LARGO No one is quite sure when Frank Bartlett lost the five medals he earned while serving in World War II, but Monday they were finally replaced.
Bartlett, 102, served as a surgical technician in the Army during the war, which took him to France, Italy and Germany. He wasnt a fighter, but he saw his share of battle traveling as a medic with the 9th Infantry Division.
Wherever they went, we went, Bartlett said at his Largo home Monday. We were right on the battlefield.
As a medic he gave care to injured soldiers, and when blood transfusions were required, he and fellow medics would offer their own to save lives.
His time in the service earned him five war medals including a Bronze Star, a Silver Star and an American Defense medal. He had kept them at his bedside table since he returned from Europe. He hasnt wanted to talk about the experience for much of his life.
It took me a long time to get over it, to see such ruin, he said.
Bartlett is from New York, but moved to Florida about 25 years ago, and in doing so, he reconnected with an old friend with whom he became very close. Having never married and with no surviving family, Bartlett moved in with his friends son, fellow vet Carl Cabello, about 10 years ago.
The Cabellos have been Bartletts family and taken care of him so when they learned he had lost the war medals in the last few years, they set out to get replacements. Bartlett recently contacted David Jolly, the Republican congressman from St. Petersburg, and on Monday presented replacement medals along with a flag to thank Bartlett for his service.
Carl Cabello, 74, was also given a flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol.
The day of the Pearl Harbor attack, Bartlett was set to be discharged from the Army, having served time in Africa. But once the U.S. entered WWII, his service was extended and he served in Europe until the war ended.
Bartlett knew he would be receiving replacement medals but not that Rep. Jolly would come to his backyard to thank him and hear about his service.
Cabello said he will make sure his friend of 50 years doesnt let his medals disappear again.
Were going to get a frame for those, he said. They are not going to get lost.
Bartlett said receiving the medals nearly 70 years ago was an honor. The replacements made his day.
To be acknowledged is a nice thing, he said. It was nice to be rewarded for things and appreciated.
