Attics and basements are typically chock-full of old and forgotten items just gathering dust, from childhood toys and documents to out-of-style clothing and obsolete technology.
But Oxford Township resident Helen Barwig found something truly unique while rummaging through her basement last week ? the personal records of a former U.S. congressman that had been stolen decades ago.
Barwig uncovered a bunch of yellowing documents bearing the name Lucien N. Nedzi. At the time of their discovery, she had absolutely no idea who he was. The name wasn’t the least bit familiar to her.
She still has no clue as to how these documents ended up in the basement of her Red Barn home as she’s its first and only owner.
‘Isn’t that crazy?? Barwig said. ‘How they got down in my basement is beyond me. How long have I had them? I don’t know.?
She speculated the records may have once been in a box of items purchased at a garage sale or from a Goodwill store.
The records included driver’s licenses from 1939 and 1942, a report card from the University of Michigan Law School and discharge papers showing Nedzi honorably served as a U.S. Army infantryman in the Philippines during World War II and in the Army Corps of Engineers in Japan during the postwar occupation. Records showed his military service was from 1944-46.
The military records caught Barwig’s eye, especially the letter and certificate stating that in 1948, Nedzi was awarded the Bronze Star medal ‘for meritorious achievement in ground operations against the enemy? during the Southern Philippines Campaign in the Pacific Theater of Operations.
Seeing this, Barwig was determined to learn more about Nedzi and try to get these records to either him or his family.
‘This is history,? she said.
She also understands the significance of this type of information as the loved one of someone who served in the military.
Barwig’s husband Jack, who passed away in March 2014, served in the U.S. Air Force. He’s buried in the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly.
‘I’ve got all of his stripes and his papers,? said Barwig with tears in her eyes and a lump in her throat. ‘It’s an important thing to me. Those are part of him.?
‘To me, this should be important to somebody in (Nedzi’s) family,? she added. ‘I would love to give it to them.?
Barwig contacted this reporter for help.
Shortly after interviewing Barwig and examining the documents, this reporter discovered they belonged to the same Lucien N. Nedzi who represented Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1961-81.
‘I’m just shocked,? Barwig said.
All of the dates, places and other details listed in the records were an exact match with Nedzi’s personal details as listed in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
The directory indicated Nedzi was alive and residing in McLean, Virginia. A call to his son Lucien A. Nedzi, a medical doctor in Dallas, Texas, led to the former Democratic congressman contacting this reporter directly.
‘It’s really a bolt out of the blue as far as I’m concerned,? said Nedzi, who will celebrate his 91st birthday in May.
Nedzi had no idea how his records ended up in Barwig’s basement, but he did know where they came from.
‘My parents lived in Lake Orion and that is where all those papers were stored. The residence was broken into,? he said.
His late parents, Alex and Estelle, used to own a home at 214 N. Conklin Rd. in Lake Orion. He said they purchased it as a summer vacation home in 1941. They later lived there on a full-time basis.
After his father died, Nedzi said his mother used to stay with him during the winter. It was during one of those winters in either the late 1970s or early 1980s that some unknown person or persons burglarized the Lake Orion home and cleaned it out. Nedzi said they took everything from furniture to love letters.
Among the records Barwig found was his parents? passbook from Orion State Bank with entries from 1953-70.
‘When I first got the e-mail from my son, I was wondering how in the heck did the papers get over to Oxford? Then I recalled the break-in,? Nedzi said. ‘Obviously, that’s where they came from. No doubt about it. Those papers were in the bottom drawer of a secretary desk.?
‘I’m surprised they weren’t destroyed. They’re of no value to anybody,? he noted. ‘But somebody must have put it away.?
The thieves even stole his Bronze Star medal. Fortunately, the government replaced it.
When asked how he earned the medal, Nedzi didn’t provide any details. He simply replied, ‘I didn’t run away. Nothing spectacular.?
Nedzi is anxious to see these pieces of his past. ‘I’m looking forward to reviewing them,? he said. ‘I have copies, but these are the originals. The kids will enjoy seeing them.?
He’s grateful to Barwig for making the effort to return them. ‘Express my appreciation to her for taking good care of the papers,? Nedzi said.
Barwig is quite pleased the documents will be reunited with their rightful owner.
‘I’m happy we found him,? she said. ‘I didn’t expect to find someone so quickly.?
She’s also glad Nedzi’s family will now have these records for posterity’s sake.
‘Things like that do get passed down to the kids and they do appreciate it,? Barwig said. ‘It’s history. It’s something to be appreciated.?