103-Year-Old WWII veteran honored with VA’s Centenarian Award

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo., (KBSI) — Clemens Deken, a 103-year-old World War II Army veteran, was recently honored with the VA’s Centenarian Award at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center.

Interim Medical Center Director Fabian Grabski presented the award on behalf of the VA secretary, noting that Deken is one of the few remaining World War II veterans, with only about 60,000 still alive today ¹.

Deken, a resident of the medical center’s Community Living Center, served as a tank mechanic during the war, participating in the D-Day landing in 1944 and serving until Germany’s surrender.

The Centenarian Recognition Program was established by former VA Secretary Wilke and has continued under current secretary, Doug Collins.

Deken’s family and local Veteran service organizations attended the presentation, with his son, Felix Deken, praising the award as a “really neat” way to honor his father’s service.

For more information on programs and services available to Veterans, their families, and caregivers at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, call 573-686-4151 or visit (link unavailable).