For one Montanan family, the memory of a veteran was emboldened by a medal ceremony earlier this week.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, presented John Hansen, a Flathead Valley resident, with eight medals his father had earned in World War Two during the unveiling of Flathead Valley Community College’s Veterans’ Center.

John accepted the medals for his father, Robert Eugene Hansen, who died in 1998. After his death, his uniform and medals were lost. Tester’s office has been able to secure 733 medals, ribbons and badges for 99 veterans after the medals were either lost or never awarded.

“It is my honor to award you the medals your father earned during his outstanding service in the United States Army,” Tester said. “Honoring our nation’s heroes is something I take very seriously, and I thank you all for being a part of it.”

Robert Hansen was born in Walnut, Iowa, in 1919. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in November 1942, training at Camp Dodge before being deployed to the Pacific in September 1943.

He served a critical role in the Philippines, relaying communications between troops as a wire chief for the 148th infantry regiment. He also served in the Northern Solomon Islands campaign and in the Battle of Luzon in the Philippines.

Although Hansen didn’t talk much about the war with his wife, Ruth, and two sons, Michael and John, he did share one memory about a peculiar car ride.

While walking down a road, sick with dysentery, a Jeep pulled up alongside and offered him a ride to the hospital. He was so sick and feverish it took him a minute to realize he was sitting in the same vehicle as Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

“Robert told John that he didn’t really care that he was sitting with the famous general,” Tester said. “He was just glad he didn’t have to walk anymore.”

Hansen left the Army in December 1945 and moved to Nebraska to work as a telephone lineman, where he met his future wife Ruth.

The two married and moved to Rapid City, S.D., where they spent the rest of their lives, raising their sons.

Hansen was renowned for his volunteer work with the Salvation Army and his commitment to civic duty and helping others.

The decorations Tester presented to Hansen’s family included: a Bronze Star Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, a Good Conduct Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation, a Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service Stars with an Arrowhead, a World War II Victory Medal, a Combat Infantry Badge 1st Award and a Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Service Star.

“These decorations are small tokens,” Tester said. “But they are powerful symbols of true heroism, sacrifice and dedication to service. And they are presented on behalf of a grateful nation.”

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.