NE Missouri News

Congressman Sam Graves presented military service medals to the family of William Edgar Taul, a World War II veteran from Northwest Missouri, during a ceremony in Kansas City. Taul served in the U.S. Army starting in 1944. His service records were destroyed in a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis in 1973, but Graves was able to recover several medals for his service.

“I’m grateful for all of our veterans in North Missouri," said Graves. “It’s an honor to be able to present these medals to Mr. Taul’s family so they can always remember his service to our nation."

The medals awarded included the Bronze Star Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge 1st Award, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII. The recipients at the event were Taul’s grandson Ryan Wright, daughter Peggy Boulware, and son-in-law Barry Boulware.

Graves encouraged other veterans or their families who are seeking assistance with obtaining earned service medals or accessing Veterans Affairs benefits to contact his office at 816-792-3976.

Sam Graves has represented Missouri’s 6th district in Congress since 2001 after replacing Pat Danner (https://www.house.gov/graves). Before serving in Congress, he was a member of both the Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate (https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/G000546). He was born in Tarkio, Missouri, and graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science degree.