97-year-old WWII veteran decorated with six medals in family ceremony at San Antonio Chabad

Gerald Teldon, a veteran of the Allied air war over Italy and the Balkans during World War II, was decorated for his service at a ceremony in San Antonio on Friday.

Teldon, now 97 and living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, fought with the 85th and 87th fighter squadrons, both part of the 79th Fighter Group, over Italy and the Balkans in 1944 and 1945. He flew 62 missions on the P-47 Thunderbolt.

His six decorations included the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars, the World War II Victory Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal, along with the Distinguished Unit Citation for actions over Italy in April 1945.

Maj. Gen. Robert Whittle, deputy commanding general of Army North, presented the medals to Teldon, and four of his grandchildren and one great-grandchild pinned them to his jacket.