July 9, 2012

Army Cpl. Robert Smiddy was discharged in 1946. Friday, he finally got the medals he earned for his service — 67 years after he was discharged. Among those medals was a Bronze Star, awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement not involving aerial flight. Smiddy, 89, received the medals in a surprise ceremony arranged by his children and U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor.