A 96-year-old US war veteran and the son of his wartime buddy returned to Malta and this morning conserved their friendship in history with the donation of a uniform and five medals to Heritage Malta.

Sergeant Herb Tollefson and John Mifsud Jnr, who live in the US, met following the publication of an article in Times of Malta.

Mr Tollefson had become friends with Mr Mifsud’s father John Mifsud Snr, a police sergeant, during his stay in Malta during the war.

This morning, Mr Tollefson donated his US Airforce official uniform and Mr Mifsud five of his father’s medals to Heritage Malta.

“I feel as excited as a little boy, as high as a kite… It is a privilege for me to be able to make this donation, to return here and find that people were eager to hear my story,” Mr Tollefson said.

Both Mr Tollefson and Mr Mifsud Jnr believe that their donation will conserve the friendship formed 70 years ago when Mr Tollefson was stationed in Malta.

After meeting Mr Mifsud Jnr in the US, Mr Tollefson returned to Malta this year and managed to meet the relatives of the Borg family from Sliema who had hosted him and his team during the war.