Almost 15 years after it was lost, Stefan Jankowski’s service medal is back where it belongs, with his loved ones.
Jankowski, from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, served in the war in Afghanistan, earning a medal as a trooper with the Royal Canadian Dragoons, one of Canada’s oldest military regiments. Not long after leaving the service, Jankowski died from an accidental drug overdose in July 2011. He was 25. The soldier couldn’t shake the grips of post-traumatic stress disorder from his time in Afghanistan.
Jankowski’s medal went missing following the veteran’s funeral nearly 15 years ago. But thanks to the dedication of Kyle Scott, another Afghanistan veteran, one of Jankowski’s most prized possessions was recovered and returned to his family, who celebrated the rare finding at a gathering on Sunday at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 644 in Windsor. Scott runs the organization Canadian Veterans: Owned or Missing Medals, which helps veterans and their families locate missing military honors.
How It Went Missing
Hunter Kersey, a retired master corporal with the Canadian military, said he served with Jankowski for almost two and a half years. The battle buddies served an eight-month deployment together in Afghanistan and were both honored with medals.
However, before Jankowski was buried, Kersey checked the breast pocket of his dress uniform and realized with dismay his comrade’s medal was not there.
“For us to find that medal in Canada, and for somebody to come into that medal and return it, it warms my heart,” Kersey told CTV News.
Not only did Sunday’s ceremony feature the return of the late soldier’s original medal, presented to his daughters, but also replicas for family to cherish as keepsakes.
Some Kind of Soldier
Kersey spent a great deal of time with Jankowski, marveling at his stamina through grueling training and exhausting missions. He chooses to remember his friend in those terms instead of how he died.
“He was a very good soldier,” Kersey said. “His physical fitness was beyond reproach. The man had a future career, either within the Olympics or special operations.”
Kersey and other friends searched for the medal, spending nearly a decade and a half looking only to be left frustrated and confused.
“It has been 14 years, seven months, and 26 days since we’ve known that that medal has been missing,” he said.
Kersey said it’s important to realize that, for many soldiers, the battle doesn’t end after they return from war.
“I will always consider him, along with our other comrades who have since died, as tragedies and victims of Afghanistan,” Kersey said. “They may not be recorded in the official numbers, but they are casualties of the war.”
Kersey said the effects of combat often follow troops home.
“For those of us in this room who have been in those scenarios, you know exactly what I speak of,” Kersey said.
Mark Popov, a retired lieutenant colonel, spent eight months with Jankowski in Kandahar province, watching how the veteran earned fellow soldiers’ respect.
“You can tell by the qualifications he earned and the skills and the trust that we placed in him, he was a valued member of our team,” Popov said.
Kathy Nayduk, a retired corporal, recalled Jankowski’s supportive nature, pushing her – literally – to finish a training run during their early military days.
“I’m not a good runner. Stef was a much better runner than me,” Nayduk said. “During PT I would get in trouble for being the slowest runner, so he would push me in my back just to keep me going so I wouldn’t get in trouble.”
Nayduk said Jankowski was always present to lend a hand.
Jankowski’s mom, Georginia Duguay, remembered how his dream of being a soldier started as a small child.
“When he was four years old, his one thing was, ‘I’m going to be in the military,’” she said. “I was proud of him. I’m just so happy that everybody came together today.”
For the late veterans’ daughters, Destiny Timothy-Jankowski, 22, and Alexsis Timothy-J, 18, Sunday’s ceremony was bittersweet. However, it was an opportunity not to dwell on his tragic death but to cherish his legacy as a soldier.
“It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, but overall, I’m filled with pride,” Destiny said. “It’s wonderful to hear these stories and know that his spirit still lives on. His legacy never ended. He’s still here and impacting so many people to this day.”
The ceremony was especially moving for Alexis, who was only a toddler when she lost her dad. Hearing fond memories from veterans he served with felt like closure for her.
“I don’t really have much memory of my dad,” said Alexsis.
Distinguished Military Career
Jankowski signed up with the Canadian Armed Forces in 2007. Upon finishing basic training at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, he went to CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick, completing Armour School. After that, he was assigned to the Royal Canadian Dragoons at CFB Petawawa.
In 2009, Jankowski was deployed to Kandahar province, Afghanistan, serving in reconnaissance and surveillance roles with the U.S. and other allies.
During his service, Jankowski earned several qualifications as an expert in marksmanship and Tactical Combat Casualty training, which were on display at the medal ceremony.
Jankowski’s regiment, the Dragoons, have served in combat missions around the globe for over 100 years, including World War II, various peacekeeping missions and the war in Afghanistan.
