Fargo, N.D. (KFGO) - After being lost for decades, a late Minnesota veteran's family was presented with his six World War II medals Wednesday.
Sgt. Robert Johnston earned the medals during his service in the Army Air Corp from 1942 to 1945 but the records were lost and he was never awarded them. Johnston died in 1996.
Johnston was an airplane mechanic gunner during World War II. In January of 1944, his airplane was shot down. He was forced to parachute out, injuring his shoulder.
Johnston was captured by German soldiers and was sent to a prisoner of war camp in East Prussia for 16 months until he stole a German officer's car and escaped to Allied territory.
Johnston also served in the Korean War.
His grandson, Levi Otis of Fargo, contacted North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer for help in locating the lost records.
In a ceremony Wednesday, Congressman Cramer presented his widow, Lila Johnston, his six medals, along with an American flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol building.
Johnston was awarded with the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster, the POW medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and Bronze Star Attachment, the World War II Victory Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Button from World War II.
Johnston resided in Henning, Minnesota and was a self-employed heavy equipment operator, farmer and trucker.