Long-Lost Afghanistan Service Medal Finally Returns to Late Trooper's Family
In a deeply emotional ceremony that brought both tears and pride, the family of the late Trooper Stefan George Jankowski finally received his missing service medal nearly fifteen years after his untimely death. The poignant event unfolded on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 644, where Jankowski's military service and sacrifice were honored with the return of his General Campaign Star South West Asia medal for Afghanistan.
A Decade-Long Search Comes to Fulfillment
The medal's journey back to Jankowski's family represents the culmination of an exhaustive, nearly fifteen-year search led by his former comrades. Corporal (Retired) Hunter Kersey, who served alongside Jankowski and organized the ceremony, alongside Captain (Retired) Tom Skelding, traced the medal to a private collector in Alberta after years of determined effort.
"This is truly an honor and something I was never quite sure we would get to do," Kersey expressed during the ceremony. "I want Stefan to be remembered as a bit of a trailblazer and his story to be a cautionary tale about what can happen to a perfectly fine, healthy, and robust individual who can get hurt, who can get injured, and who can succumb to their injuries."
A Soldier's Legacy Remembered
Trooper Stefan Jankowski served with distinction as an armored reconnaissance crewman with the Royal Canadian Dragoons. Deployed to Kandahar in 2009 during Canada's mission in Afghanistan, he earned the General Campaign Star for his service. Tragically, Jankowski died on July 9, 2011, shortly after his release from the Canadian Armed Forces, and the medal awarded for his Afghanistan service was lost in the aftermath.
His mother, Georgina Duguay, revealed she had been unaware her son received the medal until recently. "I never even knew he was getting a medal or got a medal until my granddaughter called me," Duguay shared following the ceremony. "So it was a big surprise. I'm so proud of him and what he established in his life – going to the military, going and fighting and coming back. I'm just so proud of him. He did what he wanted to do in life."
Family Finds Emotional Closure
The ceremony provided profound emotional closure for Jankowski's family members, many of whom had limited memories of the soldier who struggled with injuries sustained during his service. Duguay explained that her son died as a result of PTSD and an accidental drug overdose, highlighting the complex challenges many veterans face after returning from combat zones.
Jankowski's daughter, Destiny Timothy-Jankowski, 22, was presented with the original medal during the ceremony, while her sister Alexsis Timothy-J, 18, received a copy. The family also received The Royal Canadian Dragoons Memorial Coin, two commemorative plaques, and a quilt, with Essex MP Chris Lewis announcing that a parliamentary citation would be forthcoming.
"It's really emotional," Destiny said following the presentations. "It's really like a roller-coaster of emotions. Overall, I'm filled with pride. I'm honoring my dad. I'm learning all these things. I'm meeting the people that he met. It's wonderful to hear these stories and to know that his spirit and everything still lives on – that his legacy never ended."
Her sister Alexsis added through tears: "I don't really have much memory of my dad. But hearing the stories makes me happy because I didn't really know him growing up and it's like a type of closure, if that makes sense."
A Cautionary Tale About Veteran Support
Kersey emphasized that he wants his friend remembered not for how he died, but for the soldier he was and the systemic issues his story represents. "I don't want him ever to be remembered as a person who died from his injuries," Kersey stated. "I say that collectively because he had physical injuries, he had emotional injuries, he had mental health injuries, which led to a chemical dependency. I want him to be remembered for a person who should have gotten help … a person who was a very, very good soldier."
The ceremony featured displays of Jankowski's uniforms, dog tags, numerous photographs, and a handwritten note from his daughters, creating a comprehensive tribute to his life and service. Bruce Timothy, Duguay's husband, described the afternoon as "bringing Stefan back to life" and expressed gratitude to those who located the medal.
This heartfelt return of a lost symbol of service not only honors one soldier's sacrifice but also underscores the ongoing need for comprehensive support systems for veterans dealing with the physical and psychological wounds of war.
