Compassionate Monticello veteran to get his award — 60 years later
By Tim Mitchell
Sunday February 19, 2006
John Dixon
World War II veteran Steve Varner holds the Distinguished Service Cross, The Silver Star, the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War medal at his Monticello home. Varner will be honored for his heroism and compassion during the war Monday with an award from the Italian government.
MONTICELLO – On July 16, 1946, Steve Varner of Monticello received a letter from the Italian government saying it was awarding him its Military Cross for Valor for his compassion in sparing the lives of hundreds of Italian soldiers in North Africa during World War II.
Unfortunately, the war bankrupted the Italian treasury, so there was no money to pay for Varner's medal.
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