[chlankf]

Many people know that I collect all sorts of things. One of those are WWII items. Here is a Purple Heart I picked up a few years ago. I bought this at a military auction with my dad, now deceased. On the drive home my father let me know his feeling on my purchase. To my surprise he disapproved and felt I should try to return the medal back to the family. His feeling was that this was a family heirloom of a sacrifice not by one man but by all veterans.

I recently rediscovered this medal in my collection again and my dad's story came back to mind. I did some research and then Thursday, contacted Purple Heart Reunited Inc on Facebook. I just got off the phone with Zach at the organization. I am pleased to say that I will be mailing the medal to them. They are going to be framing and matting the Purple Heart and hand delivering the finished presentation to the recipients daughter in Florida mid February.

My thanks go out to Pvt James V Stowell Jr for his service in WWII. It has been my pleasure to have your medal for the time being and for sharing a portion of your life with me through your military records.

Pvt James V Stowell
Born 1920 New York Died 1988 Florida
Enlisted February 1942
Wounded May 22nd 1944 in Anzio, Italy
504th Engineer Regiment, Company F

I will post a follow-up picture when the family is reunited with this treasure. I would also encourage others collectors to follow my example with other Purple Hearts.