Navy veteran Peter Chrzanowski stands next to the model of a PBM-5 Mariner, a plane he served on, and a shadow box full of his documents, dog tags, medals and photos from WWII at his home in Alsip, Illinois, Wednesday, August 29, 2012. Chrzanowski is trying to get an Air Medal Award, which he only recently found out he is more than qualified for. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Navy veteran Peter Chrzanowski stands next to the model of a PBM-5 Mariner, a plane he served on, and a shadow box full of his documents, dog tags, medals and photos from WWII at his home in Alsip, Illinois, Wednesday, August 29, 2012. Chrzanowski is trying to get an Air Medal Award, which he only recently found out he is more than qualified for. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Navy veteran Peter Chrzanowski stands next to the model of a PBM-5 Mariner, a plane he served on, and a shadow box full of his documents, dog tags, medals and photos from WWII at his home in Alsip, Illinois, Wednesday, August 29, 2012. Chrzanowski is trying to get an Air Medal Award, which he only recently found out he is more than qualified for. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Navy veteran Peter Chrzanowski looks at the Air Medal Award given to his brother-in-law for service in WWII at his home in Alsip, Illinois, Wednesday, August 29, 2012. Chrzanowski is trying to get an Air Medal Award, which he only recently found out he is more than qualified for. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Detail shot of the certified flight log book of Navy veteran Peter Chrzanowski at his home in Alsip, Illinois, Wednesday, August 29, 2012. Chrzanowski is trying to get an Air Medal Award, which he only recently found out he is more than qualified for. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media