>>> THEY ARE A BIG PART OF THE 
GREATEST GENERATION. 
THOSE WHO SERVED THE COUNTRY 
DURING WORLD WAR II. 
THEY DESERVE THANKS OF A 
GRATEFUL NATION. 
TODAY, IN NEW JERSEY, A 92-
YEAR-OLD NAVY VETERAN FINALLY 
RECEIVED HIS LONG OVERDUE 
SERVICE MEDAL. 
NEW JERSEY REPORTER TONI YATES 
HAS THE HEARTWARMING STORY. 
>> I WILL TELL YOU MY DAYS IN 
THE NAVY OR SOME OF THE BEST 
DAYS OF MY LIFE. 
>> Reporter: WORLD WAR II NAVY 
VETERAN THOMAS SIMPSON IS 92 
YEARS YOUNG. 
>> MY SKIPPER WOKE ME UP ONE 
MORNING AND SAID, CAN YOU MAKE 
COFFEE? 
I SAID YES, SIR. 
HE SAID YOU ARE THE COOK. 
>> Reporter: THESE ARE THE 
MEDALS HE EARNED, MORE THAN 72 
YEARS AGO. 
THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN, THE 
PACIFIC AND THE WORLD WAR II 
VICTORY MEDALS. 
>> THE BENEFITS OF GOING INTO 
THE SERVICE IS YOU LEARN 
DISCIPLINE. 
>> Reporter: HE WAS DETERMINED 
TO GET THOSE MEDALS AFTER A 
QUESTION FROM ONE OF HIS 
GRANDSONS. 
>> HE SAID WHAT DID YOU DO IN 
THE WAR? 
I SAID I'LL GET MY MEDALS AND 
I'LL SHOW YOU. 
>> HE FLEW OVER HIROSHIMA. 
>> Reporter: JOSH GOTTHEIMER 
MADE SURE THE MEDALS GOT TO 
THE MAN WHO ENLISTED AT 17 
YEARS OLD AND EARNED THEM. 
>> I HAD A FLAG FLOWN OVER THE 
U.S. CAPITAL IN HONOR OF YOU 
AND YOUR SERVICE. 
TO OUR GREAT COUNTRY. 
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> Reporter: SIMPSON HAS BEEN 
QUITE BUSY WITH OTHER THINGS, 
MARRYING THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE 
RIGHT AFTER THE NAVY 71 YEARS. 
>> VERY NICE. 
WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOGETHER. 
>> Reporter: THIS IS SIMPSON 
ON THE RIVER POLICE FORCE, 
CHIEF FOR 23 YEARS. 
HIS FAMILY INCLUDING THOMAS 
SIMPSON I.V. 
ATTENDED THE SMALL CEREMONY 
WHICH ALSO INCLUDED THIS NAVY 
VETERAN PHILIP. 
THEY MET AT THE SUNRISE LIVING 
FACILITY, STARTS SWAPPING WORE 
STORIES ONLY TO DISCOVER THEY 
HAD BEEN IN THE SAME BOOT CAMP 
CLASS. 
>> THE SAME PICTURES. 
TRAINING CAMP. 
>> DID YOU SEE THAT PICTURE? 
>> I TOLD YOU. 
>> THAT WAS YOU? 
>> HE SAYS SO. 
I REALLY THOUGHT
