceremony was made possible by research of the LWA, support from Congressman Mike McIntyre, and persistent work by the Veterans' Legacy Foundation. Army Major General (ret) John Atkinson, former NCNG adjutant general helped present the war as well as Colonel (ret) Lynn E. Locklear. Mr. Oxendine was assisted by his nephew Byron Jones (Vietnam Veteran) and great-nephew Tyrone Oxendine (Iraq Veteran).

James G. Oxendine enlisted January 14, 1949 in the Army in the 2nd Infantry Division 72nd Tank Battalion. He was assisgned to go out with a group of five tanks in his company on Septermber 21, 1950. As they entered the area under attack the enemy began to bomb the tanks. The tank in the rear was the first one hit and he watched three of his fellow Soldier's burn to death. The company proceeded forth as the first tank was hit. The second tank slid off the road. The third tank was also destroyed and then he began to receive enemy fire. The first missile went under the tank and the second one was a direct hit.

Oxendine watched as all of his company was destroyed, as he was the only survivor. He suffered from severe facial damage for three days before medics could get to him. When the medic arrived he told him that he also was a Native American and from the mid-west. After the medic dressed his wounds and they prepared to depart he also was killed in front of him. Oxendine was then taken to Japan and Hawaii receiving blood at both places before he was transported to the combat recovery hospital located in Texas. He spent months in the hospital before his release.

After his release from the hospital the Army evaluated him and felt the need to keep him on active duty. For the next two years he was assigned to drive trucks for the military, moving ammo and testing artillery. He was assigned to the 6 Armor Field Artillery Battalion Battery B in Oklahoma. The Army released him of active duty on March 17, 1952 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Learn more about the Lumbee Tribe - bit.ly/JQVBUU

Learn more about the Veterans' Legacy Foundation - vetslegacy.org/

(U.S. Army photos by Kyle Richardson, NCNG Public Affairs)