BELLEVILLE • Five World War II medals found at a St. Louis Goodwill last week were returned Tuesday to the widow of the veteran who earned them.

"I'm very glad to have them back," said Natalya Cox, wife of World War II veteran and Belleville resident Marvin Cox. "I was very excited."

Natalya Cox accidentally donated the medals, which include a Purple Heart, to a MERS Goodwill outlet in downtown St. Louis while cleaning and remodeling her house. She didn't notice the box of medals among the other items she donated.

Goodwill employees recently found the medals at the store at 3728 Market Street, and traced them back to Cox's husband.

"I still could not imagine how I put that box with the medals in there," said Cox, who moved to the U.S. from Ukraine and said she has limited English skills. "I'm very thankful that people could investigate and return it to me."