STANBERRY, Mo. — One of Donald Pike’s memories from his Army days was dressing as one of the German soldiers he was trained to kill as an infantryman.

On Wednesday, the 91-year-old Mr. Pike donned his aged American uniform for a ceremony where he received replacement medals he earned during the war.

It turned out to be an emotional return of honors for a rural Gentry County man whose medals were stolen from his residence a decade ago. Several dozen onlookers gathered at the Stanberry Community Center to congratulate Mr. Pike.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” said Lillie Daleske, of Mr. Pike finally receiving the wartime accolades after the long absence.

Ms. Daleske said she’s like a daughter to Mr. Pike. She attended the event with her daughter Angel.

“He did so many things to ensure our freedom ... I’m honored to call him my Dad,” Ms. Daleske said.

State Rep. Jim Guest, R-King City, organized the ceremony that featured members of area veterans’ groups and Missouri National Guard personnel.

The medals were taken during a burglary to Mr. Pike’s home in Darlington, Mo., in 1998. Associate Judge Ed Manring, who served as county prosecutor at the time, said the case was dismissed for lack of witness testimony. The medals themselves had no serial numbers, he said, making them difficult to track their whereabouts.

Maj. Gen. King Sidwell, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, pinned the Purple Heart, Silver Star, and one of three earned Bronze Stars on Mr. Pike’s uniform. He also received other citations, such as a Good Conduct Medal and marksmanship award.

“It’s sad someone came along to steal medals and war mementos,” Mr. Sidwell said.

Assisting in such a way was

important “to bring (back) those memories and help right a wrong,” he said. “It’s not every day you get to recognize a hero.”

Mr. Pike served in France, Belgium, and Germany in 1944 and 1945. He won the medals for action at the Battle of the Bulge, where Nazi forces tried to break through Allied forces.

As a member of the 119th Infantry Regiment of the 30th Division, he was among 17 soldiers who stormed a German position in a Belgian village near Christmas 1944. The attack killed many of the defenders and resulted in about 40 prisoners.

Mr. Guest briefly wept as he recounted a morning conversation he had with Mr. Pike on the battles. He presented U.S. and Missouri flags and a scrapbook containing memorabilia. Yank magazine, an Army publication, featured him in an article.

Gen. Dwight Eisenhower pinned the original medals on Mr. Pike, according to Mr. Guest.

“His memories are very vivid,” he said.

Ray Scherer can be reached

at rscherer@npgco.com.