Surprise Honor for Surviving Widow of WWII POW

By Joshua Loftis
Caroline Briggs currently lives at the Highland Manor Assisted Living Facility in Fallon, Nevada. NDVS Veteran Service Officer, Gary Utterback had the honor and privilege of making her acquaintance during a visit he made to the Facility to assist her in filing a claim to the VA.

Caroline’s late husband, Eugene Briggs, was in the Army Air Corps during WWII and served as a B-29 Gunner. Unfortunately, on a mission in April 1944, Eugene was shot down. Eugene would spend the rest of the war incarcerated in Germany, at which time he was repatriated and returned home.

Eugene left the Army after WWI but, when the Korean War started, “He didn’t want to be left out of the fight” Caroline recalled, and joined the Air Force. After 30 years, Eugene retired as a Chief Master Sergeant and passed away in 2014.

NDVS VSO Gary Utterback has visited Caroline on several occasions over the last few months, as he continues to work with her on a Dependent Indemnity Compensation (DIC) claim, he wanted to do something special for her. So, on his latest visit, Gary arrived in full uniform and presented her with a coin to honor her and her husband.

We thank Eugene for his service to this nation and Caroline, for her support of one of America’s finest.

If you’d like to learn more about Dependent Indemnity Compensation Claims, visit: https://benefits.va.gov/compensation/types-dependency_and_indemnity.asp