Altoona veteran reissued medals, ribbons after originals were lost

ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ)– Friday was a special day for Specialist Aaron Corle as he was reissued his service medals and ribbons after his original ones had gone missing.

Corle is an army veteran who served four years as a combat medic and served in Iraq and Korea. He last served in 2010. Corle was very upset when he couldn’t find his service medals and ribbons after they had gotten lost in a move.

Corle says he didn’t know what to do, so he contacted Congressman John Joyce to see if he could help.

“We owe our freedom to these men and women who have stood up and protected our freedom,” Joyce said.

While they weren’t able to locate his lost distinctions, Joyce met with Corle on Friday in Altoona to reissue the many honors that he earned. Those include the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 2, Marksman Badge with Auto Rifle Bar, Korea Defense Service Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 bronze service star.

Joyce says when he found out that he had an opportunity to reissue the honors that he and Corle got to work right away.

“We’re doing this as we’re coming very close to the 80th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy,” Joyce said. “When United States Troops came in and turned away Europe from the threats and attacks by Nazis.”

Corle comes from a military family, with all of his brothers and sisters either currently serving or are now veterans themselves. He also has a personal connection to D-Day that inspired him to serve as a combat medic.

“My grandfather was also on D-Day, he was on the beach at Normandy him and his twin brother. And he told me when I was young the thing he remembers the most about that day are soldiers that were injured screaming for a medic and there weren’t enough medics to treat everybody,” Corle said.

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In addition to serving overseas, Corle says he helped to train over 8,000 soldiers in a combat lifesaver course, on on how to provide medical care to the wounded. While he’s excited to be reunited with his service medals and ribbons, he’s even happier that his sacrifice is not being forgotten.

“It’s a great feeling to have people that care about you, honor you, and that are there for you,” Corle said.

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