SOUTH BEND — His story is part of our country's history. A local World War II veteran received his lost medals Thursday.

Frank Firtl received his 11 medals with the help of Congressman Joe Donnelly.

“This is almost like a baseball lineup, there are so many medals,” remarked Donnelly.

Each medal shows Firtl’s bravery and dedication.

“I think at his age he wants to make a difference and know that his life made a difference, and he's proud of his kids and proud of his country,” said his daughter Patti Ganser Grenert. “It just makes me have goose bumps to know that he's the person here today receiving the medals."

Firtl says the Purple Heart medal is the most important to him.

He shared with us some of his memories — our history.

“Our job was intelligence and reconnaissance — that's the platoon that I was in,” remembered Firtl.

He didn’t always share his stories, like many other veterans. A number of his memories are filled with loss and hardship.

“I just started to yell 'Stop!' and it was too late, we ran over that land mine and to me, all I can think of is lightning hit the car,” said Firtl as he described how he was injured.

But sharing his stories and his medals now is all for his family.

“I've been hanging around long enough there and I just wanted to leave something as a memento of what Frank was in this world here — and he helped a little bit. Glad to help in any way I could, but I just wanted the kids to have some remembrance,” explained Firtl.

Firtl's family isn't sure what happened to his original medals. He contacted Donnelly's office in March about the medals. He had been trying to get them himself, but his records were destroyed in a fire.