>> Narrator: THERE ARE SMALL TOWNS HIDDEN ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.

THEY PERCH IN THE SHADOW OF MOUNTAINS AND ALONG CREEK BEDS, AMID HILLS AND VALLEYS THAT HAZE IN AND OUT OF THE MIND.

THESE ARE PLACES THAT CARRY FORWARD A CLEAR MEMORY OF THOSE WHO MARKED ITS SOIL WITH SACRIFICE.

IT'S WRITTEN IN BRONZE AND STONE, AND ON THE FACES OF THOSE TASKED WITH THE REMEMBERING.

GARLIN MURL CONNER IS A HERO.

THAT MUCH IS WITHOUT DEBATE.

FOR 28 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS HE STOOD ON THE FRONT LINE, USING HOT IRON AND STEEL TO PUSH BACK THE AXIS POWERS, FROM THE TIP OF AFRICA TO THE HEART OF THE GERMAN DEATH MACHINE.

BUT TIME AND MEMORY GET TRICKY IN THE FOG OF WAR.

AND AS IT IS TRUE THAT EVERY VETERAN IS A HERO, IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT EVERY WAR FORGETS, TO SOME EXTENT, WHICH HEROES WAGED IT...AND HOW.

[VIOLIN] [EXPLOSIONS - SOUNDS OF WAR] >> LT.

CONNER LETTER: "DEAR MOTHER: AS I GUESS, YOU HAVE HEARD THE BAD NEWS: JAPAN HAS DECLARED WAR.

I DON'T KNOW YET WHEN OR WHERE WE WILL GO, BUT WE ARE LOOKING TO MOVE OUT ANY MINUTE.

TELL PA AND ALL THE CHILDREN HELLO AND TO BE GOOD.

IF CLAY AND I LIVE THROUGH THIS WAR, WHICH I THINK WE WILL, WE'LL BE AT HOME SOMEDAY.

BEST OF LUCK AND WISHES TO YA'LL."

>> Narrator: FROM MURL CONNER.

DECEMBER 7, 1941.

[TRIUMPHANT NEWSREEL FANFARE MUSIC] >> Newsreel Announcer: THE TUNISIAN FRONT, A QUAGMIRE OF MUD.

HERE MOBILE GUNS AND ARMORED UNITS OF THE BRITISH GENERAL MONTGOMERY'S EIGHTH ARMY MOVE OVER PRACTICALLY NON-EXISTENT ROADS IN THEIR RELENTLESS DRIVE TO THROW THE NAZIS OUT OF NORTH AFRICA.

>> Narrator: MURL CONNER SERVES AS A MEMBER OF THE ARMY'S THIRD INFANTRY DIVISION AND GOES ASHORE AT FEDALA, FRENCH MOROCCO, ON NOVEMBER 8, 1942.

FROM THERE, THE THIRD DIVISION PUSHES THROUGH NORTH AFRICA, AND BY THE FOLLOWING SPRING, MOVES THROUGH SICILY TO THE ITALIAN MAINLAND, WHERE THE FIGHTING IS INTENSE.

AND WHERE CONNER WILL BEGIN TO DISTINGUISH HIMSELF ON THE BATTLEFIELD AS A SOLDIER UNWAVERING IN HIS COMMITMENT AND SKILL.

[FOLKSY MUSIC] >> Walton "Chip" Haddix: HE WAS A COMBINATION OF KIT CARSON AND DAVY CROCKETT.

HE WAS AN EXPERT SHOT.

HE COULD GO THROUGH THE WOODS UNDETECTED.

HE DID HIS SCOUTING BY HIMSELF BECAUSE IT'S SAFER THAT WAY.

>> DONNIE POORE: HE WAS A TRUE WOODSMAN.

HE COULD DO THINGS THAT YOU'D NEVER THINK OF, YOU KNOW, THAT WE TOOK FOR GRANTED A LOT, BEING COUNTRY PEOPLE, YOU KNOW.

MURL JUST HAD THAT GOOD COMMON KNOWLEDGE OF THINGS.

WE WAS COMING ACROSS UP AT DOC BARNES' ONE NIGHT, AN OLD LOG ROAD, AND MURL SAID, "THERE'S A POISONOUS SNAKE UP HERE."

HE SAID, "JUST KEEP WALKING," I SAID, "HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S POISON, MURL?"

HE SAID YOU CAN TELL WHEN YOU GET UP HERE.

IT SMELLS LIKE CUCUMBERS."

AND SURE ENOUGH, WHEN I GOT UP THERE, YOU COULD SMELL IT.

I JUST KEPT ON WALKING.

DIDN'T KNOW WHERE IT WAS AT, BUT I COULD SMELL IT.

I NEVER FORGOT IT.

>> Narrator: MURL'S TALENT WITH A RIFLE AND HIS KEEN SENSE OF DIRECTION MAKE FOR STRONG QUALITIES IN A SOLDIER.

>> Richard Chilton: BUT YOU HAVE TO BE AN INTENSE HUNTER.

NOT EVERYBODY'S AN INTENSE HUNTER.

YOU HAVE TO BE A PATIENT HUNTER.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

AND MURL HAD ALL THOSE ATTRIBUTES.

>> CHIP HADDIX: IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE KILLING GERMANS, YOU HAVE TO BE AN EXPERT MARKSMAN OR THEY KILL YOU.

IT'S·WAR IS WAR, YOU KNOW.

>> Narrator: MURL FIRST GAINS RECOGNITION FOR HIS SPECIAL SKILLS IN OCTOBER 1943, IN ITALY, AS THE THIRD DIVISION ATTEMPTS TO CROSS THE VOLTURNO RIVER UNDER HEAVY GERMAN FIRE.

THE BRIDGES ARE DESTROYED, FORCING THE ALLIED SOLDIERS TO IMPROVISE.

>> RICHARD CHILTON: I THINK THAT WAS PROBABLY MURL'S FIRST INTENSE COMBAT; I'M NOT SURE.

BUT YOU LEARN FAST OR YOU DON'T LEARN AT ALL.

>> Narrator: CONNER'S RESPONSIBILITY AS A COMMUNICATIONS SERGEANT IS TO HELP PREVENT GERMAN FORCES FROM BREAKING THE ALLIED LINE.

DURING THE BATTLE, HE NOTES THAT PART OF THE ARMY PLATOON HAS SEPARATED FROM THE UNITED FRONT, THUS WEAKENING THE DEFENSE.

WHAT HE DOES NEXT WILL BECOME A RECURRING ASPECT OF HIS MILITARY SERVICE: "SGT.

CONNER, ON HIS OWN INITIATIVE, AND WITH UTTER DISREGARD FOR PERSONAL SAFETY, TOOK CONTROL OF THE SITUATION, GIVING ORDERS AND MAKING SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENT OF MEN IN THE WEAKENED LINES, AND GETTING INVALUABLE FIRST AID TO MANY OF OUR WOUNDED, WHO WERE UNABLE TO BE EVACUATED AT THE MOMENT."

THIS ACTION EARNS MURL CONNER THE SILVER STAR, THE ARMY'S THIRD-HIGHEST DECORATION FOR VALOR IN COMBAT.

IT IS THE FIRST OF MANY AWARDS MURL CONNER WILL RECEIVE IN OVER TWO YEARS OF FIGHTING.

HE WILL EARN A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, A BRONZE STAR, THREE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS TO THE SILVER STAR, AND MULTIPLE PURPLE HEARTS, PUTTING HIM ALONGSIDE AUDIE MURPHY AS ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY DECORATED SOLDIERS IN WORLD WAR II.

BUT THESE ACHIEVEMENTS, AS IMPRESSIVE AS THEY ARE, DO NOT MAKE FOR A MEDAL OF HONOR.

IT IS NOT AWARDED FOR A BODY OF WORK.

INSTEAD, IT RECOGNIZES A SPECIFIC ACT OF CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY, AT THE RISK OF LIFE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE LINE OF DUTY.

THAT SINGLE ACT LOOMS AHEAD FOR MURL CONNER.

THE PLACE, A BARREN FIELD JUST WEST OF HOUSSEN, FRANCE.

BUT BEFORE ALL OF THAT: BEFORE HOUSSEN, AND THE TERRIBLE FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE, THERE IS ANOTHER BATTLE THAT WILL AFFECT, AND ULTIMATELY HELP PRESERVE, THE LEGACY OF MURL CONNER.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC] >> Narrator: IN JANUARY 1944, THE THIRD INFANTRY DIVISION LAUNCHES A SURPRISE ATTACK NEAR ANZIO, ON ITALY'S WESTERN COAST.

RICHARD CHILTON >> RICHARD CHILTON: THERE'S A LOT OF MEN DYING ON ANZIO.

A LOT OF MEN DIED.

BLOODY ANZIO, THEY CALLED IT.

[EXPLOSIONS; SOUNDS OF WAR] >> Narrator: THE ALLIES ARE TRAPPED THERE FOR MONTHS.

IT IS BLOODY, TERRIBLE FIGHTING.

ACCORDING TO HISTORIAN HUGH RIDENOUR, MURL CONNER ACTUALLY ENCOUNTERED AUDIE MURPHY DURING THESE EARLY DAYS OF THE ANZIO CAMPAIGN.

