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Poplar Bluff , MO — A 103-year-old World War II Army Veteran from Poplar Bluff was honored recently with VA’s Centenarian Award at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. Clemens Deken is a

resident of the medical center’s Community Living Center and was presented the award on behalf of the VA secretary by Interim Medical Center Director Fabian Grabski.  “There were 15 million

people in uniform for the United States during World War II. Sadly, as I see today, there are just over 60,000 of our former service men and women still with us,” Grabski noted. The

Centenarian Recognition Program “was started by Secretary of VA Wilkie, so this goes back a number of years ago,” Grabski added, noting it’s an exceptional program and has continued under

current secretary, the honorable Doug Collins. “Today, we’re here to honor Mr. Clemens Deken, and extend our gratitude for your service to this country,” Grabski continued. “He’s a D-Day

Veteran. He was in it from the beginning of the D-Day landing in 1944 until the end of the war when Germany surrendered.” Grabski noted Deken’s military occupational specialty during that

period was a tank mechanic, so “he would go in with armored forces as they proceeded through France and then through Germany, ultimately marking the end of the Third Reich.” Deken’s family,

along with several members of local Veteran service organizations, were in attendance at the presentation. “I think it’s a really neat award that they can do this for him and honor him

because, like they said, this is the greatest generation. To see him recognized is a good thing,” said Deken’s son, Felix Deken. “It’s a great honor to be awarded something,” added

daughter-in-law Amy Deken, who noted the care her father-in-law receives at the medical center is “exceptional. We love everyone here, and they consider him a hero and a superstar.” For more

information about programs and services available to Veterans, their families and caregivers at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, please call 573-686-4151 or visit 

https://www.va.gov/poplar-bluff-health-care/. ###