On the afternoon of Sunday, December 15, 2024, Chicago’s Polish Army Veteran’s Association Post 90, in conjunction with the Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum, conducted a special ceremony. As the historian for the veteran’s post, and with another member, I helped reunite a Gold Star mother whose son was killed in Iraq with his lost military medals. The return was made right in time for the holidays.
Medals for sale
On a slow afternoon last September, I was doing one of my favorite pastimes, browsing auction websites looking for historic military treasures. Scrolling through dozens of listings for medals, unforms, badges, and more, something unexpected caught my attention.
It was a group of five modern United States military medals, with cases, two certificates in green presentation folders, and several pages of documents. The auction title was simple: “Service Medals with Certificates.” What stood out in the preview photo, however, was far from ordinary. A Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.
A closer inspection of the associated paperwork revealed that the medals were awarded posthumously. The recipient, a young local soldier killed in the War in Iraq. A quick online search revealed more to the story, but little did I know that another chapter would soon be written.
A soldier’s journey
William R. Newgard, born November 27, 1986, grew up in the Chicago suburbs. His childhood was normal. Like many other boys, he wore camouflage clothes and watched G.I. Joe cartoons, the good guys battling the evil team, Cobra. It was a phase that did not go away. He became an avid history reader and asked many questions about his grandfathers, both of them veterans.
His fascination with the military led him to attend middle school at St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin. Afterwards he returned home to Arlington Heights and went to John Hersey High School. Graduating in 2005, he immediately joined the army.
The news that her son enlisted scared mother Kathleen “Kaki” Newgard at first. Nonetheless, as she is quoted in a January 3, 2007, Chicago Tribune article, “as long as he was following his dream, I was OK with it.”
Upon completion of basic training and infantry school, the new soldier shipped off to Germany, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment- the “Blue Spaders.”
In August 2006, the Blue Spaders deployed to Iraq, tasked with patrolling the streets of northeast Baghdad. It was a difficult assignment. The unit lost 27 men over the course of 15 months. One of those killed was 19-year-old Specialist Ross A. McGinnis who posthumously received the Medal of Honor.
Private First Class Newgard came home for two weeks in early December 2006. Dividing time between family, friends, and his girlfriend, he managed to visit Sanborn School in Palatine where his mother worked. He thanked students for a care package they had sent him. Asked what he feared most, he responded IEDs- improvised explosive devices. His brief time in the army matured him considerably.
He spent his Christmas back in Iraq. Just days later on December 29, 2006, the soldier’s biggest fear came true. The vehicle he was driving hit an IED and he died in the resulting explosion, at 20 years old.
William was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. His decorations include the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart, both awarded posthumously.
Since then, Kaki Newgard has made it her mission to honor her son’s legacy. She visits schools to speak with students, attends public functions, and dedicates a mass at St. James Catholic Church in Arlington Heights on an annual basis.
Doing the right thing
Upon learning the information, I felt very uneasy. Why were the medals for sale? It seemed strange considering the ongoing work of Kaki Newgard to memorialize her son. I called Lorenzo Fiorentino, a fellow member in Polish Army Veteran’s Association Post 90, of which I belong to. He knows the pain of losing a soldier all too well.
Lorenzo served in the Illinois Army National Guard and retired as a major in 2009. As a casualty assistance officer, he assisted the families of fallen soldiers, notifying next of kin and working with them until after the burial. In addition to PAVA he belongs to many other organizations, and is the commander of American Legion Post 335, as well as the president of the Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum.
We agreed that we needed to investigate the situation further. Something felt off.
Delving deeper, I discovered that a close relative of William’s had recently passed away. Could the medals have left the family unknowingly? Having previously managed an estate sale company, I knew that could be a possibility.
Many things can happen to an estate after a death. Grief stricken or in a rush, family members might throw out or sell cherished heirlooms, only to regret their decisions later. One relative might get rid of something that another family member wants. Theft is also possible. The different scenarios are endless.
A phone call to the auction house confirmed my suspicion. The auctioneer disclosed that the consignor of the medals does estate buyouts, in which he purchases and liquidates entire estates, leaving the home empty. More than likely the mother did not even know about the sale.
Lorenzo and I agreed that we had to return the medals to their rightful owner. We quickly went to work.
Contacting a local businessman, and a benefactor of veterans causes, Lorenzo ensured that there was no limit to the purchase cost. He also called Kaki after we found her phone number and left a message, informing her of our intentions. Kaki returned the call and confirmed the medals were last in the possession of the deceased person. She had no idea about the auction and welcomed the decorations’ return.
There was no backing out now. We had a mission to accomplish.
On the last day of the auction, I did the bidding. The competition was stiff. A bidding war broke out and within minutes the price jumped up to over $300. At the end the victor was I, the total cost at $450- buyer’s premium included. Although we had a willing donor, PAVA Post 90 later reimbursed Lorenzo, who picked up and paid for the items.
A heartfelt ceremony
The reunion of medals and family took several months to complete. Kaki Newgard was on vacation, and I was in New York City, finishing up a short seasonal job. Finally, on the afternoon of December 15, a ceremony took place at the Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum, located at 8664 West Grand Avenue in River Grove.
Lorenzo Fiorentino skillfully orchestrated the entire event. He arranged for a photographer to be present and directed a superb stage. William’s medals and certificates sat neatly arranged on a podium, flanked by a U.S. and American Legion flag. A PAVA Post 90 banner hung in the background.
He made introductions and described the process leading up to the present moment. Asking for a moment of silence, the attendees bowed their heads in memory of William, a somber atmosphere filling the veteran’s post. Lorenzo then read the Bronze Star Medal citation which described the soldier’s meritorious service in Iraq. Eyes became teary.
No greater honor can be demonstrated by his ultimate sacrifice and he will be forever remembered for his actions.
Bronze Star Medal citation for Pfc. William R. Newgard
Kaki thanked Lorenzo and I for making the return possible, as well as the attendees who came out in support.
Individuals then went up to Kaki to personally express their gratitude for William’s service and for her work in memorializing him.
Accompanying her was Will Beiersdorf, founder of the charity Salute, Inc., and the Road Home Program at Rush University Medical Center. Salute, Inc. provides one-time financial aid to injured veterans to cover everyday essentials at critical times, including rent and mortgage. Road Home helps to treat veterans with invisible wounds: posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other trauma.
In addition to PAVA, other organizations represented at the event were American Legion Post 335, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5979 and the Marine Corps League, Burbank Detachment. There was also one highschooler, Nathan Ola, who was “very glad to have witnessed the ceremony.”
It was an afternoon that one grateful Gold Star mother will not forget.