ONE NIGHT, MURPHY, ON PATROL WITH FOUR MEN, STOPPED BY CONNER'S HEADQUARTERS - LOCATED IN A CAVE- TO ASK IF CONNER HAD ANY INFORMATION ON ENEMY POSITIONS IN THE AREA.

IT IS NOT KNOWN WHAT WAS SAID BETWEEN THE TWO DISTINGUISHED SOLDIERS, BUT CONNER LIKELY KNEW THE TERRAIN WELL.

HIS K COMPANY IS TASKED WITH CLEARING GERMANS FROM CISTERNA, HOUSE BY HOUSE.

AND ON THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 30, HIS REGIMENT RUNS INTO A WELL-FORTIFIED GERMAN POSITION.

CONNER DECIDES TO ORGANIZE AND LEAD AN ASSAULT, AS STATED BY THE CITATION TO HIS FIRST OAK LEAF CLUSTER TO THE SILVER STAR: TAKING A BAZOOKA TEAM AND TWO RIFLE GRENADIERS WITH HIM, TECHNICAL SGT.

CONNER LEADS THE WAY ACROSS 50 YARDS OF EXPOSED TERRAIN, AND OPENLY DIRECTS SUCH EFFECTIVE FIRE ON THE ENEMY AT 25 YARDS RANGE THAT ONE MACHINE GUN AND TWO MACHINE PISTOLS ARE SILENCED, AND THE CREW OF A FOURTH AUTOMATIC WEAPON IS ROUTED.

>> Richard Chilton: ANYBODY THAT TOUCHED THIS MAN WAS IMPRESSED BY HIM.

AND IF YOU WANT TO SAVE YOUR LIFE, GO OUT WITH MURL.

DON'T GO OUT WITH ANYBODY ELSE.

HE COULD SMELL THEM.

HE COULD SMELL THE ENEMY.

HE COULD FEEL THE ENEMY.

>> Narrator: AT ONE POINT DURING THE ANZIO CAMPAIGN, MURL STOPS HIS PLATOON AND SUDDENLY WADES OUT ALONE INTO THE TALL GRASS.

[MACHINE GUN FIRE] >> Richard Chilton: SO ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEY HEARD THE MACHINE GUN FIRE.

THEY RUSHED IN.

HE WAS BLEEDING PROFUSELY.

HE HAD BROKEN UP AN AMBUSH THAT COULD HAVE KILLED ALL OF THEM.

>> LUTHER "HOPPY" CONNER, JR.

: AND ALTHOUGH HE STILL HAD ORDERS TO REMAIN THERE TO RECUPERATE AND STAY AT THE HOSPITAL, HE WENT AWOL: HE LEFT, SLIPPED OFF ON HIS OWN, AND HITCHED A RIDE BACK TO THE FRONT LINES.

>> Chip Haddix: AND THOSE THAT SERVED UNDER HIM SAID: 'WE WERE ALWAYS SAFE WITH HIM.

WHEN WE WERE OUT WITH HIM, WE KNEW WE WEREN'T GOING TO GET AMBUSHED.'.

AND THEY NEVER DID.

[FOLKSY MUSIC]] >> Narrator: MUCH OF WHAT MURL LEARNED ABOUT HUNTING, LEADERSHIP, AND MARKSMANSHIP, HE LEARNED BACK HOME IN THE WILDS OF SOUTHERN KENTUCKY.

>> Barbara Gayle Guffey: BUT YOU KNOW IT WAS HARD, BUT YET IT WAS GOOD.

WE WAS GOOD KIDS.

WE MINDED AND ALL.

MY DAD SURE SET A GOOD EXAMPLE IN FRONT OF MURL.

>> Narrator: LEE AND TANA CONNER HAD ELEVEN CHILDREN: SEVEN BOYS AND FOUR GIRLS.

MURL'S FATHER TAUGHT HIM TO HUNT AT AN EARLY AGE, AS HE DID WITH MURL'S BROTHERS, FOUR OF WHOM ALSO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II.

BUT MURL WOULDN'T JOIN THE ARMY WITH HIS BROTHERS.

INSTEAD, HE WOULD JOIN WITH HIS CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND, A YOUNG MAN NAMED JOHNIE RAY COOKSEY.

>> Paul Conner: JOHNIE RAY COOKSEY AND MY DAD GREW UP TOGETHER DOWN ON INDIAN CREEK.

AND I'M SURE THEY HUNTED TOGETHER, AND I DON'T KNOW IF MY DAD DRUNK VERY MUCH OR NOT, BUT IF THEY DRUNK, THEY PROBABLY DRUNK TOGETHER.

AND THEY JOINED THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS.

BOTH OF THEM GREW UP DURING THE DEPRESSION, AND THE CCC WAS A DEPRESSION-ERA PROGRAM THAT ROOSEVELT HAD STARTED.

AND THEY WENT TO OREGON, AND EITHER THE JOB WAS OVER OR THEY WERE FURLOUGHED, FOR SOME REASON THEY CAME BACK TO CLINTON COUNTY.

AND THEY ENLISTED IN THE ARMY.

MY DAD WAS INDUCTED IN MARCH, 1941.

JOHNIE RAY WAS I THINK INDUCTED AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Narrator: LIKE MANY THINGS IN MURL CONNER'S LIFE, THE EXACT NATURE OF HIS ENLISTMENT IS A MYSTERY.

>> Paul Conner: ONE DAY SOMEONE ASKED HIM WHY HE JOINED, AND HE SAID, 'WELL, THE JUDGE GAVE US A CHOICE OF LAYING OUT A LITTLE TIME IN JAIL OR JOINING THE ARMY.

AND LATER ON, SOME OF MY UNCLES TOLD ME MY DAD AND JOHNIE RAY WERE INVOLVED IN A LITTLE ESCAPADE AT A CHURCH REVIVAL.

[SAD PIANO MUSIC] >> Narrator: MURL CONNER LEFT HIS HOME TO FIGHT A WAR BESIDE HIS BEST FRIEND.

HE WOULD NEVER SEE THAT FRIEND AGAIN.

>> Paul Conner: MY DAD CAME BACK; JOHNIE RAY DID NOT.

HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION.

AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAS PART OF THE REASON THAT MY DAD DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT A LOT OF HIS WAR EXPERIENCE.

>> Pauline Conner: AND THEN HE SAW SO MANY PEOPLE GETTING KILLED THAT HE FELT LIKE THAT WHAT HE'D DONE WAS SMALL, RATHER THAN LOSING YOUR OWN LIFE.

>> Narrator: PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN COMBAT UP CLOSE KNOW WHAT IT TRULY IS, AND TEND TO SHOULDER THE BURDEN OF THAT KNOWLEDGE ALONE.

MURL CONNER DIDN'T TALK MUCH ABOUT HIS SERVICE, AND HIS STORY WAS ALMOST LOST TO TIME AS A RESULT.

BUT A STORY DOESN'T END WHEN A MAN DIES.

IT ENDS WHEN THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO COME AFTER FINISH TELLING IT.

[VIOLIN] IT'S A CURIOUS FACT THAT MANY STORIES BEGIN WITH SOMEONE SEEMINGLY UNCONNECTED TO THE STORY BEING TOLD.

IN THIS INSTANCE, THE PERSON IS GORDIE ROBERTS, AND THE STORY BEGINS WITH THE PROUD NEPHEW WHO LOOKS UP TO HIM.

>> Richard Chilton: HE WAS DEDICATED, AND A GOOD MAN.

HE WAS A VERY GOOD MAN, VERY CHARITABLE, AND I WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HIM.

>> Narrator: GORDIE HAD DIED IN 1944 DURING BLOODY ANZIO.

FEW DETAILS WERE SENT HOME WITH HIS BODY, AND IN 1995, RICHARD, HIMSELF A DECORATED GREEN BERET, BEGINS CONTACTING THE SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE THIRD INFANTRY DIVISION.

BUT FEW REMEMBER HIS UNCLE.

>> Richard Chilton: I WENT THROUGH MAYBE A HUNDRED VETERANS, NOTHING.

ONE LEFT, AND I ALMOST DIDN'T WRITE TO HIM.

AND I DID, AND HE SAID, 'I KNEW YOUR UNCLE, I WAS WITH HIM WHEN HE DIED.'.

AND THAT'S ALL MURL EVER SAID FROM THAT DAY ON.

>> Narrator: MURL CONNER HAD BEEN GORDIE'S PLATOON SERGEANT, AND PROMISES TO SHED MORE LIGHT ON HIS DEATH IN SUBSEQUENT LETTERS.

BUT THOSE LETTERS NEVER ARRIVE.

MURL'S HEALTH IS FAILING, AND HIS LOVED ONES UNDERSTAND THE END IS NEAR.

>> Paul Conner: THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS MY DAD WAS ALIVE WAS MUCH OF A CHALLENGE FOR EVERYONE BECAUSE HE HAD PARKINSON'S.

MY MOTHER NEVER DID HAVE TO PUT HIM IN A NURSING HOME, SO WE WAS ABLE TO KEEP HIM HERE AT HOME.

