World War II Medals Found In Lake Oswego Home, Family Of Hero Sought

LAKE OSWEGO, OR — The house was set to be demolished when a neighbor walked through and noticed something important: Hanging on a wall, mounted and framed, were two medals from World War II.

The neighbor, also a military veteran who was not identified, recognized the medals as too valuable to be demolished in a house. He recovered the medals and turned them over to the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Both medals were awarded to Army 1st Lt. George Edwards Hodgdon. One was a Distinguished Service Cross awarded by the U.S. Army. The second was the Medaglia al Valor Militare, the Italian equivalent of the Medal of Honor.

The Department of Veteran Affairs is trying to find any relatives of Hodgdon's so that the medals can be returned.

Officials said that this has turned up a mystery: How did the medals end up in Lake Oswego?

Hodgdon was born in May 5, 1917, in Pittsburgh. He died Jan. 28, 1969, at Valley Forge General Hospital in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, according to an obituary published at the time of his death in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Oregon officials said that he was not associated with the house where the medals were found. They have also not been able to find any relatives. He never applied for military benefits before he died.

Officials hoped that someone knows a relative of Hodgdon's.

"These medals represent the enduring appreciation of two grateful nations for the courageous and exemplary service Lt. Hodgdon performed in World War II more than 75 years ago," veterans department Director Kelly Fitzpatrick said.

"They belong with the Hodgdon family. We are grateful that the community recognized the importance of preserving these pieces of our nation's military history and would appreciate the public's assistance with any information that may help in returning them to the family.”

The medals were awarded for Hodgdon's actions during the Battle of Anzio in Italy in 1944, a fight that was a stalemate between the Allies and the Germans for many months before the Allies were able to break through and make it to Rome.

Hodgdon was a member of the 3rd Infantry Division when the forces landed near Cisterna di Littoria under heavy machine gun fire, according to the citation awarded with the medal.

The citation said that as soldiers took cover, Hodgdon exposed himself to danger and ran from platoon to platoon and "reorganized and rallied his men. Then he personally led his company in the attack, advancing conspicuously ahead of his men, despite enemy bullets striking all around him."

Hodgdon moved forward "relentlessly," according to citation, even as a bullet grazed his cheek.

"He moved in close to the enemy position, firing his submachine gun from the hip," the citation said. "Suddenly a German concussion grenade exploded at his feet, knocking him to the ground. Stunned for a moment and badly shaken, he recovered himself and leaping to his feet, fired at the enemy, killing at least six Germans and wounding several others."

The citation said that Hodgdon saw a German tank approach and ran more than 100 yards to direct an Allied tank to fire on the German one, destroying it.

"Inspiring his men by his own fearless determination under heavy fire, he led his company to its objective where he lost consciousness," according to the citation, which added that his "determined courage and aggressive leadership reflect the finest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States."

The obituary said that Hodgdon, who retired with the rank of captain, was hospitalized five weeks before he died and was survived by his mother, Pauline; his daughter, Jill; and his sister, Barbara. He lived in the Regent Square area, it said. Hodgdon was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.