OK Veteran Reunited With Military Medals In Surprise Ceremony

One of Oklahoma's Finest got a surprise this week that nearly moved him to tears.

Fred Schultz lost his military service medals years ago and the city of Guthrie had a secret in store for him. The city declared Monday, May 4, as "Airman First-Class Freddie Lee Schultz Day” and surprised him during a ceremony to honor his military service.

Schultz thought he was going to a regular work meeting and did not realize he was the United States Air Force veteran the city leaders were talking about.

“I wasn't even paying attention,” Schultz said. “I seen [sic] the pizza there and thought, ‘Oh, we are going to have lunch,'” Schultz explained.

The city gave Schultz the official proclamation and then came another surprise. Schultz's former co-worker Justin Heid, who is also a veteran, had worked for 18 months to replace all of Schultz's Vietnam medals and dog tags that Schultz had lost over the years following several moves.

“I was shocked, very shocked,” Schultz paused. “In fact, I was going to start crying.”

Schultz was a flying crew chief and aircraft mechanic. He served from 1964 to 1968, earning five medals and six ribbons.

“Oh it's perfect, it's perfect,” said Heid, Guthrie-Edmond Airport Manager. “Basically you want to see him reconnect with the medals he once had and it's an honor to be able to give that back to him.”

Schultz was blown away by Heid's efforts and all the support he received.

“He didn't have to do that and everybody else didn't have to do it either,” said Schultz. “Most of us, back in them days, you don't get honored, period, they don't even talk to you.”

The shadowbox full of medals is a huge honor for a man who said he does not like to talk about what happened in Vietnam.

“People showing that the servicemen should be honored, I think more of them should be,” Schultz added.

Schultz said he is going to display his medals on his fireplace where he can see it every day. He also got a Vietnam veteran hat and a challenge coin with his name and service years engraved on it.

"Airman First-Class Freddie Lee Schultz Day" was the 51st anniversary of Schultz's enlistment.