>> Pauline Conner: BUT HE HIMSELF WANTED THE FEEDING TUBE.

HE TOLD THEM TO GO AHEAD AND PUT IT IN THERE.

AND HE LIVED FIVE YEARS LONGER WITH THAT THAN HE WOULD HAVE HAD HE NOT HAD IT PUT IN.

>> AND IF HE HADN'T DONE THAT, HE NEVER WOULD HAVE MET Richard Chilton: , WOULD HE?

>> NO, HE NEVER WOULD HAVE MET RICHARD CHILTON, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> Richard Chilton: I HAD HAD NO INTENTION TO COME TO KENTUCKY.

I CAME THERE TO PAY MY RESPECTS; THAT WAS IT.

>> HE STAYED ABOUT A HALF A DAY WITH US, TALKING TO HIM.

AND WE FOUND OUT THAT MURL WAS THE ONE THAT HAD CARRIED GORDON ON HIS SHOULDER BACK TO THE AID STATION WHERE GORDON EVENTUALLY DIED.

>> Richard Chilton: HE SHOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN MY UNCLE.

I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY FROM KOREA.

IT'S AMAZING, FIFTY YEARS LATER.

HOW MANY MEN WENT THROUGH HIS UNIT?

WHY WOULD HE REMEMBER GORDON?

I DON'T KNOW THAT ANSWER, AND I'LL NEVER KNOW IT.

BUT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE REMEMBERED HIM.

>> Narrator: THE MORE THE TWO COMBAT VETERANS REMEMBER, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT BECOMES.

>> Richard Chilton: SO HE STARTED TO CRY, OUT OF CONTROL.

SO I STOOD TO LEAVE, AND MRS.

CONNER SAID, "I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING."

PAULINE BROUGHT OUT THAT BOX.

>> Narrator: IT'S A SMALL BOX, ABOUT A FOOT IN LENGTH, AND MORE SUITED TO JEWELRY THAN WHAT IT HAS HELD FOR NEARLY FIFTY YEARS.

PAULINE SETS IT DOWN WITH GREAT CARE, AS IF NOT TO DISTURB THE GHOSTS INSIDE.

"THESE ARE HIS MEDALS," SHE SAYS.

AND AS RICHARD TAKES THEM OUT, ONE BY ONE, HE IS OVERCOME.

>> Richard Chilton: I SAID, "WHY DIDN'T ANYBODY EVER PUT HIM IN FOR A MEDAL OF HONOR?"

SHE SAYS, "NOBODY WOULD... NOBODY...BUT WOULD YOU HELP ME?"

I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS.

THE POOR WOMAN ALMOST HAD A TEAR ON HER EYE.

'WELL YEAH, I'LL HELP YOU ALL I CAN.'"

SO THAT'S HOW I STARTED THIS, SEE?

I HAD NEVER COME THERE FOR ANY INTENTION LIKE THAT TO DO THAT.

>> Narrator: CHILTON LEAVES KENTUCKY DETERMINED TO DO WHATEVER NECESSARY TO GET MURL CONNER THE MEDAL OF HONOR.

WHAT HE DOESN'T KNOW IS THAT CONNER WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE RECEIVED IT FORTY YEARS BEFORE.

FROM GENERAL LLOYD RAMSEY, UPON MURL'S DISCHARGE IN 1945: >> RAMSEY LETTER: "I JUST SENT ONE OF MY OFFICERS HOME.

TO MY WAY OF SEEING, HE'S ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING SOLDIERS OF THIS WAR IF NOT "THE" OUTSTANDING.

HE HAS THE DSC, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN, I BELIEVE, A CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR.

BUT HE WAS HEADING HOME, AND WE WANTED TO GET HIM WHAT HE DESERVED BEFORE HE LEFT.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN A MAN WITH AS MUCH COURAGE AND ABILITY AS HE HAS.

HE'S A REAL SOLDIER."

>> Pauline Conner: GEN.

RAMSEY WOULD CONTACT MURL ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND ASK HIM: WHY DIDN'T HE GO AHEAD AND APPLY FOR THAT MEDAL OF HONOR?

BECAUSE GENERAL RAMSEY WAS WOUNDED HIMSELF AND COULDN'T MAKE THE PAPERWORK OUT LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO GIVE IT TO HIM HIMSELF.

>> HUGH RIDENOUR: AND HE SAID WHY HE DIDN'T DO IT.

HE SAID, "I WAS JUST TOO BUSY DOING OTHER THINGS."

HE SAID, "I WAS A BATTALION COMMANDER OF 900 MEN, WE WERE IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE, I'D JUST BEEN WOUNDED.

I JUST DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DO THAT."

AND HE SAID, "SECONDLY, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THERE WERE OTHER EYE-WITNESSES.

AND TO GET THE MEDAL OF HONOR YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT."

>> Narrator: RICHARD CHILTON DOESN'T YET KNOW ABOUT THE LACK OF EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNTS, BUT HE DOES UNDERSTAND HOW CRUCIAL IT IS TO PRESERVE THE STORIES OF OUR VETERANS BEFORE THEY'RE LOST TO TIME.

MURL CONNER HELPED HIM PRESERVE THE STORY OF HIS UNCLE.

NOW HE WILL HELP PRESERVE THE STORY OF MURL CONNER.

HE BEGINS, AS MANY ACTIVISTS DO, BY WRITING.

>> Richard Chilton: I WROTE TO SEVEN GENERALS, AND THEY WERE ALL HAPPY TO COME ONBOARD.

THE 22,000 MEN OUT OF THE 82ND AIRBORNE, THEY CAME ONBOARD.

THEN ALL THESE PEOPLE CAME ONBOARD.

THEY SAW WHAT THIS WAS.

>> HOPPY CONNER: HE WAS DOING SORT OF A GRASS-ROOTS APPEAL.

HE WROTE SENATORS, I THINK WROTE THE PRESIDENT.

HE GOT RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY FIVE OR SIX STATES RECOMMENDING THAT THE UPGRADE BE MADE, AND RICHARD MADE A NUMBER OF VISITS TO SCHOOLS.

>> Chip Haddix: THESE BOXES CONTAIN SEVERAL THOUSAND LETTERS WRITTEN BY SCHOOL STUDENTS, ASKING THE PRESIDENT TO AWARD THIS MEDAL OF HONOR.

>> Richard Chilton: WHEN I STARTED THIS A MEMBER OF MY PARATROOPER UNIT SAID, "RICH, ALTHOUGH YOUR SOLDIER HAS ALL THE MERITS OF A MEDAL OF HONOR, THEY WON'T GIVE IT TO HIM.

GET A BUILDING NAMED AFTER HIM OR SOMETHING ELSE, BUT THEY WON'T GIVE IT TO HIM."

>> HUGH RIDENOUR: DEALING WITH THESE KIND OF THINGS IS SO COMPLICATED AND TAKES SO LONG IN SOME CASES.

IT GOES THROUGH, FIRST OF ALL, SO MANY HANDS THAT IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO SAY, "WE'VE MADE A MISTAKE."

>> HOPPY CONNER: THEY WERE PRETTY BLUNT-AND THEY NEEDED TO BE-THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, "YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TIME, EVEN THOUGH THE SOLDIER DESERVES THE UPGRADE CLEARLY FROM HIS RECORD, YOU KNOW, THIS JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN."

>> Pauline Conner: I KNOW A TIME OR TWO, RICHARD WOULD GET VERY UPSET, AND HE'D WRITE ME AND SAY, "THAT STUPID PERSON DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT MY LETTER.

HE CALLED GARLIN 'SERGEANT GARLIN M. CONNER' INSTEAD OF 'LIEUTENANT,' SO HE NEVER EVEN READ MY LETTER."

>> Narrator: RICHARD'S FRUSTRATION ONLY INTENSIFIES AS HIS APPEALS TO THE PROPER MILITARY AUTHORITIES REPEATEDLY FAIL.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR UPGRADING AWARDS FALLS TO THE ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS, A THREE-PERSON MILITARY PANEL WHOSE STATED MISSION IS TO CORRECT ERRORS IN OR REMOVE INJUSTICES FROM ARMY RECORDS.

RICHARD APPLIES MULTIPLE TIMES ON BEHALF OF GARLIN MURL CONNER AND IS DENIED EVERY TIME.

>> Richard Chilton: I'VE GOT A STUBBORN STREAK IN THERE THAT'S PRETTY DEEP.

I ACTUALLY FELT THAT, SOONER OR LATER, THEY WERE GOING TO TELL ME, "QUIT WRITING OR THEY'RE GOING TO PUT ME IN JAIL.

I REALLY THOUGHT I WAS GETTING ON THIN GROUND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WAS PRETTY PERSISTENT.

>> Pauline Conner: WELL, HE WAS DENIED EVERY TIME HE TRIED TO DO ANYTHING, HE WAS DENIED.

AND THEN MURL PASSED AWAY ON NOVEMBER 5TH, 1998.

AND RICHARD CONTACTED ME AND WANTED TO KNOW IF I WANTED HIM TO CONTINUE IT.

I SAID, "RICHARD, IT'S UP TO YOU, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.

IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE IT, GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT YOU CAN DO."

BUT RICHARD SAID, "WELL, I WANT TO MAKE SURE HE GETS IT IF I CAN."

[SOMBER PIANO MUSIC] >> Paul Conner: I WISH I'D KNOWN SOME OF THIS WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.

I MEAN, THERE'S A STORY TO BE TOLD.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEEDED TO HAVE BRAGGED ON IT.

MY DAD SHOULD HAVE SHARED HIS STORY WHEN HE WAS ALIVE.

>> Pauline Conner: I CAME UP HERE ONE DAY, THEY HAD DUG THAT GRAVE, AND THEY HAD DIRT AND MUD ALL OVER THERE.

I DIDN'T DO NOTHING BUT SIT DOWN AND BAWL MY EYES OUT, AND THEN I GOT TO THINKING, "SOMEBODY'S GOING TO CLEAN IT OFF."

I JUST WISH HE WAS HERE WITH ME.

>> Paul Conner: OF COURSE, I STARTED LEARNING BITS AND PIECES AS THEY WORKED ON THIS.

YOU KNOW, GROWING UP, AND I'D HAVE BEEN 40 YEARS OLD WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED THIS, HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA THAT MY FATHER HAD DONE ANY OF THESE THINGS.

>> Pauline Conner: I KNEW SOME OF THE THINGS BECAUSE OF WHEN THEY HAD THE PARADE IN HIS HONOR WHEN HE FIRST CAME BACK FROM SERVICE.

I LEARNED SOME THINGS ABOUT HIM THEN.

>> Chip Haddix: I WAS IN MY DAD'S STORE WHEN MURL CONNER CAME THROUGH TOWN, PARADING THROUGH TO GO TO THE COURTHOUSE.

AND MY DAD SAID, "HEY, THERE, HE WAS A HERO-- HE DID A LOT OF HEROIC THINGS IN THE WAR."

>> Pauline Conner: I WAS OF COURSE 15 YEARS OLD, AND I WAS WONDERING ABOUT WHAT ALL I HAD HEARD ABOUT HIM.

I KEPT ASKING MY MOTHER, "WHERE IS HE?"

I WANTED TO SEE HIM BECAUSE I'D HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT IT.

AND I WAS STANDING ON A BENCH IN THE BACK OF THE COURTHOUSE WHEN MURL GOT UP TO MAKE HIS SPEECH.

I TOLD MY MOTHER, I SAID, "MY GOD, THAT LITTLE WHARF RAT COULDN'T HAVE DONE ALL THEY'D SAID HE'D DONE; HE'S TOO SMALL!"

BECAUSE HE JUST WEIGHED ABOUT 120 LBS.

>> Pauline Conner: IT'S PAST THAT BARN.

>> OFFSCREEN INTERVIEWER: PAST THE BARN?

>> Pauline Conner: YEAH.

AND WE WALKED DOWN THAT LITTLE DIRT ROAD, FROM 76 DOWN HERE TO THE CHURCH, AND WE'D COME JUST ABOUT EVERY NIGHT, BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING FOR US TO DO.

WE DIDN'T HAVE NO TV.

UP YONDER IT IS.

FAIRVIEW METHODIST CHURCH.

IT'S THE LITTLE CHURCH WHERE I FIRST MET MURL.

BACK THEN WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO GO EXCEPT TO THE LITTLE CHURCHES WHERE THEY HAD REVIVALS.

AND THEN ONE NIGHT, MURL'S COUSIN CAME IN AND TAPPED ME ON THE BACK, SAID THAT LIEUTENANT CONNER WANTED TO TAKE ME HOME.

[JAUNTY BANJO MUSIC] >> Pauline Conner: [LAUGHS] I SAID "I CAN'T, MY MAMA WOULD KILL ME."

GRADY SAID, "MURL SAID HE'D DRIVE REAL SLOW AND WAIT ON YOUR SISTER AND BROTHER.

HE WOULDN'T TAKE YOU HOME BEFORE THEY GOT THERE."

SO I SAID OK.

SO THAT WAS OUR FIRST DATE.

WELL, IT WENT ON FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS.

MOTHER TOLD ME, SHE SAID, "YOU TELL HIM THAT THIS IS HIS LAST DAY THAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE HERE, BECAUSE HE'S TOO OLD FOR YOU, HE'S GETTING TOO SERIOUS."

AND HE SAID, "WELL, LET'S JUST GO GET MARRIED."

AND I SAID, "GO GET MARRIED?"

"YES, LET'S JUST GO GET MARRIED."

"BUT MURL, I AIN'T GOT NO CLOTHES!"

"WELL, I'LL BUY YOU SOME."

[LAUGHS] AND IN FACT, WHEN I RAN OFF TO GET MARRIED, MY DRESS WAS MADE OUT OF FEED SACK.

[LAUGHS] BLESS HIS HEART.

I DON'T BELIEVE PEOPLE COULD SURVIVE NOW LIKE WE DID BACK THEN.

I WASHED CLOTHES ON A TUB WITH A WASHBOARD, AND I HEATED WATER OUTSIDE IN A BLACK KETTLE TO DO MY LAUNDRY WITH.

I HAD A WOOD COOKSTOVE.

MURL WOULD GO SQUIRREL HUNTING AND AT THE END OF THE NIGHT SOMETIMES HIM AND AL AND LYMAN WOULD GO COON HUNTING.

NOW I COOKED ONE, ONE TIME, FOR MURL, BUT JUST ONE BITE OUT OF IT AND HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANT THAT STUFF!

[LAUGHS] I ALSO COOKED HIM A POSSUM, AND THAT THING, I COULDN'T EVEN STAND TO LOOK AT IT, MUCH LESS EAT IT.

>> Paul Conner: I CAN REMEMBER GOING TO GET A DRINK OF WATER IN THE WINTER, AND HAD TO CHIP THE ICE LOOSE IN THE BUCKET.

THE OLD HOUSE HAD A FIREPLACE IN IT THAT WOULD HEAT IT.

[DOG BARKS] YOU'LL HAVE TO RIDE WITH RIGGS NOW, 'CAUSE THAT'S HIS PLACE RIGHT THERE.

MY DAD'S FARM CONSISTED OF THREE OR FOUR ACRES OF TOBACCO.

HE HAD ABOUT 30 TO 40 COWS.

HE'D HAVE 10 BROOD SOWS TO RAISE FEEDER PIGS FROM.

THEY RAISED CHICKENS.

I CALL IT, I LIKE TO SAY, THAT I GREW UP ON AN ORGANIC FARM AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.

[CLUCKING CHICKEN] WELL, WE GOT 11 EGGS TODAY.

YES, IT WAS A HARD-WORKING HOUSEHOLD; WE HAD FUN.

MY MOTHER AND DAD HAD THE FIRST TV IN THE COMMUNITY.

NEIGHBORS WOULD COME IN, WE'D FIX A BIG BOWL OF POPCORN.

WENT TO TOWN ONCE A WEEK.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON, GO TO TOWN.

AND IF THINGS WERE GOOD, WE WENT TO THE OLD DRUGSTORE AND GOT AN ICE CREAM FLOAT.

>> Paul Conner: WHEN WAS THIS PICTURE MADE?

THE ONE RIGHT THERE ON THE WALL?

>> Pauline Conner: OH, WELL, WE WAS PRETTY YOUNG, I CAN'T REMEMBER.

>> Paul Conner: THAT WAS AFTER I LEFT HOME.

AND THEN ANOTHER GENTLEMAN, SHE'LL HAVE TO TELL YOU THE STORY ON THIS, WHO DID SEND YOU THIS?

>> Pauline Conner: HE'S A GUY THAT LIVES AWAY, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT HIS NAME IS RIGHT NOW BUT, I'VE HEARD FROM HIM QUITE OFTEN.

AND HE SENT ME THIS, WHICH I ALWAYS SAID, I DON'T AIM TO GIVE UP AS LONG AS I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A CHANCE TO GET THAT MEDAL FOR PAPA, AND I DIDN'T, I JUST LET THEM WORK AS LONG AS THEY COULD WORK ON IT.

>> Military Board Letter: "DEAR APPLICANT: I REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT THE ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS HAS DENIED YOUR APPLICATION.

THIS DECISION IS FINAL."

>> Richard Chilton: I WAS AT A STALEMATE AFTER SIX YEARS.

YOU CAN'T DO THIS ALONE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE.

>> Narrator: FORTUNATELY, RICHARD'S WORK CONTINUES TO REACH NEW EARS AND OPEN NEW EYES TO AN INJUSTICE THAT, FOR SOME, HITS VERY CLOSE TO HOME.

>> Chip Haddix: SINCE BYRON CRAWFORD WROTE THIS ARTICLE IN 2000--THAT'S WHEN I STARTED.

I SAID, "WELL, I KNOW THAT FELLOW, LIVES RIGHT UP THE ROAD."

I KNEW HE'D DONE SOMETHING IN THE WAR BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT.

NOBODY ELSE DID.

I STARTED TO HELP Richard Chilton: , AND HERE THESE 12 BOXES ARE PART OF HIS MISSION.

