For Release: Thursday, December 19, 2002
Contact: Frank Miles: (618) 233-8026

U.S. CONGRESSMAN JERRY COSTELLO PRESENTS MEDALS TO MARISSA, ILL VETERAN

Belleville, IL -- U.S. Representative Jerry Costello, (D-Ill) presented several military medals on Thursday, December 19, 2002 to honor the military service of Leroy Frech of Marissa, Illinois. Costello presented the medals to Mr. Frech at his Belleville District office.

Tec 5 Frech is a WW 2 veteran of the US Army. He participated in several campaigns in the European Theatre (Normandy, Northern France, the Ardennes and the Rhineland). Frech entered the US Army in 1943 and was honorably discharged in 1945. While serving in the Army, Frech served as a Surgical Technician. Costello awarded Tec Frech the; good Conduct Medal, the Meritorious Unit Citation, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal with Bronze and Silver Star, the WW2 Victory Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Pin.

Mr. Frech contacted Congressman Costello's office to help get him his medals after he attempted to do so on his own.

Costello said that "securing medals for our veterans is one of the most highest honors I have while I serve as a US Congressman."

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