Utahn who fought in 3 wars to receive VFW award

Familiar names such as Hubert Humphrey, J. Edgar Hoover and John Wayne have received the Veterans of Foreign Wars Americanism Award.

In August, Utah's own George E. Wahlen will be given the award at the VFW's national convention in Kansas City.

President Harry Truman in 1945 presented Wahlen with the Medal of Honor. Wahlen served as a Navy corpsman on Iwo Jima, where he was credited with saving "countless" lives.

The VFW award recognizes "exemplary achievement in promoting values such as patriotism, commitment to service and love of country."

The Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City was renamed in Wahlen's honor. Wahlen has served in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. He served in active duty during World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

The recently released book "The Quiet Hero" was written about Wahlen, who lives in Roy and has been married for 60 years. He and his wife, Melba, have five children, 24 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.