HE'D WRITE ME ALL THESE LETTERS.

HE COULDN'T SPELL RIGHT AND COULDN'T WRITE VERY MUCH, BUT HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS WANTING TO SAY.

>> Narrator: THE TWO MEN COMPLEMENT ONE ANOTHER PERFECTLY.

CHIP HADDIX HAS AN EYE FOR RESEARCH AND PROTOCOL THAT GOES BEYOND CHILTON'S PUGNACIOUS RESOLVE.

CHIP UNDERSTANDS THAT FOR THE BOARD TO TURN BACK AN OLD DECISION, THEY WILL HAVE TO BRING SOMETHING NEW TO THE TABLE.

>> Hoppy Conner: CHIP IS UNIQUE, A BIT OF AN ACTIVIST, AND IF HE IS INTERESTED IN SOMETHING, HE IS TOTALLY DEDICATED TO IT.

>> Chip Haddix: FOR EIGHT YEARS, I OPERATED A LITTLE H&R BLOCK TAX OFFICE OVER THERE NEXT TO MCDONALD'S.

AND TAX SEASON JUST LASTED ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS.

SO THE REST OF THE SIX MONTHS, THAT'S ALL I DID, FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS, IS GENERATE THIS STUFF.

WORE OUT TWO OR THREE COPY MACHINES.

H&R BLOCK PAID FOR IT I GUESS, IT'S THEIR COPY MACHINES.

>> Hoppy Conner: BUT HE WAS SO COMMITTED TO THIS, HE WAS RESEARCHING AND MAKING A CONVINCING CASE.

>> I THINK IT WAS WALTON WHO KEPT THE MOMENTUM GOING WHEN EVERYTHING LOOKED BLEAK, AND EVERYTHING LOOKED LIKE IT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN, AND WHEN ARMY BUREAUCRACY SEEMED TO BE OVERWHELMING.

>> Richard Chilton: BUT YOU KNOW, IN THE END, WE PUT MURL OUT THERE SO MUCH, AND THAT'S WHERE WE REACHED.

WE REACHED THEM BECAUSE WE KEPT HIS NAME OUT THERE.

BECAUSE WE REACHED THE PEOPLE WHO DO CARE.

[MELANCHOLY GUITAR] ♪ GROW THE YOUNG CHILD IN EARNEST; GROW THE YOUNG CHILD WITH EASE; STRIP FREE THE TUMULT, THE HEARTACHE AND WISDOM AND TAKE THE NEW WORLD AS YOU PLEASE ♪ ♪ CAUSE DYING IS YOUNG FOR THE OLDER OLD AGE IS DEATH FOR THE YOUNG; WREST FROM HIS GRIP, THE AGENTS OF MERCY AND DIE LIKE THE WORLD'S ONLY SON ♪ >> Narrator: AS THE ARMY THIRD DIVISION ROARS THROUGH SOUTHERN FRANCE, MURL CONNER BATTLES FOR HIS SURVIVAL.

THE FIGHTING IS INTENSE, THE WEATHER HARSH, AND THE FOOD SCARCE.

>> Hoppy Conner: REMEMBER, IT WAS ZERO, AND SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES THERE.

THE GROUND IS GOING TO BE FROZEN.

THEY ARE CONSTANTLY MOVING, AND THE GERMANS ARE RESISTING, THE GERMANS ARE PUTTING UP THE BIG EFFORT BECAUSE THEY REALIZE THAT THEY'RE MOVING, THEY'RE COMING INTO GERMANY.

>> Paul Conner: BUT JUST, WHAT HE HAD TO DO TO SURVIVE?

AS I GET OLDER AND REALIZE THAT NOW THEY'VE GOT WAYS TO DROP FOOD AND THEY'VE GOT RATIONS AND THINGS THAT THEY CAN DELIVER TO THEM INSTANTLY.

PROBABLY WASN'T THAT WAY IN THE 1940S.

"THE GERMANS GENERALLY BLOW UP ALL THE BEST BUILDINGS BEFORE YOU CAN WHIP THEM OUT.

I WAS ALMOST CAPTURED ONCE IN A FRENCH FARM HOUSE.

WE GOT IN THE HOUSE WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE, THEN THEY STARTED TO ATTACK FROM ALL SIDES.

I PUT THE FARMER AND HIS FAMILY IN THE CELLAR AND THEN WE MANNED OUR GUNS.

THEY SHOT OUT ALL THE WINDOWS.

THEY MANAGED TO TAKE THE FIRST FLOOR.

WE REALLY HAD A BATTLE FOR THAT HOUSE.

WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED, WE HAD DEAD GERMANS PILED THREE DEEP.

OF COURSE, THAT WASN'T NEW TO US.

IT HAPPENS ALL ALONG."

>> Paul Conner: ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT MY DAD EVER SAID ABOUT SCAVENGING: AS THEY WERE GOING THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE, IF THEY FOUND A COW THAT HAD A CALF, THEY WOULD MILK THE COW, BUT THEY WOULD TRY TO LEAVE THE CALF.

AND HE SAID, FOR TWO REASONS: THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE WERE DEVASTATED BECAUSE OF THE WAR, BUT HE SAID WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK THATAWAY, AND WE MIGHT NEED THAT COW'S MILK AGAIN.

>> Narrator: DESPITE THE CONDITIONS, AND THE ESCALATING THREAT, SGT.

CONNER REMAINS A SOLDIER KNOWN FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND COURAGE.

>> Richard Chilton: WHEN YOU GO ACROSS AN OPEN AREA, AND IF I HAD A LOWER RANK, THEY'D TELL ME TO TAKE THE POINT.

MURL TOOK THE POINT.

WHEN COLONEL RATHBURN, ANOTHER MAN WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH MURL, NEEDED A MAN TO GO ON A PATROL, SO HE ASKED FOR A SQUAD OF MEN.

MURL SHOWED UP.

"WELL, WHAT AM I GONNA DO, I CAN'T GET ANYBODY ELSE."

SO HE SENT MURL OUT.

BUT HE TOLD MURL ONE DAY, "I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU TAKE THE POINT."

"WELL, THEY'D BE EXCITED, THEY'D BE NERVOUS, THEY WON'T BE TOO ACCURATE."

"YOU'VE BEEN WOUNDED SIX OR SEVEN TIMES IT'S NOT WORKING.

IT'S NOT WORKING."

>> Narrator: MURL HAD RECEIVED TWO PURPLE HEARTS WELL BEFORE STEPPING INTO THE FEARSOME FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE.

BUT IN THIS LATE STAGE OF THE EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN, WITH ALLIED FORCES BARRELLING EAST TOWARD BERLIN, AND THE THIRD ARMY CLAWING UP THE RHONE VALLEY, IT SEEMS A REQUIREMENT THAT EVERY MAN LEAVE A PIECE OF HIMSELF BEHIND TO MARK THEIR ADVANCE.

>> Richard Chilton: HE WAS WOUNDED ONE TIME, HE COULD HAVE LOST HIS LIFE.

THEY CROSSED THE RIVER TO FIND OUT WHERE THE GERMANS WERE.

WERE RIGHT THERE, A WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM, SO HE DOVE BACK INTO THE RIVER, AND THE GERMANS SHOT HIM.

HE WAS SINKING BELOW THE WATER.

THEY PULLED HIM OUT OF THE WATER, LAID HIM ON THE BANK AND TOOK OFF.

MURL SAID, "I DIDN'T HATE THEM SO MUCH AFTER THAT."

BUT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE END OF MURL.

>> Pauline Conner: HE WAS SHOT THROUGH THE THIGH ON THE INSIDE OF HIS LEG, AND IT WENT OUT HIS HIP JOINT.

>> Paul Conner: HE HAD A HOLE IN HIS HIP THAT YOU COULD SEE.

>> I MEAN, YOU COULD PUT YOUR FIST IN IT, SHE SAID.

>> Pauline Conner: AND HE ALSO CARRIED A TOOTH WITH HIM; A PIECE OF SHRAPNEL WENT THROUGH HIS JAW HERE AND KNOCKED HIS TOOTH OUT.

>> Paul Conner: SOMEONE ASKED HIM ONE TIME ABOUT ONE OF THE SHOTS, AND HE SAID, "AH...." I FORGET NOW WHAT HE CALLED THEM, HE SAID, "THEY GOT A LITTLE CLOSER THAN THEY NEEDED TO BE."

>> Narrator: THE WOUNDS AND THE SUFFERING WOULD STAY WITH HIM FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

BUT LIKE MANY VETERANS, MURL CONNER CHOSE TO TURN HIS EXPERIENCE INTO SOMETHING THAT COULD HELP OTHERS.

>> Pauline Conner: AFTER HE GOT SICK AND HE COULDN'T WORK ON THE FARM NO MORE, HE TURNED IT OVER TO PAUL, AND WE GOT INVOLVED IN DOING SERVICE WORK FOR VETERANS, AND HE REALLY ENJOYED THAT.

