By U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

** Click here to download the audio recording of this week’s column** 

Like so many members of the Greatest Generation, Orin R. Leslie was no stranger to dangerous situations. In 1944, he served as a radar man aboard the USS Wachapreague in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The largest naval battle in modern history, it was a pivotal moment in General MacArthur’s “island hopping” campaign in the southwest Pacific during World War II. There, and elsewhere in the Pacific, Orin’s ship provided support to the U.S. Navy’s famous PT boats, of the kind commanded by then-Lieutenant John F. Kennedy.

Due to a bureaucratic oversight, Orin never received the medals he earned for his service in World War II. Despite his impressive combat experience, he returned home with no official recognition from the country he so courageously served.

More than 70 years later, his daughter, Janet, who lives in Omaha, was preparing an album honoring her late father’s military service. She had old photos and letters her father had written to her mother while he was at war. But she also felt the medals he earned were an important part of his story. For more than a year, Janet tried to get Orin’s long overdue honors from the federal government, without success.

In June, Janet reached out to my office; by August, she had her dad’s medals.

My diligent staff went to work for Janet and contacted the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), the agency responsible for tracking the service of veterans from all branches of our military. From there, the NPRC Medals Research Team verified Orin’s service record to determine which honors were his. As it turns out, he had earned quite a few: the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Campaign Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, and several others.

Helping Janet honor her dad is just one example of the many ways my office performs important work on behalf of Nebraska families. Through mobile office hours, my staff assists Nebraskans in navigating federal agencies and answers questions about legislation. They provide help in grant applications and give guidance on veterans issues and resources for military families. They also shepherd applicants for nominations to attend our nation’s military academies.

In 2016 alone, my team has held more than 40 mobile office hours events across Nebraska. Through them, we help provide rural Nebraskans with the same representation and access to their U.S. senator that citizens in our bigger cities enjoy.

I am proud to provide these services through my office. They are a core part of my role as your U.S. senator. I also see them as a way to keep our government accountable to the people, which is where America’s true greatness and strength has always resided.

Orin Leslie is a terrific example of that. Like millions of other young Americans, he answered his country’s call to service in World War II. Unlike General MacArthur or Lieutenant Kennedy, Orin’s name doesn’t appear in the history books. But he does appear in a far more important book, his daughter Janet’s album. Now, Orin’s medals will be there too, as a part of his story, and a reminder of his great service.

Thank you for taking part in our democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.