Willard Nanegos received SEVEN Bronze Stars during some of the bloodiest battles of World War II. He spent most of his life in Michigan. He was Native American, and married a Native American woman from the Northwest.

His relatives ended up on the Umatilla Nation reservation near Pendleton. When one of Pfc. Nanegos' bronze stars was found in a safe deposit box long after his death, it took a lot of work to track down his closest living relatives.

When they were finally found, the Oregon State Treasurer traveled to the Mid Columbia himself to ceremoniously deliver the medal.

What a sweet story.

Scott Olson, Getty Images
Scott Olson, Getty Images
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