Theodore "Ted" Yochum, 90, didn't reveal to his own daughters until a few years ago that he received the Soldier's Medal for rescuing civilians who were drowning in Massachusetts. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)
By Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News
The Soldier's Medal on the wall at Theodore Yochum's home. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)
By Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News
Theodore Yochum, at 90, at his home in Williamsville. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)
By Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News
Theodore Yochum, as a young soldier in the early 1950s. (Family photo)
By Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News
Theodore "Ted" Yochum, 90, with two of his five daughters, Laurie Christopher, the youngest (left) and Elizabeth Swetland, the first-born (right) at his home in Amherst. On the wall behind him is the Soldier's Medal and accompanying certificate that he finally had framed after almost 70 years. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)
By Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News
Theodore "Ted" Yochum, 90, didn't reveal to his own daughters until a few years ago that he received the Soldier's Medal for rescuing civilians who were drowning in Massachusetts while he was a Korean War-era soldier in 1952. He's with his oldest daughter, Elizabeth Swetland at his home in Amherst. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)
Ted Yochum admits he never said much to anyone about the rescue. Almost 70 years ago, he took a medal he was awarded by the Army and stuck it in a dresser drawer. Even his five daughters never knew that it was there.
Theodore "Ted" Yochum, 90, didn't reveal to his own daughters until a few years ago that he received the Soldier's Medal for rescuing civilians who were drowning in Massachusetts. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)
Theodore "Ted" Yochum, 90, with two of his five daughters, Laurie Christopher, the youngest (left) and Elizabeth Swetland, the first-born (right) at his home in Amherst. On the wall behind him is the Soldier's Medal and accompanying certificate that he finally had framed after almost 70 years. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)
Theodore "Ted" Yochum, 90, didn't reveal to his own daughters until a few years ago that he received the Soldier's Medal for rescuing civilians who were drowning in Massachusetts while he was a Korean War-era soldier in 1952. He's with his oldest daughter, Elizabeth Swetland at his home in Amherst. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)