Montana WWII Veteran Receives Recognition

A Montana World War II veteran who survived the Bataan Death March has been given a congressional citation.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester on Friday presented veteran Ben Steele with a copy of a tribute that Tester had read into the Congressional Record.

The 97-year-old Steele, who lives at the state veteran home in Billings, says he's deeply honored. He also says it was an emotional day, seeing so many people around him for a special moment.

Steele was a 23-year-old soldier in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked in December 1942. Steele and the other soldiers were taken prisoner and forced to march for six days to the Bataan Peninsula. Many died or were killed along the way.