Durbin presents medals to WW2 vet Joe Hoppe

CHICAGO -- Decades after his service, a World War 2 veteran is presented with medals he earned while serving in the U.S. Navy.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin presented the medals to Joe Hoppe, whom he met at a senior's forum last year. When he learned Hoppe was having trouble obtaining the medals he earned in combat, the senator decided to help him out.

"We are the last of the GI Joes. There are thousands of us dying every day, and we deserve to be recognized, and we deserve to recognize all of our fellow veterans," Hoppe said.

Hoppe was presented with the Navy Good Conduct, World War Two Victory, American Campaign, Asiatic Pacific Campaign, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medals.