Wichita-Area Deputy Drives Lost WWII Vet Home To Broken Arrow

A Harvey County, Kansas sheriff's deputy went beyond the call of duty and returned a World War II veteran to his Broken Arrow home last month.

The 88-year-old veteran traveled to York, Nebraska in September to attend a high school friend's funeral. The sheriff's office told KWCH TV, the CBS affiliate in Wichita, Kansas, the man became disoriented on his way back home, wandering for five days across central Kansas. On September, 28, 2014 the man stopped at a convenience store near Newton, Kansas.

Deputy Stan Kurtz was called to assist. The man told Kurtz he was trying to get home to Broken Arrow, but was tired and had very little money for gas.

Kurtz took the man to a Newton hotel and contacted the man's family. The family told Kurtz to give the veteran directions back to Oklahoma.

Kurtz said he was still concerned for the man's safety because the man had left Nebraska five days earlier. That's when Kurtz decided to drive the man back to Oklahoma.

"I think about others and what would somebody do if it was a family member of mine," Sheriff's deputy Stan Kurtz said.

"What would I do for a friend's family member? The other thing that crossed my mind, he was a World War II veteran that served for our country, took his time to serve for his country."

Kurtz's shift ended at 4 the next morning, but he said getting the man back to Broken Arrow was worth it.