ICYMI: Davids Helps Recover Missing War Medals for Shawnee Veteran

Last week, KSHB 41 News reported on Representative Sharice Davids’ efforts to replace Jerry Goff’s military medals. Goff, a Vietnam War veteran from Shawnee, tried for more than one year to secure his missing medals, but was unsuccessful. Davids, whose casework team worked with the Army, National Archives, and Department of Defense to acquire the seven missing awards, presented the medals to Goff while surrounded by his family. Goff plans to pass on the medals to his grandchildren.

Read more in KSHB:

“Jerry Goff was awarded medals for his service in the Vietnam War, but they went missing. The medals were from 50 years ago.

[…]

“Jerry Goff said he tried for over a year to get them back, and after seeing no progress, he contacted Kansas Rep. Sharice Davids’ office for help. From there, Davids' office and the Goffs worked with the U.S. Army, the National Archives, and the Department of Defense to successfully get his awards back.

“Jerry Goff said it was his goal to get them back so he could show his family. ‘To show my grandchildren; I wanted them to see what I did, and sometime when I go, they can have them and they can say, ‘Hey, this is what my grandpa did,’’ Goff said.

[…]

“‘I feel honored to get the chance to do this with you,’ she said. ‘We worked really hard to recover Mr. Goff’s missing medals.’

“[Goff told Davids], ‘Thank you for all you’ve done. I reached out to the VA over a year ago, but could never get anywhere, but you in 45 days got what I couldn’t get in over a year.’

[…]

“Davids said it’s the constituent services that she’s recently focused on, closing 1,600 cases, from missing tax filings to delayed passports. ‘We put that really at the top of our priority list,’ she said.

“Jerry Goff showed his gratitude for the help. ‘Representatives are there for the people and I really appreciate it,’ he said. ‘Just caring about the little things in life like medals, it's important.’”