WASHINGTON -- Neenah resident Gordon J. Brittnacher, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War received several overdue medals Aug. 3 in a ceremony held in Rep. Tom Petri's Washington office. Petri had helped Brittnacher, age 80, to demonstrate that he was qualified to receive the medals, which he wanted to pass on as a legacy for his descendents.

Brittnacher served in the Army in World War II as a member of Gen. Patton's 8th Army Corps, participating in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944-45. In 1950 he joined the Air Force and was part of the 75th Air Depot Wing (Supply) as a Staff Sergeant based in Texas and Japan supporting actions in South Korea.

During the ceremony, Air Force Col. Anthony "Laser" Lazarski presented Brittnacher with a Good Conduct Medal, a European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars, an Army of Occupation Medal with Japan clasp, a National Defense Service Medal, a Korean Service Medal, a United Nations Service Medal, an Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII, and a Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar.

Air Force Colonel Anthony Lazarski salutes Neenah resident Gordon Brittnacher during a medal presentation ceremony in Rep. Petri's office on August 8, 2005.