HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania’s unclaimed property program reunited the family of a World War II veteran with his U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal after the decoration was discovered in an abandoned safe deposit box, highlighting the state’s continuing effort to return military memorabilia to veterans and their descendants.
State Treasurer Stacy Garrity on Thursday presented the medal, ribbon and lapel pin belonging to Sgt. George Pershing to his son, George “Fred” Pershing of Greensburg after Treasury staff traced the family’s connection to the items.
The military decorations entered the Treasury Department’s unclaimed property program after being recovered from an abandoned safe deposit box. Treasury officials said an extensive search led staff to Fred Pershing and his wife, Karen, making the return possible.
Born in Westmoreland County in 1920, George Pershing was drafted into the U.S. Army in the spring of 1942. He served with the First Brigade of the Quartermaster Corps and participated in the Allied invasion of Normandy at Utah Beach on D-Day before later fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.
The Good Conduct Medal, established in 1941, is awarded to U.S. Army personnel for exemplary conduct, efficiency and fidelity or for completing qualifying periods of honorable active service.
Garrity, a U.S. Army veteran, said returning military decorations allows families to reclaim pieces of their relatives’ service.
“Sgt. Pershing was a hero of the Greatest Generation, who answered the nation’s call to protect every American and stand strong with our allies,” Garrity said. “Our nation, and the world, are indebted to Sgt. Pershing and the nearly 16.2 million Americans who made incredible sacrifices to defend freedom in WWII.”
Fred Pershing said the return restores an important part of his father’s legacy. He said he still has his father’s military uniform and has preserved stories of his wartime service.
“I am deeply proud of my father and the brave soldiers of his generation who answered the call to serve our nation,” Pershing said. “Their legacy is a lasting reminder that our liberty was hard-earned and should always be honored and never taken for granted.”
State Rep. Eric Nelson, R-Westmoreland, said the return demonstrates the value of preserving military artifacts for veterans’ families.
“These medals tell a story of valor, bravery and selflessness, and now, the Pershing family has these historic reminders of their father’s and grandfather’s accomplishments,” Nelson said.
Since taking office, Garrity said the Treasury has returned more than 550 military decorations recovered through the unclaimed property program, including 13 Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars and one Gold Star medal. More than 500 military decorations remain in the department’s vault awaiting identification and return.
Treasury maintains a searchable database of military decorations at patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property/medals. Pennsylvanians can also search the state’s unclaimed property database at patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property, where officials estimate more than one in 10 residents is owed unclaimed property, with the average claim exceeding $1,000.
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