Lost military medals returned to WWII hero's family

TOMS RIVER, N.J. (WPVI) -- Lost military medals from a World War II hero found their way back to the New Jersey soldier's family, one day before Veterans Day.

During a ceremony Tuesday at the American Legion in Toms River, Cheryl Puorro was reunited with her late grandfather's lost medals.

One of those is a Silver Star which is the country's third highest decoration for valor.

Her grandfather Anthony Sordill served as a doctor in North Africa.

Sordill survived the war and died in 1997.

Puorro thanked Nick Del Prete, the man who found the medals, and the Purple Hearts Reunited Foundation.

"I think it's very nice they are returning them; they belong with us. I'm very appreciative. He's very nice," Puorro said.

"It just excites me to know I've done something worthwhile," Del Prete said.

Del Prete, who is a veteran, says he found the medals at a flea market.

Puorro thinks the medals were lost during Superstorm Sandy.