ICYMI: Davids Helps Recover Missing War Medals for Local Veteran

Earlier this month, KMBC Channel 9 and KSHB 41 News reported on Representative Sharice Davids' efforts to replace Frank Parra's military medals. Parra, a local Vietnam War veteran, tried for decades 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 6 missing awards, presented the medals to Parra while surrounded by his family and friends.

Watch here on KMBC.

Read more in KMBC:

"For the last couple of years, a Kansas City, Kansas, man has been trying to replace the medals he had earned for his military service.

Frank Parra is a Vietnam War veteran. He was decorated several times for heroism under fire. But over the years, he lost track of those medals.

[…]

It wasn't until staffers for U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids jumped into the search that the warrior of long ago had replacements for his hard-earned honors. Parra said that he didn't want them so much for himself, but for his daughter and grandchildren to keep.

Reflection is not something a lot of war veterans like to do. Not so much for Frank Parra. When asked to reflect upon his experience as a 21-year-old man in Vietnam, the now 75-year-old man says, "I had a job to do and I'm proud to say that I did it."

Parra said he's most proud of the Air Medal, although he earned five other honors."

Read more in KSHB:

"Frank Parra accepted a shadowbox filled with service accommodations Friday afternoon with a roar of excitement from his family, who crammed into a small congressional office in Overland Park.

‘Some of these I didn't even know existed,' Parra said, as Kansas Rep. Sharice Davids handed over the black box with colorful medals inside.

Parra said he tried for about a year-and-a-half to recover his missing medals, but eventually called the representative's office for help.

Davids and her team contacted the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense and the National Archives to acquire the medals.

‘This is one of the things that is probably part of the most rewarding work we do in constituent services,' Davids said. ‘Knowing that there are people who need acknowledged and haven't been is frustrating. When we get the chance to help it's a relief and it's rewarding for the whole team here in our district office.'

[…]

Gaining these medals has led to a connection between the father and daughter as he begins to open up, about 50 years after his return.

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Parra plans to proudly display his medals in his home until he passes them down to his daughter and grandchildren."