PIERRE, S.D.(DRGNews)- A veteran from Pierre was recognized Friday for his service during the Korean War.

South Dakota US Senator Mike Rounds and staff member Bob DeJong presented Gerald (hard “g” sound) Johnson with the Atomic Veterans Commemorative Service Medal.

This is a fairly new medal, so DeJong shared some information about it.

Rounds says these soldiers played a critical roll in the war, but couldn’t tell anyone about it.

During this period of the Cold-War, numerous atomic weapons tests were conducted at Nevada Proving Grounds to study how effective our military could be after an atomic event. Johnson says his group was very close to the action.

Johnson’s service was part of “Operation Upshot-Knothole.”