World War II veteran Frank Rosado Jr. was honored Tuesday with a dozen medals for his combat service in Europe.

"I receive these not only for myself but for my friends that died in Normandy, Holland and the Battle of the Bulge. Friends that I will never forget," said Rosado, 83, of Davis Islands.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, helped Rosado obtain the Army Good Conduct Medal, Combat Infantry Badge and World War II Victory Medal, among others.

The congressional office also secured several foreign honors, including the Belgian Fourragere, the Dutch Orange Lanyard and a Thank You America certificate from France.

"A lot of World War II vets never received medals they were entitled to," Castor, a member of the House Armed Service Committee, said during the ceremony at her local office.

Castor's staff also helped Rosado secure oak leaf clusters for the Purple Heart and Bronze Star he previously received. The clusters denote an additional award of the same medal.

The French Legion of Honor is in the works for Rosado.

Born in Ybor City, Rosado enlisted as an 18-year-old Jefferson High School student.

He served in the Army's Company D, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division from March 6, 1943, to Nov. 19, 1945. He fought in France, Holland, Germany, Belgium and Austria.

Rosado said he was wounded three times and suffered frostbite on his feet. After being shot in Holland, he was told he could avoid combat.

"I asked to go back to my brothers," he said. "I said, 'I want to go back to my boys.'"

During the Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne, Belgium, "we could see the tanks lined up against us, but we weren't going to give up," Rosado said.

He recalled the contrast of snow-covered pine trees and the bloody fighting fields. He watched friends die.

The soldiers wondered whether they would ever see reinforcements.

"Finally the skies cleared," Rosado said. "It looked like God said, 'You've had enough.'"

His voice cracked.

"I didn't do it myself, but I had a part of it," he said.

Rosado, who retired from the Tampa Fire Department and turns 84 next week, hasn't returned to Europe.

"I hear they treat you like you are a king," he said.

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