Funeral Set For Veteran Who Just Got Medals

Funeral services were scheduled Tuesday for Carl E. Billig, a U.S. Army veteran who last week received the medals of honor he earned during 23 years of military service.

Billig, 66, received the medals on Wednesday and died Friday after a long battle with lung cancer.

Billig received 13 medals, including a Purple Heart, from an officer of the Idaho Falls National Guard post. He served tours of duty in both World War II and the Korean War, retiring as a master sergeant.

“His one request came real true,” said his son, Tom, Wednesday.

Tom Billig and his father tried for more than a year to get the medals but didn’t cut through the red tape until they called upon the office of Sen. Dirk Kempthorne for help.

Billig, a Pennsylvania native, lived in Idaho Falls for the last 25 years.