COEUR d'ALENE - The classified ad in the Coeur d'Alene Press read: "LOST World War II medals, large white envelope, Sunday 3/7 at sunset on steps of Independence Point, near moose. Owner's name engraved on one medal."

That owner, Bob Hough, who was in the U.S. Army infantry from 1945 to 1948, received the medals early this month after more than 60 years had passed since his service ended, then lost them in less than a day.

"I can be easily distracted these days," said the 83-year-old longtime Coeur d'Alene resident.

Hough said he's not sure why he got the medals after so much time had passed, but thinks a family member might have contacted government officials to get the bureaucratic wheels turning and ensure he got the honors he deserves.

"He was mad at himself" for losing them, especially so quickly, said his wife, Colleen "Coke" Hough, 81.

The medals were lost near the metal moose statue at Independence Point, adjacent to City Beach in Coeur d'Alene.

One of the Houghs' sons, Bruce Hough of Salt Lake City, was in Coeur d'Alene because Bob Hough was scheduled for a medical procedure. Bruce Hough was enjoying the sunset at Independence Point where his parents soon decided to join him for some photographs.

Bob Hough, who had received the medals in the mail that day, brought them down to the park to show his son. He set them down at one point, got distracted, and forgot them until it was too dark to retrace their steps and try and find them.

The last place Bob and Colleen Hough can remember the medals being was on the concrete steps that lead down into the water at Independence Point. Bob Hough returned very early the next two mornings to search, but to no avail.

The couple contacted the parks department to find out if the medals got tossed into one of the garbage cans in the park area, but haven't had any luck so far. The ad in the newspaper, which was placed twice by a family member who was disappointed Hough had lost them after finally getting them after so many years, hasn't gotten them back either.

The Houghs, who will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in August, are the grandparents of Julianne Hough, the country music artist and former "Dancing with the Stars" performer, and Derek Hough, a performer on the same popular TV program on ABC. Bruce Hough is the father of Julianne and Derek Hough.

Bob Hough himself had a 40-year career in radio broadcasting, much of it in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene, after his military service was completed.

Hough's medals were the only memorabilia he had from his military service, which began just as World War II was ending. He had a pistol he found on a downed pilot, but he had given that to a family member.

"They're it, except for the memories of the beautiful sights on those islands" in the southwest Pacific Ocean where he served, he said. "The whole thing was just a great adventure. Some of the places were so neat, the dolphins, the flying fish. I bill it as Uncle Sam gave me a trip to the south sea islands free of charge."

Hough, originally from North Hollywood, Calif., didn't see combat while in the service, he said. He was drafted at age 18.

His military service, however, wasn't all fun island adventures.

He was assigned what's called "grave registration" duty, which included searching for the remains of soldiers who were missing in action, he said. He did the work in the Philippines, Solomon Islands, New Guinea and other places, he said.

He had to seek out remote, sometimes mountainous areas of combat. He searched for downed planes, traveled by small boat to remote islands, and bartered with island inhabitants using food and tobacco to gather information about the possible whereabouts of fallen U.S. soldiers. The work led to shark scares, boat crashes and other dangers.

He said among the five or six medals he received was an Army of occupation medal for service in Japan, a good conduct medal, and a sharp shooter medal.

"I was never shot at," he said. But the medals mean a lot to him and his family.

Colleen Hough said, "It was a nice gift for his service."