Veteran receives miltary medals 70 years overdue

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.- Only on WINK News, medal by medal, a Southwest Florida Veteran got the surprise of a lifetime! At 91-years-old, Technical Sergeant George Zanoff received five military honors tonight that are long overdue.

“I’m embarrassed, I want to cry,” said George Zdanoff.

A humble Veteran received military honors Tuesday night, he never thought he’d get.

“I’m so honored, I’m really just nervous.”

One by one, Technical Sergeant George Zdanoff was pinned with medals, remembering the tough battle he fought in world war two after being captured by the Japanese.

“They beat the hell outta me in the camp there and they were out to kill me, but good thing they didn’t,” Zdanoff told WINK News.

These decorations are 70 years overdue.

“I was just a guy looking for work, but I was proud of what I had to do.”

40 years ago, his military records were destroyed in a fire that tore through a St. Louis VA building.

“It puts tingles in your spine, it made me feel appreciation, it reminded me of my own dad,” said Congressman Curt Clawson.

Southwest Florida Congressman Curt Clawson recognized Zdanoff Tuesday night.

“There is nothing we can do or say to him that will rise to the occasion for what he has done for us,” Clawson told WINK News.

The honors include the army good conduct medal, The World War II Victory Medal and an American flag that once flew over the Capital in Washington D.C.

“I was banged up, shot up, I have a lot of scrape metal in my body.”

This quilt was sewn together square by square, each patch unique, but with one thing in common–the red, white and blue.

“I’m really happy I’m a live and proud of what I did over there,” said Zdanoff.

They are still fighting to get Zdanoff his Purple Heart.