HAUSER - In 1944, at age 23, Hauser resident Galen Sanders was assembling planes in San Diego, Calif.  

In July of that year, he joined the U.S. Army. Sanders is now 87 years old, and he still remembers one of the most traumatic events he took part in — the battle for Okinawa.

He landed on the beach to join the fight on May 1, 1945, just months before the end of the war. The fighting was fierce on May 10, when one of his fellow soldiers was badly injured on the battlefield.

He went out to the injured man, who was lying in direct view of a Japanese machine gun. The Japanese soldier stopped shooting and allowed Sanders and his man to live, Saunders said.

The man he went out to rescue lived.

But during the rescue, Sanders was seriously wounded by other machine gun fire.

“I had to learn to walk again,” he said.

Sanders remembers that Okinawa was the only battle in World War II in which no enemy prisoners were taken.

According to a letter from the U.S. Army dated July 7, 1945: “His courageous action undoubtedly saved a man’s life and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.”

Sanders was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his heroic efforts.