Soldier's medals arrive in Mich. 42 years later

ALANSON, Mich. (AP) -- Medals earned in Vietnam by a northern Michigan soldier have been received by his family -- 42 years later.

Doug Tanner of Petoskey was killed in the war in 1970 at age 20. Relatives in the Petoskey area recently received a box with his medals, including a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

A brother, Mark Tanner of Alanson, says they were discovered in a basement in Georgia. He tells the Petoskey News-Review that the home belonged to a Defense Department official who was supposed to send the medals to the Tanner family.

The box was found by relatives of the deceased official while going through his possessions. Mark Tanner says there still are many unanswered questions. Nonetheless, he says the story has a "happy ending."