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HOLDREGE — Daryl Renz was a quiet man who shied away from the limelight, so it’s not a surprise it took more than 60 years to award him the Purple Heart he earned for saving a buddy’s life.

“He was a proud Marine, I’ll tell you that,” said Daryl’s wife, Fern, from her room at Holdrege Memorial Homes in Holdrege. “I just wish he was here to enjoy all of this.”

To celebrate Veterans Day, Renz’s family gathered as Sgt. Bill Lattin, a U.S. Marine Corps recruiter, and Petty Officer Matt Hyatt, a recruiter for the U.S. Navy, presented Fern with her husband’s Purple Heart, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal and several ribbons and buttons. Renz will also received the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal.

“From a grateful nation, thank you for your sacrifice, not only your husband’s,” Hyatt said to Fern. “I think Veterans Day should be celebrated every day, not just today.”

Renz did not talk often about his service as a Marine during World War II. It wasn’t until seven days before his death in 1985 that Renz told his nephew, Richard Coe of Alma, how he was wounded during fighting on Iwo Jima.

“I think with all the stress, all the carnage of Iwo Jima, he wanted to forget it,” Richard said.

Renz landed on Iwo Jima on the first day of fighting, Feb. 19, 1945. After dodging a bullet earlier in fighting, he was swapping spots in a foxhole with buddy Allen Simpson when a grenade landed on Simpson’s backpack. Renz swatted at the grenade, but Simpson flinched and the grenade fell into the hole. Both men were wounded when the grenade exploded. Renz had been on the island only four days.

Medics were going to take Renz but leave Simpson, thinking he was hurt too badly to survive.

“Daryl said, ‘You’re taking us both, or leaving us both,’” Richard said. So the medics took both friends off the battlefield.

Both survived and kept in touch for the rest of their lives. Simpson, who lived in Colorado Springs, named his son after Renz.

David Coe, another of Renz’s nephews, said Fern occasionally found shrapnel in the bed sheets from Renz’s injuries to his legs. After he was discharged from the Marines in September 1945, he came back to Harlan County to farm.

“He never wanted a pat on the back,” Richard said. “He just wanted to get on with life and continue to make the world a better place.”

Renz’s farm ground was designated to become part of Harlan County Reservoir, so he and Fern moved to Phelps County in 1954. He farmed until he died. He also farmed ground in Harlan County.

Richard assumed his uncle had received the Purple Heart after hearing the Iwo Jima story, but when he inquired about putting Renz’s name on the Harlan County Veterans Memorial Wall in Alma, he learned that his uncle had never been awarded the medal.

In fact, Fern had never heard the story.

So, about six months ago, Richard contacted U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson’s office and the Veteran’s Affairs Office to find out how his uncle could be recognized posthumously. Art Johnson, Veteran’s Affairs officer for Harlan and Phelps counties, helped file the paperwork.

“He was obviously a spectacular Marine,” Lattin said of Renz.

“He was a great husband, too,” Fern added.

e-mail to:

betsy.friedrich@kearneyhub.com

See video highlights from the House of Barbers Wednesday. The business offered free haircuts to veterans on Veterans Day.

See photos from the Veterans Day Parade in Kearney Wednesday.

See photos from the Veterans Day event at Horizon Middle School Wednesday.