After 63 years, Sterling Heights resident Philip Foss finally receives the numerous medals he earned for his military service during World War II. Source photo by Deanna Rose

The Sterling Heights resident served in the United States Army during World War II and participated in five major battles, including on D-Day and during the Battle of the Bulge. For his service, Foss was awarded several military medals but never actually received them - until now.

“At the time I left the service and came home from overseas, there were so many medals being awarded that they didn’t have enough made,” Foss said. “They gave me ribbons, but I wasn’t awarded the medals.”

Foss tried repeatedly to obtain his medals from the Veteran’s Administration, but each time he sent in his application, it was returned. The federal government told him he needed to supply additional information, but Foss said he gave them the only two documents he had and didn’t know what else he could do.

After decades of trying to receive his medals, Foss heard from a friend’s granddaughter about another avenue to try. Foss’ friend had similar troubles getting his own medals and decided to contact U.S. Congresswoman Candice Miller, R-Shelby Township, for assistance. A short time later, Foss’ friend was finally able to hold the medals he earned - so Foss contacted the congresswoman to see if she would be able to do the same for him.

“I called her, and in a matter of two to three weeks she called and said she had them,” Foss said.

And he knows exactly where he’s going to put the newly acquired medals he earned so long ago: He’s going to hang them on his wall.

“It gives me great satisfaction and great pride,” Foss said. “It took so long to get these things that I was about to give up.”

Instead of having Foss simply pick up his medals, Miller told him she wanted to present the awards to him during a ceremony at Sterling Heights City Hall on Aug. 19. The medals Foss earned and finally received were the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one Silver Service Star, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal with the Germany Clasp, Honorable Service lapel button and the Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar.

“My main concern in getting these was so I’d have something to give my grandsons,” Foss said.

During the ceremony, Miller called Foss “a true American patriot; a true American hero.” She also praised all military personnel for their service recently in Iraq and Afghanistan. “But it is equally as important that we never forget and that we continue to honor those who have provided similar service in previous conflicts for our nation as well,” Miller said. “Mr. Foss, we know you’re no longer the 18-year-old who joined the Army in 1942 and you’re no longer the 20-year-old you were at the end of World War II when you earned these medals, but I will tell you that honor knows no time boundaries. You are today the same brave American patriot who served our nation so honorably in the great crusade.”

During his service in the war, Foss became a paratrooper for the 82nd Airborne Division.

“At the time, we were given $50 more a month to jump - which was a lot of money at that time,” Foss said.

As a result, he jumped onto Utah Beach during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, was in five major battles, made five combat jumps and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

While fighting in Germany near the end of the war, Foss said it was so cold he froze his hands and his feet. He also lost between 30 and 40 percent of his hearing during the war.

“I feel very fortunate I came through this whole ordeal, the whole European war,” Foss said. “I came home in pretty good condition. I don’t think I’m a hero; heroes are the poor guys who didn’t make it.”