>> Narrator: THOSE LIVING IN ALBANY AT THE TIME REMEMBER A NOTICE PLAYED FREQUENTLY ON AM RADIO: >> PUBLIC NOTICE: "MURL CONNER, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, WILL BE AT THE CLINTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN ALBANY FROM 9 TO NOON ON SATURDAY TO ASSIST VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS WITH CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS DUE THEM AS A RESULT OF THEIR MILITARY SERVICE."

>> Heather Henry: HERE WAS THIS MAN WHO DESERVED THE MEDAL OF HONOR, DID HEROIC ACTS, CAME HOME BACK TO KENTUCKY, GOT MARRIED, HAD FAMILY, AND CHOSE TO SERVE IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY.

THAT JUST SPEAKS VOLUMES TO ME.

HE STARTS TO HELP OTHER VETERANS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL WITH THEIR BENEFITS AND THEIR DISABILITY, AND IT JUST GOES TO THE VERY NATURE OF WHO HE IS, THAT SELFLESS SACRIFICE.

>> Pauline Conner: AND THAT'S WHEN HE STARTED TO WISH THAT HE HAD DONE MORE IN TRYING TO GET THE MEDAL OF HONOR FOR HIMSELF.

BECAUSE HE WOULD SEE SO MANY VETERANS THAT HAD GOOD RECORDS OUT THERE THAT HAD NEVER BEEN TOLD.

>> Narrator: YEARS AFTER MURL CONNER WISHED HE'D PURSUED A MEDAL OF HONOR, THOSE WORKING HARD ON HIS BEHALF WONDERED WHY THE MILITARY BOARD WON'T GIVE IT TO HIM.

SURPRISINGLY, IT WILL BE A PERSON UNCONNECTED TO THE CAMPAIGN AT ALL WHO WILL FINALLY TURN THE TIDE.

>> Narrator: ED WHITFIELD, CONGRESSMAN IN KENTUCKY'S 1ST DISTRICT, HAD BEEN A TIRELESS SUPPORTER SINCE RECEIVING A CHILTON IN THE LATE 1990S.

>> Richard Chilton: HE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO STUCK HIS NECK OUT.

HE STUCK IT OUT ALL THE TIME.

<< HE REALLY TOOK A PERSONAL INTEREST IN IT, AND COMMUNICATED WITH CHIP ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND HIS STAFF WAS QUITE HELPFUL.

>> Narrator: ONE OF THESE STAFFERS RECHECKS THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES FOR ANY RECORDS REFERENCING MURL CONNER.

>> AND FOUND IN MURL CONNER'S RECORDS IN THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES THE THREE EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS THAT NO ONE WAS AWARE THAT THEY EXISTED.

GENERAL RAMSEY, HE'S QUOTED AS SAYING THAT HE WAS SHOCKED.

>> Narrator: FOR THE FIRST TIME, MURL'S SUPPORTERS HAVE OFFICIAL EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF HIS HEROISM NEAR HOUSSEN, FRANCE, THE DAY HIS ACTIONS EARNED HIM THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS THEY HOPED TO UPGRADE TO A MEDAL OF HONOR.

IT IS THE BREAK THAT RICHARD CHILTON AND CHIP HADDIX HAVE SOUGHT FOR YEARS, AND IT SEEMS THAT THE MILITARY REVIEW BOARD WILL HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO RECONSIDER THE CASE OF GARLIN MURL CONNER.

>> Chip Haddix: AND THE CIVILIANS THAT RUN THE ARMY BOARD OF MILITARY CORRECTIONS, ADMINISTRATIVELY DISMISSED HIS CASE WITHOUT A HEARING AND SAID HE DIDN'T DESERVE A HEARING.

>> Pauline Conner: WELL, I JUST FELT LIKE IT WAS OVER WITH, I REALLY DID, AND THAT WASN'T THE ONLY TIME.

NUMEROUS TIMES I FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY WERE WASTING THEIR TIME.

>> Chip Haddix: WE WROTE LETTERS, AND THEY WROTE LETTERS, AND SENATOR MCCONNELL WROTE LETTERS, BUT THEY WOULD NOT PRESENT THAT TO THE THREE-PERSON ARMY BOARD OF MILITARY CORRECTIONS, AND IT WAS THEIR DECISION, NOT THE CIVILIAN STAFF, SO.. [DOWNBEAT PIANO] >> Narrator: CHIP HADDIX KNOWS MURL CONNER NEVER ASKED FOR CREDIT, OR RECOGNITION, BUT IS LONG OVERDUE FOR BOTH.

AND SO HE FINDS THAT, DESPITE THE SETBACK WITH THE MILITARY REVIEW BOARD, HE CANNOT LET HIS QUEST COME TO AN END JUST YET.

HE THROWS HIS ENERGY INTO A NEW PLAN, ONE THAT SOUNDS AS OUTLANDISH TODAY AS IT DID IN 2008: SUE THE U.S.

ARMY IN FEDERAL COURT TO FORCE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THEIR UNCOVERED EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS.

>> Chip Haddix: THAT'S WHAT THE SUIT WAS ABOUT, JUST TO GET A HEARING.

THAT WAS ALL IT WAS ABOUT.

NOTHING ABOUT THE MEDAL OF HONOR.

WE JUST WANT A HEARING TO SUBMIT THESE THREE EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS.

>> Hoppy Conner: IT GETS BACK TO CHIP--THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER >> Chip Haddix: SO I WENT UP AND VISITED WITH DONALD BLEVINS, AND HE TOOK ME TO THE TODD LAW FIRM, AND THEY CAME ABOARD AS PRO BONO LAWYERS.

>> AND OF COURSE, GETTING INTO A FEDERAL CASE AND EVERYTHING, IT'S DIFFICULT TO GO PRO BONO.

>> Narrator: THE TEAM FILES SUIT IN FEDERAL COURT.

PAULINE IS NAMED AS THE PLAINTIFF.

>> DID YOU HAVE ANY RESERVATIONS ABOUT SUING THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE ARMY?

>> Pauline Conner: NO, I DIDN'T.

I WAS WILLING TO GO TO JAIL IF THEY WOULD PUT ME IN JAIL BUT· IF I COULD HAVE GOT THAT, I SURE WOULD HAVE.

>> Narrator: THE CASE IS DISMISSED BY THE JUDGE, WHO CONCLUDES THAT THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS APPLIES, EVEN THOUGH THE EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS ARE A RECENT DISCOVERY.

>> Hoppy Conner: WHY NOT ERR ON THE SIDE OF THE SOLDIER AND GIVE THE HEARING?

>> Narrator: THE CONNER TEAM CAN APPEAL, BUT THE WAY FORWARD IS DIFFICULT.

NEW BLOOD IS NECESSARY TO BRING THE CASE HOME.

THEY FIND THIS PERSON IN DENNIS SHEPHERD.

>> Hoppy Conner: DENNIS WAS ATTORNEY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND SO IT WORKED WELL, THIS IS WHAT HE WAS DOING.

>> Chip Haddix: SO THEN, THE GREATEST HERO I KNOW FOR VETERANS, HEATHER FRENCH HENRY, CAME ABOARD AND AUTHORIZED DENNIS SHEPHERD TO APPEAL THIS CASE TO THE SIXTH CIRCUIT COURT.

>> Heather Henry: IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT I GREW TO KNOW ABOUT DENNIS SHEPHERD, WAS THAT HE IS A FORMIDABLE FOE, CERTAINLY, AND HE CHAMPIONS A GREAT CAUSE.

AND REALLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND WE WERE GOING TO WORK AS HARD AS WE COULD.

>> Narrator: THE APPEAL IS THE LAST STOP ON A 20-YEAR QUEST, REACHING FROM GORDIE ROBERTS TO HEATHER FRENCH HENRY.

THERE IS NO WAY FORWARD IF IT IS DENIED.

NO MORE LETTERS TO WRITE OR CALLS TO MAKE.

IT IS A WIN OR GO HOME SCENARIO.

MUCH LIKE POLITICS.

OR SPORTS.

OR WAR.

[TENSE MUSIC] BY NOVEMBER 1944, U.S.

AND FRENCH ARMIES HAVE SHATTERED GERMAN DEFENSES IN THE NORTHERN VOSGES MOUNTAINS AND REACHED THE RHINE RIVER.

IN DECEMBER, THE GERMANS LAUNCHED THEIR LAST MAJOR OFFENSIVE, OPERATION NORTHWIND, TO BREAK THROUGH THE LINE AND ANNIHILATE ALLIED FORCES WHO HAD BEEN WEAKENED FROM SENDING REINFORCEMENTS TO THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE.

THE GERMANS PUSH THE LINE WEST OF COLMAR, CREATING WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS THE COLMAR POCKET.

THE FIGHTING IS BRUTAL, THE TEMPERATURES HOVERING IN THE MID-TEENS.

MURL CONNER'S COMPANY K IS INVOLVED IN A COUNTER-OFFENSIVE AIMED AT CONTROLLING THE AREA SOUTHWEST OF HOUSSEN, IN ORDER TO LAUNCH AN ATTACK ON COLMAR ITSELF.

ON THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 23, THEY CAMP ON FLAT TERRAIN WITH LITTLE COVER, KNOWING THE GERMANS ARE CLOSE.

