Standing Rock veteran receives medals after 56-year wait

STANDING ROCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Veterans have a special place in our hearts across this country. Every year we honor them and their service. Sometimes someone who goes above and beyond is awarded a medal. That was the case with one Standing Rock man, except he never got his medals.

Former Sergeant Bruz Luger joined the military during the Vietnam War. He was supposed to be awarded a Bronze Star and a Vietnamese Gallantry Cross, but due to a clerical error on a medal form, this never happened – until now.

“We worked on it in 2004, and then we worked on it again in 2023 and finally got approval,” Claudette Walkingelk said.

Walkingelk began working with Luger almost 20 years ago. He had asked her for help in getting his medal. She took a career move, but when she went back to work as a veterans service officer at the tribal office, they picked up where they left off.

His years of service continue to shape him to this day.

“It was a poor man’s war. My dad told me he could pay a politician $10,000 and I wouldn’t have to go, but I said, ‘I’ll go,’ because all my friends were there,” Luger said.

Luger said he always thought he would get his medals, he just wasn’t sure when. He said thanks to Walkingelk’s persistence, “when” was December 4, 2024.

Walkingelk encourages other veterans in similar situations to reach out to a military service member and ask for help.

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