A Cumming man who gave so much to his country received a special honor Monday, receiving eight medals of bravery he should have received years ago for his noble actions during World War II.

It had been a long time coming, but for World War II veteran Johnson Brown, it was just as sweet.

"I was ready to forget it and let it go," Brown said.

Brown was talking about his heroics in 1944, on D-Day. Brown was a young Navy machinist's mate first class.

His ship landed on Omaha Beach and was severely damaged. While the ship took heavy artillery, he stayed on board and helped fix the ship allowing the U.S. invasion to continue.

"I had to stay. I never had a thought about moving myself from the ship. I was needed to operate the engines and everything for the ship," Brown said.

Years passed and his bravery on that ship went unrecognized by the military.

Eight years ago, his daughter started a campaign to get her father his recognition.

"We really appreciate everyone being here today. I can't tell you what this means to daddy and our family," Melanie Curtis said.

After two presidents and dozens of letters to Congress, Brown finally received eight medals and an American flag for his service and bravery.

Brown was awarded Monday with the Navy Commendation Medal, the Bronze Star and World War II Victor Medal.

So why did it take so long for him to be recognized? Rep. Tom Graves said its bureaucratic red tape. He's trying to help change that.

"There are often times we are presenting medals maybe one, two a month to families of fallen soldiers or those or those alive from previous wars," Graves said.

"We saved a lot of lives that day," Brown said.
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