THOSE WHO WERE THERE DESCRIBE IT BEST: >> ROBERT DUTIL, EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT: "IT WAS 8AM WHEN THE FIRST INKLING OF ON ENEMY ATTACK WAS RECEIVED."

HAROLD WIGETMAN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT "SIX MARK VI TANKS AND PANZERJAGERS PLOWED THEIR WAY IN THE DEEP SNOW TOWARD US.

BEHIND THE TANKS AND TANK DESTROYERS, AN INFANTRY OF ABOUT 600 KRAUTS."

>> Narrator: MURL CONNER IS IN A FIELD HOSPITAL WHEN THE ATTACK BEGINS, RECOVERING FROM A SNIPER BULLET TO THE HIP.

AT THE SOUND OF BATTLE, HE SLIPS OUT OF THE TENT AND MAKES HIS WAY TO THE FRONT, WHERE HE FINDS HIMSELF NEXT TO PFC ROBERT DUTIL.

>> ROBERT DUTIL, EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT: "LIEUTENANT CONNER, WHO WAS SITTING BESIDE ME IN THE BATTALION OP, SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO GET SOME ARTILLERY FIRE ON THE ADVANCING KRAUTS BEFORE THE SITUATION GOT WORSE.

WITHOUT ANOTHER WORD, HE GRABBED A REEL OF WIRE AND A SOUND-POWERED TELEPHONE AND TOOK OFF LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL."

[TENSE MUSIC] >> Narrator: CONNER RUNS 400 YARDS DIRECTLY TOWARD THE ENEMY, UNREELING HIS WIRE IN A MIST OF CHARRED TIMBER AS EXPLODING SHELLS SLICE OPEN THE TREES IN HIS PATH.

HE SPRINTS THROUGH A HAIL OF FIRE FROM MACHINE GUNS, SPIT PISTOLS AND RIFLES, BEFORE DIVING INTO A NARROW IRRIGATION DITCH NOT MORE THAN A FOOT DEEP.

FROM THERE, CONNER USES THE WIRE PHONE TO DIRECT ARTILLERY ON THE ENCROACHING GERMAN FORCES.

FRIENDLY ARTILLERY SHRIEKS OVERHEAD.

WAVES OF ENEMY INFANTRY SURGE FORWARD.

SHELLS POUND THE AREA WHERE CONNER LIES.

AND YET, DESPITE HIS PREDICAMENT, CONNER CONTINUES TO CALL OUT HIS DIRECTIONS WITH ICY PRECISION.

FOR THREE INTERMINABLE HOURS, THE BATTLE SEE-SAWS BACK AND FORTH, THE GERMANS MOVING FORWARD AND MURL CONNER'S DIRECTED ARTILLERY BEATING THEM BACK.

AT ONE POINT, A GERMAN WITH A GRENADE RUSHES TO WITHIN FIVE YARDS OF CONNER BEFORE AN ALLIED RIFLEMAN PUTS HIM DOWN.

FINALLY, SENSING DEFEAT, THE GERMANS LAUNCH AN ALL-OUT OFFENSIVE TO REACH CONNER IN HIS DITCH AND OVERWHELM THE ALLIED FORCES.

CONNER SEES THEIR ADVANCE AND OVER THE PHONE SUDDENLY WARNS THE PLATOONS TO KEEP DOWN IN THEIR FOXHOLES.

THEN, MURL CONNER DOES THE UNTHINKABLE: HE DIRECTS ARTILLERY FIRE ONTO HIS OWN POSITION, DETERMINED TO DESTROY THE GERMAN ADVANCE EVEN IF IT COSTS HIM HIS LIFE.

SHELLS SCORCHED THE GERMANS AND LAND WITHIN 15 FEET OF MURL CONNER.

THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE FALTERS, THEN BREAKS.

THEIR SPIRITS SHATTERED BY A LONE SOLDIER ERUPTING MURDEROUS FIRE FROM THE SKY.

WHEN IT IS ALL OVER, LIEUTENANT MURL CONNER STANDS UP IN HIS NARROW DITCH, UNHURT.

WITH MORE THAN 50 GERMANS DEAD, AND 100 MORE WOUNDED, HE HAS GUIDED THE DESTRUCTION OF AN ENTIRE GERMAN BATTALION AND SAVED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS AMERICAN SOLDIERS.

>> Richard Chilton: YOU COULD SAY MURL CONNER IS ONE OF THE BRAVEST MEN I'VE EVER KNOWN, BUT THAT'S KIND OF MEDIOCRE.

HE DESERVES MORE THAN THAT.

YOU CAN SAY HE'S THE FINEST MAN YOU EVER KNEW.

HE CARED ABOUT HIS MEN MORE THAN ANY MAN I EVER KNEW.

IF YOU WANTED SOMEBODY TO GO WITH YOU IN COMBAT, YOU WENT WITH MURL CONNER.

THERE'S SO MANY THINGS YOU COULD PUT ON WITHOUT BEING FAKE AND PHONY.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD BE THE PROPER ONE.

HE'S SOMEONE I REALLY WOULD HAVE LIKED TO KNOW MUCH BETTER, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ABOUT IT.

"THIS IS A CASE ABOUT HONOR.

THIS CASE IS NOT ABOUT MONEY, OR DAMAGES, OR A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL LAW.

IT IS STRICTLY ABOUT HONOR, DURING A TIME WHEN THE LIBERTIES OF THE FREE WORLD WERE IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY, AND ONE MAN, LIEUTENANT GARLIN M. CONNER, OFFERED UP HIS OWN LIFE, FOR THIS CAUSE, AND ACHIEVED THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF HONOR ANYONE CAN RECEIVE."

>> Narrator: FROM THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS LYDA PAULINE CONNER VS.

U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY.

DENNIS SHEPHERD GUIDES THE CONNER TEAM INTO THE SIXTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS, WHERE A PANEL OF THREE JUDGES ARE TO RULE ON THE QUESTION OF STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

IN ESSENCE, THEY WILL DECIDE WHETHER MURL CONNER IS FINALLY OUT OF TIME.

>> CIRCUIT COURT AUDIO, MARCH 2014 - BAILIFF 14-53-55: LYDIA CONNER VS.

U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF ARMY ET AL., MR.

SHEPHERD FOR THE PLAINTIFF APPELLANT.

>> Narrator: DENNIS SHEPHERD OPENS HIS ARGUMENT BY EXPLAINING WHY IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO VERIFY THE ACTIONS OF MURL CONNER IN WORLD WAR II.

>> CIRCUIT COURT AUDIO, MARCH 2014 - DENNIS SHEPHERD IT TOOK LITERALLY YEARS OF LYDA CONNER AND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE HELPING HER TO DISCOVER THIS EVIDENCE BECAUSE GARLIN CONNER'S MILITARY RECORDS WERE DESTROYED COMPLETELY IN THE 1973 ST.

LOUIS MILITARY PERSONNEL CENTER FIRE.

>> Narrator: ATTORNEY CANDACE HILL, REPRESENTING THE ARMY, SYMPHATHIZES WITH THE CONNER TEAM, BUT ARGUES THAT THIS IS NOT A DEBATE ABOUT HEROISM.

>> CIRCUIT COURT AUDIO, MARCH 2014 - CANDACE HILL: ONCE A CLAIMANT HAS HAD ONE REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION, WHICH IS WHAT MR.

CONNER -ACTUALLY, HE HAD TWO--THAT'S THE END OF IT.

AND THEY WERE ON NOTICE OF THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO ACTION THAT COULD BE TAKEN IN HIS CASE.

>> CIRCUIT COURT AUDIO, MARCH 2014 - JUDGE JEFFREY SUTTON: SO HOW CAN WE SAY, IN THE BIGGER PICTURE, THIS IS OR IS NOT AN INJUSTICE?

CIRCUIT COURT AUDIO, MARCH 2014 - DENNIS SHEPHERD THIS IS CALLED THE ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS.

WHO BETTER CAN CORRECT THIS RECORD THAN THE COMMANDER WHO SAID, "I MADE A MISTAKE"?

>> AS DENNIS WAS MAKING HIS ARGUMENT, I WAS LISTENING, OF COURSE AS ONE DOES, TO TRY TO SURMISE WHAT IT IS THEY MUST BE THINKING.

AND I THOUGHT, "WELL, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO WIN THIS," BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTOOD THE ARGUMENTS.

WHEN I BEGAN TO ARGUE, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I FELT LIKE THE TABLES HAD TURNED AGAINST ME -- THAT THEY WERE CERTAINLY SYMPATHETIC TO HIS CASE AND THAT THEY WERE VERY AWARE THAT THERE WERE GLITCHY THINGS WITHIN THE RECORD OF THIS CASE THAT WOULD ALLOW HIM TO RULE IN HIS FAVOR.

>> Narrator: THEY EVENTUALLY SUGGEST MEDIATION AS A WAY FORWARD.

>> CIRCUIT COURT AUDIO, MARCH 2014 - CANDACE HILL: BUT THE QUESTION THEN WOULD BE, WHAT SETTLEMENT COULD WE POSSIBLY COME TO, YOUR HONOR, BECAUSE TYPICALLY MEDIATION INVOLVES, "WELL, LET'S PAY A LITTLE MORE, AND DAMAGES ARE A LITTLE LESS, AND DAMAGES- " >> CIRCUIT COURT AUDIO, MARCH 2014 - JUDGE JEFFREY SUTTON: AH, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY A THING.

