Goodwill will return two military medals found in a Virginia donation to their rightful owner in South Carolina next week.
Less than a day after News4 reported about the Silver Star and Purple Heart awarded to Robert Entzminger, a heroic soldier killed in World War II, another Robert Entzminger contacted News4.
His name is inscribed on the medals the Annandale Goodwill received in a bag of donations in spring or summer, but they were awarded to his great uncle, who attended Clemson University and died a hero at 22 years old in 1945, taking on enemy fire so his troops could run to safety.
“This was a brave soldier who gave his life for our country, and those medals deserve to be with his family,” said Brendan Hurley of Goodwill.
The Entzminger who contacted News4 got to see the medals, two of the highest honors bestowed by the military, via FaceTime Friday.
“It's important to us, remembering our family and the history, not forgetting what they did, the people before us,” he said. “It's very important to us.”
He said his aunt and uncle used to live in Northern Virginia, and the medals must have wound up in the donation pile as they prepared to move to South Carolina a few months ago.
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“They are very pleased,” Entzminger said. “When they realized they were gone, it was a shock, but they're very happy they've been returned.”
The CEO of Goodwill already planned to be in South Carolina next week, so she plans to return the medals to the family in person.
“I never expected that we would find the family so quickly,” Hurley said. “I am pleased. Shocked, but pleased. It's a good day.”
