Elderly WWII vet finally gets medals

BROOKLYN, N.Y., May 26 (UPI) -- A 92-year-old Brooklyn, N.Y., World War II veteran was pinned with medals he earned in service more than 60 years ago, but never received, his family says.

The New York Post reported former-Cpl. Pasquale "Pat" Caroselli was so excited to be discharged Christmas morning 1945, he neglected to pick up his medals.

Venita Caroselli, his wife, said, "He deserves them. So many thousands did not get their medals because they were anxious to get home. A great country like this, it's an honor to get these medals."

When Caroselli tried in the 1970s to track down his medals, he learned his records were lost when fire destroyed the St. Louis Army facility where they were stored.

His family notified Rep. Anthony Weiner, whose offices managed to prove Caroselli's meritorious works through copies of his discharge documents.

Weiner pinned Caroselli yesterday with six Bronze stars and gave him medals for victory, honorable service and good conduct.

From 1942-1945, Caroselli traveled in North Africa, France, and Italy and supervised German prisoners in their American artillery repair work.