[LAUGHS] SO WE SOLVED THAT, HUH?

CIRCUIT COURT AUDIO, MARCH 2014 YOUR SUGGESTION WOULD BE FOR THE ARMY TO AGREE TO HAVE A HEARING.

>> OFFSCREEN INTERVIEWER: HOW UNUSUAL IS IT FOR MEDIATION TO BE ORDERED AT AN ORAL ARGUMENT BY AN APPEALS COURT?

>> CANDACE HILL (PRESENT DAY): VERY UNUSUAL.

I'VE DONE MANY, MANY APPEALS; I'VE ARGUED IN FRONT OF THE COURT OF APPEALS MANY TIMES.

I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT HAPPENING BEFORE.

>> Narrator: IT IS A BIG MOMENT FOR THE CONNER TEAM, BUT THERE IS ONE LAST SURPRISE FOR THE COURT.

AS CANDACE HILL CEDES HER TIME, SHE HESITATES.

AND LIKE RICHARD CHILTON OBSERVING MURL'S MEDALS, IT ALL SUDDENLY RUSHES BACK IN.

>> CIRCUIT COURT AUDIO, MARCH 2014 - CANDACE HILL: [GETS EMOTIONAL] I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING THAT'S VERY PERSONAL TO ME, AND I'VE NEVER CRIED IN FRONT OF A COURT IN MY LIFE.

BUT MY FATHER WAS A FIRST LIEUTENANT IN THE SEVENTH INFANTRY, IN THE THIRD DIVISION, AND FOUGHT IN THE COLMAR POCKET.

AND HE WAS INJURED, TERRIBLY, ON JANUARY THE 25TH, ONE DAY AFTER GARLIN CONNER HAD HIS ACTS OF BRAVERY.

THERE'S NO ONE MORE SYMPATHETIC AND MORE STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF GIVING PEOPLE HONOR FOR THE BRAVERY AND VALOR THAT THEY HAD IN THAT BATTLE.

MY FATHER WAS IN THE MILITARY HOSPITAL FOR OVER 18 MONTHS WITH A SERIOUS WOUND TO HIS LEG, AND FOR ALL I KNOW, GARLIN CONNER MAY HAVE BEEN SOMEONE THAT HELPED SAVE HIS LIFE.

SO I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS AS WELL, AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A VERY SYMPATHETIC AND VERY IMPORTANT REASON TO RECOGNIZE AND TO HONOR THE PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT A LONG TIME AGO, BUT WHO STILL SHOULD BE REMEMBERED.

>> Narrator: CANDACE HILL'S PERSONAL DISCLOSURE STUNS THOSE WHO WITNESS IT.

>> Hoppy Conner: IT WAS A SURPRISE, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE· IT WAS SURREAL, IT WAS LIKE A MOVIE, OR TV OR SOMETHING.

>> Heather Henry: YOU JUST KNEW THAT THAT WAS THE MOMENT THAT· AHA.

THAT WAS THE "AHA" MOMENT.

>> Narrator: THE MEDIATION GOES WELL FOR THE CONNER TEAM, AND THEY RECEIVE A NEW HEARING.

AT LONG LAST, THE MILITARY BOARD WILL REVIEW THE NEW EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS ALMOST 20 YEARS AFTER RICHARD CHILTON FIRST MADE HIS PLEA.

>> TO BE HONEST WE EXPECTED A 'NO' FROM THE BOARD AGAIN, AND I FELT, TOO, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE LAST WORD WITH US AND GET TO SAY, "WE TOLD YOU THAT YOU WEREN'T GOING TO GET IT, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET IT."

>> Narrator: AS MIGHT BE EXPECTED, THE BOARD'S CIVILIAN STAFF ONCE AGAIN REFUSES TO PUT LIEUTENANT CONNER'S APPLICATION UP FOR REVIEW.

BUT IN A SHOCKING REBUKE, THE BOARD OVERTURNS ITS OWN STAFF AND UNILATERALLY RECOMMENDS TO MAKE THE AWARD.

GARLIN MURL CONNER WILL RECEIVE THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR.

>> Heather Henry: THE MOMENT THAT DENNIS CAME INTO MY OFFICE AND HE STOOD BESIDE MY DESK -- I REMEMBER LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY -- AND HE JUST SAID, "WE GOT IT!"

AND I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE MEANT, AND I WAS LIKE, "WE WON THE CASE!

HE'S GETTING THE MEDAL!"

>> I GOT AN EMAIL, AND IT HAD IN ALMOST BIG BOLD LETTERS, "WE JUST GOT IT DONE!"

I LOOKED AT MYSELF AND I PROBABLY SAID, "WOW, THIS IS AMAZING."

>> Narrator: FOR THOSE ON THE ROAD LONGEST WITH MURL CONNER, IT IS THE RIGHT END TO A STORY 73 YEARS IN THE TELLING.

>> Richard Chilton: HE WAS A ONE-IN-A-MILLION GUY.

I WOULDN'T HAVE GIVEN ALL THOSE YEARS FOR NOTHING.

HE HAD THIS COMING, AND HE HAD A LOT MORE COMING BESIDE THIS.

THIS IS THE LEAST I COULD DO.

>> Pauline Conner: I'M GOING TO LAY IT EVERY BIT AT RICHARD CHILTON AND CHIP HADDIX'S DOORWAY.

>> Chip Haddix: YOU KNOW, MARCO POLO GOT HIS DONE IN ABOUT 13 YEARS, ON HIS JOURNEY.

TOOK US 20, SO... THAT'S ABOUT ALL--THE STORY'S IN HERE, I COULDN'T EVEN START TO TELL YOU WHAT'S IN HERE OR WHATEVER.

BUT IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO HELP RICHARD CHILTON ON HIS MISSION, WHICH HAD A FAIRYTALE ENDING, AND IT ENDED ON A GOOD NOTE, 'CAUSE ON JUNE THE 27TH IN WASHINGTON, D.C., PRESIDENT TRUMP PRESENTED GARLIN MURL CONNER'S WIDOW PAULINE WITH THE MEDAL OF HONOR.

[UPLIFTING PIANO] [UPLIFTING PIANO] [APPLAUSE] >> Heather Henry: BUT YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE IN ALL THE DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE THAT HELPED TO BRING ALL OF THIS TOGETHER -- I THINK EACH PERSON HAD THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL PIECE IN THAT PIE TO MAKE IT COMPLETE.

BUT JUST TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE A PART OF THIS GREAT MISSION THAT HAD LASTED SO LONG, AND THAT YOU COULD, AT SOME POINT IN YOUR FUTURE, TELL YOUR KIDS, TELL YOUR GRANDKIDS, THAT ONCE UPON A TIME, YOU WERE PART OF THIS...FIGHT.

TO FINALLY AWARD THIS DESERVING MEDAL TO THIS DESERVING VETERAN BECAUSE OF THEIR SACRIFICE AND SERVICE, AND THAT YOU WERE THERE TO SEE IT HAPPEN.

THAT, TO ME, THAT WILL LIVE WITH ME THE REST OF MY LIFE.

[HEARTFELT MUSIC] >> Narrator: GARLIN MURL CONNER IS A HERO.

SO ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED FOR SO LONG TO WRITE HIS NAME IN BRONZE AND STONE, AND IN THE HEARTS OF SO MANY GENERATIONS TO COME.

TIME AND MEMORY GET TRICKY IN THE FOG OF WAR.

BUT AS IT IS TRUE THAT SOME HEROIC DEEDS ARE FORGOTTEN, IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT SOME PEOPLE REFUSE TO LET OLD STORIES DIE, AND BECOME HEROES THEMSELVES.

THERE ARE SMALL TOWNS HIDDEN ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.

GARLIN MURL CONNER WAS FROM ONE OF THEM.

AND WE REMEMBER.

♪ >> Pauline Conner: I'VE GOT A PRETTY PICTURE OF HIM SOMEWHERE OF HIM AND HIS GIRLFRIEND.

[OFFSCREEN LAUGHS] THAT'S HER ENGAGEMENT RING.

>> OFFSCREEN INTERVIEWER: MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS.

>> Pauline Conner: AFTER HE GOT BACK FROM SERVICE.

>> Paul Conner: I'D LOVE TO HAVE HEARD THE STORY OVER HOW THAT GOT HERE [LAUGHS].

>> Pauline Conner: WELL, HE HAD GIVEN HER AN ENGAGEMENT RING AND SO AFTER WE GOT MARRIED, HE DIDN'T GIVE ME NO ENGAGEMENT RING.

SHE MAILED THAT TO HIM.

AFTER WE GOT MARRIED.

AND HE SAID, "NOW THERE YOU GO, SO THERE'S YOUR ENGAGEMENT RING."

SO I PUT IT ON.

[OFFSCREEN LAUGHTER] >> Narrator: FUNDING FOR THIS FILM WAS PROVIDED BY: FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS