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It is with that thought in mind that friends and family, along with the help of Congressman Dave Camp, had decided to attempt to secure some long overdo recognition for the soldiers in their lives.

Stanley Ward's journey to recognition began with a conversation with Mike Cox in Cox's office. Cox contacted Camp's Traverse City office, and the rest is history, albeit a bit late. Ward is the proud keeper of a journal of history pertaining to his ship the USS Mugford. Ward stated that Tokyo Rose came on the air five times to announce that the USS Mugford had been sunk, each time, obviously, was a lie. In Ward's journal rests an exact word for word manuscript of a commanding officer's report on the attack on Pearl Harbor. When presented his medals, Ward stated that he was just a man, like so many others, trying to do his job.

Robert Jackson also received his unawarded medals Friday. Jackson wove a tale of crawling out into no man's land to save a couple of injured soldiers who had been pinned down by enemy sniper fire. A comrade and he pulled the injured soldiers to safety. It was only when they had returned to the safety of their lines that Jackson realized that one of the soldiers was an Army College room mate of his. Jackson also told of his times as editor of a small frontlines newspaper called "Front Line Headlines." It gave updates on enemy positions and progress made. Jackson presented Camp with a copy of the newspaper dated "Luxembourg, Tuesday 9 Jan 1945." It's headline read "Allies Shelling Main Supply Route."

Clarence Weber's story began with a set of records in poor condition. They had been sent to the French Consulate in hopes of obtaining Weber's French Legion of Honor medal. Surrounded by family and friends, Weber accepted a multitude of medals, but the French Legion of Honor medal, along with a possible Purple Heart, are still pending.

Recognizing veterans for their service seems as though it should be something that never slips through the cracks, but all too often it does. Thanks to the efforts of their friends and family, and the help of Congressman Camp's office, three more soldiers are no longer lacking the thanks they deserve for their job well done.

"We really wanted to honor them publicly. We need to recognize their service," Camp said.