Korean War Veteran awarded long overdue medals

Korean War Veteran awarded long overdue medals »Play Video
Bruce Murray enters the American Legion Hall on H Street on Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, unaware he's about to get his long overdue medals for service in the Korean War.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A local Korean War Veteran was awarded his medals in a surprise ceremony Friday, put together by his family and Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno.

Bruce Murray served in the Army in the early 1950s. One of his daughter's said that Murray's military records were destroyed in a 1973 fire in St. Louis.

The records were recreated with the help of Costa's office.

Murray has always been active in the local veterans' community. But everyone managed to keep the ceremony at the American Legion Hall on H Street a secret.