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99-year-old Tuskegee Airman awarded new medal

FILE PHOTO: A World War II and Korean War military veteran who was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen was awarded a medal for his service nearly 70 years later. 

PINE BLUFF, Ark. — A World War II and Korean War military veteran who was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen was awarded a medal for his service nearly 70 years later.

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Thomas Franklin Vaughns, 99, was presented with five medals from the Army. Four were replacements for ones he had misplaced over the years, but he had never received the National Defense Service Medal for his service in Korea until Wednesday, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.

The reason? "Well, we were so glad to get out of there," Vaughns told the Democrat-Gazette. "I was just ready to come home."

Vaughns was also given replacements for his World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal-World War II, the Good Conduct Army Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Button.