AUGUSTA — U.S. Army veteran Oscar Gerry, of Oakland, finally received the set of medals and decorations he earned for his service in the military, including several awarded for his service in Bosnia during the peacekeeping operation, according to a recent news release from Sen. Augus King’s office.

In a ceremony held Jan. 28 at King’s office in Augusta, Claire Bridgeo, a constituent service representative for King, and Peter Ogden, the director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans’ Services, presented Gerry with a total of seven decorations — Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Army Lapel Button.

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Contributed photo Peter Ogden and Claire Bridgeo present Gerry with his medals.

King’s office helped to secure the medals for Gerry, who originally reached out to King when he was experiencing difficulty accessing the health benefits he earned through his active-duty service. In helping Gerry obtain his benefits, King’s office learned he had not received his due recognition and that his official record did not reflect the full level of benefits to which he is entitled. King’s staff worked with the Army’s Awards and Decorations Branch to secure the awards and decorations so that Gerry’s record accurately reflected his service and so that he would receive his proper level of health benefits.

King was unable to attend the ceremony because of Senate business in Washington, but expressed his appreciation and congratulated Gerry in a video message that was played at the event.

In his message to Gerry, King said, “I’m so glad that you’re finally getting the medals that you earned in Bosnia that you so richly deserve … I’m awfully proud to have a guy like you in Maine. The work that you’re doing is important, and certainly the work that you did for your country was important — now almost 20 years ago. Thanks again and congratulations.”

Gerry joined the U.S. Amy in May 1995 and was a mechanic in the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. He served in Bosnia from August 1997 to April 1998, and left the Army in May 1998 with the rank of specialist.

Gerry lives in Oakland with his wife Kimberly. He has three children, five stepchildren, and one granddaughter. He works as an assistant manager at the Pan Am Railways Waterville Mechanical Department.