MT. VERNON — Doug Spells of Mt. Vernon received many awards for his military service in Vietnam, including the Purple Heart. While the awards were lost over time, the U.S. did not forget about Spells’ service. On Friday, he was presented with a new Purple Heart for his service.

U.S. Representative Mike Bost presented him with the Purple Heart at Mt. Vernon City Hall Friday. He says Americans owe veterans like Spells everything for the freedoms we have today.

Spells was drafted into the U.S. military at the age of 19. As a member of the air defense artillery unit, Sgt. Spells was in a tank that hit a land mine, killing some and injuring Spells and many others. He spent a month in the hospital in Vietnam before being transferred back to the states to finish his service.