Decades ago, a Jackson County Marine was given a bronze star. Years ago, that bronze star was loaned out, then lost. Wednesday night, Doug Greengrass couldn't hold back tears as his misplaced medal made its way back home.

A young Marine returned home from Vietnam a hero.

"There are very few occasions where our vets get to tell their stories," says Cecil Garvin, a fellow Vietnam veteran.

Wednesday night in Black River Falls, amid song and dance, in front of family and friends, Sgt. Doug Greengrass had his story told.

"Sergeant Greengrass heroically distinguished himself by voluntarily entering an anti-personnel minefield during the hours of darkness with a rescue party to remove five personnel who had been wounded by exploding mines," Ho-Chunk Nation President Wilfrid Cleveland read from Sgt. Greengrass’s Presidential citation that earned him a bronze star

"It’s quite an honor, quite an honor," Sgt. Greengrass says.

It's an honor just his mother was there for the first time, but hundreds came out for so many years later.

"It’s awesome, just awesome. It feels good," Sgt. Greengrass says.

It's an honor that's not easily replaced.

“Doug came into our office a couple times and requested a replacement. I asked, my predecessor asked and we kept getting a response that says ‘due to the overwhelming workload, please allow us 10 to 12 months," says Jackson County Veteran Services Officer Margaret Garvin.

So Garvin decided speed up the process and set up a ceremony in the Sergeant’s honor.

"I actually was able to purchase it myself," she says. "Ho-Chunk men don’t speak and express themselves. They have duties and obligations that they do, but they don’t talk about how great and wonderful they are. But, that’s what I think Doug is.”

"We know the kind of person Doug is,” says Cleveland. “If he knew what we had planned he would've stayed away."

It's an honor that surprised Sgt. Greengrass. It’s one that prompted tears.

"Words can't express what I feel,” he says choking up. Thank you everyone," he says.

And one the Sergeant wants to share.

"I just want to thank all the other vets who are here. They deserve the same as me, the same treatment,” he says.

The whole night was set up as a surprise birthday party for Sgt. Greengrass. It's his 63rd birthday Thursday.